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The empowerment event aimed to inspire confidence and determination in 300 attending young women of color from area high schools to pursue their personal, professional and academic dreams, as well as recognize, explore, appreciate and embrace their individuality.
Tanya Dean, two-time Daily News Golden Glove boxing champion and Monroe College staff member, delivered the opening remarks.
Fox 5 television news reporter Lisa Evers delivered the keynote address.
Both Dean and Evers shared stories of overcoming significant challenges and obstacles to achieve success.
Attendees split into smaller groups of 10 to meet with one of the 40 Monroe College female faculty and staff. The staff acted as mentors, shared personal stories of achievement, listened to students and encouraged them to pursue their dreams.
“Monroe College is very proud of its role in the community to improve educational opportunities and outcomes for all students, but especially young men and women of color who do not always have comparable access to the financial resources, academic experiences, and social structures that we know are critical to later personal and professional success,” said Cecil Wright, dean of admissions and director of its student empowerment programs.
“This year’s Female Empowerment Event focused on the specific experiences of young minority women in high school, helping them see the importance of rising above their circumstances and challenges, believing in themselves, and rejecting unhealthy and unrealistic social pressures and expectations that can undermine their self-esteem and self-confidence and stop them from being the best version of themselves that they can be," said Dr. Wright.
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