Alumni give back through black alliance
Diversity, goals, service just parts of what group strives to achieve in community

By Jessica Cervantez
Staff Reporter

Black History Month should be celebrated 12 months out of the year, not just in February, said Correlia Allen Henslee, a 1989 TCU graduate and vice president of publicity for the Black Alumni Alliance.

Henslee said that is why members of the alliance don’t feel it’s mandatory to participate in any events in conjunction with Black History Month.

“We don’t feel we have to explain why (the alliance) doesn’t have any scheduled events for the month of February,” she said.

As founder of the alliance in the summer of 1999, Henslee said there has always been a need for a group created to support and encourage African American students. By word of mouth, the alliance has attracted over 600 members, and the numbers continue to grow. Henslee also said the TCU community has been welcoming and supportive of the alliance.
Reba Henry, secretary of the board of directors and a member of the alliance, said they are all a part of one united group, the Alumni Association.

“We’re not separatists,” Henry said. “Our money is green just like anybody else’s.”

Henslee said that although the alliance isn’t involved in any activities for Black History Month, it doesn’t stop other members from participating in different activities, such as the Diversity Symposium held later this month.

“The focus of the alliance is to create an opportunity to be active, interface with students and to be an all-inclusive group,” Henslee said. “The alliance provides a service to the community, mentors students and creates a network.”

Henslee said the alliance strives to participate in events and achieve intensive goals throughout the year, but there’s a reality of how much can be done yearly.

President of the alliance, Mildred Sims, said the alliance attracts an audience with a common goal.

“We want alumni to know they are needed,” Sims said.

Sims said that because there are a number of outstanding alumni in the black community, it’s a challenge to be a part of the group. The alliance gives alumni the opportunity to give something back to the school.

Henslee said the alliance is a special interest group that is part of the mainstream.

“As TCU is becoming more diverse and culturally aware, there is now an even greater need (for a group such as the alliance),” Henslee said. “More students of color will grace the TCU campus than ever in its history.”

Sims said the alliance creates a mirror for others to see themselves in the future.

“We look to see what we have done to make TCU a better place, we want to be part of a vision,” Sims said.

Jessica Cervantez
j.s.cervantez@student.tcu.edu