Young Educated Ladies Leading

April, 2014 — Highline College

purpose

Goal

To empower and motivate our young women of color to excel in academics and to accept nothing less than excellence from self.

Objectives

Critique life, education and careers social norms that inhibit young women of color from being recognized for their success.
Highlight the achievements in spite of the obstacles/barriers that they face.
Contextualize their self-identity socially, culturally, historically, and politically by giving the women of color a sense of self and value of self.

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agenda

8:15 - 8:40 am	Registration and Breakfast
8:40 - 9:00am	Opening Ceremony and Introductions
9:00 - 9:50am	Keynote Address: Tanya Moore, PhD Your Hidden Genius How do you discover your genius, develop it and express it? You are more than you realize. How can science and math help you to understand this? What can we learn from other scientists and mathematicians about what is possible for our life? Using science and math can give us a way to make a positive impact on the world and an opportunity to bring out our hidden genius.
10:00am - 11:20am workshops	Dr. Caprice D. Hollins Our Stories, Our Truth, Our Journey To Success As women of color we are often faced with too many messages about who we are or are not. Society tells us we are aggressive when we are assertive, lazy when we are hardworking, that we are angry when we are passionate, that we are acting white when we are brilliant, that we are not enough of one thing and too much of another when we are everything we should be. These messages and many more are confusing and oftentimes without even knowing it, become subconsciously internalized. The truth is we are so much more than anyone could ever define us as being. But stereotypes and labels can have a devastating effect when they are not unpacked and brought to a conscious level. Sharing our stories, naming the messages we have internalized and believing in our potency are all important steps in overcoming barriers to success. This session provides young women an opportunity to critically reflect on the challenges they face and how we can move beyond them to reach our full potential. Amelia Phillips What doesn't Kill You Makes You Stronger Have you wondered why some people handle adversity better than others? Do you ever wonder what your future could be if you tapped into your own inner strength? Come and listen to a tale of Triumph over Tragedy. And then participate in a workshop that has you dig deep to find out your own beliefs and self-imposed limitations. Tune into your internal compass and follow your own inner truth. Tammie Holmes Don’t Allow Your Past to Define Your Future Step outside your comfort zone. Take baby steps each day toward the life of your dreams. Believe in the truth that anything is truly possible - because it IS! Discover the wisdom within. Be prepared for life's curveballs and remember to duck. Remember that you are not your past or your mistakes. Release the mistakes of the past and carry forward only the lessons they contain. You have the power to rewrite your story at any time. Come and be empowered by my personal story about how I have overcome my past mistakes and now I have the inner strength to encourage other women to realize that they are warriors and can conquer anything that hinders them from being a success story. Irene Monica Sanchez Building a Community of Support through Our Stories of Achievement and Success During this workshop I will share my story of my pathway to the Ph.D. as a former community college student who was kicked out of school and how I learned that the end goal isn't always the biggest achievement or success. I will share some educational research around women of color in higher education and focus on community college students (current and those who plan to attend one, but all are welcome). We will discuss what achievement and success looks like inside and outside of school, how the transformation that we want to make in our lives is possible through education and how we can create a community of support to ensure that all of us reach our goals no matter where we started or past academic performance. In order to do recognize the greatness we have reached in our lives and that we are on the verge of we must be able to recognize our achievements and success right now. We will engage with one another through sharing our stories, a writing exercise and how to build a community of support in your life in order to meet your own educational/life goals. Teresa Springer Young Entrepreneur Bootcamp: Act like a Lady, Think like a Entrepreneur Do you have what it takes to turn your ideas into a business? Learn from experienced businesswoman and serial entrepreneur, Teresa Springer. She will teach you the necessary aspects of becoming an entrepreneur, such as: how to turn your passion into profit, identifying market trends, what it takes financially to start a business, the difference between an entrepreneur and a business owner, and other important tips and information that you won't find in a textbook. You'll also participate in a real hands-on exercise to help sharpen your entrepreneurial skills.
11:30am - 12:45pm	Caucus
1:00pm - 1:50pm	Lunch with Entertainment
2:00 - 3:20pm workshops	Yoshiko Harden Good intentions aren't enough; The damaging effects of microaggressions Racism and other forms of oppression can manifest in both overt, blatant discriminatory practices, and covert, subtle and innocuous remarks. There is a large body of research on the overt forms of racism and oppression in society. Less talked about are the subtle forms of conscious and unconscious comments, called microaggressions. Microaggressions manifest in all forms and can impact all social identity categories- race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender, class, language and religion, to name a few. And often it is well intended, "nice" people who tend to perpetuate micoaggressions. During this workshop, participants will learn to identify both individual and institutional forms of microaggressions, and learn practical and useful strategies to address, interrupt, and dismantle them. Anita Garcia Morales Self Identity Track Participants will use a Latin@ American Identity Development Framework to assess what has influenced them to develop their identity and how to retain a sense of who they are ethnically and culturally.Participants will have an opportunity to compare color collectivism to white individualism. Understanding that neither way of being is better than the other, participants will become aware of how the way they walk in the world is often seen as wrong when it is only culturally and ethnically different. Participants will learn/relearn about the micro-aggressions that assault them both consciously and subconsciously and how to interrupt micro-aggressions. Makela Stewart Self Identity and perception, not letting your circumstance define you! This workshop will focus on the different perceptions of the many aspects of ones identity. Who are you? Do you know? Are you living up to other peoples perceptions of who/what you should be, or are you charting your own path in this thing we call life. Do you believe what society and the media says about you? Come hear, share and experience the life changing story of a young woman who despite many difficult life circumstances, has persevered and realized the true meaning of self-identity. Kirin Bhatti Shattering the walls in order to walk our true path: Lessons from childhood. Remember being a child? The world was filled with infinite possibilities -‐ even if just in our minds eye. And than adulthood set in and it was revealed that those possibilities were just that - a figment of our imagination. Every corner we turn there are images, teachers, parents, police, authority figures reminding us of all the things we aren't and will never be. UNTIL we realize we are being lied to and that infinite possibilities are even more in reach now than when we were children. Kirin Bhatti, creative director of Purna Playground shares her personal journey as a South Asian woman navigating the restrictive traditions of her home life and the ostracizing climate of dominant culture - in time reconnecting with her true brilliant self. She is now a successful entrepreneur spending every day creating the life that she wants and deserves. Through interactive activities, humor, and practical take away exercises she will share how we can all find and express our true selves, even in the face of systemic and personal obstacles. Noory Kim Who do you want to "be" when you "grow up"? What is your purpose? Often times as women of color, we're assigned to jobs and majors based on other people's idea of what we're supposed to be. The story that we're told often involves marriage or finding good jobs that will help support the family. Instead, have you asked yourself what YOU want to do and be in the future? Do other people tell you that your dreams won't make enough money or that you're not good enough? During this workshop, we will explore your passions, your dreams, and your life purpose.
3:30 - 4:00pm	Close

