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3 Substantial | Jan. - Mar. 2015
CONTENTS 5 A Word From The Coordinators 7 Wayne Jackson 8 Maurice Antoine Davis (Tony) 9 NEXT To Change The World 11 Devon R. Christian 13 Krischanna Roberson 14 Jamal Clark
10 Jasmin Low
12 Trent Falls
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15 Grace Bako
A Word From The Coordinators The 2015 National Black Student Leadership Conference came together in a manner that was beyond our dreams for yet another successful experience. The blend of people, thoughts, ideas, desires, and foresight was amazing. There was inspiration provide by various speakers, honest dialogue by, students and support provided by professional mentors. We are grateful to each person for their contributions to this journey. Dr. Lathan E. Turner and Rod Bradley NBSLC 2015 Coordinators Williams Leadership Education Foundation
5 Substantial | Jan. - Mar. 2015
5 Substantial | Jan. - Mar. 2015
Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit. We are all the same in this notion: the potential for greatness lives within each of us. - Wilma Rudolph
Wayne Jackson Director, Multicultural Academic and Support Services University of Central Florida
SU: What is your definition of a leader? Wayne: Leadership is the ability to obtain followers. Followers could be individuals from your family, neighborhood or school. SU: What does this generation of leader face as it relates to opportunities and challenges? Wayne: This generation has the opportunity through social media to make change on a broader basis. They need to understand that as leaders you are always being watched. SU: What are you doing to help educate the leaders of tomorrow? Wayne: We have our own leadership series through our department at the University of Central Florida and we take students to leadership conferences across the country, one of them being The National Black Student Leadership Conference in Raleigh, NC. SU: Lastly what are your thoughts of the National Black Student Leadership Conference? Wayne: We have attended the conference every year it has been in existence and we think its a great avenue for our students to learn about leadership. Many return to the University fired up to further develop their leadership skills and put to action what they have learned.
7 Substantial | Jan. - Mar. 2015
Maurice Antoine Davis (Tony) Counselor at Montgomery County Community College in Blue Bell, PA. SU: What is your definition of a leader? Tony: A leader is someone who has the ability to learn what is expected when a topic is being taught. This individual can then effectively assess a situation, decide how to proceed and confidently complete the task. A leader often times will not wait for instructions to develop a plan of action. The leader will be prepared to execute their plan or adjust their plan if they are not orchestrating the primary cog in the wheel. SU: What are you doing to help educate the leaders of tomorrow? Tony: Two examples of how I led the development of critical plans would be organizing folks for a March on Washington regarding Affirmative Action and to prepare for the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Waiting for someone else to construct a plan was not an option. I developed a potential plan that was altered slightly for each initiative once the national effort was launched. Simply put, getting bus prices, food and drink source's, parking sites, potential chaperones, etc...were a given in my eyes. We were ready once the date was decided. For Katrina, once I decided that since my family was safe how would others whose family might not be safe want this scenario to change. I called folks in critical public service positions to inquire about what possible solutions there were from a legal standpoint. I solicited folks willing to house children and police officers to run background checks. The plan worked beautifully with what the American Red Cross developed. SU: Lastly what are your thoughts of the National Black Student Leadership Conference? Tony: Leading requires nothing more than a clearly thought out notion coupled with an action plan. The National Black Student Leadership Conference is one of many bricks needed to lay a strong foundation for our future leaders.
8 Substantial | Jan. - Mar. 2015
These Leaders
NEXT
Are TO Change The World
9 Substantial | Jan. - Mar. 2015
Jasmin Low University of Central Florida
Leadership means that you take a stand for what you believe in. You motivate others to believe in the same things you do. You get others excited about what you'd like to change or become a big part of. You have to be the change in the world that you want to see. These things don't just come to you; you have to work for them. SU: In your opinion, what are some of the most important qualities of a Substantial Leader? Jasmin: The most important qualities of a Substantial Leader is someone who has great determination and someone who is very ambitious. A Substantial Leader is one who is destined to do great things and make a difference in not just their community but also beyond it. SU: What was the most impactful thing that you heard or experienced at this years National Black Student Leadership Conference? Jasmin: The things that resonated most with me were the things I learned from Egypt. He spoke the most truthful and emotional things that I will carry with me throughout by future. SU: What is the most valuable piece of advice you could offer your fellow scholars abroad? Jasmin: The most valuable piece of information that I can give to anyone is definitely to listen and not give up. Be the change you want to see in the world; if you stand idly by, nothing will get done and you will probably be upset with yourself wince you did nothing.
"I'm the next to change the world because I strive to succeed and to help others to achieve their goals along with my own." 10 Substantial | Jan. - Mar. 2015
D
evon R. Christian
Syracuse University
SU: In your opinion, what are some of the most important qualities of a Substantial Leader? Devon: Confidence, determination, and, above all, love. SU: What was the most impactful thing that you heard or experienced at this years National Black Student Leadership Conference? Devon: The importance of having a structured environment that is conducive to impacting change. To be able to organize ones thoughts to come up with a strategic plan to change the course of a person’s life for the better. SU: What is the most valuable piece of advice you could offer your fellow scholars abroad? Devon: To show love in even the toughest of moments. To make the decision to show love to people based on their character as a person. Try to set aside the way a person looks or where he or she comes from and try to focus on who he or she is as a human being. SU: Why are you next to change the world?
