Young Women of Color Symposium Brings Students Together to “Build Your Village”

Held from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Loyola's Wilmette campus, the day began in the McGrath Family Performing Arts Center, where participants gathered to reflect on this year’s theme, "Building Your Village." Through dialogue, shared experiences, and opportunities for mentorship, the symposium created a supportive environment for young women to explore leadership, identity, and community.

Loyola Academy hosted the symposium in partnership with Francis W. Parker School, continuing a collaboration between the two schools that brings the event to Loyola’s campus every other year. Together, the schools aim to create spaces that affirm and empower young women of color while encouraging meaningful connections across the Chicagoland area.

The program featured a keynote address from Rohini Dey, PhD, an award-winning entrepreneur, restaurateur, and global advocate for women’s leadership. A former World Bank economist and McKinsey & Company management consultant, Dr. Dey is the founder of the acclaimed restaurant Vermilion in Chicago and New York and a leading voice in advancing equity and leadership opportunities for women in the hospitality industry and beyond.

Drawing on her professional journey and advocacy work, Dr. Dey spoke about resilience, cultural identity, and the importance of building networks of support—encouraging students to embrace their gifts and lift one another up as they pursue their aspirations.

Throughout the day, participants engaged in sessions and conversations that encouraged reflection, leadership development, and authentic connection with peers from across the region. The theme of "Building Your Village" underscored the importance of mentorship, friendship, and community support as young women grow into their leadership.

Students also played a central role in shaping the experience and leading conversations throughout the day. Ava Lin, a student at Francis W. Parker High School and a member of the symposium’s leadership team, reflected on the impact of the event and the energy of those gathered.

"I really enjoyed leading the YWOCS this year," Lin said. "It was my fourth year running the symposium and I definitely think the leaders were the most involved this time. The energy of the attendees was amazing, especially during the keynote speaker, Rohini Dey. I thought her words were extremely powerful in elevating and connecting other girls of color."

Participants also shared how the day fostered a strong sense of belonging and inspiration. Amirah Akande '29 reflected on her experience, noting, "The day was a lot of fun and very hands-on. I felt heard throughout the day and I was so inspired by the speakers, most especially Senite because of her genuineness and transparency."

Events like the Young Women of Color Symposium provide meaningful opportunities for students to gather in solidarity, share their experiences, and recognize the strength found in community. By bringing together young women from schools throughout Chicagoland, the symposium helped cultivate a sense of belonging and encouraged participants to continue supporting and uplifting one another.

Special thanks go to Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Sarah Bennett, for her leadership in planning the symposium, as well as to alumni workshop facilitators Senite Barih '20, Lillian Ingabire '18, Esther Debrah '24, Diana Phiri '16, and Blessed Stephen '22, whose participation helped guide meaningful conversations and enrich the experience for all who attended. The symposium was further strengthened by the contributions of current parent presenters Lebene Hormeku, VP & General Counsel at Crystal Clean LLC; Nasutsa Mabwa, President of ServiceMaster Restoration; and Tamara Claude, educator in Evanston, who shared their professional experiences and insights with participants. Additional gratitude is extended to faculty and staff volunteers Montserat Arjona-Sisto, Carol Danstrom, Jeffrey Joseph, Alice Kearney-Alwin, Erica Nathan-Gamauf, Brittany Noble, Tania Pineda, and Beth Stanton for their generous support in making the day a success.