杜校友创造BW领导
University hosts second annual summit during Black 历史 Month
It’s a Friday morning, 和 the 科罗拉多女子学院 充满活力. More than 80 young women are there to attend the second annual Black Women Lead Empower Aspire 和 Dedicate Summit, 或BW LEAD.
“It’s a daylong summit where we bring in black women from all across Denver high schools to DU’s campus 和 engage in a variety of activities 和 sessions about what it means to be a black woman 和 what it means to be a leader,” says DU alumna Brooklyn Batey (BA ’16). She is one of the founders of BW LEAD 和 says attendance has doubled from the inaugural year.
“I think a lot of young girls realize that they did not have an opportunity to be in a space with other black women to talk about their shared experiences,贝蒂说。. “I think it (the increase in attendance) says a lot about what our girls want 和 what our girls need to really achieve their goals in high school, college 和 through their careers.”
泰Carrethers, a junior from Vista Peak High School, says she’s excited to be able to attend BW LEAD. “I think it’s a very helpful program for young women like myself. I think it really helps them find themselves 和 actually find a way to feel comfortable fitting in.”
“I learned to really embrace who I am 和 accept who I am,Iyana Davis说, a junior from Denver East High School. “Being a woman in this society, a lot of people doubt us. We just have to learn to be stronger.”
Programs like BW LEAD embody the aspirations outlined in Du冲击2025, the University’s strategic plan, which calls for engagement with the local community 和 partnering with local school districts.
“What I love about this whole entire program is we try to get the message across of just being your authentic self. 每个人的情况都不一样, 和 I think that builds the community, when you open up the space for everyone to be authentic in their true selves,” says Makida Yilma (BSBA ’16), BW LEAD的另一位创始人.
In addition to being the founders of BW LEAD, Yilma 和 Batey are busy with their new jobs since graduating from DU. Yilma works at Arrow Electronics, 和 Batey teaches at Strive Prep Middle School in Green Valley Ranch.