- 2 days ago
Girls United: A Whole New World- Entering Adulthood in 2020 sponsored by Microsoft
Category
🛠️
LifestyleTranscript
00:00Hello, everyone. Welcome to Girls United, a whole new world, entering adulthood in 2020.
00:13That's going to be our topic of discussion. I am Miriam Kahimbar, and I'm very, very excited
00:20to moderate this panel about young women facing and embracing adulthood during this unprecedented
00:27year of major transition. I have with me co-founder of the Essence Girls United, Sophia Dennis,
00:36and singer and member of the talent for the R&B, a girl group, June's Diary, Brianna Duvalge,
00:43and then author, community advocate, and national youth director of the National Action Network,
00:49Mary Pat Hector. Thank you, ladies. Thank you, young women. It's such a privilege to have you
00:56on this panel and just, you know, have a conversation, right, about these times with
01:02no further ado. They just go straight and open this time together. Can you all share with me and
01:10our audience, you know, how are you doing in these challenging times?
01:16Yeah, so I think COVID has been a whirlwind. Definitely very unexpected for a lot of people,
01:23specifically people who are just starting to, you know, get their foot on the mat, people who are
01:27just dipping their children into the water of, you know, what they're going to become. And during
01:31these transitional periods in your life, whether it be graduating high school or college, getting ready
01:37to go into the workforce, you know, doing different things and taking different strides within your
01:41business, like me personally, supposed to be on a college tour, shooting a documentary, like interacting
01:47with people, registering people to vote. And a lot of that has had to be changed to digital movements,
01:53digital interactions. That's definitely weird because I like to talk to people. Just kind of being
02:00secluded in my house for four months is not ideal. I've not been in the same state for more than two
02:06weeks, my entire life. Wow.
02:08This is not my life stationary in the same town, in the same city. So it does take a lot of
02:15understanding what's happening, but then figuring it out. Like me personally, I love to make dough.
02:20I'm like baking every day. I make pizza now. Like I'm a different person.
02:26How about you Brianna? Yeah, this time has been really different for me, especially because I've
02:37never had this much time to be creative, right? Right. I think one thing that's important about
02:43right now is trying to stay positive and using this time to your advantage. So that's something
02:49that I've definitely been taking advantage of, just working on music every single day,
02:52getting to know myself on a more spiritual level, like taking advantage of this downtime to meditate
02:59and just connect with myself and find peace in this time. Cause I'm not used to not doing anything
03:06just like you guys. So I'm used to like always being on the go and being busy. And so sometimes
03:11when you're, when you have to stay in like this, you can kind of get inside your head and say like,
03:15Oh, am I doing enough? Or, you know, is, am I going to be able to recover from this? Like,
03:21what does my career look like after this? So just finding different ways to be creative
03:26and make the most out of this time, I think is really important right now for us to stay sane.
03:34Your turn. Yeah. So for me, literally jam packed, busy, um, as a community organizer,
03:43one of the many things that we do specifically through National Action Network is help the community.
03:48And so literally just trying to figure out how we can get PPE equipment to marginalized communities,
03:53specifically communities of color, where a lot of these, um, items aren't found in stores,
04:00giving over a hundred thousand meals as organization, working with organizations like Rise Free
04:05to support students from HBCUs, to give them COVID relief. Um, you know, getting students, um, from all
04:12across the country to come together and work as student navigators to ensure that those students,
04:17um, you know, who need help providing them with the resources that they need to be successful
04:23during this time, uh, now marching and advocating for black life, um, every single day, uh, and organizing
04:32and helping young people see that their power. Uh, and we saw that those same young people who had been
04:39marching and organizing showed up to the polls. Um, Sophia, I'm so happy to say that Georgia made
04:45history, uh, by the primary turnout that we had during that, um, during the past primary election
04:53here. Uh, but it was work. It was hard. You talked about, um, taking a lot of our organizing online.
04:59A lot of people, you know, as a community organizer, literally having to try to figure out how we can
05:06one, expand our reach, right. Getting people to view our profile, getting people to view our platform,
05:12and then trying to convey to young people on college campuses, why it's important to vote.
