Mercer Times

On September 7, The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) hosted the &Girls Conference organized by Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman. The event aimed to engage, uplift, and empower Black girls in middle and high school through a series of activities and discussions.

The conference included five breakout sessions and featured speeches from notable Black women leaders. Among the speakers were New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Tahesha Way, Congresswoman Robin Kelly from Illinois, and TCNJ alumna Verlina Reynolds-Jackson, who serves as a New Jersey Assemblywoman. Local officials, academics, and business leaders also participated in the event.

TCNJ President Michael Bernstein opened the conference with remarks highlighting the significance of the gathering. “The extraordinary leaders, innovators, educators, and community members that participated in this conference are dedicated to celebrating and supporting these young women,” Bernstein stated. “We are proud to embrace this mission and provide an environment for learning and development.”

This marked the fourth year of the &Girls Conference, which is part of efforts by the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls to address issues affecting Black girls specifically.

Congresswoman Watson Coleman shared her personal insights into the challenges faced by Black girls. “I know personally the challenges Black girls face in this world,” she said. “Opportunities don’t present themselves to us; we have to create them. That’s part of what we try to do with this conference: Empower Black girls, engage with them, and lift them up so they know that they belong in every room they find themselves in so they know their voices are valued, their contributions are necessary, and their ideas should be heard.”

Additionally, TCNJ’s Office of Financial Aid conducted an information session for parents while the college’s Office of Admissions provided on-site counseling services.