Thursday morning, about 100 pre-conference attendees at the National Conference for College Women Student Leaders left the University of Maryland, College Park, in the mists of wet weather for downtown Washington, D.C. Attendees split into groups: one group visited the National Council of Negro Women and the Newseum to learn more about First Amendment rights; another group gardened at the Mt. Carmel House, a long-term homeless shelter for women; and the third group spent time on the national mall, helping to prepare for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure occurring there this Saturday. Attendees returned from their morning adventures excited, informed, and energized.
“It was amazing standing in the National Council of Negro Women building. I had to take a moment and reflect on the history that occurred there. The hosts were open with us and very informative. The Newseum provided a modernized exhibit of our First Amendment rights. Great for all ages!”
— Debborah Lugo, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas
“Visiting the National Council of Negro Women’s headquarters was a historical experience as we stood in the footsteps of Ms. Bethune and realized how far we’ve come and how far we have to go. At the Newseum, we realized that the Civil Rights Movement would not have been as effective if the media had not brought to light the injustices occurring across the nation. As African Americans gained a voice in the media, they could effectively rally people to their cause. As we toured the rest of the Newseum, we realized that the news media today is primarily male-dominated and that we have yet to reach the same heights for all women’s rights.”
— Tammy Hong, Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois
— Catherine Grandorff, South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota“My experience at Mt. Carmel House was extremely remarkable. It was comforting to know that there are places where they are dedicated to helping women overcome homelessness and create a better future. I found this community of women very inspiring and I was happy to volunteer.”
— Mellissa Mattucci, Plymouth State University, Plymouth, New Hampshire
“I think that there need to be more places similar to Mt. Carmel in other areas of the United States. They do great things for women. I loved volunteering there. The staff was great and so were the ladies who live there. I had a lot of fun helping them plant flowers in their garden.”
— Jeannie Choe, Plymouth State Univeresity, Plymouth, New Hampshire
“I enjoyed working behind the scenes to help set up for the Race for the Cure, which is such an influential event. A lot of times, people only see the finished product and don’t realize the effort behind it. I was glad to help the cause against breast cancer, especially because I lost an aunt to the disease.”
— Brittany Anderton, Washington and Jefferson College, Washington, Pennsylvania
“There are so many pieces to the puzzle when producing an event of the scale of the Race for the Cure. It was great to be a part of the puzzle and get my hands dirty working to set up the event before everyone shows up to run and enjoy the festivities. My connection to the issue is also very personal. My fiancé lost his wife to breast cancer, and I felt honored to participate in this event in her memory.”
— Pamela Nakanelua, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii
