BCG had the great pleasure of joining Sista 2 Sista Youth Summit at St Francis College in Brooklyn, N.Y. to celebrate for the fifth year The Sista Within. This summit was created in order to empower 125 high school young women of Pan African descent and their youth leaders, mentors, and mothers. A day filled with panel discussions, workshops and many other fun filled activities. The young women are given an opportunity to engage with professionals and celebrities on self image, forgiveness, healthy relationships, overcoming fears and health. They were blessed this year to have amongst them famed Essence columnist, pop culture voice of ethics and fashion Michaela Angela Davis,as well as Essence’ forewoman Susan Taylor.
A young sista myself I was blessed enough to be able to attend the event, sit in on workshops as well as get to interview the vice president and the founder of Sista 2 Sista.
BCG: How did you come up with the idea of begining Sista 2 Sista?
Akua: I went to an all girls high school in Ohio and an all girls college. I was always around women with a sense of support.I never felt alone. College was the time where I explored what I really wanted to do. I began to take on leadership roles in black organizations on campus. I just became in love with creating events for people of Pan African descent. I got my Masters degree and explored urban planning and saw how the fate of a community was created or divided. My non profit is based on empowering an individual, you inspire a family, transform a community which offers a worldview on humanity. I just saw a real need for supporting my people and not having to struggle.
Akua Soadwa, Founder of Sista 2 Sista Youth Summit
BCG: I noticed that you decided to choose only 125 young ladies and a specific age of high school aged young ladies. Why this specific number and age group?
Salloime: I think in high school is when our girls decide their value and their values. Where they are trying to figure their selves out. They are making determinations and having determined who they are. So we decided this is an age to start to make those decisions. In college they are looking for careers and learning how to make that paper. In high school they are seeking purpose and passion, a fertile ground for desire. So we think that this is the best age to grab them.
Salloime Hralima, Vice President and Past Creative director of Sista 2 Sista Youth Summit
BCG: How important do you think it is for older women to have an effect or impact in the lives on younger women of color?
Akua: I believe that the older generation can support a young sista as long as she lives her life. We have to reflect on ourselves and be able to take that on without being egotistical. There is a lot of space for the older generation to succeed and show the younger ladies how to grow.
BCG: I’ve noticed that a lot of the workshops are about self love, self image and and self awareness. Why were these topics specifically chosen?
Akua: This is going to sound selfish. Its whatever I deal with. *Chuckling* I know if its happening to me , it must be happening to you! I’m being authentic about it. It has to be hitting home with me and I can reach out and someone can get something from it. Its an opportunity for someone to explore their selves and be able to deal with it.
Susan Taylor , Keynote Inspirational Speaker
BCG: I know that this is the fifth year, I want to know what do you see for the future in order to push further?
Salloime: I think that next year women and girls who participate will ask for it to happen every month at least. We will have people begging us to participate. Whether it be sponsors, or workshop leaders, or girls wanting to be on the planning committee. There will be so much participation that we have to spread out. We want to be able to manage everyone.