05:17And, um, trying to figure out, okay, well, how can we get this message to mean something as if we were
05:22face to face with them, um, or getting them to register to vote online? So it's been very, very
05:27tough, very, very challenging. Um, but I kind of feel like it's contributed a lot to my development
05:33as a person. Awesome. Awesome. This is great. This is, you know, um, this is a good segue, you know,
05:39as we, because you both, uh, kind of talked about the pandemic, right? 2020 started with the pandemic.
05:45We're, you know, what a year, then there is the, the fight against the racial injustice,
05:51you know, as things have kind of revealed, which was kind of, to me, that last thing that, you know,
05:58made us all go like, ah, enough, enough. Um, how are your generations? How are you feeling? Um,
06:06I know you kind of talked about as a community advocate, what you are doing, but, you know,
06:11as a person, as an individual, even your, you know, um, your community as a community,
06:16your generation, how are you guys doing? Well, let me just tell you, I have to say,
06:21I am so proud of this generation because a lot of people, they believe that we didn't care about
06:27issues happening in the world, that we were so disconnected and only cared about Instagram
06:33and like, you know, these things that don't really matter. And it was these young,
06:38this generation that literally changed the world and got people in like London and black people in
06:45Germany and black people in Paris to say black lives matter. Um, and you know, they're building
06:51their movements abroad too. Um, but I think that young people are just ready for change now. I think
06:59they're tired of waiting for, uh, politicians who have been in office for 30 and 40 years to save them.
07:06I think they're tired of, um, you know, waiting. I think they believe that, you know, the time is
07:14now for change and we're seeing that change happen. Like they got the national football league,
07:20uh, Robert, uh, Roger Goodell to get on national television and say black lives matter. I appreciate
07:27peaceful protests, which is something I never would have thought I would have seen three months before
07:33that he would have never said that. So, um, I believe that this generation is fired up. I believe
07:39that they are energized and I believe they're going to change the world. And we're witnessing the
07:44resurgence of the civil rights movement. Yeah. How about you, Sophia and Brianna? What are your take on,
07:50how are you feeling on that, on this particular issue and your surroundings, your friends and, uh,
07:55so on and so forth? Yeah. In order to change the world, we must face it. And it's extraordinarily
08:01important that while we face that, that we're facing the youth, that's why, you know, my personal
08:06organization is called Face the Youth. It's about coming face to face with the issues that we care
08:10about. It's about coming face to face with people who oppose us and ensuring that we create platforms
08:15and we have conversations that can change the way that people think for the better of other people and for
08:20the better of ourselves. It's really important for us as a community of Gen Z to ensure that we are
08:26being vocal on all different aspects at the dinner table, out of, out of, out of protest, on social
08:32media, no matter where you are, that you're being vocal and that you're speaking the truth about things
08:37that you actually care about and speaking from your opinion that is true. Uh, Gen Z in general, there's
08:44social media activism. There's so many different ways to get involved, but a lot of times people feel as
08:49though they can't bring anything to a conversation if they have opposing views or if their way about
08:54going onto things is different. It's really important for us to ensure that we are creating space
09:00specifically within the Black community at this moment with everything that's happening the way
09:04that COVID has impacted our community and other communities. Uh, but then also when we talk about
09:10the fight for racial justice and to ensure that these inequities and these injustices are not carried out,
09:15that they become history as opposed to the current. This has been the status quo since 1600 and nothing
09:21has changed. This is probably America's most consistent, uh, consistent level is the racism that we experience
09:29in this country. So it's important for us to convene within our communities and ensure that we are
09:34educating one another, that we are bringing specific conversations that may not necessarily be ready to be
09:40mainstream yet to ensuring that we're having conversations on how we can make those things
09:47change, how we can face those things to change them. Amen. Yeah. I mean, they said it pretty perfectly.
