September 27, 2011

By Nassim Benchaabane

Mizzou Black Women’s Initiative began its Building our Successful Sisterhood week last night with a presentation on the principles of professionalism.

Ramona Tumblin-Rucker, a petroleum engineer now working in project management, and Tammy Edwards, director of Community Affairs for the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, spoke about their career experiences and offered advice to MBWI members.

“Anytime you can encourage a woman of color to further her education, you must,” Tumblin-Rucker said. “You be that light, always.”

Senior Ebonie Young, an MBWI public relations representative, said BOSS is the perfect acronym for this week of events.

“MBWI focuses on black women, and I think black women are very multi-faceted,” Young said. “We wear a lot of different hats, and in each of those hats we’re bosses, whether it’s our careers or family lives. In this group, we’re also a sisterhood, and that’s how we came up with the acronym.”

Erica Terry, vice president of MBWI, said BOSS week embodies the ideals of the Mizzou Black Women’s Initiative.

“We want to build relationships among our members and provide them with the resources they need to succeed,” Terry said. “Our key words are see, socialize, empower and educate.”

Young said that MBWI is only in its second year of existence, and the group wants to make sure the campus knows what they’re about and what they’re doing.

“As women of color, we must aim to inspire, motivate and empower women of color to succeed in a society where we aren’t typically the majority,” Young said. “I thought tonight’s event accomplished that goal and I think this week’s events will as well.”

MBWI will host a seminar on topics revolving around sexual health Tuesday. The event is sponsored by SHAPE, and is open to men as well as women.

Wednesday MBWI will host an event focusing on mental, physical, and emotional health titled “Love Your Body.” Young said it will include a hair and skin tutorial, presentation on sustainable fashion and yoga exercises.

On Thursday the organization will host student-panel-led discussion on collegiate relationships. The panel will host students from a variety of sexual orientations and relationship experiences, and the discussion will feature a surprise guest speaker.

According to the MBWI website, the organization is encouraging its members to attend the Rock Against Rape concert hosted by the Relationship & Sexual Violence Prevention Center on Friday. The concert is meant to finish off Rape Awareness month and raise awareness of gender-based violence. Though MBWI does not host the event, Terry said the group is supporting it because they want to reach out to other organizations working for a good cause.

On Saturday, MBWI will commemorate breast cancer awareness month by hosting an “Art for Cure” fundraising event with performances and exhibitions by poets, musicians and artists. One hundred percent of the proceeds will be donated to an institution researching cures to breast cancer.

“Saturday’s event is a nice tradeoff,” Young said. “College students will get to see their peers and other excellent groups while helping out a good cause.”

Young said she is looking forward most to Tuesday’s event, titled “Touchy Topics.”

“Tuesday night will revolve around a very taboo topic but I think it’s something we need to be aware of,” she said. “Many people engage in activities that they may not feel entirely comfortable with and I think a large part of that is because people don’t know themselves well enough first. After Tuesday I want to hear that people who attended learned something.”