Diversity and Inclusion

Juneteenth

This year, Fermilab will observe Juneteenth as a paid holiday on June 19, 2024. Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021, marking the 1865 emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States. More information on the holiday and related events are available here.

The Juneteenth flag and a poster detailing the symbolism of the flag will be on display in the Fermilab Wilson Hall Atrium for the month of June.

African-American/Black Association Leadership

Latasha Johnson, Co-Executive Leader

Natalie Johnson, Co-Executive Leader

Richard Wallace, Communications Chair

Lita Scott, Website Management and Engagement Chair

Martin Bentivengo, Community Outreach Chair

Alexander Valishev, Executive Sponsor

Upcoming Events

The African American/Black Association LRG meets on the second Monday of every month, all members are invited to attend!

1. Girls Inc. Of Chicago Lab Tour:  Tuesday, JULY 16,  2024 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Girls Inc. of Chicago. A collaboration between AABA, the Asian Pacific Association, and the Hispanic/Latin Forum. The team cultivated a   remarkable day of activities that includes a tour of the lab, presentations on the SAGE camp, internship opportunities, and a panel discussion.
2. Fermilab LRG Meet & Greet for Faculty and Student Workshop: Tuesday, August 6 from 4:40 PM – 5:25 PM –  LRG Meet & Greet session for the Fermi Fusion: Uniting Minds for Scientific Advancement workshop. August 5-7,  20-25 students and faculty visiting from non-R1 MSIs, including HBCUs, HSIs, TCUs and rural institutions. This workshop is designed to help participants learn about the scientific research being done at the laboratory, its opportunities and internships, as well as forge partnerships and collaborations with Fermilab researchers/scientists through RENEW, FAIR and VFP.
3. Coat Drive Update: We will be collecting winter coats during November and December to donate to local charities – stay tuned! If you would like to help plan the details, we are still seeking committee volunteers. Please reach out to aabaleadership@listserv.fnal.gov if you are interested.

African School of Fundamental Physics

The African School of Fundamental Physics and Application (ASP) is a biennial physics school aimed at improving the quality of higher education in Africa. The three-week term school is hosted every two years by a different African country and supports students from all over Africa.

Historic success of the program is largely due to international lecturers and participants who volunteer their time to give talks and teach courses. Fermilab science and technology professionals are encouraged to get involved.

More information and a sign-up form is available here.

Dr. Silvia Zorzetti (far left), QIS Ecosystem Leader at the DOE SQMS Research Center, presented at the 3rd African Conference on Fundamental & Applied Physics in September 2023 in George, South Africa.