HISTORY:

On September 27, 1997, the MIT Black Women's Alliance held its first meeting, entitled "Sister to Sister". The meeting wanted to bring black undergraduate women together to begin the process of creating a sisterhood, a network of support.

However, the story of the founding of the BWA started well before this first meeting. It's rooted in the lack of interaction and connection the founding members felt among black women on campus; in the lack of support made available to MIT's black women; and in the lack of a voice for this segment of the population.

One winter's day, the founding women, Danielle Hinton ('00), Ticora Jones ('00), Kerone Peat ('00), Shayna Smith ('99), Jolene Saul ('00) and Kamla Topsey ('00), met in McCormick's West Penthouse to begin their plans for starting an organization specifically for and about black women.

The founders developed the vision and purpose of the organization by meeting with other students who were in leadership positions, such as Harsha G. Marti ('97), then Senior Co-Chair of Chocolate City.

They created allies among faculty and administrators, such as Dean Ayida Mthembu. And, through the efforts of Hinton, took advantage of the support and network of the LeaderShape Program.

 

CONSTITUTION:

Our Constitution was last updated during Summer 2007.

To view it online, click here. To download it, click here.

 

ADVISOR:

Dean Ayida Mthembu is an Associate Dean in the Students Service and Support Center, and has faithfully served as Advisor to the Black Women's Alliance since it was formed in 1997.

 

CURRENT EBOARD:

(Learn more about the members of the Eboard, by clicking here)

Co-chairs: Aisha Bobb-Semple and Amy Marshall

Secretary: Jodyann Coley

Treasurer: Allyson Randolph

Historian: Jamira Cotton

Webmaster: Mikala Streeter

Social Chair: Asha Martin

2008 Class Represenative: Yamilee Toussaint

2009 Class Represenative: Shalewa Odusanya

2010 Class Represenative: Marie Harton

2011 Class Represenative: Cynthia Bouldrick