HERSTORYEVENTITINERARY:
Mikal O'Neal
Welcome Letter
Welcome and thank you all for joining us for the Grand Valley State University TRIO Upward Bound Detroit inaugural HerStory Women's History Month celebration. I am so grateful that you all decided to take time out of your busy schedules to attend such a powerful event. As a part of the administrative team, I can reassure you that the team has planned a day full of empowering workshops and experiences to celebrate Women’s History Month We will be equipping you with knowledge to take back and apply into your everyday lives We are fortunate enough to have a group of trailblazing women, from diverse backgrounds, that will be with us to pour into you, to help shape and mold you into a better human being.
We are so thrilled to be having this experience at the Grand Valley State University Detroit Center. We look forward to all the knowledge you will take away from this motivating and monumental celebration.
Again, Thank you all for joining us for our first HerStory Women's History Month celebration We look forward to hosting this event for years to come!
What does Women's HerStory Month mean to you?
KatieZvonek
EVENT COORDINATOR
For me, Women's History Month is about embracing all aspects of being a woman. It's about being able to authentically be you in every sense of who you are To be a woman in today's world is such a multi-dimensional idea we are able to embrace every piece of who we are as women, whether that be as Mothers, Workers, Innovators, Leaders, Movers or Changers; Everything we do as women is and always will be seen differently, so embrace the different and be authentically you!
GVSU TRIO Upward Bound Detroit Inaugural Program Coordinator
TIME:
SOCIALMEDIA HANDLES
Scheduled Events: Scheduled Events:
EVENT:
Grand Valley State University
250 Detroit Center
163 Madison St. Detroit, MI 48226-2129
9:45AM10AM
Student Arrive Students Check-In at Registration Table
Opening Session: Welcome, Introduction & Housekeeping
10AM10:30AM Mikal O'Neal, Program Coordinator
10:30AM12PM
12PM - 1PM
Breakout Workshops (30 min sessions)
Students will be broken into groups of three
Session 1: Jasmine Cofield
Session 2: Matilde Rodriguez
Session 3: Gail Perry-Mason
Young Men Empowerment - Adam Harris
LUNCH TIME (Lunch Provided) College Student Panel Discussion
Honoring Presenters (12:45PM - 1PM) - Katie Zvonek
Breakout Workshops (30 min sessions)
Session 1: Sharnese Marshall
1PM2:30PM
2:30PM3PM
Session 2: Leona Medley
Session 3: Eboni Sawyer
Young Men Empowerment - Jonathan Shropshire
Closing Session:
Student Showcase
Cyekeia Lee, Closing Speaker
http://gvsuedu/ubdetroit
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HERSTORYEVENTITINERARY:
Jonathan Shropshire, a father of three and a husband to Darlene He has a passion for therapy and is continuing his education in counseling Jonathan has an album out with multiple music singles and inspires to create more content for his listeners While he is currently the Youth Employment Director, he’s done Community Development at Central Detroit Christian for 12 years. Hosting a plethora of mentoring and tutoring programs, he has impacted the lives of hundreds of youth and families in the city of Detroit.
SPEAKER Jonathan Shropshire
Cyekeia Lee is the Executive Director of the Detroit College Access Network (DCAN), overseeing college access support for over 50 high schools in Detroit. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communication from Eastern Michigan University and a master’s degree in counseling education from Wayne State University. At her most recent position, she held the role of director of community collaboration at The Kalamazoo Promise, an awardwinning initiative to provide up to 100% of tuition and fees paid for students from the Kalamazoo Public Schools at any in-state public community college or university
Prior to her time with the Kalamazoo Promise, Lee was the executive director of The Learning Network of Greater Kalamazoo, where she had the opportunity to work with crosssector partners to explore community collaboration efforts for students in Kalamazoo County. Additionally, she has served as the director for higher education initiatives with the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth, where she worked to streamline higher education access for students experiencing homelessness in 25 states
YOUNGMENEMPOWERMENTSESSION CLOSING SPEAKERCyekeia Lee
S T R E N G T H . C O U R A G E . W I S D O M .
Jasmine Cofield is a proud Flint, MI native and 2013 graduate of Mott Middle College and Mott Community College. She was afforded the opportunity to dual-enroll college courses and earned three associate degrees as a high school graduate She then went off to Central Michigan University and studied neuroscience and psychology. She pursued her Physician Assistant studies at the University of Detroit-Mercy and graduated in 2020. During her time at UDM, she served as the diversity chair for her cohort and founded Physician Assistants of Color (ThePAC) in 2017, an organization that provides resources and mentorship to students of color to increase diversity in the PA profession.
Matilde Rodriguez is a servant leader who believes in the power of ‘giving all of you, always.’ She began her journey in Youth Development as a classroom paraprofessional and youth leader in her local church ministry and is now a Program Supervisor within the Detroit Public Schools Community District and a Ministry Development Trainer/Consultant. She has been serving as a Youth and Families Development Specialist for just over two years in Ecuador. Born and raised in Southwest Detroit, Matilde received her Bachelors in Business Administration from the University of MichiganDearborn and her Masters of Arts in Organizational Leadership from Lewis University.