09:53The most important thing is us continuing to be active, spread awareness about everything that's going on,
09:59um, presenting actionable things that we can do to make change and to make it better. Um, but aside from that,
10:08I think what gets lost in the sauce sometimes is just the emotional aspect of it. I know for me
10:13and my friends, it's, it's been a very emotional ride, just the whole thing that everything that
10:20we've been going through. And so I think aside from being active and going out and voting and making
10:25sure we're spreading awareness, which are all things that we have to do and we will continue to do,
10:29it's like calling your friends and checking on them or having like a meditation session together or
10:35creating, um, whether it be music or art or, um, you know, anything that you guys can do together to
10:42kind of, um, put a release out there because our art is so beautiful. So I think, you know, we have to
10:48kind of add that in there too. When we talk about activism, it's like, how are we, how are we coping
10:53with it? Because it affects us emotionally as a people as well. Yes. This is, this, it's, it is,
10:59it is such, you know, you, it's really well said because even the energy is drawn from inside,
11:05right? If you don't take care of, you know, oneself, then, you know, you can give so much,
11:12right? You get to a point where you, you know, you're going to hit the roof and then just, you know,
11:18um, you know, just dive down. So definitely a good way to say, don't forget, you know, as much as,
11:25you know, I get goose, I was getting goosebumps listening to you ladies, because just the energy,
11:30the, you know, you're such vibrant, uh, you know, young women, but encourage you to don't forget
11:36about, you know, making sure that you are full, full, fill yourself up. So with that, um, kind of
11:43just want to jump on your profession, right? Being these vibrant professionals, how do you view your
11:48professional life, right? In this 2020, how do you view your professional? This is open to all of you.
11:55I talk a lot, so I'll let one of you go first.
12:02You want to go first? Because you want to talk about how you've been thinking about your music.
12:07Yeah, yeah. So why don't all of you?
12:09Yeah, no, um, I think that there's a lot of opportunity in my field right now. And there
12:15always kind of has been, but especially now, um, with social media, it's a lot easier to be independent.
12:22Um, and that's something that me and my group, June's Diary, take full advantage of just not being
12:27controlled by anyone. Um, and I would say that that's probably the best thing about being an
12:33entertainer is that you can really take your life into your own hands, say what you want to say,
12:37represent what you want to represent, um, and uplift people, and literally save people, save people's
12:43lives with your music. Um, so there's been a lot of development just over the years with social media,
12:51people being able to put themselves out there, um, all the information about, you know, being able to
12:57put your music on iTunes, sell your music through YouTube. There's so many ways to monetize yourself
13:02and be independent. Um, but I just, I love it. I love being an artist and there's so much to look
13:08forward to.
13:11Anyone that wants to see how, you know, their career is getting impacted and how you see your future,
13:17um, you know, with 2020, what has happened, you know, has it reshaped the way you had been thinking
13:24about your career? I kind of want to hear you about how 2020 is reshaping the way you've been
13:29thinking about your career, your professional life, right? It's a career. Yeah.
13:33So I think, go for it.
13:35Oh, well, I was going to say, aside from just community organizing, 2020 has shown me
13:41the importance of just adapting. Um, you know, it's so easy to get caught up with the way things
13:47are or have been. Um, and, and just like I talked about earlier, being a community organizer,
13:54the importance or just the knowledge of adapting, um, and trying to figure out how we can move to
13:59more online programs, um, talking about issues like student hunger, food insecurity on historically
14:05black colleges and universities, um, online, but then also on a personal level, you know,
14:10young people are hustlers. Okay. So I also have a business, right. And so I had to learn as like a
14:16young co business owner, um, the importance of adapting as well. And, you know, moving everything
14:23from out of store, but online and, you know, took a hard hit, but you know, again, you adapt to those
14:29times and you learn from it and you grow and you build. Um, so yeah.
14:34Okay. And for me personally, I think this time has definitely been kind of this capsule of
14:40understanding the ways in which I can be fulfilled. And while some of them might not be professional,
14:45and it might be like staying up till two in the morning to make brioche bread or something like
14:50that. Uh, I think your twenties, your younger years, your late teens should really be about
14:56experiencing as many things as you can so that you can ensure that you have options in which you can be
15:01fulfilled in. And it doesn't matter which field those are in, whether it be something that's not
15:05professional or something that's extraordinarily professional. For me personally, it's really,
15:11it's really shown me something about getting over a hurdle. This is probably the roughest time that
15:16any business owner has had to go through in the past, like 60 years, maybe. I think even the 2008,
15:23um, the 2008 recession is far different from this. Cause this is like, people are actually like dying
15:29and people are catching this disease. Businesses have to close. And so during this time period,
15:35I'm actually very lucky to experience this very early on so that whatever comes in like 2025,
15:41I'll be like, I went through COVID. I'm definitely someone who's of the professional mindset of
15:51when bad things happen, I don't mind because now I know what not to do. And that's to do sometimes.
