OUR STORY

As students at the University of Pennsylvania and Columbia University, co-founders Domonique Malcolm and Addis Boyd understood the importance of finding a community among classmates with shared experiences. Though they didn’t know each other at the time, both embarked on parallel journeys with a common goal—empowering and representing those who looked like them.

Domonique, an educational influencer with 30M+ views, has documented over 50 campuses worldwide to inspire students of color in their pursuit of higher education. Addis, an entrepreneur, founded a social impact-driven company dedicated to empowering women and children of color, collaborating with artists worldwide to create intricate representations of eight ethnicities. The two first met at Columbia University, the very first campus Domonique filmed.

During the pandemic, the two joined forces. After being away from their campuses for a year and recognizing the importance of connection, the two married their passion of representation. Together, they spearheaded an initiative to unite Black students from all eight Ivy League schools.

In January 2022, ‘The BLACKIVY Vacay’ was born. After six months of dedicated planning, their vision became a reality as 30 Black Ivy League students gathered in Akumal, Mexico, for the trip of a lifetime. Later that year, the two graduated, interviewed students of color across 15 campuses in 10 countries, and moved to Brooklyn, NY. Shortly after, a community of 20 Vacay attendees formed, growing exponentially as their personal networks merged.

After visiting the Yale Club, Domonique and Addis were inspired to create a similar concept tailored to an audience close to their hearts—Black Ivy League alumni. Despite the incredible opportunities the The Ivy League had to offer, the eight schools operate independently, without actively fostering connections between students or alumni across universities.

In July 2023, the two leveraged their vast network to found BLACKIVY. They launched the club at the inaugural BLACKIVY Brunch, a 200+ person rooftop experience in Manhattan. That day, future roommates, co-founders, travel companions, and significant others met, setting in motion the magic that is BLACKIVY. Their goal at the time was simple: to connect Black Ivy League alumni through unforgettable social experiences. After the brunch, membership opened, and the club quickly grew to just under 400 members.

Following an ambitious growth plan, BLACKIVY hosted 31 experiences in 2024 ranging from an Olympic-style field day, a Black-Owned Bar Crawl, and of-course, the 2nd Annual BLACKIVY Brunch with over 200 members for the 2nd straight year. While primarily focused on social experiences, BLACKIVY also hosted impactful initiatives like a voter registration call with special guest National Urban League President Marc H. Morial (BLACKIVY ‘80), a volunteer effort with NOMO in Philadelphia, a college prep program for Brooklyn students, and a dinner series offering strategic insights from top Black executives. By the end of the year, the BLACKIVY community had doubled in size.

As of February 2025, BLACKIVY has grown to over 800 members, representing 79 nationalities and 41 industries. The club has hosted over 40 experiences, welcoming both members and friends from outside the Ivy League. Additionally, BLACKIVY has partnered with 55 Black-owned businesses and reinvested over $21k. As BLACKIVY continues to grow, it is focused on becoming a village of resources that supports its members both personally and professionally. Through carefully designed social experiences, it will continue its mission of building relationships that inspire positive impact worldwide.