By Maritza Falchetti
Being a Black male at a predominantly white institution can be difficult.
“Going into college, I was essentially on my own and had to figure out what kind of person I wanted to be,” said Towson University student Monty Melvin, Jr. “I knew I couldn’t just sit in my dorm room for four years and just let college go by, so I made it apparent to find a community on campus.”
That community is The Lunch Table, a Black student media organization. Several years later, he is set to become president of the organization, created by Black students for Black students.
The Lunch Table was founded in 2015 by David Abraham and has been active on Towson University’s campus for the last nine years. Its vision is to give students and members of the community a platform to showcase their talents and grow professionally. Students get practice in video production, camera operation, editing, marketing, event planning and networking, among other skills. TLT promotes content through its social media channels.
An annual weeklong event that the organization prides itself on is called TLT Week. The week is geared toward Towson students and the Towson community, with events starting in late March leading up to the actual week, starting on April 22. This is the first year of full, in-person celebrations since COVID-19.
President Hydia Wilson is proud of the organization’s values and enjoys the chance to bring attention to the group during TLT week. Although TLT gears its events specifically towards Black students at Towson, the events are open to everyone.
The week kicks off on Monday, April 22 with a Live Family Feud show against Towson Ethiopian and Eritrean Student Association, which will be a fun activity to forge a connection between the two groups. The week will continue with a basketball tournament for a cash prize the following day, a music battle, a party and finally finishes off with a BBQ. Wilson has high expectations for this year’s TLT week and is excited for the people it will bring together.
“Our community really needs events like this to help not only bring people together but to also create a fun environment at our school that allows us to get our minds off exams and stress from our classes,” Wilson said.
Wilson has been a member of the organization since fall 2022. Soon after, she took a leadership role as secretary during her sophomore year. The following year, she became president. She has always been an extrovert and has found joy in creating content and talking to people. It is currently her third semester as president, and with only one semester remaining in college, she will be passing the torch to her Williams, the current secretary.
“Part of me is nervous to carry on the legacy that the past presidents worked hard to achieve, especially Hydia,” Williams said. “The work she’s done to take this org to the where it is now is unbelievable. Part of me also feels extremely proud being able to have this amazing opportunity.”
Williams has been training to become TLT’s next president since the 2023 fall semester and is filled with many emotions but mostly gratitude when it comes to taking over such an accomplished organization.
Williams will be taking a huge step planning and leading one of the week’s major events, the basketball tournament. This will be his first test and feel for what the president role will feel like. He is grateful to be able to give back to a group that has helped him immensely.
“I didn’t know what to expect with TLT and I can admit I was nervous at the first interest meeting but I am so glad that I stuck with it because the amount of friends and memories that I’ve made just in the two years that I’ve been a part of it have been amazing,” he said.
The organization has grown tremendously, especially within the last year. When Williams joined in September 2022 there were only about 20 members, now the organization has more than 60 members. Each member adds value to the team, especially when it comes to TLT Week. The club figures out a week during the beginning of the school year, months before they can even plan what specific events will take place.
“We start throwing out ideas over winter break and it slowly starts coming together as we get back for the spring semester,” Williams said. “Honestly, the hardest part is hoping all our hard work and preparation pays off and hoping for a great turnout for each event.”