registration

keynote speaker

Tanya Moore, PhD

Tanya Moore, PhD received her doctorate in Biostatistics at the University of California, Berkeley. Prior to attending UC Berkeley, Dr. Moore obtained a BS degree in Mathematics from Spelman College and a Masters in Science and Engineering from the Mathematical Sciences Department at The Johns Hopkins University. Currently, Dr. Moore works as the Youth Services Coordinator for the City of Berkeley. In this role she works with City departments, Berkeley Unified School District, UC Berkeley and community organizations on joint initiatives to improve academic outcomes for all students.

Tanya is one of the creators of the Infinite Possibilities Conference, a national conference designed to support, empower and promote underrepresented minority women mathematicians. Dr. Moore is also one of the authors of Finding Your North: Self-Help Strategies for Science Related Careers and is a Board member for the non-profit organization Building Diversity in Science. She has been featured in Black Enterprise and O, The Oprah Magazine.

presenters

Presenter information coming soon

Debrena Jackson Gandy, Emcee

Debrena Jackson Gandy is a keynote speaker, two-time national best-selling author, success coach and relationships mentor to hundreds, and a strategic business consultant and trainer to large and small business businesses, government, universities, multi-level marketing companies, and entrepreneurs. She is on the Board of Trustees of Highline Community College in her 3rd year. She has been featured in magazines such as Oprah's O, Essence, Woman's Day, Ebony, Empowering Women, Heart & Soul and on Oprah.com. She is a success coach and love relationships mentor to hundreds, and creator of five e-books, and a plethora of transformational courses, retreats, tele-courses and tele-seminars. She's been a popular guest on over 40 radio shows, and has been seen on TV on CNN, CNN Live, Good Day New York, Good Morning Texas, C-SPAN, In Style, the Wisdom Channel, Fox 5 Morning News, and several ABC News affiliates and regional news stations. She is also one of the TV show hosts of Public Report on TBN’s station KTBW Seattle/Tacoma, and is founder of The Love Academy love relationships institute. She is a graduate of Pepperdine University, with a major in business and a minor in business. She and her husband of 21 years have three beautiful, brilliant daughters. She resides in Seattle, WA.

