By Jaida Dent
To celebrate Women’s History Month, the Brooklyn College (BC) Black Student Union (BSU) and the Women of Color Club (WOC) came together to host “The Goal Getter’s Vision Board Workshop” on Tuesday, March 18. The event promoted a space for conversations surrounding their personal goals through the creation of vision boards.
“This event is designed to inspire the student body, reminding them that their dreams and aspirations are within reach. Women’s History Month provides the perfect opportunity to emphasize that our goals are not impossible—whatever we have in our ‘vision’ can be turned into something extraordinary,” said Dakota Mitchell, the president of WOC.
The event was created on the basis of celebrating Women’s History Month and providing students with the chance to think about goals they want to accomplish and the path they need to take to get it done. The approaching midterms mark the halfway point of the semester, and the event provided students with a break from academics and some time to think about themselves.
“We wanted to give students, especially women of color, a chance to really think about their goals and dreams […] Vision boarding is such a fun and creative way to put your goals into perspective, and we thought it would inspire everyone to take steps toward achieving them,” said Kelsey Ganthier, the president of BSU.
The event featured guest speaker Zekiiyah Joyner, a BC alumna and the graduate advisor for the WOC club. Joyner started with a “Find a Woman Who…” bingo game so everyone in the room could get to know each other. Afterwards, she spoke about her educational journey from BC to obtaining her master’s at Howard University while caring for her sick mother and combating the COVID-19 pandemic. Joyner emphasized how important it is to recognize the struggles you may face along your journey toward your goals.
“The struggles that I had were part of my identity, like being a caregiver for my mother. I think it’s really important to recognize that. I had to incorporate that in my classes and even [in] building my schedule. I can’t build this unless I know I can go take care of her,” said Joyner.
Joyner’s attendance was impactful for the students who attended the workshop, and even more so for the members of WOC and BSU. While Joyner does support WOC as an advisor, they don’t always have an opportunity to be together in person. This event allowed the members of both clubs to have valuable one-on-one time with Joyner.
“Her presence not only enriched the event but also provided a rare opportunity for the current e-board members to engage in deeper, more personal conversations with her—something our busy schedules often prevent,” said Mitchell.
For Mitchell and Ganthier, the collaboration between the clubs was a natural decision. Both clubs aim to support students of color on campus and this event further pushed their mission as they were able to reach students of all backgrounds and provide them with the opportunity to consider what their plans are for their college careers and beyond.
“Women of Color’s primary mission is to empower Black women, but we also strive to uplift a broader audience—whether they are young, men, middle-aged, or seasoned. Similarly, BSU shares a commitment to empowering the student body. By bringing these two groups together, we can create an even greater impact, fostering unity and inspiration across our communities,” said Mitchell.
Joyner’s advice set the foundation for the event and presented a new way for students to tackle their goals. By recognizing the struggles that can hinder them from reaching their goals, the students learned that they can work with obstacles and overcome them.
“The biggest takeaway was that you can overcome anything if you stay focused and determined. Zekiiyah’s story showed us that no matter how tough things get, you can still achieve your goals. It was also a reminder to dream big and take steps to make those dreams happen,” said Ganthier.
Ultimately, the event provided students with a new perspective as they step into their careers while incorporating a creative activity to visualize the desires they strive to obtain.
“I would hope that they take away that it’s possible. I think we know we always say like, anything is possible, but truly, not only just putting your mind to it, but having a sense of community,” said Joyner. “Some people kind of have an idea of what they want and a lot more people than you think don’t. So, it’s, ‘how do I find community even around that?’ and just knowing in a place where it feels like you should have it all together, everybody doesn’t.”
For information about BSU and WOC, as well as upcoming events, follow them on Instagram @bc_blackstudentunion and @womenofcolor_bc.