COLUMBIA, Aug. 29, 2022- To kick off the school year, the Gaines/Oldham Black Culture Center (GOBCC), Legion of Black Collegians and National Pan-Hellenic Council hosted their annual Welcome Black BBQ. On Aug. 26, from 4 to 7 p.m., students, faculty and staff came together for an afternoon of food and dancing.  

Known for being a large block party, the 2022 Welcome Black BBQ did not disappoint. Music blasted as attendees danced in front of the GOBCC. Approximately 500 students gathered to celebrate the end of the first week of school, meet new people and find community.  

“I felt so much joy watching students, faculty and staff having fun and connecting in a genuine way,” Khesha Duncan, assistant director of the Multicultural Center and Gaines/Oldham Black Culture Center, said. “This was the perfect culmination to the end of the first week of the official semester for us all.”  

The BBQ was an opportunity to unite the community outside of MU, as well. MU Assistant Professor Michael Steven Williams invited his family to experience the event and said a fun time was had by all.  

“The Welcome Black BBQ was a joy,” Williams said. “I brought my wife and kids to give them a taste of the vibrance of the Black community at Mizzou, and I was not disappointed. It was like a family reunion for many of my favorite faculty, staff, undergraduate, and graduate students. I can’t wait for the next opportunity to connect!” 

To get involved year-round with the Gaines/Oldham Black Culture Center, visit in person or connect on social media.

About the Gaines/Oldham Black Culture Center  

The Gaines/Oldham Black Culture Center is one of four social justice centers within the MU Division of Inclusion, Diversity and Equity. The mission of the Gaines/Oldham Black Culture Center is to complement the academic programs of study and enrich the quality of campus life for Black students at the University of Missouri. The GOBCC provides opportunities for self-awareness and identity development through educational, cultural, and social programming that promotes student persistence and achievement. Additionally, the GOBCC works to make the University of Missouri and Columbia community a more inclusive and welcoming environment for diverse populations through education, outreach, and collaboration. Twitter: @GOBCC, Instagram: @Mizzou_GOBCC