Happy New Year from the Alumni Chapters Department

Thank you for showing your innovations and creativity to showcase what a Cal community is all about! With your leadership, we will continue to work together to engage and empower more Cal alumni and students. 

On behalf of the Cal Alumni Association Chapters Department, we wish everyone a healthy and vital new year 2021! Go Bears!

Alumni Spotlight Introducing...

I am a first-generation college graduate and professional from the San Francisco Bay Area that has worked at the intersection of community development, affordable housing, social impact, and technology. I am passionate about building community, paying it forward, addressing systemic inequities, and collaborating with others to design, develop, and scale programs, services, and initiatives towards a more equitable way. I love exploring the world (35+ countries/territories and counting!), yoga, cooking, and good coffee.

What was your undergraduate life like at Cal?
I grew up in a low-income community in the San Francisco Bay Area. Coming to Cal, I found a supportive community and a "home" through the Cal Alumni Association (CAA) as an Achievement Award (TAAP) and a Leadership Scholar. I facilitated study groups and tutored at the Student Learning Center, taught a De-Cal on "Social Issues, Social Actions," and was actively involved in several student groups including the Prytanean Women’s Honor Society and CalCorps (now the Public Service Center). 

What are some current projects you are working on?
With COVID-19, many households have moved, people are less willing to open their doors to strangers, and outreach was hampered with the shortened time frame to ensure all households were counted. Accurate counting directly impacts the flow of resources to our communities, particularly low-income communities of color, including transportation, schools, and social safety net programs. Having led outreach efforts during the Census 2010, I volunteered and collaborated with community members and local non-profits to create a strategy and outreach plan involving local small businesses who were impacted by COVID-19 to increase the Census 2020 completion rate in low-income, under resourced, and marginalized communities in San Francisco.

How do you tap into your Cal Alumni network?
I am involved with CAA’s Prytanean Honor Society Alumnae chapter as an Alumnae Board Member. The Prytanean Honor Society Alumnae chapter has a rich history of amazing women and traditions on the Cal campus as the first women's honor organization in the United States. Being involved has allowed me to stay connected with Cal and the campus, utilize my background and lived experiences to give back to women-identifying students on campus (aka "actives"), and build community with my fellow alumnae. I enjoy volunteering with CAA, the Career Center, and the Chapter. I love collaborating with fellow Cal alumni on a variety of activities on and off campus including educational outreach initiatives, mentoring students, hosting interns, and speaking on panels.

Tina Cheung ’07 with the Prytanean Honor Society Alumnae chapter

Planning for 2021

As your chapter is planning for the new year, we want to hear from you about your chapter’s 2021 priorities and programs. Keeping us involved early during your planning stage allows us to provide you with resources, connections, and strategies. We are happy to hop on a call/meeting with you for further discussion. In addition, check out our updated toolkits below created by the Alumni Chapters team for your references. 

Plan to Resume In-Person Fall 2021 Instruction

The University of California President Michael Drake announced on January 12 that the UC is planning for in-person instructions for fall 2021. Read more. 

While pending for further directives from the university pertaining to student and on-campus activities, we are continuously adhering to the current directives in hosting all events in a virtual setting. In addition, please also note that CAA’s contracted CampusConnexions for event liability insurance has a communicable disease exclusion, meaning there is no coverage for COVID related claims. Therefore, CAA is unable to support any in-person events at this time. Please stay tuned for more updates.

January Alumni Leaders Town Hall

The first Alumni Leaders Town Hall of 2021 past Thursday January 28 was both encouraging and exciting as alumni continue to support one another. The alumni leaders came ready to plan, learn from one another, and understand how CAA will support. 

Take a minute to watch the January Alumni Town Hall recording to hear the full conversation. 

Save the Date: February Alumni Leaders Town Hall
Topic: Yield and Alumni Week
February 25, 3 – 4:15 pm PST
RSVP

360Alumni Updates

Now is the best time to activate your 360Alumni account!

Our virtual alumni community is exclusively for alumni chapter leaders, like you, to manage the following:

• Chapter discussions and communications
• Membership management 
• Event management 
• Chapter events promotion
• Chapter resources from CAA… and MORE!

Chapters staff will be posting resources, announcements, and event invitations on 360Alumni. Activate your account and be sure to set up your individual profile and chapter’s profile today. Enjoy and engage! 

Check out the recording of our January training (passcode: q9kmif^e) and the Knowledge Base from 360Alumni, where you can see videos, tips or tricks on troubleshooting and best practices.  

The Cal Alumni Association (CAA) and Cal Athletics are excited to present our annual—and first virtual—Cal Women’s Basketball Hoops Party. In addition to special guests and a trivia contest, our program spotlights a conversation with Cal Basketball and WNBA alumna Talia Caldwell ’13. In recognition of Black History Month, and in light of worldwide demonstrations against systemic racism and the global pandemic, Talia will share her reflections on the past year.

Free to Cal alumni and friends. RSVP.

Just in from
the California Magazine
Published by the Cal Alumni Association

As a continuation of its partnership with Berkeley Changemaker™, the Cal Alumni Association held The Berkeley Changemaker Workshop: How Leaders Set Winning Culture! The workshop was facilitated by Rich Lyons, UC Berkeley’s first-ever chief innovation and entrepreneurship officer. Read more.

The Cal Alumni Association’s Alumni Scholars Program is excited to share our workshops and events focused on personal, professional, and academic development. Learn more.