CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, LONG BEACH
BLACK SCHOLARS NEWSLETTER
May 16 , 2024
The Black Scholars Newsletter exists to share dynamic, informative and empowering stories that uplift, encourage, and inspire our community.
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Co-editors:
Monet Jenkins
Chloe Thomas
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To get more announcements, and stay up to date with community events and opportunities, follow us on Instagram @csulbblackscholars
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By Chloe Thomas & Monet Jenkins
Dear Graduates of the Class of 2024,
You have come so far and conquered much. You are overcomers, trailblazers, and champions of the community. This achievement is one of many that you will go on to make. We trust that the knowledge you acquired here will be used to further your success. Before you depart for the adventure of life, here are some words of wisdom that the community would like to share.
Persistence is key. You have all that you need to be successful in life. Take a break when you need to. Be kind to yourself always. Remember that we - your community - will always cheer for you and believe in you!
- Dr. Daria Graham
You are and have always been Black Excellence. That is what you will continue to be. You've made it to this point, and though you may face obstacles, look back on what you've been through and recognize the resilience and brilliance it took for you to continue. As graduates, you're on your way to success, but life is a marathon and not a race. But with your ancestors behind you, there's no marathon you can't run. As long as you stay true to yourself, invest in your community, and strive for excellence, your ancestors will keep you on track. Congratulations and The Marathon Continues!
- Paul Carter
No matter where your path takes you remember that the Black Scholars community will be here to support, inspire and uplift you always. We wish you luck in your future and will remain forever your advocate.
Congratulations!
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By Monet Jenkins
Meet Nina King, a Counselor at the Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at Cal State University Long Beach. She grew up in Atlanta, Georgia where she double majored in Political Science and French at Spelman College. In 2011, she received her Masters in Social Work from Smith College. Prior to attending Spelman, she attended a boarding school in Canada that damaged her self-confidence and identity. Spelman College helped heal her from racial traumas and put herself back together. There were a variety of different Black role models and peers that validated her and represented Black excellence on that campus. Overall, leading her to become more attached to mental health awareness.
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Before working at CSULB, Nina worked in Forensic Mental Health for a company in Downtown Los Angeles. Many clients she worked with were mentally ill men coming out of jails and prisons. Eventually, she left this job and decided to reenter the workforce after taking some time off. While researching jobs, she came across a position to be a therapist under CAPS on a Facebook Page. Starting a new job during the pandemic meant she had to work remotely from home. Not being in the same space as her new colleagues was a struggle to accept, but she quickly adjusted to the difference. Surprisingly, many students expressed feeling comfortable speaking to her on Zoom. While working with Long Beach students she has been inspired by how motivated and resilient the students are towards their education. In addition, she admires that students are not mandated to see her, but rather come to see her because they want to.
The greatest impact on Nina’s career came from her therapist in college. She gained a transformative experience in therapy and fell in love with the positive impact therapy had on her life. Nina was grieving the loss of a close family member while trying to complete her master's. Her thesis advisor encouraged her to give herself permission to abandon perfectionism and just get the project done. Now, she advises students to remain help-seeking when they are in a place of confusion and struggle. It is a strength, not a weakness to recognize the ability to ask for help from professionals and our peers. On campus, students can take advantage of individual and group therapy at CAPS; access doctors and dieticians at Student Health Services; learn about disability accommodations at BMAC; and even consult case managers at Basic Needs.
To Nina, what it means to be a Black scholar depends on who you are. Even her great-grandparents were college-educated and, while it was far more of a privilege than a burden, that legacy of scholarship was not always easy to live up to. During her schooling in the 80s and 90s, she dealt with racism in the U.S. and Canada, and even cultural dislocation as a foreign student in Africa and Europe. Because of these experiences, she understands the benefit to students having a counselor who looks like them brings. Throughout the month of May, Black Scholars encourages students to get to know more staff members that are here for them at CAPS. Mental health is just as much a priority as our education, so thank you, Nina King, for providing culturally competent care and a comfortable space for students to feel safe and included.
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For anyone who is need of mental health resources, please reach out to the resources at CSULB and in the Long Beach community
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Gala Honoree - Alumni Achievement |
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Watch this interview to meet our 2024 Alumni Achievement Awardee of the year, Uduak-Joe Ntuk. Mr. Ntuk is currently the Uptown Long Beach representative on the Long Beach City College Board of Trustees. He uses his platform to advocate for students of color and increase their success in STEM fields. This alum will share his story and advice for current students.
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Uduak-Joe Ntuk is a 3rd generation Long Beach State Alum, who graduated in 2006 with a degree in chemical engineering and double minor in business and chemistry. Before coming to Long Beach State, he attended Long Beach City College and played college football. He has a long career working in various technical roles as a petroleum engineer, a production engineer, a technical manager and energy regulator. Currently he serves as the Uptown Long Beach representative on the Long Beach City College Board of trustees – the first in 20 years to be African American.
