Dear Sistahood Mentors

As we reflect on the end of the first year, it has been both productive and successful.  The best evidence to measure the effectiveness of Sistahood results from witnessing the faces of the young ladies who return week after week to gather and express their sense of well-being through the development of friendships and budding maturity.  Our method to connect with the members has been simply to demonstrate a caring compassion and humanity that shows them we understand their desire to garner our support in their pursuit of scholarly and social opportunities like any other CSUN student.    

This year has produced a number of accomplishments in which the members participated.  We asked the students early on about their areas of interest in programming and events.  The following four themes emerged out of discussions at weekly gatherings:  Black Cultural Pride; Campus-Wide Events; Film & Media Discussion Nights; and Personal Empowerment & Self-Care.  As the year unfolded, we were able to assist the members to involve themselves in activities that included these four areas.  (Please refer to the attached Sistahood Calendar of Events, 2013-2014).

To highlight a few undertakings, the first Sistahood event was a Halloween party near Matador Square.  This was a success in that the young ladies canvassed upwards of 70 African American female students who came by our booth to check out the food and costumes.  The event was also successful for the following reasons: the members planned the event on their own with the support of mentor, Danisha Lawrence; members acquired a donation of $500 from Wells Fargo Bank, and members and mentors connected as they admired each other’s costumes.   A two-part popular workshop by mentor, Lauren Nile, helped us identify our temperament through True Colors.  Recently, about 15 members equipped with computer laptops attend a Sistahood workshop led by mentor, Nyla Deferes on building resumes.  Not long after the seminar, we were writing letters of recommendation and members were offered jobs and/or internships. 

Looking forward, we are pleased to announce the director of the Women’s Research & Resource Center,  Shira Brown has agreed to partner in sponsorship of Sistahood along with the University Student Union and the University Counseling Services.  Additional campus staff members have expressed interest in becoming mentors as they too see the growing potential and benefits of Sistahood to the life of our student members.  Also, we are currently conducting an on-line members’ survey in order to measure the degree of effectiveness and to allow the young ladies to raise their voices and take more ownership for the future direction of Sistahood at CSUN. 

You are truly appreciated for the well-wishes and warm thoughts sent our way this past year as we launched the social/support network for the young ladies.  Some of you have gone beyond expectations and we remain grateful to each of you.  We look forward to bringing mentors together later this summer to discuss and review plans for the fall.  In a general sense, you are encouraged to reach further and identify an area you believe you might want to share with the members through a future workshop or otherwise participate as we all do our best to encourage, uplift, and support the African American/Black female students of Sistahood.

All the Best,