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Honorees in attendance. Photos courtesy of Sistahs-On-Campus taken during the opening reception on Friday evening.<\/em><\/p>\n Sistahs-On-Campus (SOC) opened its inaugural art exhibit, \u201cNevertheless she persisted…\u201d<\/em>, at the Bayshore Beach Art Gallery on Friday to showcase the extraordinary contributions of African American women to the Cal State Long Beach (CSULB) campus and community.<\/p>\n In honor of both Black History Month and Women\u2019s History Month, the exhibit celebrates the numerous African American women who have served in various roles on campus and whose \u201cpersistence have helped elevate our institution collectively in order to meet the needs of the campus community.\u201d<\/p>\n SOC was established in 2016 to create a network of support and empowerment for CSULB staff who identity within the spectrum of the African diaspora, said Terri Armstrong, who headed the exhibit for SOC. Close to 100 African American female staff members make up the group.<\/p>\n \u201cThe group\u2019s goals are simply to connect with new and current staff on campus and to share information on campus happenings and upcoming events,\u201d Armstrong added.<\/p>\n Honoree Dr. Carmen Taylor, Vice President, Division of Student Affairs standing in front of her portrait during the opening reception.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cNevertheless she persisted\u2026\u201d<\/em> features photographic portraits of honorees that were nominated by SOC for their contributions to the community and in athletics, emeriti contributions, in memoriam (contributions of those who have passed away) and current contributions, placed alongside quotes that share their stories.<\/p>\n \u201cThe exhibit is not about showcasing the work of an individual artist but is a collective approach to art with black women on this campus coming together to give recognition to other black women on this campus and let them know that we see them,\u201d Armstrong said. \u201cThe SOC believe that each honoree and each story of persistence in their various roles on campus is in fact art.\u201d<\/p>\n The honorees included in the exhibit are:<\/p>\n \u201cIt is our hope that the attendees leave with a sense of history about our campus as we celebrate Black History and Women\u2019s History months,\u201d Armstrong said. \u201cIt is also our hope that the attendees will be inspired by the stories of these women and to persist in their own endeavors.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Honoree-in-front-of-her-Quote-and-Photo.jpg\")
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