The Latino Resource Center’s De Mujer a Mujer program in collaboration with E.B.O.N.Y. Women, S.I.S.T.E.R.S. and The Ladies of Distinction student organizations, will be hosting the 7th Annual Women’s Empowerment Conference on Saturday, April 7, from 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. in the Holmes Student Center, Sky Room.
This year’s theme is The Future is Female. The conference is targeted toward female college and high school students specifically women of color.
This event will encourage participants to build confidence, discover their voice, express themselves and make wise decisions. It will feature informative workshops led by inspirational speakers on topics such as self-care and mental health awareness, leadership, cultural and gender identity to name a few.
Denice Frohman
This year’s keynote speaker is Denice Frohman who is an award-winning poet, writer, performer, and educator. Born and raised in New York City, she is a CantoMundo Fellow, 2014 National Association of Latino Arts & Cultures grant recipient, 2013 Women of the World Poetry Slam Champion, 2013 Hispanic Choice Award winner (Creative Artist of the Year), and former Leeway Transformation Award recipient. She has been commissioned by ESPN, Twitter, mitú, the City of Philadelphia (“UnLitter Us” Campaign), and GALAEI (Gay and Lesbian Latino Aids Education Initiative). Her debut album, Feels Like Home, blends music, poetry, and song, in collaboration with several of Lauryn Hill’s former band members and musicians from Alo Brasil. Her secret passion is songwriting and she played professional basketball in Puerto Rico after college where she earned a four-year athletic scholarship.
As a queer woman from a multi-cultural background (Puerto Rican and Jewish), her work focuses on identity, social change, disrupting notions of power, and celebrating the parts of ourselves deemed unworthy. She hopes to inspire people, particularly young folks of color, to see themselves as writers with stories that need to be told. Currently, Frohman tours the country.
Mary Stamps
Other guest speakers are current NIU faculty/staff and students such as Mary Stamps, Graduate Assistant at the Gender and Sexuality Resource Center, Gabriel Sonntag, Prism executive board member; Kristina Wilkerson, Ph.D candidate, Counselor Education and Supervision program; Passion Williamson and Deyci Ramirez who are both counselors in the CHANCE program.
The conference is free. Registration is required, as space is limited and is on a first-come, first-served basis. No walk-in registrations will be accepted. This event is business passport approved and honors engaged.
Passion Williamson
This conference is sponsored by NIU Helping Huskies Thrive: Suicide Awareness and Prevention Program, Student Association, Office of Academic Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Center for Black Studies, Presidential Commission on Persons with Disabilities, Presidential Commission on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (PCSOGI), Alumni Association, Enterprise Rent-A-Car company and the Latino Resource Center.
For more information, contact Angélica Mendoza, assistant director, Latino Resource Center at 815-753-8645 or amendoza7@niu.edu or visit: go.niu.edu/demujeramujer
