Mark Braboy & Candace Chambers
Blue & White Flash / Staff Writers
Sisters were able to talk it up and receive womanly advice at the Sisterhood Summit held on March 19, 2013 in the Student Center Theater
at Jackson State University.
As part of Women’s Emphasis Week, the session included panelists, Judge Patricia Wise and Maxine Simpson, along with a room of young
ladies eager to learn how to value themselves as aspiring, collegiate women.
The summit began with a reading of Maya Angelou’s, “Phenomenal Woman,” by Taylor Johnson, student chair of the summit. Judge Wise, who has served for 24 years, is one of four Chancellors of the Fifth Chancery Court District of Hinds County, Mississippi. Maxine Simpson,
a three time breast cancer survivor, is a part time instructor at Jackson State in the College of Science, Engineering and Technology.
Lori Jackson, Associate Director for Campus Life at JSU, believes that the summit provides an opportunity for young ladies to get together and discuss issues.
“It’s very important for young ladies that are in college now to get together to discuss issues that are affecting them currently so that they will have a support system. For us to celebrate Women’s History Month and also Women’s Emphasis Week, is an opportunity for our young ladies to come and celebrate them as being young women who are currently in college, who are striving toward their goals, and who are making great successes here on the college campus as well as in their respected communities,” said Jackson.
Judge Wise opened the floor for open dialogue. “We will do a lot of talking….and we are looking forward to an exchange.”
The first question of the evening for the audience was, “What are some issues you face in college as a young woman?” The women discussed ways to balance study time with free time.
Judge Wise encouraged the ladies to have a road map for their goals, to delete the word “nerd” from their vocabulary, and to network with those on the same career path.
“Don’t just do the work that is required. Do more than the work that is required,” said Wise.
To loosen the intensity of the room, Johnson asked everyone, “What type of animal would you be and why?” Some responses were a tiger, a white tiger, a horse, and even the lemur from the movie series, Madagascar.
Another activity that the small crowd participated in was a game involving positive affirmations on colorful cards. These affirmations varied from “I live up to my full potential”, “I sparkle with vitality”, and “I express my creativity” among other messages.
One of the most memorable responses to the cards was from panelist, Maxine Simpson where she revealed that she was a three time breast cancer survivor.
“I sparkle because I’m just so happy to be here, because it didn’t have to be that way. So, I think I sparkle to the people I work with and my
friends who tell me ‘Maxine your personality is always the same, you’re always friendly.’ They say I always make them feel better because I don’t let people upset me. I don’t get angry and I take everything in stride,” said Simpson.
As a conclusion to the summit, Johnson opened the floor up for questions and discussion among the young ladies and panelists. This included exchanges about being focused in school, reaching your goals, fighting for the respect of society as a black woman, dealing with heartbreak as a woman, and maintaining good health in order to take care of not only yourself, but the people around you.
Judge Wise said, “We gave the experience of interacting and discussing issues that are very important to women directly. They will be able to have an exchange that in general they wouldn’t have in such a setting such as this.”
The young ladies of Jackson State who attended the summit were grateful and pleased that they attended this event.
Christen Shumaker, a sophomore mathematics major from Dallas, Texas said, “This event was very encouraging and just good for women to be here. If you missed this, you missed out on a very encouraging, high spirited and empowering presentation from black women in our community.”
Joyce Winston, a sophomore biology pre-dental major from Detroit, Mich. said, “It was very informative and I enjoyed it. It gave me a sense of relief that there were other women on campus that feel the same way about women empowerment on this campus and beyond. It was very helpful and it encouraged me to help other women. I will be attending the other events.”
Martha Taplin, a senior biology pre-med major from Jackson, Miss. said, “I thought it was very informative. As a young woman, I appreciate when older and seasoned women give ad- vice because they’ve been through it. With their advice maybe it’ll keep us from doing the same things they’ve did.”
