Cal Poly Celebrates Black History Month with Focus on Belonging and Excellence

Black Student Union president Jaylyn Harris emphasizes the importance of year-round recognition of Black history and culture.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Cal Poly's Black History Month in February 2026 is focused on fostering a sense of belonging and recognizing the contributions of Black students, faculty, and staff. Jaylyn Harris, president of the Cal Poly Black Student Union (BSU), describes the month as a time for 'pride, visibility and community,' though she emphasizes the importance of acknowledging Black history year-round. The BSU and the Black Academic Excellence Center play a critical role in providing supportive spaces for Black students who often feel isolated on the predominantly white campus.

Why it matters

Black students make up less than 0.7% of the Cal Poly student population, highlighting the importance of organizations like the BSU in creating community and a sense of belonging. The university's broader Black History Month initiatives, including art exhibits and panel discussions, aim to celebrate Black culture and uplift the experiences of the Black community on campus.

The details

The BSU actively works to combat isolation by providing 'intentional spaces for connection' through its meetings and gatherings, often held at the Black Academic Excellence Center (BAEC) in Building 15. Harris, who initially connected with BSU through the BAEC during her first year, now focuses on outreach to incoming students. The BAEC is described as a space of upliftment and support, where Black students can find mentorship and community. Beyond the BSU's efforts, Cal Poly's Office of University Diversity and Inclusion (OUDI) is sponsoring a 'Cultural Art Series' entitled 'Resonance' throughout February, featuring an exhibit by Alisa Sikelianos-Carter exploring themes of resilience, liberation, and protection for Black individuals.

  • The 'Resonance' exhibit runs through March 17, 2026.
  • The Black History Month Kickoff and Resource Fair was held on February 2nd, 2026 at the Multi Activity Center (MAC).
  • The annual 'State of Blackness' event was held on February 7th, 2026 in Chumash Auditorium.

The players

Jaylyn Harris

The president of the Cal Poly Black Student Union (BSU).

Alisa Sikelianos-Carter

An artist whose exhibit 'Resonance' is featured as part of Cal Poly's Black History Month 'Cultural Art Series'.

Christina Sholars Ortiz

The coordinator of the Black Academic Excellence Center (BAEC) at Cal Poly.

Sanaia Pierre

A software engineering sophomore and graphic arts designer for the Cal Poly BSU.

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What they’re saying

“Black History Month is the 28 days that America gave me to celebrate my culture. Just because it's 28 days does not mean that Black History Month is not important to me every other 365 days. But definitely Black History Month is a time for others to have to recognize that we're here and that we do have history, and we do have heritage rooted into America.”

— Jaylyn Harris, President, Cal Poly Black Student Union (newsdirectory3.com)

“Black joy and Black excellence is every single Black student that you see. We all have made it so far. We made it into such a hard university to get into. We are here, and we're taking up space, and every single day, we are stepping out of our comfort zone, and that right there is Black excellence.”

— Jaylyn Harris, President, Cal Poly Black Student Union (newsdirectory3.com)

“It's a big message to our Black student community. It's about standing 10 toes down and feeling firm in who we are as individuals and not having to apologize.”

— Christina Sholars Ortiz, Coordinator, Black Academic Excellence Center (newsdirectory3.com)

“When I came to Cal Poly, I didn't know that the Black community on campus was so small. It's so important to give them support early on so they can succeed.”

— Sanaia Pierre, Software engineering sophomore, graphic arts designer for BSU (newsdirectory3.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This Black History Month celebration at Cal Poly highlights the importance of creating supportive communities for Black students on predominantly white campuses, where they can find a sense of belonging, mentorship, and the opportunity to thrive and celebrate their culture and excellence.