Carla Berry (McT Class of 1988) is the founding member of the BackN’ Black Alumni Association. Berry has been at her alma mater since 2010 teaching Financial Literacy, Computer Technology and Graphic Design. Berry is also the moderator of the African American Club and head coach of the Girls’ Basketball program.

McTbackNblack@gmail.com

berryc@mcgill-toolen.org

The mission of the McT Black Alumni Association is to create an organization that connects generations of black McT alumni to the legacy of our past while enhancing the McT experience for former, current and future black students alike. The association’s leadership will be an empowered force committed to participating in committees, meetings, and events where decisions, policies, changes are being discussed and implemented to ensure the interests of all students are aligned and represented as needed. Furthermore, the organization will be committed to recognizing and celebrating the distinguished alumni population we are and our extraordinary accomplishments.

This is our organization and opportunity not to fit in but to stand out and step up define our unique experience as alumni!

As alumni, we can all attest to the value of our McT education and experience; evident in so many aspects of our lives. Still, as African Americans, navigating environments where we are overwhelmingly in the minority presents unique challenges wherever we are. As the moderator of the African American Club, I’ve done what I can to acknowledge and enhance the unique experience of our Black students. I’ve taken students to the esteemed Civil Rights Legacy Museum in Montgomery four times, the new Clotilda Museum in Africatown twice. We competed in the Black History Scholars’ Bowl twice; actually hosting and winning the event this year. We attended a Bryan Stevenson speaking engagement at South Alabama, tutored elementary students, participated in service projects, visited Xavier, Tuskegee and other colleges. The club sponsored the Anesa Baker Memorial Scholarships; in honor of a student we loss in 2019. In 2020-21, I started a faculty coalition to advocate for more diversity and representation in the school curriculum. From that endeavor we created a History class that specifically studied the Civil Rights Movement within the state, we started a Social Justice Club and added such contemporary books as Just Mercy and Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man to class reading lists. In my own classes, I took the liberty to examine social inequalities embedded in society and institutions. To see the vast majority of my students so genuinely enlightened by and grateful for the experience was among the most gratifying rewards of my teaching career.

But the need for more diversity, representation, cultural enrichment and support is a pressing matter. So I am committed to enlisting all McT Black alumni to join our Black Alumni Association! There is strength in numbers, an organized association will give us a collective voice and network to best support the interest of our students and alumni. The mission of the McT Black Alumni Association is to create an organization that connects generations of Black alumni to the legacy of our past while enhancing the McT experience for former, current and future Black students alike. The association’s leadership will be an empowered force committed to participating in committees, meetings, and events where decisions, policies, changes are being discussed and implemented to ensure the interests of all students are represented as needed. Furthermore, the organization will be committed to recognizing and celebrating the distinguished alumni population we are and our extraordinary accomplishments.

As I began this endeavor my primary focus was to enrich the McT experience for our current and future African American students. But God expanded my vision to include a greater purpose. In the last year, I’ve crossed paths with several of our pioneering alumni who integrated McGill-Toolen. I spoke to Mr. John Finley, one of two African American males to graduate from McGill in 1966. I wanted to nominate him for the McGill-Toolen Hall of Fame. However, he declined my offer. As the first to desegregate McGill, you can imagine the indignation and isolation he had to endure. Regrettably, he did not speak of fond memories of our alma mater. For all us who benefited and enjoyed our experience, we are indebted to Mr. Finley and those of his era. In a fitting tribute to him, I would like to honor him at our inaugural McT Black Alumni Association Awards Ceremony. In addition, I would like to permanently name two awards after him. First, the John Finley Alumni of the Year award to be awarded to a distinguished McT African American alumni who has achieved and demonstrated excellence in their professional and personal life. Additionally, there will be a John Finley scholarship award for an African American graduating male who meets the criteria in the areas of academics, leadership, service and character. Of course, we will bestow the same honor on the first African American female to desegregate and graduate from Toolen.

As we’ve moved on to lead exceptional personal and professional lives, we lost some of our connection to an experience that so clearly help evolve us. We are not always aware of class reunions, social events, committees and are generally under represented. Now the BackN’ Black Alumni Association is a declaration that we are back in and here to support and celebrate our unique experience as alumni and stakeholders in the McT future. This organization is an opportunity for us not to fit in but to stand out and step up!

I am excited for what we can accomplish ahead as a united force! This is your invitation to please join the McTBackN’ Black Alumni Association! Be a voting member, submit ideas, help us establish an agenda and plan of action for the future! As McGill-Toolen begins a new era of leadership with a new Archbishop, president, principal, assistant principal of academics and discipline, athletic director, and a superintendent in just his second year, this is a period of transition with change and growth that will impact the future of McGill-Toolen for years to come. At this critical time when interested parties are called on as “stakeholders” to take part in discussions and planning regarding enrollment, facilities, academics, fundraising, athletics, diversity etc. the best way to ensure our unique interests are considered is to have a presence representing our alumni and most importantly current and future students. We are confident this alumni association will provide the leadership, presence and voice needed to actively participate as valued stakeholders.