Students establish Mizzou Black Women's Initiative

The organization aims to help black, female students assimilate into the MU community.

By Jimmy Hibsch

Published July 7, 2010

As junior Danielle Owens sat at the State of Black Mizzou conference Nov. 11 and listened to black students express their discontent with the relations between the under and upperclassmen of their race at MU, she turned to senior Lischen Reeves with a thought.

"The idea just kind of popped into my head," Owens said. "There needed to be some kind of bonding to help these girls, to bridge the connection so we can have just a stronger community. I turned to her and I was like, 'We should do something,' and she agreed."

After the initial idea, the students recruited classmates Ashley Shaw and Gabrielle Lowe to help with the planning process of what would become the Mizzou Black Women's Initiative. The women spoke to Gaines/Oldham Black Culture Center Director Nathan Stephens about the goals of their organization, and he helped them throughout the group's progression.

He said in 2008, only 67 percent of black, female students graduated from MU. Seeing the girls' organization as a way to heighten these numbers, he was willing to help.

"With those statistics, you're less than three out of four black females graduating, and that indicates a need for some other form of support to be implemented," Stephens said. "The fact that these young women want to do this demonstrates that this is something that is indigenous to them. This is something that they felt they needed to become more successful, so I'm willing to support that."

Following their application to become a recognized organization on campus, the girls had to find a name and a faculty adviser. BCC Coordinator Deniece Christian filled this position. They also needed a fifth executive board member to prevent split votes. After an interview, Ashley Cato was chosen as the fifth member, as well as the organization's treasurer.

"I've always kind of had that side to me where I want to help and enlighten people," Cato said. "When I heard what they wanted to do, it was something that I was automatically interested in. I just kind of wanted to be there for somebody because I know how hard it was for me coming in freshman year."

The women also had to gather a group of mentors, which they obtained through an interview process. Owens said they have chosen 22 mentors, but are willing to add more if necessary. She said, as of last semester, 15 sophomores expressed interest in obtaining mentors, and information was mailed to incoming freshmen July 4.

"We really don't want to turn anybody down at all because it's an organization to help people," Owens said.

To prevent this from happening, the group has set a deadline for membership. All interested must sign up before Aug. 27 because mentors will be paired with students Sept. 3. The organization is not to be misconstrued as a replication of the Mizzou Black Men's Initiative, Owens said.

The first meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 30 at the BCC. Subsequent general body meetings will be held every other Monday at the same time and individual mentoring meetings every Wednesday.

"If you're interested, just show up at the meeting and we'll help you out," Shaw said.