On Saturday, May 17 Highline College hosted its highly popular 11th Annual Young Educated Ladies Leading (Y.E.L.L.) Female Summit.
Approximately 300 young women of color from local high schools and colleges attended the event, which featured inspiring guest speakers, dynamic workshops and a resource fair.
Keynote speaker, Candice Marie Benbow—an influencer and author—delivered a powerful message at the beginning of the day centering on the event’s theme, “She Means Business.”
Director of Institutional Equity, Strategies & Initiatives Rickitia Reid said, “This theme embodies a powerful message of empowerment and resilience that reflects the lived experiences of young women of color in a world where Black women continue to be among the most disrespected. It serves as a call to action, encouraging them to strive for academic excellence and to pursue greatness in every aspect of their lives.”
Attendees got to listen to 19 presenters and panelists speaking about messages ranging from self worth, to breaking patterns, building dreams, and embracing diverse stories.
According to Y.E.L.L.'s website, the goal of the event was to empower and motivate young women of color to excel in academics and to accept nothing less than excellence from self. One of the objectives was to critique life, education and careers social norms that inhibit young women of color from being recognized for their success.
Reid noted that quite a few questions were asked during the panels. They included, “What strategies do you find helpful when you’re prioritizing your mental health?” Also, “As women, we often have trouble asking for help. Can you speak to that apprehension and share the inner dialogue you have to overcome that anxiety? How do you find the strength to do that?”
Y.E.L.L is a free summit for female-identified high school and college students of color. Last year’s theme was “Ladies First: reSIStance and Revolution.”