We are incredibly honored to continue hosting the annual Red Dot Ball, an incredible tradition honoring the death of prior Highland ED faculty, Pat Connel. Dr. Connel was an enigma and a strong presence in the Oakland community, and we can't wait to gather to celebrate his life and the community he loved.

As a celebration of his life and death, Red Dot Ball serves as an opportunity for our department and all who pass through it to share space, dress up, and get to know each other better. We hope this event gives everyone the chance to celebrate and embrace the quirkiness, passion, and zest for life that makes our community so special.

Highland family, please help support this tradition! Help us contemplate its merits, historicize its origins, share our stories from this magical space, and find blinding joy.

ANY amount donated helps tremendously while we are fronting for the venue, music, decorations, etc. We will also be selling tickets which you can find here (https://HGHRDB2025.eventbrite.com). We hope you can attend, and we are incredibly grateful for your generosity.

October 24th, 2025.

With great joy and pleasure