The Power of Sisterhood: 5 Facts About Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson and Her Best Friends |
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Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, right, with her Harvard classmates Antoinette Coakley, Nina Simmons, and Lisa Fairfax, celebrating Fairfax’s wedding in 1997 (photo credit: Nina Simmons via The 19th) |
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One of Cinnamongirl’s goals is to foster lifelong friendships between girls of color that will sustain them through tough times and make the good times extra-special. Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson and her best friends are an inspiring example of that vision. Read on to learn more about them! - Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson is still close friends with three Black women she met during her freshman year at Harvard University: Antoinette Coakely, Lisa Fairfax, and Nina Simmons.
- Simmons says that when she met Jackson, “she spelled out her name and she made me pronounce it twice so I got it because that was important to her.”
- Coakley remembers that when the Black Students Association protested the display of a Confederate flag at Harvard, Jackson insisted that protesters not skip class: “It showed that by showing up the way we did—excellently—that [the other students] were wrong.”
- According to the New York Times, when Jackson introduced her roommates to the white man who would later become her husband, they warned him that they’d be watching him—to make sure he proved himself worthy of marrying a Black woman.
- All four women went on to Harvard Law. Coakely is now a professor of law at Northeastern University, Fairfax is a professor of law at University of Pennsylvania, and Simmons is a senior counsel for a private firm in New York.
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Entrepreneurgirl Launch Party |
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Volunteer Spotlight: Brenda Love |
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Brenda Love joined Cinnamongirl in 2008 as a mentor. Through the years, she has served on the Executive Board and the Advisory Board, introducing us to several of our amazing supporters, planning events and fundraisers, and helping to steer us as we’ve grown. Most recently, she has helped build our travel program, which provides girls with invaluable learning experiences abroad. Cinnamongirl would not be the same without her vision, passion, and dedication. Thank you, Brenda! For more details on all that Brenda has done for Cinnamongirl and Travelgirl, click here. |
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Cinnamongirl Spotlight: Jolie Wilson |
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Jolie Wilson is a second year Cinnamongirl and she is a powerhouse! She is involved in the Write Your Story cohort as well as Travelgirl. She is passionate about art (as you can see above, she creates beautiful paintings), travel, history, and social justice, and she is working hard to raise money to fund her trip with us to Japan. Of her painting, Jolie says, "It's not always easy for me to sell my work, it's very personal. At the same time, it's a perfect gift of gratitude because it's like giving a piece of yourself." Please support this wonderful young woman’s travel dreams here! Donors will receive one of her art pieces. All of our Travelgirls are raising funds for their trip! You can support them here. |
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Reign Free, founder and CEO of Red Door Catering, will speak with the Entrepreneurgirls. Photo credit: Josh Edelson/AFP |
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This year’s Write Your Story cohort is busy revising their pieces for their anthology; last year’s cohort will appear live at the Bay Area Book Fest for the debut of their anthology, I AM THE DREAM: Voices of a New Generation! |
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Travelgirl's anticipation of our summer trip ramped up at our last meeting as the girls presented various aspects of the culture, history, and language of Japan. An engaging and informative guest presentation made a huge impact as well: Rachael Allison, a People Strategy Lead at Genentech who spent three years in Japan teaching English, shared her wisdom and experiences with us. She explained some traditional customs with historical context, and helped us understand Japan's key virtues and values so that we will be able to travel with grace. The Travelgirls' greatest takeaway: explore Japan with humility, restraint, and patience, and go the extra mile to understand. Thank you, Rachael Allison. To learn how you can support the girls on their voyages, click here. |
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Rachael Allison (She/Her) People Strategy Lead at Genentech |
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The Entrepreneurgirls will experience a lesson in grit and ingenuity with Reign Free, who started off cooking for friends and built her talent into Red Door Catering in Oakland. Red Door serves both individuals and corporate clients such as Google, the Golden State Warriors, and Louis Vuitton. |
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We're inspiring girls everywhere to lead, mentor, and be the change-makers in the room. Won't you please consider a gift of any amount. |
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