On March 27th, I had the pleasure of attending the Get Yours! Women's History Month event co-hosted by Inman Page and the Black Ivy Alumni League. It was a well attended and extremely uplifting event with information on financial planning, depression in black women, and achieving your personal goals. The speakers were Brown alumni Jodyann Blagrove ‘98, Delane Casiano ‘98, and Amy DuBois Barnett ‘91.
Jodyann Blagrove, a licensed Smith Barney Financial Advisor with a JD/MBA from Rutgers University, offered tips on how black women can responsibly manage their finances. She distributed useful information on creating a budget, prioritizing your goals and choosing various investment options. Dr. Delane Casiano, a licensed psychiatrist with clinical and faculty positions at the University of Pennsylvania, spoke about black women and depression. She explained the importance of recognizing when you may need professional help and not to be afraid to seek it. In her words, “Due to the unique hardships that African-American women face, many often have thoughts that we have to ‘be strong’ in order to ‘keep it together’. These thoughts may make it difficult to recognize signs of clinical depression. Having these symptoms does not mean that you are weak. Many others have had similar experiences. Seeking help simply means that you don’t have to go through hard times alone.”
The keynote address was given by Amy DuBois Barnett, author of the book GET YOURS!, which was recently nominated for a 2008 NAACP Image Award. Ms. Barnett is the current Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Harper's Bazaar; former Managing Editor of Teen People (where she made history as the first African-American woman in the country to head a major mainstream magazine); and the former Editor-in-Chief of Honey magazine. In her address, Ms. Barnett shared the story of her transformation from insecure people-pleaser to strong, independent woman. She spoke about the traumatic loss of her mother, her resulting depression and her journey to fulfill her wildest dreams both professionally and personally. Get Yours! is a powerful guide that gives all women the tools they need to discover their passion, create their purpose and live adventurous and fulfilling lives.
Presenter Bios:
Delane Casiano, MD
Jodyann K. Blagrove
Amy DuBois Barnett
Helpful Worksheets:
Black Women and Depression
Take Action: The 10-Step Financial Makeover
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Video Clips:
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