In February 2021, Shipley’s Black Alumni Association (BAA) set out to raise $100,000 in order to establish the Black Alumni Association Endowment Fund at Shipley. The Fund’s annual proceeds would support curricular and cultural needs of current Black students and teachers, with a preference for activities and programs that would provide the entire school community with a diverse, African-American experience integral to a shared American experience. With the support of the Shipley community and the tremendous leadership of Hakiem Coles ’07, the BAA and Shipley proudly announce that the goal of $100,000 has been met and exceeded by 30%!

“I am ecstatic that the BAA, in concert with Shipley, has successfully achieved our goal of establishing an endowed fund at Shipley,” says Hakiem. “What an opportunity it has been, as the advocate and organizer behind this initiative… The support from everyone has been incredible. This endowment would have been impossible to attain without the support, empathy, and compassion of over 100 individuals—Shipley alumni from the 1960s and as recent as 2019, teachers (current and former), friends, and families—as well as the generosity of the Halloran Philanthropies and The Shipley School, itself. We did this together!”

Hakiem concludes, “This partnership with Shipley has confirmed that there is a generous commitment to promoting and creating everlasting, inclusive, and equitable change for their students. The most exciting part of this established partnership is preparing for what the future of this endowment will represent. The real work begins now.”

Hakiem “Hak” Coles ‘07 was the youngest and first black alumnus to receive Shipley’s Alumni Service Award for his efforts to create the BAA Fund. The Alumni Council chose Hak in recognition of his steadfast commitment to helping Shipley create a fully culturally sustaining and inclusive environment. The award was presented at Alumni Reunion Weekend on Friday, April 29, 2022. Read his award citation and acceptance speech. Read a Q&A with Hak. Read a 2021 Shipley profile about Hak.