In his role he has shifted focus onto Black student success, and inclusion on the campus. One of his first actions, after election in 2018, was to meet with Black Faculty and Staff to better understand their needs, and several of them faced backlash for meeting with him at the time. He turned his attention towards addressing the achievement gap for Black students, recognizing that when we do well, the whole institution does well. He notes that the biggest factor for educational success can be systemic barriers from the stigmatization that if a student doesn’t know anyone that’s done it that they can’t, to lack of resource support. He tries to help students overcome this by offering resources and programs to support students through challenges like class expenses and being a student parent.
He reflects on his time at Long Beach State and says that one of the things the community taught him was that college is about more than going to class. It was about finding and connecting with your community. During his time here he became involved as the NSBE president, and engineering senator for ASI. Ensuring that outside of his coursework he was working with student organizations to help the Black community grow together. He leaves students with the final piece of wisdom saying that one of his favorite motivational quotes is “the wise man hustles while he waits”. Explaining that while you’re still a student, before starting your career, you should do as much as you can. Be as involved as you can be and make an impact where you are. That way you get the most out of your time and build connections to not only the campus but the people.
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By Chloe Thomas
Visions of H.O.P.E. (Helping Others Progress Everyday), is an award program serviced by the Long Beach Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. The program is dedicated to spotlighting members of the community that are trailblazers making a difference in their communities. This past March our very own Ms. Tracy Kelly, Co-chair of the Black Alumni Scholarship was honored for her great support of the Long Beach Community. Ms. Kelly has gone above and beyond to be involved in the lives of students and Alumni Alike from Long Beach. From fundraising for student scholarships, to supporting an Alumni’s Black-owned business. She has been a mentor and inspiration to all who meet her.
It was her vision that created the Black Alumni Gala to fund student scholarships at Long Beach. Each year this gala raises money and support for our community's educational aspirations while honoring students and community leaders. When accepting her award as a leader for Educational Development, Ms. Kelly recognized CSULB and her love for students being the motivation for all she does. Her immeasurable value to the community has no rival. We are so proud of her achievements thus far and are excited to see what more she will bring to the Long Beach Community.
Ms. Kelly, congratulations and thank you for all that you do!
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Watch this interview to meet Avis Atkins, a CSULB alumna who graduated in 2011 as a triple major in Psychology, Sociology, and Human Development. Avis was also recently honored as one of Cal State Long Beach’s 49 under 49 alumni.
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Avis Atkins is a CSULB alumna who graduated in 2011 as a triple major in Psychology, Sociology, and Human Development. Avis is currently the executive director for Midtown BID a nonprofit that brings people together to help businesses succeed and works as an operations lead at Amazon. During her time at Long Beach, Avis was enrolled in the honors program and wrote a thesis on how to help other first time and first-generation students, like herself, succeed in higher education. She was heavily involved in advocacy work and served as president of the College of Liberal Arts Student Council. Having grown up in Long Beach, she always saw the pyramid and was familiar with the campus which led to her eventually choosing to attend. Her proudest moment as a student was graduation. Though this is always a monumental occasion for all collegiates, as one of nine siblings, for her it was an opportunity to show her younger siblings that they had the potential to achieve great things. She was proud of being a role model and setting an example for those that would come after her.
Avis found community as a SOAR leader during the summer and by connecting with the Black Student Union and professors. She says that without these connections she would not have made it through higher education. Her advice for current students is to “just keep going” even when things start getting tough. Be encouraged by all those that came before you, because if they can make it than you definitely can. To those that want to give back to the Long Beach community, she says to maintain your connections. Even when you lose touch with someone look for ways to reconnect – the Black Scholars Newsletter is one great way to do this.
She invites anyone who would like to reach out, to connect via LinkedIn.
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As is the Macrocosm, So is the Microcosm |
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By Mark Kelly (Ayurvedic Practioner, at large)
To understand Ayurveda, its unique interpretation of our world, and how to use food as medicine, you must first understand the concepts of “Yatha Pinde Tatha Bramhande”, “Panchamahabhuta”, and the “TriDoshas”.
