The Descendants of Afro-Americans at Penn hosted their annual "Red Carpet For A Cause Gala" at the Newman Center to celebrate the close of Black History Month.
Since its establishment in 2022, the Descendants of Afro-Americans at Penn organization has hosted its annual gala to bring awareness to health issues affecting African Americans, with each annual gala having a different awareness theme. This year, $1,546 was raised for The Colours Organization to aid their efforts in HIV and AIDS awareness within the LGBTQ+ community.
The Colours Organization, based at 12th and Chestnut streets, first opened in 1991. It hosts a multitude of social advocacy programs for the local community, including funding sexual healthcare and treatments and providing support groups and community events like Open Mic Night and book clubs.
The organization was founded with the intent to make care and resources more accessible to LGBTQ+ communities of color but has since expanded its mission. Jordan Aytch, the Community Engagement Manager at Colours, said that he was first introduced to DAAP during the MLK Commemorative Symposium on Social Change at Penn earlier this year.
“Proceeds will help us expand everything we were already doing, especially with the climate of our government as we’re not sure how funding is going to go,” Aytch said.
Gala attendees shared that they found it important to educate themselves. Wharton sophomore Nicolas West said he was most looking forward to learning more about Colours and “aiding their cause by becoming more informed about common misconceptions.”
“There has historically been discrimination toward people with AIDS," College junior Luisa Valdez said. "Access to medical treatment for people of color is usually limited, and it's important work."
College junior Aisha Ali, one of the founding members and now Co-chair of DAAP, said that the organization wants "to make sure [they're] always giving back to the community and knowing the role that Penn has played in the disruption of the local community, but also understanding that we as Penn students have a way to lift it up again through events like these.”
Ali hopes, through more galas and community events, the club can solidify its space on campus and “educate on what it means to be African American and what African American culture really means to us.”
According to the club's 2023-2024 Impact Report, over $28,000 was spent with Black-owned businesses in planning myriad community events during the year. Additionally, over 70 care packages with toys or toiletries were donated to those in need.
Other projects entailed enlisting barbers and hairstylists — free of charge — to ease the financial burden of hairstyling for 65 students and showing over 35 middle school students a day in the life on campus through their "DAAP Discovery Day" program.
College junior Clarke Dickens, one of the eight original founding members and Co-chair of DAAP, said that — to them — being a member of the club “is to live in the legacy of those who came before us at Penn and to work to continue to leave our mark on this campus and beyond.”
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