15:58It's lessons learned in understanding all of the bad experiences that can happen and figuring out ways
16:05to avoid that, figuring out ways to reshape your business. Like you said, you know, shifting to e-commerce,
16:10shifting to online, like you said, increasing your social, um, increasing your social abilities on
16:15social media, understanding your consumer in a different way, understanding what they want to
16:20hear, understanding what they want you to post, understanding the things that are important.
16:25And as it comes to politics, what is related to COVID and what is the type of content that we can
16:30produce to ensure that people have the information on how to protect themselves.
16:34Okay. Oh, this is good. So you all kind of have, you know, have had a way of the way you started
16:41your professional, right? Your career. Um, what I would be interested, if you can share with your
16:47audiences, give us a piece of advice as a young woman of your age, right? I mean, it's a multiple,
16:53I read your amazing way you've started, you know, Brianna getting back, you know, going back to school
16:59after making an amazing choice to be an entertainer that landed you to an amazing place. Sophia,
17:06you know, fat face is amazing. Uh, and then you, Matt, you know, starting at age 12 is amazing. So
17:13what kind of, what one piece of advice do you have for young women of your generation?
17:19I would have to say if I could talk to my younger self, basically, I would say you have to set goals.
17:27You have to make a plan and then you want to create actionable items that you can do to achieve
17:33that goal and don't wait for anybody. Don't depend on anybody and don't make excuses. You have to
17:41stick to the plan and whatever goals you set for yourself, they're achievable. You just have to stick with
17:46how about you? Are you, uh, you, uh, you Bri? Um, Brianna, I want to say my Pat and Mary Pat. Um,
17:57I would have to say you do not need anyone's permission, um, to take space. You can truly
18:05make a difference. And I have to learn that as, um, a black woman, it took a really long time for me to
18:12just walk in my truth and not be afraid to speak up despite how people might feel about it. Um,
18:18you know, you don't need permission to take up space. You don't need permission to, um,
18:22you don't need anyone's validation to be great and speak up. And I also love to say, I have to say this
18:28during these times, if you are a young person and you're watching this, I encourage you right now
18:33to run for office. We need you in those positions of power. Do it now. Um, I will knock on doors for you,
18:41be in me. Let's get to it. Man. Sophia, any last word? Uh, yeah. So see your hands, see your feet,
18:49see the end of the beam. Sounds like a random quote. Uh, I grew up doing gymnastics competitively
18:55for like 13 years. And whenever we would be on the beam, which is like a three inch wide thing with
19:01like your feet and you're up in the air, uh, when you're doing your series, they'd say, see your hands,
19:06see your feet, see the end of the beam. It just really means take it slow, take it step by step.
19:12You know, the process that you were going down, you need to be the most equipped to understand what
19:17you need to do, whether that be in terms of, you know, with your body, with your mind,
19:21with the things that you plan to do within business, within the world, how you plan to move within the
19:26world, ensuring that you are just covering your tracks, taking it slow, looking at your finances,
19:33you know, really understanding what you're doing because, you know, you're not going to do anything
19:39and no one's going to tell you to do anything unless they trust and believe that you can do something.
19:43You're not going to come up with an idea if it's not possible for you to do it. Uh, you know,
19:47it's really important for young people to think outside the box that, you know, you don't all,
19:53we don't all have to be business owners. That's not an ideal path for everyone. If I'm a business owner,
19:59then how am I supposed to hire like dope black women? Uh, we don't all have to be social media influencers.
20:05We don't all have to go down these different paths. A lot of times as young black women, we hear the,
20:11we hear the phrase quite a bit, black women are not monolithic, black women are not monolithic,
20:15but I think there's a lot of space for us to expand even further than that. Yeah, of course,
20:20we're all the same. Our phenotype is different, but we can all do different things. We can all be successful in different fields.
20:26We can all create and innovate, consume and produce. Right. I don't really know what I just said.
20:35What an amazing way to wrap our time together. You know, it's been such a privilege and thank you,
20:41honestly, for the leadership in your hearts and that you continue to demonstrate. Um, keep it up.
20:48We need you and we're excited that we have you. Thank you.
20:51It's been such a pleasure. Thank you.
21:00Bye.
21:02Bye.
21:04Bye.
Comments