Sydney Anderson

Empower, a female organization uprooted in service, building women’s confidence, and discussing important topics, was established on April 11, 2022, at Delaware State University.

Founded by Kala Games, President, and Bisola Bello, Vice President, the primary goals are: to motivate, strengthen, and support women of all different races while prioritizing the need to help others through community service and volunteer work. 

On April 1st, the EMPOWER organization held its first-ever conference. 

The first session occurred at the Schwartz Center from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. It was an open discussion structured around the adversity faced while being women of color.

EMPOWER  had nine women representing nine different career paths, and the students could ask questions and receive insight into what it’s like in that career field. The first session finished with a performance from ISTEP and S.W.A.U. 

The second session was from 4:30 to 8:00 p.m. in the MLK parlors. During the second session, the audience watched the film “Birthing Justice.” The documentary film revolves around the dangers of African American women giving birth due to a lack of resources and unavailable treatment. It included many women, such as Alison Felix, sharing their stories about their hardships while being in labor. In addition, it details the challenges and struggles that not only women face but their husbands and families. 

Overall, the documentary film serves as an insight to many individuals because they did not know the severity of the issue. The conference served a motivational purpose for women, as they became their authentic selves and realized they could succeed in any field despite barriers. 

To gain further knowledge and insight about EMPOWER, Kala Games (President), Yahira Rivera (Recording Secretary), and Jade Huggins (Future President) spoke about the organization.

Interview with Kala Games:

Q: Why did you pick the name “EMPOWER,” and what does it mean to you?

A: My sister Breonna, who was using the name for her upcoming business, inspired the name EMPOWER; however, the word spoke to me, and I felt compelled to use it. Empower is “making (someone) stronger and more confident, especially in controlling their life and claiming their rights.” I can relate to this meaning because I want to do exactly what it says—assisting individuals in realizing their potential and empowering them to take ownership of their stories.

Q: What made you want to start the organization?

A: I decided to start “EMPOWER” to build an organization where everyone is accepted and feels equal. This means that no matter who you know or what you are involved with, you can come to an environment and feel welcomed and respected. 

Q: Why is the name capitalized?

A: The name is capitalized to convey the importance of the meaning. Capitalization helps the title stick out and easily be recognized while making others aware of its significance. When we stand together, we become empowered.

Q: What are your hopes for the future of Empower?

A: For the future of EMPOWER, I hope the organization continues to grow and create an atmosphere for the members to feel heard and then take it into the community. I also plan to take EMPOWER to a higher level by expanding it to other universities.

Q: In what ways is EMPOWER different from all the other organizations?

A: EMPOWER differs from other organizations because we care about our members. We create an environment for the students to express their feelings and encourage them along the way by providing them with the resources they need to succeed. EMPOWER is a sisterhood that keeps giving to ourselves, each other, and our community.

Interview with Yahira Rivera:

Q: How has EMPOWER helped you become a better woman?

A: EMPOWER has helped me become a better woman by providing me with a sisterhood that allows me to discuss intimate issues such as racism, sexism, or insecurities with other women.

Q: What is your position in EMPOWER, and why is it essential to the organization?

A: My position is the recording secretary, which is important because I keep recording all topics from all the meetings. I am responsible for keeping my fellow board members on track and informed of their needed tasks for the week.

Q: What are your favorite memories from EMPOWER?

A: My favorite memories from EMPOWER were the tea talks since the members could make new relationships with each other and listen to different perspectives on the same issues we, as women, deal with. The tea talks occurred once a month, and members would come ready to discuss and listen to one another. 

Interview with Jade Huggings:

Q: How will you make a difference in Empower for the fall semester?

A: I will make EMPOWER different by asking for input from our members for our events. This will help us to get to know each other better and start new friendships. 

Q: How can you encourage community outreach to your other students?

A: To encourage community outreach, I would like to volunteer at different places, such as women’s shelters, middle schools, high schools, soup kitchens, etc., to help those in need and also empower those people never to give up. 

Q: What are some ways EMPOWER can be promoted so other students can learn more about the organization?

A: EMPOWER can be promoted by holding more events that welcome all. Even though we are a women’s organization, we can invite men to spread awareness of our organization and give women a different perspective. 

Q: How would you define EMPOWER?

A: I would define EMPOWER as uplifting women, allowing women to feel confident and assertive about themselves in today’s society.