Black History Month

Four Leaders that Empower Us to Make a Difference at GFF

Cori Bush

This is a time in history where complacency cannot be the standard.

Good leaders are honest, but the best leaders are also wise. Emerging in this industry has shown me that the more truth you share, the more change you can generate. Speaking up wasn’t always easy for me but everything in me knew it was important that I did. By being authentically me with boldness I saw that it could teach people in my community to hear and appreciate diverse perspectives. Congresswomen Cori Bush believes, “It’s time for change we can feel.” I agree with her. To do that we must share our stories, celebrate our talents, and then encourage other to do the same!

Bryana Cozart

Shirley Chisholm

If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.

This quote resonates well with me because it describes one of my greatest ambitions: putting myself at tables that have historically lacked the presence of minorities. As a minority, there have and always will be many moments in my life where I will enter new environments that are absent of diversity. While this can be uncomfortable at times, I choose to embrace the discomfort so that I can help create a path for others to follow while also bringing fresh perspectives to the table. Moreover, I hope to one day be able to say that I inspired other minorities to take the road less traveled.

Thomas Castro

Black History is American History

Maya Angelou

History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived; but if faced with courage, need not be lived again.

Lack of foresight and awareness back in my grade school days, I found the subject of black history to be boring and melancholy. Trying my best not to be bothersome, my main objective was just trying to get through each day muted and unseen. That was until I heard those powerful words. Pursuing a career in I. T is not a job I dreamed about having one day; it is a career that I fell into and then fall in love with it. Tinkering, coding, breaking and fixing, technology careers are fun, and a lot have yet to be discovered. As an oddity in my profession, I want to continue to have the courage to face the unknown, so that young girls that look like me can too.

Sharonda Figueroa

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

You deserve to take up space.

To me, taking up space means showing up fully and authentically, and advocating for your dreams, goals and aspirations. As a Nigerian-American, I take pride in the culture that has formed me and the stories that have shaped who I am today. When we give ourselves (and each other) the permission to take up space, we are simultaneously creating an invaluable repository of new ideas, unique perspectives, and often times, a richer solution in the end. Ultimately, it is our interconnectedness that gives us the opportunity to thrive.

Danielle Eke