2nd Annual Black Student Summit Held in Middletown

Over 300 Attend the Event at St. Georges Technical High School

Wilmington, DE — (April 5, 2023) United Way of Delaware and the Delaware Racial Justice

Collaborative hosted the 2^nd Annual Black Student Summit (BSS) on March 18, 2023, at St. Georges Technical High School in Middletown. Over 300 students, teachers, parents, volunteers, and vendors attended. The BSS aims to prepare, train, and refuel students with the skills and tools to succeed academically, professionally, and personally. It is also for the adults who support and advocate for the students.

The Summit featured a variety of workshops, presentations, and panel discussions across a wide range of topics of interest to Black students, including student mental health, student rights in school and the community, how to run a Black Student organization, how to talk about race, and African history before slavery.

The panel discussion focused on Delaware House Bill 198, which requires all Delaware school districts and charter schools to implement a curriculum for Black history and the Black experience into K-12 education in Delaware. The Keynote Speaker was Wilmington resident Ashley Christopher, CEO of the HBCU Week Foundation and an advocate for Black student success.

The students in attendance were enthusiastic about the Summit. One of the organizers, Tatiana Fair, who also helps manage the Instagram page @Delaware_BSS, said “It’s super important to have the community involved, to bring all of our school BSUs together and really just kind of have everyone uplift Black voices. That is what we promote. And that’s what the Instagram is all about as well.” Another organizer, Sydney McLean, focused on the networking opportunities. “For me [the Summit] is important because it’s really important to network. That is one of my biggest things. And there’s a lot of influential people here today. So, if you don’t meet somebody, it’s because you weren’t talking to somebody.”

Interested community members can learn more about the Black Student Summit and sign up to be notified about next year’s event via our website at https://uwde.org/drjc/black-student-summit/. Details about the DRJC can also be found on our website at https://uwde.org/drjc/.

About United Way of Delaware

Founded in 1946, United Way of Delaware (UWDE) works to advance the common good by focusing on four key areas: Early Education, Career and College Readiness, Financial Stability and Racial Justice and Social Equity. UWDE is engaged in a long-term strategy to eliminate the root causes of Delaware’s most pressing social problems in New Castle, Kent, and Sussex counties. UWDE is also responsible for the United Way brand in Salem County, New Jersey.

About the Delaware Racial Justice Collaborative

The Delaware Racial Justice Collaborative (DRJC) is a diverse group of more than 200 individuals and organizations working to make Delaware better for all people. Together, we work to undo policies and practices that limit opportunities for people of color. We give children and young people access to the skills and resources they need to graduate on time and succeed in the workforce. Above all, we encourage everyone, regardless of race, to take a stand against injustice in Delaware.