Honorees in attendance. Photos courtesy of Sistahs-On-Campus taken during the opening reception on Friday evening.

Sistahs-On-Campus (SOC) opened its inaugural art exhibit, “Nevertheless she persisted…”, 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.

In honor of both Black History Month and Women’s History Month, the exhibit celebrates the numerous African American women who have served in various roles on campus and whose “persistence have helped elevate our institution collectively in order to meet the needs of the campus community.”

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.

“The group’s goals are simply to connect with new and current staff on campus and to share information on campus happenings and upcoming events,” Armstrong added.

Honoree Dr. Carmen Taylor, Vice President, Division of Student Affairs standing in front of her portrait during the opening reception.

“Nevertheless she persisted…” 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.

“The 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,” Armstrong said. “The SOC believe that each honoree and each story of persistence in their various roles on campus is in fact art.”

The honorees included in the exhibit are:

• Dorisula “DeeDee” Green, Alumni, B.S. Finance, Administration and Business Manager, College of Engineering
• Naomi Rainey-Pierson, Alumni, 1972, President, Long Beach Chapter, NAACP
• Valerie Bordeaux, Director, University Outreach & School Relations – Emeriti, Director, President’s Scholars Program – Emeriti
• Pamela Ashe, Interim Director, Counseling and Psychological Services
• Carol Brown-Elston, Alumni, M.A. Vocational Education, Interim Director/Associate Director, Career Development Center (2013-2015)
• Michele Scott, Director, TRIO Educational Opportunity Center
• Danielle Scott, Alumni, B.A. Liberal Studies/Sociology, Indoor Volleyball, Five-Time Olympian (1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012)
• Moeshae Mosley, Alumni, B.S. Natural Sciences & Mathematics, 2017
• Duan Jackson, Alumni, B.A English Lit & Comp.Executive Director, University Academic Advising
• Jo Ann Harris, Administrative Support Coordinator, Equity and Diversity
• Keya Allen, Alumni, B.A. Black Studies Associate Executive Director, Associated Students, Inc., CSUF
• Dr. Carmen Taylor, Vice President, Division of Student Affairs

“It is our hope that the attendees leave with a sense of history about our campus as we celebrate Black History and Women’s History months,” Armstrong said. “It is also our hope that the attendees will be inspired by the stories of these women and to persist in their own endeavors.”

“Nevertheless she persisted…” runs through March 9. For more information, visit the calendar listing here.