Anita Garcia Morales

Anita Garcia Morales received her BA and Teaching Degree from the University of Washington. Anita spent 20+ years in the classroom and the last ten years as an instructional services coach. As a social studies coach, Anita's focus was educational and racial equity. In her ten-year position as coach, Anita oversaw a three-year UW/SPS partnership bringing American Ethnic Studies courses to over 800 district personnel. As a migrant farm worker for the first 21 years of her life, Anita sought to include all that had been missing in the many classrooms and teachers she had experienced in her own school career. She is skilled at creating brave and hopeful spaces for people to reflect on why they came to do the work they do with children and families and how to tap their inner resources to continue to do what is needed for our children. Anita is a Certified Class Action Trainer, a Courage & Renewal facilitator and a Certified Positive Discipline Associate Parent and School Trainer.

Makela Steward

Makela Steward, a Seattle native, is a graduate of Rainier Beach high school, Southern University A & M College and The University of Phoenix. Steward has been singing in front of large audiences since she has been able to talk. Music has played a huge part in her life. Steward used her passion to see equal educational opportunities for all students to be crowned the 10th Miss Plus America Elite in 2012. Steward competed with 49 contestants and went on to win both state and national Talent competition, Covergirl competition and received top scores in 4 areas of competition during the 4-day national event. Steward's platform focuses on equalizing education for all students regardless of economic background. Steward was recently promoted from Teacher to Assistant Principal within the Seattle School District and owns her own educational consulting business. Steward works everyday promoting her mission of equality in education and advocating for positive and realistic body images for every person she encounters.

Yoshiko Harden

Yoshiko Harden earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from University of California, San Diego in Communications and Women's Studies in 1996. In 2001, she earned her M.Ed from Seattle University in Student Development Administration. Currently, Ms. Harden serves as the Vice President for Diversity/Chief Diversity Officer at Bellevue College. Ms. Harden was formerly the Director of Multicultural Services and Student Development at Highline Community College. She brings over ten years of experience as a student affairs practitioner with extensive skills in leadership, program development, and implementation that integrate diversity and pluralism across departmental and divisional lines. As an educator and practitioner, she believes that building human capacity to create institutional change is most successful when approached from both individual and institutional angles.

Dr. Caprice D. Hollins

Dr. Caprice D. Hollins was born and raised in Seattle. She received a B.A. in psychology from Seattle University and an M.A. and Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from California School of Professional Psychology–LA. Dr. Hollins has over 15 years of experience working with ethnically diverse populations, providing mental health services, facilitating workshops and teaching graduate courses as an adjunct professor at several local universities. She currently works as an Assistant Professor of Counseling at The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology. After serving as the Director of Equity, Race & Learning Support for Seattle Public Schools for four years she started Cultures Connecting, LLC, providing culturally relevant professional development workshops, keynotes and consulting services to organizations seeking to improve their skills in effectively engaging all cultures www.culturesconnecting.com. She is co-author of Train the Trainer: Helpful Tips for Leading & Facilitating Conversations on Race.

Amelia Phillips

Amelia Phillips is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a BS degree in Astronautical Engineering and a BS in Archaeology along with an MBA in Technology Management from University of Phoenix. She recently completed her PhD at the University of Alaska Fairbanks in Computer Security – one of the first in the nation in this field. After working as an engineer at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and TRW, Amelia worked with e-commerce sites and began her training in computer forensics and investigations during the dot-com boom as credit card numbers were being stolen from website databases. She has also managed rock bands, worked on an assembly line; has been a real estate broker, computer consultant and hard money lender. She has designed certificate, AAS and BAS programs for community colleges in e-commerce, network security, digital forensics and data recovery. She is currently tenured at Highline Community College in Seattle, WA and is serving as the Chair of the Pure & Applied Science Division. Amelia is a Fulbright Scholar and published author.

Noory Kim (Lee)

Noory Kim received her A.A. at Highline Community College and B.A. in Psychology at Seattle University. Her commitment to social justice and education were cultivated through her involvement in student leadership positions to help bring arts and diversity to her learning communities. Noory continued to stay committed to social change after her graduation by joining Sahngnoksoo, a Korean American activist organization, and serving as a Steering Committee member for two years. She now serves as a Community Advisory Board Member at Zenyu Healing, an organization committed to well-being for queer folks of color. Noory can be also found at Highline Community College as a Leadership Advisor mentoring and advocating for students' learning and growth. She recently served as a commissioner at Seattle Lesbian Gay Bisexual Trans (LGBT) commission as well.

