Founder of Women for Change leading by example

The ladies of Women for Change, a group that aims to instill “values, poise, responsibility and unity” among college women of all races, religions and backgrounds, attracted dozens of interested students to its Fall 2004 kickoff earlier this month. This newly formed group which was founded last year by students De’Vine Brown and Stephanie Jackson, on November 13, 2003, hit the ground running immediately and by Spring 2004 had made a well-known name for the organization. Brown, who did not attend the interest meeting, said later during an interview that the primary goals of Women for Change are to empower women to be confident and united and to encourage networking and to inspire community service. To that end, Brown is leading the way. “I want to see Women For Change become incorporated, so that universities all over the nation can open chapters on their campuses,” she said. Brown single-handedly applied for recognition from the university and wrote a constitution for the organization. This is not to say that Brown did not have some assistance. Co-founder, Jackson was instrumental in the vision for the organization and continues to play an active and necessary role in its growth.Corey Ruffin, founder of Black Men For Change, a similar organization on campus dealing with the empowering of black men, helped the organization off the ground. Brown insists that the idea for Women For Change was her own, but credits Ruffin with lots of mentoring and advice along the way. “The names [Black Men For Change and Women For Change] are similar because the organizations are similar. We have similar goals and activities and we do consider ourselves like a sister organization to Black Men For Change” says Brown. The organization has three advisors-Angela Beatty, Faith Small, and Phyllis Smith who guide the women in their decisions Brown has made headway on her goal of creating a support system for women by attending conferences, making connections and spreading the word. Last year, during the spring semester, Women for Change hosted the Women’s Symposium on campus and were influential in bringing Dorothy Height to speak on campus. And, if attendance at its first meeting this semester is anything to go by, expectations are high that the organization will continue to deliver more quality programs this year.