My Sister's Keeper: a new mechanism for supporting black women at MIT

On November 3rd, I had the pleasure of attending the kickoff of the My Sister's Keeper initiative at MIT. My Sister's Keeper is a collaborative initiative that is designed to help support the continued success of MIT's Black women students. The aim of My Sister's Keeper is to engage MIT black women undergraduate and graduate students in social, professional, and mentoring relationships with faculty and staff that will positively shape their MIT experience and inspire them along the way. 

As a 5th year African American female Ph.D. student at MIT, having access to networks like this, that focus on our unique experiences both professionally and personally, is encouraging. During this 2 hour mixer, I met women through all ranks and departments at MIT, bonded to each by our unique cultural and gender heritage. It was a very refreshing experience, and I have to thank Dean Eboney Hearn, Dean Ayida Mthembu, Professor Helen Elaine Lee, La-Tarri Canti and Dean Dionetta Jones Crayton for organizing this initaitve, and consistently advocating for underrepresented students in STEM.