Gail Perry-Mason of Detroit, Michigan, has come a long way, from foster care to caring for others. A respected authority in the financial industry, Gail is also a bestselling author. Regularly addressing capacity crowds, she educates people on financial literacy conducting financial training sessions and workshops for companies such as Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, MGM, CBS News, Comcast, Blue Cross, Wells Fargo, Comerica and many more she founded the original Money Camp for Teens and the first youth investment club, now known as the Money Matters for Youth Camp.
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Sharnese Marshall is a Detroit-native who lives by the scripture “to whom much is given, much is required”. A graduate of Michigan State University with a bachelor’s Degree in Urban and Regional Planning focused in community development and Wayne State University with a Master’s Degree in Sports Administration. Sharnese is the founder of the Detroit-based nonprofit, The Konnection which exists to help move the needle on student chronic absenteeism in Detroit through meaningful relationships, fun and exciting experiences and additional resources. A passionate advocate for Detroit’s youth, Sharnese is committed to providing opportunities for youth while also placing an important focus on mentorship
Leona Medley leads strategic and community partnerships responsible for the footprints in Detroit and Cleveland for Bedrock. Leona has led Bedrock’s DEI team, as a member of the executive team. Under her leadership Bedrock was led through the unprecedented global social justice uprising as well as the COVID-19 pandemic. She is currently pursuing a masters in community development from the University of Detroit Mercy. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Michigan Dearborn Leona sits on the Board of Directors of Neighborhood Legal Services of Michigan and formerly served on the Board of Directors for Habitat for Humanity Detroit.
Hey! My name is Eboni, and I am the founder of Evolving Still. I was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan (Westside) and am a recent University of Michigan graduate with a B.S in Biopsychology, Cognition, Neuroscience
My hobbies include reading, shopping, and living my best life Currently, I’m not only on my journey of evolving but also on my journey to medical school!
Evolving Still is a lifestyle brand that calls for individuals to push forward and to always show up as their best selves It encourages the practice of accountability and promotes frequent emotional checks in. This brand advocates emotional wellness in a way that allows individuals to still maintain their normal busy lives
W O R K S H O P P R E S E N T E R S S H A R N E S E M A R S H A L L L E O N A M E D L E Y E B O N I S A W Y E R
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On behalf of Grand Valley State University TRIO Upward Bound Math Science Detroit I would like to personally welcome each of you as we honor Women’s History Month with “HerSTORY”. It’s an exciting time for Women in the world as we continue to grow and adapt, remain always, motivated, and responsive as change makers. It takes a special type of strength, courage, and wisdom to be a woman today.
Women are transforming the way we operate to continuously improve our ability to blaze new paths while fighting for injustices, being role models, creating new spaces and table for important conversations while challenging systems that do not serve the people We should all be very proud of where we are today and excited about where we are headed.
We are honored to have dynamic women right here in Detroit, that are living proof of “HerSTORY” in the making. It is our hope that they bring a new level of empowerment to our young women as they, too, become the authors of their story.
Thank each of your for attending this amazing event and bringing your open-mindedness to invest in your growth and development as a young woman You are truly our greatest asset today and tomorrow.
Women’s History Month allows citizens across the United States to take a moment and commemorate the resilience, power, struggle and courage of women who have led the way and those who are leading the way in our society. This year we are grateful for the trailblazing women right here in Metropolitan Detroit who are clearing a path for youth and families, and leading in their respective career fields. Our theme for this year’s program is “Strength Courage Wisdom ”
As the Inaugural Director for Grand Valley State University’s TRIO Upward Bound Detroit program, I am honored that we have 10 amazing women from across Southeastern Michigan joining us for this day. We look forward to the encouragement, support and life they will share with each of our Scholars, and the transformation that will follow. As a member of this national governing body of TRIO Professionals, I know that TRIO Works.
We will continue Turning Roadblocks Into Opportunities (TRIO)!!
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TRIO UB DIRECTOR
Adam Harris
S T R E N G T H . C O U R A G E . W I S D O M .
TRIO UBMS DIRECTOR
Whitney Thomas
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*Click on the Detroit Center building image (left) for a map and driving directions from Freeways.
*Click on the Aerial View image (below) to type in your location and get directions to the GVSU Detroit Center building.
Grand Valley State University
Detroit Center
163 Madison St Detroit, MI 48226-2129
Email: ubdetroit@gvsu edu Office Phone: 616-331-9294
Special Thank You! Special Thank You!
FormoreinformationonWomen'sHistoryMonth, clickhere.
250 Detroit Center 163 Madison St. Detroit, MI 48226-2129 www gvsuupwardbounddetroit edu ubdetroit@gvsu edu 616-331-9294