What happens when a group of 19 young women from ten select Colorado high schools come together on campus to be inspired to reach for higher education and career goals that may seem unattainable? In its pilot year, the Alliance WE LEAD Institute connected CSU employees and students to young women to arm them with positive information about self-confidence, body image, career choices, healthy relationships, and how to help each other succeed. WE LEAD stands for Women’s Emerging Leadership, Education and Development, the goal of the program.
The program, funded through a Ripple Effect grant, focused on young women from ten Colorado high schools called Alliance High Schools. The Alliance program was created at CSU in 2007 to unite students, families, high school personnel and the Colorado State University community in a common goal: to work in partnership to elevate the expectation of students and their families regarding the importance, access, and attainability of higher education, and to send a greater number of Colorado students to college.
“Our goal for this institute was to empower young women to gain confidence and insight regarding their personal and academic endeavors while exploring academic and career opportunities,” said Patricia Vigil, director of University Partnerships and Student Success. “It’s our hope that engaging CSU women and men in sharing their stories, strategies and disciplines with young women to develop their leadership potential through relationships, experiential activities and mentoring will provide support and encouragement for Alliance WE LEAD attendees in academic and personal growth.
CSU employees share personal stories
Alliance WE LEAD attendees heard from Colorado State University employees and students during the four day conference. The conference speakers, as well as several CSU students, served as mentors for the girls throughout institute. The institute was built on the premise of connecting generations of women to support young women in attaining higher education and finding careers that fit their abilities and skills, while providing CSU with a deeper understanding of the issues facing young women today.
“I wanted to be involved with Alliance WE LEAD because it captured so many concepts I’m passionate about: young people who are our future leaders, Alliance schools, which support historically marginalized communities, and the strength of women and women’s leadership,” said Shannon Archibeque-Engle, director of Diversity and Retention for the College of Agricultural Sciences. Archibeque-Engle is a graduate of Montezuma-Cortez High School, an Alliance school, and said that knowing people believed in her and had high expectations for her made a significant impact in her success. “I wanted to remind the participants of their own strength and resilience, to make visible their own community cultural capital, what leadership traits they possess because of who they are and where they come from: their story.”
Many of the conference participants discussed feeling inspired by the speakers, many of whom discussed their own struggles in their personal and professional lives, and the importance of setting goals, being confident that they are attainable, and supporting other females in achieving their dreams.
“I wanted to learn how to empower other girls,” said Yaquelin Avitia, an attendee from Hinkely High School. “In school, I see other girls walking around with their head down, their back slouched. They are not comfortable in their own shoes and I feel like it’s important to help everyone be happy.”
Institute offered transformational experience
The Alliance WE LEAD Institute was truly a transformational experience for these young women, Vigil noted. “This was evident when each young woman, some in tears, shared their personal leadership vision that they developed during the institute at the closing ceremony and their families stood applauding with pride.”
The Ripple Effect was launched in fall 2013 after President Frank charged Parsons with leading an effort to make CSU the best place for women to work and learn. The project seeks ideas, feedback and comments from women and men across the campus community about what changes can be made at CSU to reach that goal.
Become part of the Ripple Effect conversation.
