BLOOM + SSWANA LLC students at the end of year celebration!
Description
Welcome to BLOOM: Asian American Community Program!
Dedicated to the Asian American Experience at Cal
BLOOM: Asian American Community Program – originally the Asian Pacific American Theme House, was first established in 1992 and relaunched in 2023 as BLOOM – is a residence program for students looking to build community while engaging in Asian American history, culture, and contemporary issues. BLOOM is grounded in the history of the Asian American Movement and its origins at Cal.
Asian American Political Alliance (AAPA) protest outside of UC Berkeley’s Greek Theater at a 1968 anti-war rally. Photo credit to Asian American Movement 1968.
This program supports new students in their transition to a large university setting through academic and social activities such as a weekly seminar, fields, academic support, cultural events, and community service. A live-in theme program assistant provides resources and support for residents’ social and academic needs. Our academic seminar brings together students and faculty, alumni, community leaders, activists, and other speakers to discuss a variety of topics relating to the Asian American experience. Through social and academic activities, students gain leadership skills, form a close-knit community, and have fun!
We are excited to help you bloom at Berkeley!
BLOOM Students and BLOOM alumni at seminar on navigating UC Berkeley
BLOOM alumni continue to be engaged even after completing the program. Here several BLOOM alum celebrate their graduation of MOVE: Asian American Community Organizing Fellowship
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UDwq0XL9dRT55mLaRaFe6htmaVZ88_C3/view
Program Requirements
BLOOM floor participants are expected to engage in and actively participate to in the following theme program activities to enhance their experience, including:
- A yearlong (fall and spring) seminar, Asian American Studies 194A/B. The mandatory seminar is a 2-unit per semester, graded class that meets on Wednesdays In this introductory Asian American studies course, BLOOM residents will learn more about Asian American experiences while building community on and off campus. Key program features include the BLOOM community event and End of Year Showcase!
- In collaboration with your Theme Program Resident Assistant (TPRA) we also host floor retreats and field trips to help build community with BLOOM and SSWANA LLC program participants.
- BLOOM participants also have the option to join in our mentorship program where you will have a BLOOM program alum as your mentor for the Spring semester!
- Other opportunities, meetings, and events will be shared with floor participants
Once you’re admitted to BLOOM, you will be given more information about how to enroll in the seminar.
BLOOM community event, Pastries and Parols
BLOOM community event, BLOOM Fest
BLOOM community event, Head in the Fog
Living Space
BLOOM residents live together, along with students from the South, South West Asian, North African (SSWANA) Living Learning Community on a floor in Towle Hall in Unit 2, which is situated on the south edge of campus a few blocks away from the bustle of Telegraph Avenue.
For more information about Unit 2, including amenities and features, academic services, and more, please visit Housing.
Contact
If you have additional questions about living arrangements that are not answered here, please email Residential Life at themeprograms@berkeley.edu.
If you have questions about BLOOM, please email Miya Sommers, Assistant Director of Asian Pacific American Student Development, at miyasommers@berkeley.edu.
Follow us on instagram @BloomatBerkeley to learn more about the program!
Group photo of the ‘23-’24 and the ‘22-’23 cohort of BLOOM!
BLOOM wellness outing to grab boba!
BLOOM students showing off their BLOOM swag!
Close up of BLOOM’s student-designed sweatshirt with flower representing the different cultures that are part of the BLOOM community and a quote by Grace Lee Boggs, “History is a story not only of the past, but the future”
BLOOM students were able to join a field trip to Remagination Farms
BLOOM and SSWANA Mentorship program “Big and Little” Reveal
BLOOM and SSWANA field trip to San Francisco – Mission District walking tour lead by Arab Resource and Organizing Center
BLOOM and SSWANA field trip to San Francisco – SF Chinatown walking tour lead by Chinatown Community Development Center