This post was updated Oct. 9 at 10:51 p.m.

Black transfer students connected with other Bruins and learned about on-campus resources at a Sept. 30 welcome event.

The ice cream social, hosted at the Transfer Student Center in Kerckhoff Hall, connected Black transfer students with their peers and highlighted student government opportunities. The Afrikan Student Union and the offices of the Undergraduate Students Association Council’s transfer student representative and general representative 2 organized the event.

The event occurred during normal operating hours for the Transfer Student Center, meaning it also encouraged interaction between attendees and other transfers spending time in the center, USAC Transfer Student Representative Hyerim Yoon said.

Yoon, a fourth-year English and history student, said that, along with connecting the Black transfer community, the ice cream social sought to raise awareness about student leadership opportunities.

“We really wanted to make sure that we were being inclusive of every single student and every single background, and students that we normally wouldn’t reach with our programming felt as though they were cared for and seen and valued because, honestly, our office is for everybody,” Yoon said.

Janiyah Williams, a third-year psychology student, said she was nervous to transfer to UCLA until discovering that resources for Black transfer students existed.

She added that the social brought her a sense of community and said she hopes similar events happen in the future – both for Black transfer students and other underrepresented groups on campus.

“It’s so nice knowing that so many of us have a space to just go to,” Williams said. “Sometimes it’s really scary being outside of campus and not seeing anyone that looks like me.”

Temi Fagbule, a third-year neuroscience student, said she came to the center to meet and connect with fellow Black transfer students, a group she noted as “an even smaller community” than Black first-year students.

Seven percent of UCLA’s fall 2025 first-year admits were Black, compared to 5% of transfer students, according to admit data from the UC Office of the President. Enrollment data is expected to be released in December.

[Related: UC admissions data shows largest-ever number of California undergraduate admits]

“You have a presence of Black people on campus who have been going to UCLA since their freshman year, but I feel like it’s important to highlight Black transfers who might not have the same exact experience as someone who’s been here all four years,” Fagbule said.

Xochitl Gilchrist, a third-year public affairs student, said the event provided a space not only to find community, but also to familiarize herself with campus resources. As a biracial Afro-Latina, Gilchrist added that the event allowed her to focus on – and celebrate – her African American heritage.

ASU Transfer Coordinator Brooklynn Ming said her team held weekly meetings to help plan the event and determine details such as its location, funding and marketing. She added that she personally reached out to Black transfer students, encouraging them to attend the social – an experience she said she wished she had.

Ming, a fourth-year political science student, said the social was “full of energy” and “very successful,” adding that she hopes it becomes a recurring event.

“The Black transfer student population isn’t always recognized,” Ming said. “I definitely want to plan events and just try to have spaces for more representation and spaces for the Black transfer students to build community, since it’s hard to recognize each other.”