Above: Ayo Banjo (Oakes ’21, politics)
When Ayo Banjo (Oakes ’21, politics) came from his hometown in Southern California to the redwood-studded campus of UC Santa Cruz as a freshman, few could have predicted the profound impact he would have not only within the university walls but far beyond them.
In a strategic meeting with California’s Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, UCSC alum and NAACP California/Hawaii Youth President Ayo Banjo champions environmental justice, focusing on propelling youth of color into the state’s expanding climate sector. This moment captures his critical role in shaping policies to close the racial gap in environmental careers.
From his ambitious start as the Student Union Assembly (SUA) president to his significant roles in national movements and founding a marketing firm, Banjo’s journey is a testament to the power of vision coupled with relentless dedication to community empowerment.
In his first year at UCSC, Banjo ran for SUA president and, at 19, was elected as the youngest student body president in UCSC history. Under his transformative leadership, the SUA doubled its budget from $500,000 to $1 million, provided students with emergency housing grants, hired a lawyer to help students with housing issues, and cultivated meaningful relationships with faculty and staff, setting a new standard for student leadership. These initiatives not only addressed immediate student needs but also strengthened the university’s support system, fostering a more nurturing environment for the student community.
His tenure as SUA president only scratched the surface of his impact at UCSC. After a year as president, Banjo was ready to move on and support the UCSC community in different ways.
He became instrumental in the search for UCSC’s current chancellor, Cynthia Larive, and founded the university’s chapter of the NAACP, positioning it as a pivotal force in the Black Lives Matter movement in Santa Cruz. His leadership in these roles caught the attention of national figures, eventually leading him to head the NAACP’s Youth & College Division across California and Hawaii.
“If I stayed as SUA president, I don’t think I would have focused on my community like that,” Banjo said. This choice underscored his commitment to deeper, more meaningful community engagement over broader but potentially less influential activities.
Postgraduation, while still delivering pizzas part time, he worked with the UCSC Admissions Office to create a new role aimed at enhancing retention among African, Black, and Caribbean students—a role that married his passion with pragmatic community solutions.
“I didn’t know how to intersect my passion of uplifting the community with pursuing a career,” Banjo said. “So I realized that the best thing I could utilize was the connections and relationships I built over time, and one of those relationships was [with] UCSC Admissions.”
In 2022, Banjo received a phone call from local nonprofit Santa Cruz Black, and joined the organization as the director of programming, marking a pivotal moment in Banjo’s career. He spearheaded a data-driven impact strategy that furthered the organization’s mission to amplify the voices of Santa Cruz’s Black community. His success in this capacity led him to establish Banjo Strategies Consulting Group, offering marketing and consulting services to various clients, including the city of Santa Cruz and Climatize, a micro-investing platform focused on climate projects.
“Once I had gotten that second client [after UCSC Admissions], Santa Cruz Black, I realized that this was something I could actually move forward with,” Banjo said.
At a UC Santa Cruz panel, Banjo moderates discussions on the 2023 Pajaro Valley levee breach, showcasing his strategic insight in blending academic research with immersive experiences to highlight environmental injustices impacting vulnerable communities. His leadership not only illuminated the systemic issues of environmental racism but also empowered students to envision and strive for a just and equitable world.
One of his current posts is as marketing director for the Resource Center for Nonviolence in Santa Cruz. Among the various campaigns he designed, an event titled “Let the Caged Bird Sing” with the local Musical Soulmates project holds a special place for Banjo. The event featured performers who were survivors of sexual or domestic violence. This poignant event not only raised funds but also awareness for the Walnut Avenue Family & Women’s Center, providing a platform for survivors to share their stories and heal.
“It was a beautiful event where all of these singers who are all survivors were at the Walnut Avenue Family & Women’s Center singing to children and women who are currently going through domestic violence,” Banjo said. “It renewed my sense of why I do this work; opportunities like that allow me to create and cultivate things deep down.”
For current and prospective UCSC students, Banjo emphasizes the importance of creating and finding one’s path through college and taking advantage of the multitude of opportunities available.
“Your ability to make a difference in this town is formidable,” Banjo said. “My time at UCSC was so important because I could tell the rest of the community who I am and what I do, and that was big when transitioning more into community work. Don’t come into UCSC to receive; come in to create.”
Ayo Banjo’s story is not just about the positions he has held but also about his unwavering dedication to community and innovation. As he continues to shape his legacy, Banjo remains a Banana Slug full of hope and represents a model of effective leadership, proving that with passion and perseverance, anyone can indeed make a difference.
Connect with Ayo Banjo over email or social media.