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A History
[pic of founders]
It all began on a Saturday night during winter of
2000. Four young women- Alana Below, Candace Brooks, Cenée
Dawkins, and Carmel Pryor- in their freshmen year at
Although there was a discussion group, mind-body and
soul, at the time for African American women, it was not a student
organization. The four young women
strongly felt it was important to have a student organization for minority
women as a whole because, as Alana mentioned, “we are all coping with the
double-victimization of racism and sexism.”
They also wanted to educate college women on learning to be strong
capable women after college.
Alana started looking up information about how to
start a new organization on campus and information about drafting a
constitution and presented this information to the other three. The very first
thing they did was talk to Dr. Janice Edwards, the Associate Vice President for
Student Affairs at that time. Dr.
Edwards gave them advice on what should be done get the organization
started. The four young women soon found
out about another group of women who also saw the lack of unity between African
American women on campus. They had also thought to start an organization in
response to this dilemma, but couldn't see it through because they were
graduating that year. The group headed by Tiffany Boles and some of her friends
had presented the idea to Kellea Tibbs,
a Resident Director, who became very enthusiastic about the idea, having been
familiar with this type of organization. Alana, Candace, Cenée,
and
They talk to the group of women with their similar
idea getting advice and ideas from them.
SAAB (Students of African-American Brotherhood) was also consulted for
advice. Although it was never meant to
be a sister organization to SAAB, the ladies saw similarities between the two
groups and really benefited from the advice they received from them. By spring quarter, their baby was ready to be
introduced to the campus of OU as Unified Sisters. The purpose of Unified Sisters:
to bring unity to the minority women of the campus so they can help each other
learn and grow with the new and unpredictable world around them.
Special
Thanks from the founders of Unified Sisters goes to:
Kellea Tibbs for her time and
effort
Tiffany
Boles for the dedication and being the epitome of an awesome sister
Dr.
Janice Edwards for guidance
SAAB
for their words of encouragement and for being exemplary
For
all the appointed leaders for the year 2001-2002, who made the first year a
great one. That year surpassed what anyone expected of
Unified Sisters and makes us proud to be a co-founder.