Monroe College hosted a two-day “empowerment” event this week on its Bronx and New Rochelle campuses. The female empowerment event held at the Monroe Athletic Complex at New Roc City featured Sukanya Krishnan of WPIX and Charreah Jackson of Essence Magazine. The male empowerment event took place at King Hall on the Bronx campus and featured educational innovator David Banks, the founder of the Eagle Academy.
“The event is designed to build foundations of success in high school boys and girls,” said Monroe College spokesperson Gary Axelbank.
Over 400 high school girls from Westchester, Brooklyn and the Bronx attended the New Rochelle event. The girls were broken into groups of 6-10 and assigned a mentor. The group discussed their plans and ambitions and received advice from mentors that included several lawyers, executives in fields such as health services, music and radio programming, travel, non-profits as well as Monroe professors and administrators.
After introductory remarks by Monroe College President Stephen Jerome, the girls heard a presentation by Charreah Jackson, an Editor at Essence magazine. Jackson spoke about family relationships and love.
Carol Genese, Associate Vice President for Career Advancement, spoke with great passion about her determination to get an education. She recounted how at 16 she was told by her father to leave school, get a job and contribute to the family income. When she refused she says she was beaten by her father and shunned by her sisters. Undeterred, she completed high school, went on to Queen’s College and, ultimately, earned a master’s degree from New York University
Sukanya Krishnan, recounted her own experience having to overcome resistance from her father who wanted her to be a lawyer. Krishnan told the girls her dream was to be a news anchor in the number one market. Today she anchors one of the six local morning news broadcasts in New York City.
“Dream big, get an education, work hard, set goals and believe in yourself,” Krishnan said.
A contingent from New Rochelle High School got several shout-outs from Krishnan.
Krishnan believes its important for women to support each other.
“We need to form a sisterhood of empowerment,” Krishnan told the girls. “If one woman wins, we all win.”
The presentations closed with a panel discussion with Dr. Kareann Carty, Dr. Roberta Harris and Dr. Janice Girdardi, all three senior administrators at Monroe College.