By VOICE & VIEWPOINT NEWSWIRE
Women of Color Roar Media held its inaugural Leadership Academy on Saturday, September 23, 2023, at the Access Youth Academy in Southeast San Diego. Forty-four students, all “Future Leaders,” participated in the half day life-skills workshop geared to young women from underserved communities, followed by a career and resource fair.
Angela de Joseph, Founder of Women of Color Roar Media and Executive Director of Women of Color Roar Leadership Academy, thanked her board of directors; Vice President Kathleen Harmon, Development Director Alyce Pipkin-Allen, Treasurer Tama Becker-Varano and the dedicated team of volunteers for their hard work on making the academy a success.
The program opened with a video greeting from California Secretary of State, Dr. Shirley Weber. Dr. Weber encouraged the students to get involved in their community and she stressed the importance of registering to vote.
“California has been bold enough to say when you turn 16 you can register to vote. Think of voting as part of your leadership development,” said Dr. Weber.
Three additional elected officials spoke in the first session, giving the students practical advice on careers in public service and running for office. The highlight of the day was the dynamic panel of successful young African American women dubbed the “Power Panel” including Chevelle Newell-Tate, District Director, Assemblymember Dr. Akilah Weber (AD-79); Chida Warren Darby, Director of Appointments/Boards and Commissions, Mayor Todd Gloria; Geneviève L. Jones-Wright, Esq., Executive Director, Community Advocates for Just and Moral Governance (MoGo); and Khea Pollard, Director, Economic Mobility and Opportunity, Jewish Family Services of San Diego.
Each panelist shared their journey to landing their current career role and gave practical advice on internship opportunities, college choices and volunteering as paths to jobs in public service. One of the students asked if going to a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) was seen as an impediment to landing a job. The panel quickly shot down that notion with Jones-Wright, Esq, a proud Howard Law graduate, noting that Howard produces the highest number of Black doctors in the country and HBCU graduates hold the most prestigious positions in all professions, including Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris.
The day included a hands-on workshop on career preparation. The final session on Managing Your Money and Budgeting. A life-skills workshop concluded the day, with a raffle for four laptops and two desktop computers. After completing the career fair, each student received a $100 Visa Card to use toward college applications and expenses.
