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Women of Color Trailblazers Leadership Conference

Sponsored by the Student Government Association Students of Color Committee (SOCC) and the Division of Student Life, the Women of Color Trailblazers Leadership Conference (known as the WOCTLC) seeks to empower self-identifying women of color across the Five Colleges, Pioneer Valley and beyond; including faculty, staff and community members. This conference provides a space to celebrate the lives and accomplishments of women/ girls of color while additionally opening dialogues and raising consciousness on issues relating to race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, class, etc.

2020 Conference: “Visibility in the Age of Social Media”

The 2020 conference will consist of workshops that focus on the topics of peer networking, professional and personal development and leadership opportunities. Most importantly, this conference will provide a space to celebrate the lives and accomplishments of women of color. In Collaboration with the Division of Student Life and the Weissman Center for Leadership, this year’s keynote speakers will include women of color who have impacted the world through social media.

Learn more about the 2020 Conference

Past Conferences

2019 Women of Color Conference Keynote Speakers

WOCTLC 2019: “Going Beyond Politics”

Featuring keynote speakers Na’ilah Amaru, Tahirah Amatul-Wadud and Jossie Valentin, political figures and activists who are engaged in public policy.

Linda Sarsour, Carmen Perez and Tamika Mallory are the keynote speakers for the Women of Color Trailblazers Leadership Conference this year.

WOCTL ’18: Engagement & empowerment in action

Tamika Mallory, Linda Sarsour and Carmen Perez, founders of the Women’s March in Washington, D.C., were the keynote speakers.

This is a picture of poet Staceyann Chin, keynote speaker

2017: Empowering Voices: Breaking Boundaries

Featuring keynote speaker Staceyann Chin, the conference focused on the topics of peer networking, professional and personal development and leadership.

2016: Learning to Speak, Learning to Listen

Janet Mock, author, cultural commentator and transgender rights activist was the keynote speaker.

Karyn Parsons (left) and Ilyasah Shabazz

2015: Focus on community

Community organizer and writer Ilyasah Shabazz and Fresh Prince actress Karyn Parsons gave keynote addresses at the event.

The first WOCTLC was held Saturday, March 1, 2014 under the leadership of Quanita Hailey, MHC Class of 2012. the 2014 keynote speakers were Kymberly S. Newberry FP’15, Naima McQueen ’21, and Cerri Banks, Dean/VP of Student Affairs at Skidmore College and former Dean of the College at Mount Holyoke College.