By Shara Talia Taylor
Unlock Her Potential (UP), a program pro- viding free mentorship for women of color in the United States aged 18 and older, has geared up for their second annual, “sUPosium”, to foster community, coalition, and citizenry.
According to UP leadership, last year’s event feedback in- dicated 95% of attendees were inspired to take a step towards something purposeful, 85% made a meaningful connection and more than 200 attendees were women of color. Program founder Sophia Chang and team return to lead the “sUPo- sium”, in Brooklyn on April 6, as they delve into topics including balance, financial empowerment, effective pitching, personal brand building, overcoming imposter syndrome and networking.
“It’s really a beautiful gathering of people who want to build community and believe in the power of community and who are incredibly sup- portive of each other,” Chang said. “We just want to provide a comfortable loving warm wel- coming space, which is more than enough, because so many of us don’t actually ever get that as women of color especially around other women of color.”
Chang felt last year’s event was so amazing that there was little she wanted to change. This year’s event, however, will have new panelists in industries such as music, news, and even health from fields of science, research and medicine. Speakers include hip hop artist and actor Joey Bada$$; CNN News Central co-anchor Sara Sidner, ABC News Nightline co-anchor Juju Chang; and more.
“Two hundred multi-racial, multi-ethnic, multi-generation- al, multi-faith women of color in a room,” said Chang about last year’s event. “I have never seen a room of women that are so deeply supportive of each other. It was nothing short of transformative.”
Chang, a screenwriter, author, career coach and past manager of hip-hop artists like RZA, GZA, ODB, D’An- gelo, A Tribe Called Quest and more, attributed much of her growth to her own mentor. She worked for Paul Simon and became the mentee of enter- tainment veteran and musical artist Michael Ostin. She said everyone needs a mentor. He opened the door for her and she intends to keep it open for other women like her. Her program UP has tackled career opportunity gaps for women of color with meaningful guidance by mentors that meet with mentees one hour per month.
25-year-old participant Sasa Etienne of Boston, MA at- tended last year’s sUPosium and was also accepted into the 2023 cohort of the UP program.
“I’d been wanting to make strides in entertainment since graduating,” Etienne said. “I went to Howard University for TV and Film and I’ve always wanted to work in that field.”
She graduated in 2021. A friend recommended the program. She applied and re- quested Director, Actor and Writer Cameron J. Ross as her mentor.
“I was working on a script, and with him being a writer, it helped me prepare to resubmit it,” she said.
She said Ross shared his experience of being in Black Hollywood and inspired her. She later attended the sUPosium and enjoyed it so much that she plans to volunteer this year.
“It gave me more insight into how to move in the industry and encouragement to keep going on the path that I am on,” she said. “I have a beautiful net-work of other women who are in the same predicament and we just kind of feed off each other.”
Chang said the UP program is open to women of all ages.
“It was important for me that this did not have a ceiling on age,” Chang said. “I think that we need and deserve mentors at every age and stage of our careers.”
sUPosium focus is geared towards women of color, but the door is open to everyone, and not just UP participants.
The event returns to the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at NYU Tisch School of Arts at 370 Jay St Brooklyn NY, 11201on April 6 at 9:30 am.
More can be learned about UP and the sUPosium online at https://www.unlockherpotential.com/
