The train was already on the tracks when Erica Lane hopped on board.

University of Maryland staff and alumni were discussing the institution’s first Black Alumni Weekend when Lane joined the university as Alumni Volunteer Program Manager in fall 2019. The event, inspired by the vision and passion of UMD’s Black Alumni Network, was set for April 2020.

“I was just starting, and it was one of my first directives,” Lane recalls. “It was only a few months lead time to get to the event.”

Yet, suddenly, Lane and her collaborators found themselves with plenty of planning time—and a lot more uncertainty. The COVID-19 pandemic struck and, like nearly all events worldwide, UMD’s inaugural Black Alumni Weekend was postponed indefinitely. The train was off the tracks. The tracks were missing. And the entire railroad was closed.

But after initial disappointment, Lane and her fellow planners made the most of the hiatus of the pandemic. They spoke to alumni relations professionals at other universities about their experiences hosting Black alumni events. They devoted more thought to the roles of different organizations related to the university. They were able to create smaller lead-up events to drive awareness and excitement about the big weekend.

“The extra time turned into a blessing,” Lane says. “We had created a weekend of events that we thought would work, but no precedent had been set. Those conversations helped us solidify events that probably would work. We learned so much.”