Conversations beyond the degree

In honor of Black History Month, University of Delaware students connected with and received sage advice from top professionals over dinner and small-group discussions. The annual BHM Dinner, hosted by the Biden Institute in the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration and the Center for Black Culture, was created to give students an opportunity to engage with prominent Black leaders representing career fields including law, politics, business, healthcare and more.

Celebrating Black excellence

Biden School Interim Dean Joseph Trainor, Biden Institute Chair Valerie Biden Owens and Gov. Matt Meyer set the stage and led introductory remarks for the evening's keynote speaker, Pennsylvania State Representative and vice chair of the Democratic National Committee, Malcolm Kenyatta. The representative made history in 2018 as the first openly LGBTQ+ person of color and one of the youngest people elected to the Pennsylvania General Assembly. In addition to Rep. Kenyatta, the event featured 10 table leaders from various industries in Delaware and beyond.

A signature element and evening closer of the event is the share-out of advice from each leader. Keep reading for highlights of what they shared.

Snapshots of wisdom

Take up responsibility as an active citizen

"What I would suggest to you is that in this moment, with the energy that you have, to not spend that energy searching for Godot, to not spend that energy asking, who's the next John Lewis? Who's the next this person or that person?" Kenyatta said. "What I would suggest to you is to not worry about who's going to get credit, to not worry about what the history books are going to say. What I would encourage you to do is to get on the damn bridge because you believe there's something worth fighting for."

Don't dim your light

"Nothing happens by chance," said CJ Bell, director of the Delaware Division of Small Business. "Where you are today is where you wanted to be two to three years ago; you were begging to be right here, where you are right now. So remember that as you continue to scale, as you continue to grow, do not dim your light. You are there for a reason, because you cultivated the opportunity."

Network, network, network

"Everybody here is somebody that you can partner with, that you can work with, that you can learn with, and that you can cultivate something with," said Malcolm Coley, founder of ReadyPromptOne, chief technology officer at Futures First Gaming and CEO and co-founder of LocNation™. "You will never, ever, ever be in a position where you have 30,000 people in one space. Ever again. College is that place. Cultivate your relationships."

Bend the arc of justice together

"Figure out how you can help each other in the classroom and in your communities," said JJ Francis, director of enterprise development at The WRK Group. "You go do that, and we replicate values amongst each other, and we'll be stronger together."

Read the fine print

"Read everything with a fine-tooth comb to get a full understanding of what your financial obligations are and what the potential impact would be, because unfortunately, there's disproportionate impact on black and brown communities when it comes to furthering education, and so just be diligent in your pursuit and try to explore all options and pathways to achieve your educational goals," said Nicole Mozee, assistant professor of law at Wilmington University and former deputy attorney general for the Delaware Department of Justice Division of Civil Rights and Public Trust.

Do not become numb

"It is okay to feel that it's not okay," said Tara L. Smith, associate instructor in UD's Department of Communication. "In fact, that feeling is what keeps us pushing forward, because freedom isn't a one-time win; it's a continuous effort. So use your voice, stay aware, and remember you are part of a legacy of resilience."

The full list of table leaders included:

• CJ Bell, director of the Delaware Division of Small Business

• Malcolm Coley, founder of ReadyPromptOne, chief technology officer at Futures First Gaming and CEO and co-founder of LocNation™

• JJ Francis, director of enterprise development at The WRK Group

• Carla Lee, vice president of product management at JPMorgan Chase & Co

• Nicole Mozee, assistant professor of law at Wilmington University and former deputy attorney general for the Delaware Department of Justice (DDOJ) Division of Civil Rights and Public Trust

• Robyn Phillips-Pendleton, professor of visual communications in UD's Department of Art and Design

• Michele Roberts, coordinator of the Environmental Justice Health Alliance for Chemical Policy Reform

• Adib Rushdan, M.D., medical director of the Oak Street Health Clinic

• Sharece Sellem-Hannah, founder of Vintage Soul Productions and co-founder of Feel the Future LLC

• Tara L. Smith, associate instructor in UD's Department of Communication