Janese Fayson 鈥�26 and Ryan Nkongnyu 鈥�25 at the 40th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration in the JMA Wireless Dome. They co-chair the University鈥檚 Black History Month planning committee.
Janese Fayson 鈥�26 believes that behind every successful community is a sense of belonging. That鈥檚 why the Miami native wasted no time in putting herself out there when she arrived at Syracuse. Now she considers the University her second home.
鈥淚 bleed Orange,鈥� says the marketing and finance double major in the . 鈥淚 feel like I鈥檓 part of a big extended family.鈥�
Fayson is drawn to campus for various reasons鈥攖he changing seasons (鈥淚 love the snow!鈥�); its rich history and traditions; and most importantly, an unwavering commitment to diversity and inclusion.
This sense of place takes on special significance during , whose campuswide programming she helps organize. For her, Black History Month is not just a time for celebration and reflection. It鈥檚 also an opportunity to connect and uplift different voices.
鈥淲e鈥檝e upped the ante,鈥� says Fayson of this year鈥檚 Black History Month programming, which focuses on Black resilience and perseverance.
As the Student Association (SA)鈥檚 vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion, Fayson considers Black History Month a 鈥渕indset.鈥� 鈥淢ost people think that the month is just for Africans or African Americans, but it鈥檚 really for all Black people,鈥� says Fayson, who self-identifies as Puerto Rican and Black. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why our turnout is always diverse.鈥�
Black History Month also is emblematic of her Syracuse experience, which is steeped in teamwork, perseverance and accountability. She鈥檚 rarely seen without her planning committee co-chair, Ryan Nkongnyu 鈥�25, a communication and rhetorical studies major in the .
Nkongnyu (left) considers Black History Month a celebration of hope and empowerment. 鈥淗ope gives us strength to keep moving when things are difficult.鈥�
Since the fall, both have worked closely with academic departments and programs as well as some of the University鈥檚 300-plus recognized student organizations to create an unforgettable milestone experience. 鈥淲e鈥檝e upped the ante on this year鈥檚 observance,鈥� she says. The result is a rich array of wellness events, lectures and multicultural learning opportunities.
鈥淥ur events foster unity across diverse backgrounds,鈥� says Fayson, adding that the national theme of this year鈥檚 observance is 鈥渓abor.鈥� 鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of emphasis on Black resilience and perseverance.鈥�
And the 鈥減ower of hope,鈥� Nkongnyu interjects. 鈥淗ope is what gives us strength to keep moving, especially when things are difficult.鈥�
Alie Savane 鈥�25 speaking at the 2024 New Student Convocation.
Reclaiming the Narrative
Alie Savane 鈥�25, a biology major in the and a self-described 鈥渓eadership advocate,鈥� insists that Black History Month promotes inclusion on and off campus鈥攁 trait that informs his work with the Intercultural Collective鈥檚 Men of Color Initiative (MCI) and . 鈥淪upporting and mentoring other Black students is important to me.鈥�
The Bronx native is particularly excited about Black History Month鈥檚 Afropreneurship Celebration and Business Competition (Feb. 7), the Basketball Classic (Feb. 19) and MCI鈥檚 induction ceremony (Feb. 11).
鈥淚 thrive on hands-on, real-world learning,鈥� says Savane, an aspiring physician who minors in . He recently served as a Medical Brigade volunteer in Guatemala and a hospital volunteer in The Gambia, providing care to underserved communities while gaining firsthand knowledge of global health challenges.
Savane also is a budding entrepreneur. His line of kola nut-based food and beverage products took third at last fall鈥檚 , sponsored by the .
鈥淪upporting and mentoring other Black students is important to me,鈥� says Savane, an aspiring physician and budding entrepreneur. 鈥淚n reclaiming our narrative, we foster a sense of agency.鈥�
鈥淓ntrepreneurship allows me to share my culture in ways that spark curiosity and connection as well as promote health and wellness,鈥� he says.
In many respects, entrepreneurship is Savane鈥檚 鈥淣orth Star鈥濃�攍ong a symbol of hope in the Black community. 鈥淚 want my business to not only honor my African roots, but also serve as a blueprint for other young entrepreneurs,鈥� he says. 鈥淚n reclaiming our narrative, we foster a sense of agency.鈥�
