(ThyBlackMan.com) The summit to educate, encourage and engage over several hundred youth attending the “Talk It Out” Summit was an overwhelming success in Jacksonville, Florida.
Building of leaders is what Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Gamma Rho Omega Chapter, Inc. does well in its national and international sorority.
Alpha Kappa Alpha’s mission has been to cultivate and encourage high scholastic and ethical standards, to promote unity and friendship among college women, to study and help alleviate problems concerning girls and women in order to improve their social stature, to maintain a progressive interest in college life, and to be of “Service to All Mankind.”
These illustrious words carried from the foundation of AKA Sorority in 1908 extend to the 21st century community initiatives.
This year’s theme: “Talk It Out” achieved the goals of Leadership Development, Character Building, Educational Enrichment, and Civic
Engagement through interactive dialogue and discussion. Youth attending the workshops held at James Weldon Johnson College Prep were engaged in discussions from bullying prevention which is on the rise, budgeting money, STEAM and STREAM careers, Social Media safety and developing leadership skills necessary to be successful throughout life. Even dance is used as an Art form used to highlight the dynamic talents of young ladies.
Taylor Richardson, a fourth grade student commented with great excitement when asked what she thought of the event she attended with her mother, learned that she has to work hard if she is going to be an astronaut (one of her dreams). Stating further that she doesn’t want McDonalds anymore, focusing more in a healthier eating lifestyle at a young age to carry into adulthood.
Events such as this are important for girls; youth, teens and young adult women to attend because they show how important engagement is with women that are active and involved in the community and have successfully completed higher education, vocational education and even careers in the military to show girls and young women, and even the few young men that attended the value of education and the significance of preparing for future careers.
Sororities like Alpha Kappa Alpha and even fraternities provide a valuable resource to youth that need to see role models in business, education, science, medicine and even in careers not thought of or even considered. The presentation of STEAM, and STREAM careers provided by William Jackson of “My Quest To Teach” an educator and presenter that speaks on careers associated with STEM showed that careers are continuously in development for youth, teens and young adults that have not been created yet.
Mr. Jackson an educator of over 20 years teaches Engineering and Technology in public education and Educational Technology at Edward Waters College shares that youth especially Black youth need to enter in careers of STEM – Science Technology Engineering Math and STEAM Science Technology Engineering Arts Mathematics. These are careers that are high in salaries, leadership responsibilities and the opportunity to travel the world.
The growing number of acronyms from CSTEAM Computer Science Technology Engineering Arts Mathematics and STREAM integrating reading and comprehension prepares students for careers.
Betty Burney, educator, motivational speaker, past school board member with Duval County Public Schools and one of the AKA’s greatest role models and advocates for education, excites and motivates all she interacts with. Providing wisdom and foundational knowledge to the value and empowerment of education.
Taylor Richardson with excitement still building in her eyes and a bright excited smile stated that “this (AKA Summit) was the best experience of her life thus far! To meet a real astronaut and her be(ing) a girl rocks!! “ Taylor and her mom hope to find a summer camp that emphasizes STEM and STEAM activities and careers to continue to motivate and educate girls in these important career choices.
The influence and power of role models like Ms. Juliea Robinson-Nelson and Dr. Mae Jamison are powerful in motivating girls into careers that may not be recognized as realistic dreams and goals for inner city youth. Events like this are important to show girls that they are intelligent, talented and just as smart as boys in sciences, technology and mathematics.
The upcoming One Spark crowd funding event in Jacksonville, Florida is another opportunity for girls and women, especially Black women to seek how to find funding as entrepreneurs, business leaders and pioneers in diverse areas that provide services and products.
Women are growing as business leaders and need to see models of success and influence to encourage the next generation of leaders. Statistics are showing a growing change in the participation of women in many fields. Women hold only 17 percent of the board seats on Fortune 500 companies NPR 04/2014. The trend shows the more women get involved in companies and work up the professional ladder they are watched by other women and their achievements are emulated from educational obtainment to career choices.
One of the benefits to summits is the opportunity to network for these young ladies. Mr. Jackson, a social media consultant explained to the youth the value of networking from the model of E3 Business Group of Northeast Florida http://e3northflorida.org/tag/e3-business-group/ he stated that before the summit is over they should have networked with three people they did not know previously, sharing contact and social media information.
Research says the No. 1 unwritten rule of success in business is networking and youth should be taught and modeled the value of networking to build relationships that extend in years, creating a foundation of collaboration and connectivity for future.
The success of the AKA Summit will be seen in the growing futures of the young ladies and young men in attendance. A young lady thrilled about participating in the summit stated with passion she wanted to learn everything there was to be an AKA. What a great testament to
the success of building women and empowering them to exceed their potential.
Resources:
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. http://www.aka1908.com/
AKA Chapter http://akaalphachapter.org/
AKA Southern Atlantic Region http://akasouthatlanticregion.org/
My Quest To Teach http://MyQuestToTeach.WordPress.com/
Bullying On the Rise http://jacksonville.com/files/interactives/risksurvey/
Staff Writer; William D. Jackson
Find out more about this talented writer over at; OCS For Education.