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When translated from Sanskrit, the phrase ‘Yatha Pinde Tatha Bramhande’ is understood to mean ‘as is the macrocosm, so is the microcosm’. This refers to the belief that on a physical level the human body is seen as a reflection of the larger universe, and vice versa. The systems and processes that govern the universe, such as the laws of physics, can also be seen operating within the human body. This statement highlights the interconnectedness of all things and emphasizes the idea that the individual and the universe are not separate entities, but rather part of a larger whole. This concept also explains why you cannot divide the body into separate parts, “treating” a specific area or tissue without affecting other aspects or processes taking place in the body. Plants, animals, and all components of our environment have evolved together in nature over millennia under the constant influence of cosmic forces shaping, molding, and restraining the interaction of everything from the smallest of atoms to the largest of galaxies. |
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The Panchamahabhuta concept in Indian philosophy states that the fundamental structural basis of all living beings (including all plants, animals, and humans) is composed of 5 elements or 'Panchmahabhutas. Panch means five; maha means supreme and bhootas means powers (or elements), so panch bhootas translates to five supreme powers. Empty pockets, room, or area found in the intestines and other channels within the body are seen as space; gas moving through the colon is viewed as air; the transformative power of digestive enzymes and acids found in the stomach represents fire; the fluids irrigating and moistening your mouth, throat, and every cell signifies the presence of water; and physical structures or flesh supporting the body’s shape and form are seen as components of the earth element. |
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The 5 elements recognized in Ayurveda are space, air, fire, water, and Earth. Pairs of these powers combine in three ways to form “Doshas” or bio-energies that influence the baseline constitution of each human being. These same elements are found in the food we consume. The 3 doshas are called Vata, Pitta, and Kapha and depending on the amount of each bio-energy present at the time of conception, each person is said to have a constitutional make up, usually dominated by one or two of these doshas. But the makeup of each person’s constitution (known as Prakriti) is quite unique, much like the genetic profile created by the fertilization of a mother’s egg by a father’s sperm. The resulting embryo is a new person with a mix of characteristics provided by his parents. If a person’s Prakriti is out of balance (a state called Vikruti) and begins to differ from its original mix, the body can fall prey to illness, infection, and disease. Ayurvedic protocols for diet, herbs, lifestyle, yoga, etc. are used to modulate the amount of these bio-energies found in the body. A healthy diet tailored to balance the doshas is a powerful way to strengthen the body’s immune system. |
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If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at
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Gala Honoree - Lifetime Achievement |
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Watch this interview to meet our 2024 Lifetime Achievement Awardee, Evelyn Knight. Born in Africatown Alabama, Ms. Knight is a longstanding civil rights activist. She integrated schools in St. Louis as a teacher and founded the Long Beach Community Improvement league working towards upward mobilization of Black people. Here she shares her story and gives students advice on how to make their voices heard.
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Ms. Evelyn Knight was born in 1933 in Africatown, Alabama. A city founded in 1860, by the last known illegal shipment of slaves. Here she grew up and learned the importance of community and relying on those around you for support in all things. Her family's origin begins with her father growing up unsupported after losing his father to racism. He came to Africatown, met Evelyn’s mother and found his salvation in her family and the community there. Evelyn and her 9 siblings grew up experiencing kindness and hardship, and Evelyn internalized the struggles of her people which would later encourage her to activism.
Early on she moved with her Aunt Marcella to East St Louis, where she had modeled for Evelyn what being involved looked like. Engaging with political life, politicians and speaking up for herself and her people. Motivated by what happened to her grandfather, she actively found ways to advocate for Black people. From marching with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma, and integrating schools in St. Louis as a teacher, to supporting the Black Student Union at Long Beach State as they sought funds for their activities. One of her contributions to Long Beach included the founding of the Long Beach Community Improvement League. The league served as a place for Black people to do things among themselves to make life better for the collective. This included social gatherings, supporting initiatives to give voting rights to Black people, and push children to going to school.
To Evelyn, being a community activist means acting out against oppression and working to improve your life and the lives of others around you. She encourages students that want to follow in the footsteps of the activists that came before them to look inwards. To make outward change, you have to know your story and what drives you. The first step is understanding your story in context of your experiences and knowledge. Then you decide how to address the problems and confront them.
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Want us to highlight someone you know? Send us the names of people or organizations you think should be recognized and we’ll share their accomplishments in our monthly newsletter. Submit the form below.
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The BSU 2024 – 2025 Election Voting is now open, until May 20th! Use the link below to vote for your Executive Board for this upcoming school year.
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Join us, at the Dream Success Center, to prepare for finals! Our Center will be hosting quiet study hours from 8:00am to 5:00pm! Finals Survival Kits will be available all week, while supplies last! |
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Thursday, May 16: Hot Chocolate & Study
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Date: Friday, May 17, 2024
Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Location: Walter Pyramid
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37th Annual Black/Pan-African Graduation Celebration |
Black Grad is a celebration of Black graduates, that highlights Black entertainment, speakers, music, and joy. Black Grad is separate from Commencement, though you can participate in both commencement and Black Grad. |
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Community Health & Awareness Fair |
Join the Long Beach Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. for this free mental health awareness event. Enjoy Food, Games, Music, Community Resources and More! |
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Date: Saturday, May 18, 2024
Time: 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Location: Houghton Park
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Application Deadline: Friday, June 7, 2024
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Do you have an internship offer for Summer 2023? Is your internship unpaid and at a non-profit or government organization? If so, apply for the opportunity to receive a $1,000 scholarship. The Manuel Perez Internship Success Scholarship assists students in exploring a career via an unpaid internship in the non-profit or government fields.
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Play fun games, complete a scavenger hunt and show off your trivia knowledge in this great race around Long Beach. Form a team of 3-5 and win prizes.
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Date: Saturday, June 22, 2024
Time: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
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Check out short study abroad and service-learning trips to different parts of Africa, Caribbean and central America. Additional opportunities are open to interested CSULB students and faculty. Upcoming: 10-day trip to Kenya scheduled for early January 2025 (during winter break).
For any questions or further information please contact Professor Edwin Achola
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Black Brilliance - Carlton Mackey |
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