What You Missed at the Women’s Empowerment Summit
March 2nd was an important day on campus. The Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) at SFA hosted the second annual Women’s Empowerment Summit. This program was important because it allowed women of diverse backgrounds to come together and unite in their unique cultural and ethnic differences. It featured Jessica Soukup and Miara Shaw as keynote speakers. The summit also offered workshops covering a broad range of information for people to learn and be educated on the different aspects and struggles surrounding women of color.
Alicia De La Rosa-Millard, Secretary of the office of Multicultural affairs discussed her journey of discovering the meaning of true beauty. She explained how women of all shapes, sizes, and ethnicities are beautiful and should be considered beautiful regardless of eurocentric standards. Participants in the workshop developed and implemented new habits to empower themselves and one another to establish positive self-talk. In a session entitled “A Woman’s Worth” Kourtney Carmouche, Social Committee Chair of Women of Virtue Organization and President; Alayna Walker, President of Women of Virtue Organization discussed how they achieved a great sense of self-worth through a trust and belief in God. These women offered their perspectives on their own journey to self-love and how they used their experiences to empower women.
In a session entitled “Black Girls Break The Glass Ceiling at a PWI, e-board members of Unblemished, Michaela Booker, Destini Douglas, and Mia Jonae, discussed the struggles women of color face at Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs). This discussion was particularly important to me and many other women of color on campus because SFA is considered a PWI. Joining organizations like Unblemished that seeks to uplift and empower women through encouraging discussion, engaging activities, and community service is important for women of color who do not often find themselves represented in a PWI.