17th Annual African/ African American Graduation
Open to All
The African and African American Graduation ceremony is a pre-commencement celebration to honor African and African American students who, through unyielding determination, have successfully completed an Associate Degree and or Certificate from a Peralta Community College. The ceremony is representative of African and African American culture & heritage and embraces the values of community and scholarship.
Graduation Date:
Saturday, May 17, 2025 at 11:00 am
Location:
Evergreen Missionary Baptist Church, 408 W. MacArthur Blvd. Oakland
Ceremony will begin promptly at 11:00 am. No tickets are required for entry. Please be aware that space is limited. COVID-19 protocols will be observed.
Graduate Information
Arrival Time: 9-9:30 am, check-in and Continental Breakfast.
Attire: Dress to Impress. Please wear your cap and gown.
Items to Purchase: Kente sashes will be available before the ceremony. $15.00 donation.
Photographers will be available for photos.
Frequently Asked Questions
Students must RSVP to africangrad@peralta.edu ASAP.
408 W. MacArthur Blvd. Oakland @ Webster Street
(across the street from Mosswood Park)
Your guests do not need tickets, but space is limited.
There is limited parking in the church parking lot on a first come, first served basis (enter on Webster St). Lot will be closed at 9:30 am. Street parking is available.
All graduates are expected to wear their school’s cap & gown. They can be purchased at your campus bookstore. This includes your cap, gown, and tassel.
Peralta Colleges BOOKSTORE WEBSITES to purchase and pick up your cap, gown & tassel:
- Berkeley City College: https://www.berkeleycityshop.com
- College of Alameda: https://www.alamedashop.com
- Laney College: https://www.laneyshop.com
- Merritt College: https://merrittshop.com
Additionally, the graduation committee will have beautiful kente cloth sashes available for purchase at the church for $10. The first 85 students will be able to purchase sashes with “Class of 2025” embroidered on them. The kente sashes are to be worn with your cap & gown.
- Dr. Lawrence VanHook, Chair at lvanhook@peralta.edu
- Merritt College: Cie-Jae (Rose) Allen, Co-Chair at (510) 436-2572; cjallen@peralta.edu; or, Doris Hankins at (510) 434-3982; dhankins@peralta.edu
- Berkeley City College: Ramona Butler, Co-Chair at (510) 981-2832; rbutler@peralta.edu
- Laney College: Douglass Cobb at (510) 464-3149; dcobb@peralta.edu
- College of Alameda: LaShawn Brumfield (510) 748-5284; lbrumfield@peralta.edu
