The Stand
Everyone was all smiles at the ninth annual Youth and Parent Empowerment Day held Saturday, March 20, at Corcoran High School. The event was sponsored by Lambda Kappa Mu Sorority XI Chapter as part of the LKM Week. The affair kicked off with workshops for students in fourth through 12th grades.
Some of the topics addressed were “Literacy for the Future,” “Careers in Health Care” and “Preparing for High School.”
Eva Williams, who is a member of LKM sorority and a guidance counselor at Corcoran, said that “traditionally we only hosted workshops for the parents and kids. This year we partnered with the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and did the Black College Fair. So this is our ninth annual (Empowerment Day) and our fourth annual Black College Fair.”
The college fair took place in the cafeteria. “All the tables are manned by volunteer alumni” Williams said. Colleges in attendance included Grambling State University, Fisk University, Delaware State and Bennett College for Women. Antwan DeLoach, an alumnus of Cheney University, illustrated the benefits that his university brings to the event and said “the earlier that we get into [the student’s] minds that these opportunities are available, the better.”
Enyan Davis, 15, said that he enjoys the ability to “check out all the different schools and gather info.” He plans on going into computers and engineering after graduating.
The event wasn’t solely about the youth however. Information was available for parents as well, including GED program information and Syracuse City School District mentoring opportunities.
“Collaborating with all the groups strengthens what we’re doing,” Williams said.
