'Night of Empowerment' authenticates strength of diversity, representation

A student-moderated conversation among six Black professionals, some of the "best and brightest leaders" from across Pennsylvania, was a centerpiece of Williamsport's inaugural "Night of Empowerment" at the Community Arts Center on Saturday.

Penn College's Ashlee Massey and Lycoming College's Jordan Golding, Black Student Union presidents on their respective campuses, involved the panel and kept the questions flowing from the students in the audience. Those students were also the focus of a pre-show VIP networking opportunity in the theater's mezzanine, which put them in direct interaction with area employers and their potential future careers.



Panelists for the public portion of the evening were Jovan Goldstein, managing partner of JTGoldstein Accountants & Business Advisors, and board chairman of the African American Chamber of Commerce of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware; Regina Hairston, president/CEO of that joint chamber; Melonie Jackson, UPMC vice president of human resources for northwest New York/northwest and northcentral Pennsylvania; Special Agent Alston Richards, FBI; Lt. Col. Kristal Turner-Childs, retired deputy commissioner, Pennsylvania State Police; and PageCarol Woods, assistant dean for student success at Lycoming College.

Saturday's program – envisioned by its organizers as an annual event – was arranged by the office of Williamsport Mayor Derek Slaughter, Penn College and Lycoming College, UPMC, the Pennsylvania Chamber for Black Owned Business, and the newly formed Williamsport Representation Council.