"When I think of the world, I think of the world of an individual person. How he or she sees the world and the impact that I can have on his or her individual life. I seek to help educate and motive a person to be able to help take care of his or herself and his or her family. Anything that I can do to have a positive impact on a persons "world" is all I am interested in."
11 Substantial | Jan. - Mar. 2015
Trent Falls University of Central Florida
SU: In your opinion, what are some of the most important qualities of a Substantial Leader? Trent: The most important qualities of a Substantial Leader is someone who has great determination and someone who is very ambitious. A Substantial Leader is one who is destined to do great things and make a difference in not just their community but also beyond it. SU: What was the most impactful thing that you heard or experienced at this years National Black Student Leadership Conference? Trent: The things that resonated most with me were the things I learned from Egypt. He spoke the most truthful and emotional things that I will carry with me throughout by future. SU: What is the most valuable piece of advice you could offer your fellow scholars abroad? Trent: The most valuable piece of information that I can give to anyone is definitely to listen and not give up. Be the change you want to see in the world; if you stand idly by, nothing will get done and you will probably be upset with yourself wince you did nothing.
"I'm the next to change the world because I strive to succeed and to help others to achieve their goals along with my own."
12 Substantial | Jan. - Mar. 2015
Krischanna Roberson Director, Faculty & BSU Adviser Bellevue College
SU: What is your definition of a leader? A leader is creative, collaborative visionary who understands how to talk TO people to bring them together to meet a goal. SU: What does this generation of leaders face as it relates to opportunities and challenges? Krischanna: Opportunities that are leaders have is how more than ever people are recognizing the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion due to the political historical events taking place, where many of the "isms" such as race, gender and disability are creating a new awareness and an advantage for leaders to move the work. Challenges that they face are the lack of understanding of significance historic events such as the creation of the Voting Rights act and American Disabilty Act. SU: What are you doing to help educate the leaders of tomorrow Krischanna: Being and advocate and taking every opportunity to provide student leaders with education related to self awareness, health, emotional and social skills to be confident and love with themselves so they can leader others. SU: Lastly what are your thoughts of the National Black Student Leadership Conference? Krischanna: This is a wonderful conference that allows for true education in being a leader based on the content of workshops provided. I appreciate the smaller size so students can truly network and learn and engage with fellow students as well as presenters.
13 Substantial | Jan. - Mar. 2015
Jamal Clark University of Central Florida
Leadership is the ability to carry out a task, leading a group of people by motivating them and keeping a high morale. Leadership is also the ability to be able to listen to others. SU: In your opinion, what are some of the most important qualities of a Substantial Leader? Jamal: In my opinion, some of the most important qualities of a leader is being able to stay committed and stand up for what they believe in. A Substantial leader never looks at himself/herself as above anyone but just as equal. SU: What was the most impactful thing that you heard or experienced at this years National Black Student Leadership Conference? Jamal: The one thing that I've heard that impacted me was a workshop from Egypt. I talked to him after the conference and the thing I remember him saying that will never leave me is "Stay true to yourself and what you believe in. Sometimes people try to bring you down in life and you have to establish yourself and ward out those who are "anchors" in your life." SU: What is the most valuable piece of advice you could offer your fellow scholars abroad? Jamal: The most valuable piece of advice that I can give is if you're passionate about something, stand up for it. Don't ever try to be someone that you are not and give your all to everything you put your mind too.
I am next to change the world because I am a motivated, CS major looking to create software that will help individuals, large companies and hospitals.
14 Substantial | Jan. - Mar. 2015
Grace Bako Montgomery county community college
Leadership, It means being successful, able to help someone with my success and being a role model. SU: In your opinion, what are some of the most important qualities of a Substantial Leader? Grace: Honesty, commitment,motivation, leading by example. having a positive attitude, motivation towards continued success, and keeping energy levels up. SU: What was the most impactful thing that you heard or experienced at this years National Black Student Leadership Conference? Grace: The most significant thing I learned from the conference was the many ways I can improve myself to be a substantial leader in my school and in my community. I learned how to turn my obstacles into my stepping stones through determination and also how to be a role model. SU: What is the most valuable piece of advice you could offer your fellow scholars abroad? Grace: Never give up in your academic career. Keep a positive attitude and keep a positive circle of fellow students for positive energy.
"I'm next to change the world because, as an international student from a 3rd world country (Zimbabwe) I would like to show my family,friends and country that a lady from the sticks can get educated and live her dreams despite we're you coming from. I want to be a speaker motivator and change the status of the hungry people in Africa" 15 Substantial | Jan. - Mar. 2015
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