The Multicultural Homecoming Tailgate and Watch Party on Saturday, Oct. 26, at the Pyle Center in the heart of UW-Madison campus will be an opportunity to connect with alumni, students, staff, and faculty before the homecoming game versus Penn State at a spirited tailgate party before the kickoff at 6:30 p.m. The event is hosted each year by the Wisconsin Alumni Association and the Multicultural Student Center
“The Wisconsin Alumni Association is where all Badgers belong, and we’re excited to welcome alumni and friends back to campus for Homecoming,” Sarah Schutt, the chief alumni officer and executive director of WAA, tells Madison365. “We’re especially happy to support events and traditions that, for more than 10 years, have created meaningful spaces for alumni of color communities to connect and celebrate.”
The Wisconsin Badgers football team won their third straight game after dominating Northwestern, 23-3, this past Saturday at Martin Stadium in Evanston, Illinois, and will host Penn State in a night game at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 26.
“The Multicultural Tailgate and Watch Party is a vibrant celebration of homecoming spirit for alumni and students of color, but everyone is welcome to join in the fun and cheer for the Badgers,” Gia Gallimore, the senior director of diverse alumni engagement for the Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association, tells Madison365.
“This exciting event will feature the MKE360 photobooth, music from DJ Ree Maniac (Kyree Brooks ’18), a halftime performance by the Dynamic Badgerettes, and a delicious array of food,” Gallimore continues. “Attendees will have the chance to engage and discover the latest campus happenings, and we’ll also be celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Mercile J Lee Scholars Program.”
The Multicultural Homecoming Tailgate and Watch Party started 11 years ago and has grown over the years.
“In 2013, the Wisconsin Alumni Association and the Multicultural Student Center set out to reestablish Multicultural Homecoming (MCHC), a unifying tradition for alumni of color,” Gallimore says. “Since then, alumni, students, and staff have celebrated their time as Badgers through a variety of events: a Step Afrika performance, welcome receptions, student, and alumni networking, the Wild ’N Out comedy show, the National Pan-Hellenic and Multicultural Greek Council Yard Show, and, most notably, the Tailgate and Watch Party.
“Every year, attendees express their excitement and appreciation for the event, creating an atmosphere filled with hugs, laughter, and joyful cheers as alumni reconnect and enjoy their time together,” she adds.
Gallimore says they are also inviting people to check out the annual Multicultural Homecoming Yard Show in collaboration with the UW-Madison Fraternity and Sorority Life Office and for alumni to stop by the Divine Nine Plaza, a garden plaza on campus that honors the National Pan-Hellenic Council chapters on campus, during their campus visit.
“This year’s Multicultural Homecoming is planned by the Wisconsin Alumni Association Homecoming Committee, and sponsored by Wisconsin Alumni Association (WAA) and the Division of Diversity, Equity & Educational Achievement (DDEEA),” Gallimore says.
Gallimore gave a special thank you to all the sponsors that have supported Multicultural Homecoming over the years including the Division of Diversity, Equity & Educational Achievement, First Wave, Gender and Sexuality Campus Center, Multicultural Student Center, PEOPLE, and the POSSE Program.
“The goal of the event is to create a space for alumni and students of color to build community — while also cheering on the Badgers,” Gallimore says.
