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Students help high schools

In honor of Black History Month, LSA senior Patrice Petway and her sorority sisters will teach black high school women how to piece together a resume and apply for college.

All over campus, student organizations and faculty members are reaching out to give their service and expertise to the community.

"We're having a three-day workshop at Ann Arbor high schools," said Petway, president of the Black Greek Association.

"A lot of people say they don't have role models," Petway said.

Over three weekends, her sorority will talk to African American women about self-esteem and preparing for the future.

"Taking the World by Storm," the title of the second workshop, will help black women with business techniques, resume writing, financial aid and applying for scholarships.

"Black History Month is a month where we are black and proud of ourselves," said Marla Jones, an LSA senior helping to organize the workshops.

The workshop, called "Portrait of a Queen," began last weekend and focused on black women's self esteem.

Next weekend, a more casual event starts, titled "Prom Night Frenzy."

Jones said the workshop will help girls to look their best, but will emphasize that beauty comes from within.

"Their features might be different but all black women are beautiful," Petway said.

The program reminds high school students of African queens like Sheba and Nefertiti, a history that is often neglected, Jones said.

"How can we be like these queens?" Jones said.

Giving a hand to high school students in Detroit Public Schools is something Rhea Norwood, a Business junior, plans for upcoming months.

"During the regular year, African American history is left out or less than a chapter in our books," Norwood said.

Black History Month is a time when black students learn about events and people who are not covered in most curriculum, Norwood said.

"I've learned a lot more history since high school directed toward African Americans,"Norwood said. "Like my black religion course which teaches the religion of our ancestors."

Norwood wants to help Detroit public high school students with "formulating post-high school goals."

Norwood said blacks are underrepresented in corporate America.

But problems in education are not the only area of service University students and faculty address.

An annual conference held at the Marriott Hotel in Ypsilanti for Black History Month will focus on the ideals and goals of the Million Man March, held in Washington, D.C., last year.

Elise Bryant, a lecturer at the University and program director for the Labor Studies Program, said, "The idea of the conference is African American men teaching and leading."

Raised in Detroit, Bryant has grown up watching labor conflicts and now uses creativity and culture to address urban problems.

Her goal is to give people skills in community leadership.

Bryant is active throughout the year assisting and supporting labor unions through a performance group, "Workers Lives Workers Stories."

Directing and performing in the group, Bryant often focuses on black history.

Black History Month is important to Bryant, she said, because people look to the past, not to live in it, but to recognize the lessons that are there.

Too many people are unaware of the history of African Americans, Bryant said.

"I think that there are a lot of people who put on blinders, who refuse to recognize the kind of hurt, the human response to pain in other people," she said.

"We are taught not to stare. We are taught not to notice."