Check out our full schedule of events and register today. As noted below, advance registration is strongly recommended for some events, and Black Alumni Weekend online registration closes on October 2.
Friday, October 9
9 a.m.-Noon
Golf Outing
Norman K. Probstein Golf Course, Forest Park
Start the day with golf, networking, and beautiful views of Forest Park. Named the “Best City Golf Course in Mid-America,” the Norman K. Probstein Golf Course offers a unique golfing experience, just steps from WashU’s Danforth Campus. Lunch will be provided.
Cost: $65 per person, registration required
2-6 p.m.
Check-In + Hospitality Lounge
Frick Forum, Knight Hall
Welcome to your exclusive hub for Black Alumni Weekend! Drop in for refreshments, enjoy a curated playlist, and visit the selfie station. Student greeters will be available to assist with any questions you may have.
3-4:30 p.m.
Legacy Campus Tour
Danforth Campus
Explore important moments in WashU’s history and reacquaint yourself with Danforth campus during this engaging tour. Visit memorable locations, see what’s changed, and learn about planned developments for the future.
Cost: Complimentary, registration required
5:30-9:30 p.m.
Friday Bear Club
Danforth University Center, 2nd floor
Children will be divided into age-appropriate tracks, offering engaging activities sure to capture their attention and interests! Older kids can choose to participate or hang out in the “fun zone,” where they will enjoy playing pool, foosball, and a variety of other games and multimedia systems. Special snacks and meals are included.
Cost: $50 per child, registration required
6-9 p.m.
Chancellor’s Welcome Party
Knight and Bauer Halls
Welcome home! Join Chancellor Andrew D. Martin for the official kickoff to Black Alumni Weekend. Enjoy delicious food and upbeat music, and take a spin on the dance floor. This is a high-energy celebration with the WashU community you won’t want to miss!
Cost: Complimentary, registration required
Saturday, October 10
9-10 a.m.
Breakfast with University Leaders
Knight Hall
Join Chancellor Andrew D. Martin for breakfast and conversation about the state of the university.
Cost: Complimentary; registration required
10:10-11:30 A.M.
Talk Black to Me: A Legacy in Motion
Emerson Auditorium & Frick Forum, Knight Hall
Some legacies you read about. This one, you get to be in the room for. Join us for “Talk Black to Me: A Legacy in Motion,” a celebration of the achievements, leadership, and unmistakable mark Black alumni have made on WashU and far beyond it.
In the spirit of B-Side and all the stages, studios, and creative spaces where Black alumni found their voice, this is no ordinary panel. It’s a live talk show built on nostalgia, laughter, and real talk. Hosted by Jeff Taylor, AB ’07, the show moves through three fast-paced segments that weave together storytelling, archival video, and the memories we made together. Come reflect on the communities that carried us, and celebrate the artistry and innovation we sparked at WashU and carried out into the world.
Featured guests to be announced.
Cost: Complimentary; registration required
Wait, what was B-Side?
Long before “content creator” was a job title, three WashU students, Imani Cheers, Jamien Sills, and Ian White, went live. Launched in 2001 on WashU’s student TV station, B-Side was a public affairs show made for students, by students, and it ran for a full decade. Every Saturday at 3 p.m., the hour-long broadcast mixed real talk with hip-hop music and culture, spotlighting Black students on campus and the full sweep of the Black experience, in St. Louis and across the diaspora. It was sharp, it was joyful, and above all it was fun: an hour devoted to documenting the best and brightest of Black folks.
11:45 A.M.-12:30 P.m.
Breakout Sessions
Knight Hall classrooms
Black alumni and faculty don’t just shape WashU — they shape the world. These breakout sessions put that work front and center, using storytelling, creative expression, and honest conversation to explore how our community is meeting some of today’s biggest challenges head-on. Come ready to connect, reflect, and leave fired up.
Speakers to be announced.
1. Our Health, Our Healing
For generations, Black alumni and faculty have redefined what compassionate care looks like. This facilitated conversation brings that legacy to life, with leaders in medicine sharing how they’re advancing healthier lives through bold patient care, groundbreaking research, and innovation that doesn’t wait.
2. Healthy Communities, Thriving Futures
Health doesn’t start in a hospital. It starts on our blocks, in our homes, and in our neighborhoods. This session gathers alumni and faculty working at the front lines of public health, health equity, and community wellness to dig into what it really takes to help communities flourish, and the role each of us plays in getting them there.
3. Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges
Access is at the heart of the WashU experience, and Black alumni have always been the ones holding the door open for those coming up behind them. This session opens with a look at the university’s ongoing commitment to access, then moves into what Black alumni do best: mentor, connect, and pass it forward. The highlight is the Mentorship Lightning Round: fast, real, generation-bridging conversations that spark connections built to outlast the weekend.
4. Our Ancestors’ Wildest Dreams: Creating in the Age of AI
We are, quite literally, our ancestors’ wildest dreams, and now we’re building the future with tools they never imagined. What does it mean to create, lead, and build community in the age of AI? In this hands-on session, you’ll get up close with the technology reshaping our world and leave with a clearer sense of how to lead with purpose, not just keep up.
Cost: Complimentary, registration required
12:30-2:30 p.m.
BAW Block Party
Tisch Park
We’re bringing the whole community together! Join alumni, faculty, staff, and students for a laid-back lunch in Tisch Park. Enjoy a picnic-style menu — plus a DJ spinning all our family reunion favorites — as you catch up with friends and make new connections within the WashU community.
Cost: $25 Adult, $15 Child (6-17), 5 and under free, registration required
2:30-3 P.M.
Storytime with Anne Wynter, AB ’06
Location TBD
Join award-winning author Anne Wynter, AB ’06, for a fun-filled story time featuring her debut book, Everybody in the Red Brick Building, and her newest book, While We’re Here. Drawing from her background in theater, Anne shares a lively, interactive presentation that brings each story to life, encourages young audience members to use their voices (literally!), and celebrates the joy of reading.
Cost: Complimentary, registration required
2:30-4:30 p.m.
Bus Tour: Story of Black St. Louis with Aaron Williams, AB ’08
The Ville neighborhood
Join Aaron Williams, AB ’08, president of 4theVille, for an introduction to the rich history of the city of St. Louis from its founding in 1764 to contemporary times. You’ll explore how Black resilience and resistance are woven into the city’s history. The tour will include a stop at the Northside Movement Center and remarks from pop-up storyteller Ryan Deloach at the Mill Creek monument.
Transportation for this event is provided.
Cost: $35 per person, registration required
2:30-4:45 P.M.
Walking Tour: Heart of the Ville
The Ville neighborhood
The Ville neighborhood was historically 1.5 square miles of dense urban fabric. Within those 1.5 square miles, the Black St. Louis community nurtured some of its greatest institutions and notable figures. Join Marvin-Alonzo Greer, cultural heritage director of 4theVille, for a 2-mile walk that visits the site of key institutions from the neighborhood overlaid with oral histories and documented stories.
Cost: $35 per person, registration required
3-4:30 p.m.
Book Discussion with Jason Green, AB ’03, and Vivian Gibson, MA ’12
Kuehner Court, Weil Hall
Join authors Jason Green, AB ’03, (Too Precious to Lose, 2026) and Vivian Gibson, MA ’12, (The Last Children of Mill Creek, 2020) for an engaging book discussion exploring the themes, stories, and inspiration behind their works.
Cost: Complimentary, registration required
3-4:30 p.m.
R&B Bingo
Holmes Lounge, Ridgley Hall
Join us for a lively game of R&B bingo featuring hits from across the decades. From classic favorites to modern chart-toppers, enjoy great music, test your music knowledge, and connect with fellow alumni through a fun and interactive experience.
Cost: $15 per person, registration required
5-11 p.m.
Saturday Bear Club
Danforth University Center, 2nd floor
Children will be divided into age-appropriate tracks, offering engaging activities sure to capture their attention and interests! Older kids can choose to participate or hang out in the “fun zone,” where they will enjoy playing pool, foosball, and a variety of other games and multimedia systems. Special snacks and meals are included.
Cost: $50 per person, registration required
6-10 p.m.
Radiant: A Speakeasy Affair
18 Rails @ City Foundry
Celebrate in style at this speakeasy-themed soirée! Enjoy a glamorous evening of delectable bites and creative cocktails, live music, and more at one of St. Louis’ most talked-about new venues. Come dressed to impress and step into an elegant world infused with the timeless spirit of the Harlem Renaissance.
This is an adult-only experience.
Cost: $50 per person, Early Bird ends July 24; $60 per person starting July 25, registration required
Sunday, October 11
10 A.M.-NOON
Soulful Sunday Brunch
Clark-Fox Forum, Hillman Hall
Reflect on the connections, inspiration, and memories from Black Alumni Weekend over a Soulful Sunday Brunch. Enjoy a nourishing meal and live music from the amazing Charles Glenn Duo. Share photos, contact info, and goodbye hugs, and receive a special “Blessing for the Road” from an alumni elder.
Cost: $25 per adult, $10 per child (6-17), children 5 and under free