Tammie Holmes

Tammie Holmes, a Seattle native, is an ordained minister of the Gospel and in 2007, Chaplain Tammie truly surrendered her heart to Christ. God delivered her from a twenty year crack addiction and mind binding strongholds. This deliverance and intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit has given her passion to encourage the hurting and dying. God has set her apart with a unique call of dwelling in His presence. She completed Chaplaincy training in 2008 and was ordained as an Elder in the same year. Empowered by God’s love, the word, and the presence of the Holy Spirit, she has ministered to countless homeless individuals living on the streets in Washington. After going through many battles, God has increased her anointing to encourage others to break the strongholds and yokes in their lives. Chaplain Tammie founded The Love Connection Ministry in 2008. This small outreach organization organizes efforts to meet the needs of homeless men and women in the Seattle, WA area. Our purpose is to provide help for the helpless, hope for the hopeless, and love to the loveless. We offer Christ-centered Services that meet the physical, spiritual, and emotional needs of hurting people. We aim to reach the lost through the love of Christ. Tammie Holmes is currently attending Highline Community College; completing her Chemical Dependency Professional degree.

Teresa Springer

“Go Local's” 2013 Entrepreneurial Empowerment Award Recipient, Teresa Springer makes opportunity happen. She is on a road that stretches out before her on her entrepreneurial journey. She’s on a quest for better products, more compelling services, and more exciting ways to share insights on growth, business leadership, and personal & professional transformation within the marketplace.As an entrepreneur extraordinaire and mother of four AWESOME children, Teresa has a sincere and dedicated love for business and entrepreneurship. Teresa’s many business start-ups and ventures include being an owner of a franchised smoothie & supplement store in Downtown Seattle, real estate investment, non-profit organizations, financial consulting, health & wellness retailing, owning a fashion boutique and leading the metro area chapter of a nation-wide organization of professional women. Teresa’s latest venture is hosting her business talk show the “Teresa Springer Show” with her digital media company, PaintBox Labs Media Group.

Kirin Bhatti

Kirin Bhatti lives at the nexus of work, play, and social activism. Part entrepreneur, part artist and part educator, Kirin is both dreamer and doer. Her background in teaching, creative facilitation, and community organizing allows her to make meaningful and strong connections that help others execute their wildest ideas out in the lived world, from the nitty-gritty to the grandiose. Born to a large Punjabi Indian family outside of Toronto, ON, Kirin is well versed in the art of joyfully communicating and connecting with others, building bridges across and within communities while articulating an equitable lens in her work. Both her work and play have brought her to the table of board-wide curriculum restructuring with the Toronto School Board, to developing creative work environments for schools and non-profits in Portland, OR and Big Sur, California, to working in gardens in the San Juan Islands. Most recently Kirin has dabbled in alchemy weaving her skills together as creative director and founder of PURNA - a creative marketing and strategy firm for do-gooders. In it's short life, PURNA has already curated pop-up events in NYC, directed marketing initiatives for local Seattle impact businesses and NGO's, and is building out creative events that build a platform for local causes.

Irene Monica Sanchez

Irene Monica Sanchez is a Ph.D. candidate in Education Leadership and Policy Studies-Higher Education at the University of Washington. She earned her M.Ed. in the same program in 2011. Her research focuses on community college students, access and challenging dominant narratives/narrow definitions of achievement and success. After barely graduating high school, Irene began her higher education journey at Riverside Community College in Riverside, CA where she was placed on academic probation and dismissal her first year. Determined to return to school, Irene found a pathway with a lot of help and support. Five years after she started community college, she received her Associates Degrees in Social Sciences and in General Sciences. She transferred to the University of California Santa Cruz and received a BA in Sociology and Latin American/Latino Studies in 2008. Irene has taught at Seattle University, the University of Washington and Shoreline Community College courses in Ethnic Studies, Multicultural studies, and Education. An activist for many years, she continues to work on issues regarding immigrant/human rights, education, arts, youth empowerment and social justice.

location

Highline College is located at:

2400 South 240 Street, Des Moines, WA 98198

All Summit sessions will take place on the first floor of the Highline Sudent Union (Building 8)

View campus map →

Please email us if you have any questions.