Three-Day Celebration Includes Giveaways in Tribute to the Iconic Athlete and Activist
UCLA will commemorate the 50th anniversary of Arthur Ashe’s historic Wimbledon victory with the return of Café UCLA, a pop-up event set to run June 27–29 at 1037 Broxton Avenue in Westwood Village.
Originally launched in Paris during the 2024 Summer Olympics, the Bruin-themed café reopens Friday with a new focus: celebrating Ashe’s 1975 Wimbledon title win and honoring his legacy as a civil rights activist and advocate for HIV/AIDS awareness. Ashe, a 1966 UCLA graduate, remains the only Black man to have won the Wimbledon men’s singles title, defeating fellow Bruin Jimmy Connors in a landmark match.
In addition to themed giveaways and a limited-edition activewear line inspired by UCLA’s 1965 tennis uniforms, the café will host a panel discussion on Friday, June 28, from 2 to 5 p.m. The event will be moderated by legendary UCLA softball player and coach Sue Enquist, a national titleholder 11 times over.
Panelists include:
- Jenny Johnson Jordan, UCLA beach volleyball head coach and alumna
- Chaitali Mukherjee, executive director of the Arthur Ashe Student Health & Wellness Center
- Jonathan Franklin, former NFL running back and UCLA football alumnus
- Joel Drucker, tennis historian
- Alexis Ramirez, UCLA softball student-athlete
Café UCLA is presented by Associated Students UCLA (ASUCLA) in partnership with the Arthur Ashe Legacy at UCLA, the Arthur Ashe Student Health & Wellness Center, and the UCLA Alumni Association. You can find more information at the event’s website.
The three-day event aims to spotlight Ashe’s enduring influence on athletics, health equity, and social justice through the lens of UCLA’s campus and community.
