As students, Alexis De La Rosa ’15 and Lauren Footman ’14 worked together to create “A Point of Difference: Diversity at Bryn Mawr College,” an online exhibition centered on the experiences of Bryn Mawr College students, faculty and/or staff from Africa and the African Diaspora and the broader experience of diversity on campus by all members of the community.
Since graduating, the two have remained close with the current student population. De La Rosa now works at the College in the admissions office and Footman has remained in the area, working as a project coordinator at Elsevier in Philadelphia.
Inspired in part by the work they did on “A Point of Difference,” the pair have formed Students Committed to Opportunities Progress and Empowerment (SCOPE).
“Lauren and I envisioned SCOPE as an initiative that would serve to support students of color on campus, and equip them with additional resources for success both during their time at Bryn Mawr and beyond,” says De La Rosa. “I hope that SCOPE will lend voice to student needs on campus, and hold our institution accountable for ensuring that students truly thrive at Bryn Mawr.”
The group, made up of alumna, students, faculty, and staff, held its first meeting in early February to discuss Bryn Mawr’s climate with regard to students of the Latin and African diaspora and to share their narratives of “belonging” at Bryn Mawr.
“When I came on campus I became hyper aware about what it means to be a Black woman and not just Black.” said Kamyra Edokpolor ’16.
“As a Black woman, I knew my identity but my sense of Blackness was heightened when I came to Bryn Mawr. My Blackness dictated and impacted a lot of my experiences when I came on campus,” added Footman.
Among the College administrators at the event was Provost Mary Osirim.
“Number one is to recognize when you need help,” she told the students taking part in the event. “And number two is to reach out to your allies.”
SCOPE is planning an informal social and end of the year barbecue for later this semester and plans to hold another workshop in the fall of 2016. Students interested in participating in SCOPE should contact Lauren and Alexis at bmcscope@gmail.com.
“A Point of Difference: Diversity at Bryn Mawr College,” was done as part of a Pensby Center internship and is stored in The Albert M. Greenfield Digital Center for the History of Women's Education.