Find and attend events hosted, sponsored, or co-sponsored by Trotter/MESA.
Trotter/MESA events are open to all U-M students of all races and ethnicities, with many also welcoming staff and faculty. See details for registration information, where applicable.
Signature programs and popular series
Arab, Asian American & Pacific Islander, Black, Latine, and Native American Heritage Months.
Request peer-led workshops and teach-ins, ranging from anti-racism to capacity building to allyhood and more.
A year-long, student-led, peer mentorship program centering students' holistic well-being, retention, and success.
CommuniTea
Weekly
Join students, staff, and faculty each week in the Sankofa Lounge to connect, share experiences and "Good News," and unwind. Meet new friends, play a card game, or study and eat your lunch among community! Organizations and units are welcome to collaborate and share refreshments or cultural tea practices. See our list of upcoming events at the top of this page for scheduled CommuniTeas coming up.
F.A.M. Fridays
Monthly
Celebrate culture through Food, Art & Music. On the second Friday of each month, explore the different cultural foods our campus and Ann Arbor communities offer, while amplifying student creativity and voices from marginalized communities through cultural exchange. See our list of upcoming events at the top of this page for scheduled F.A.M. Fridays coming up.
QTBIPOC Kickbacks
Monthly
Find your community. Join our monthly gatherings with Trotter/MESA and Spectrum Center for community and meals, centering students who are queer and trans Black, indigenous, and people of color. Drop in, grab food, and hang out! Open to all U-M students. See our list of upcoming events at the top of this page for scheduled QTBIPOC Kickbacks coming up.
Soul Food Sundays
Monthly
Join students, faculty, and staff of all identities to celebrate soul food and its centuries-old roots in the African diaspora and the tradition of Sunday gatherings at the home of the family matriarch. Through bread breaking, music, dance, and conversation, we honor history and tradition and we shine a light on the love within the Black community. See our list of upcoming events at the top of this page for scheduled Soul Food Sundays coming up.
Trotter Distinguished Leadership Series
Annual
We model and inspire healthy discourse and learning across U-M by inviting notable speakers from the political and public service sectors, both national and international. Through idea-focused talks on a wide range of subjects, we foster learning, inspiration, and conversations that matter to students. This series was developed with generous financial support from David M. and Joan Chu Reese.
Past speakers
Recent speakers have included:
- 2025
- Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist
- Dr. Beverly Tatum and Dr. Ruth J. Simmons, moderated by Dr. Earl Lewis
- 2024
- Charlene Carruthers, Amanda Alexander, and Bianca Wilson
- Chuck Rocha
- Ranjeev Puri and Rowland Hwang
- 2022
- Neeraja Aravamudan, Diahann Billings-Burford, and Ayanna McConnell, moderated by Marie Ting
- José González, Missy Stults, and Rika Novayanti, moderated by Emilia Askari
- 2020
- State Senator Stephanie Chang, moderated by Niala Boodhoo
- State Representative Sarah Anthony, moderated by Elizabeth James
- Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, moderated by Jacob Carah
- Sarah Hurwitz and John McConnell, moderated by Aaron Kall
- 2019
- Peter Bhatia
- Barbara McQuade and Kathryn Dominguez, moderated by Arnessa Garrett
- John Sandweg and Mara Ostfeld
Stay connected through our bi-weekly newsletter
Get updates on upcoming events, Trotter/MESA news, funding and engagement opportunities, and more!
Have any questions?
- Programs and events: Contact Dr. Adrian Parker.
- Alumni engagement: Contact Dr. Adrian Parker.
- Community-building programming, student experience, and other inquiries: [email protected]
EVENTS & PROGRAMS
