UYS 2012 Wrap-up

It was beautiful this past weekend in Philadelphia with the ideal conditions to inspire young brown girls to feel beautiful, brave and brilliant.  A sea of brown faces, of all hues, took over the campus of Philadelphia University (and some of William Penn Charter School) for the third annual Uniquely You Summit.

UYS 2012 Closing day

UYS 2012

UYS 2012 Expo

From sitting in the back of Kurtz Center for the Performing Arts, I think UYS achieved their mission ‘to help black girls uniquely define, discover and become who they are.’™ The girls had a LONG weekend, but two days is a minuscule sacrifice compared to the assaults they face the other 363 days of the year.

UYS swag and past presenters

Highlights from the weekend are hip-hop legend and pioneer MC Lyte giving a little herstory about women and hip-hop and DJ Beverly Bond, founder and president of Black Girls Rock! leading the girls in reciting the UYS oath.  But let me tell you, when Walt Anderson, finalist from Making the Band 2, came out to perform “You are Uniquely You”, girls were screaming in true boy band mania fashion.

Walt Anderson singing “You are Uniquely You”

Congratulations to the UYS founder Shaleah Lache Sutton and the committee for another successful event!