Professional Development

By V’Rhaniku Haynes, University of Central Florida, Kelvin Rutledge, Southern Connecticut State University, and Renard Miles II, University of Tennessee at Martin

SoACE hosted its inaugural Black Career Services Professional Summit during the 2019 annual conference in Memphis, TN. The purpose of the Summit was to provide a space for leadership and professional development for Black Career Services professionals. This event brought together 40 Black Career Services Professionals and provided an authentic and transparent space for networking, mentoring and sharing of ideas.

APEX, by definition, refers to the highest or most top point of an object or idea. When the co-chairs collaborated in this endeavor, we had a larger vision to develop a space where individuals could envision their fullest potential through authentic and transparent conversations. By centering both the personal self and our professional identity as career services professionals, we ultimately wanted individuals walking with a larger sense of energy and vision into the SoACE Annual conference.

In addition to networking, the Summit encouraged open dialogue and allowed participants to ask questions and get candid advice from both leaders and peers. The event included a panel and roundtable discussions on navigating Career Services as a Black professional and a session on preparing for executive-level searches.

It was a unifying experience to have all these Black professionals in one space. Ultimately, this is what conferences are all about: a group of people with the same interests getting together to listen, learn, share ideas, and interact. One of the participants shared the following message about the Summit:

“I can say that this was my BEST experience at SoACE and I know that it was directly tied to the pre-conference Summit. Being black in career services and attending conferences, can sometimes make you feel out of place and disconnected. However, with this Summit, I felt like I was entering a family reunion and it helped shape my experience throughout the conference.”

While this was the first Black Career Services Professional Summit, many hope to see the event continue at future conferences.

Why Was This Space Needed?
When discussing the importance of professional spaces for Black professionals, the answer is simple…it’s never not important. In these spaces we can share stories, find understanding, and build support systems. Having a group of peers and leaders who are navigating similar situations allows Black professionals to remain grounded while navigating similar circumstances in the workplace.

People of color need their own space. Black people need their own space. We need spaces where we can be our authentic selves. People of color often feel the need to “code switch” when navigating workspaces. You can forget who you are and the value you bring. “So, being in this space allowed me to reclaim forgotten parts of myself.”

Spaces like these have always existed; they simply get refined with time. The African American Female Summit and African American Male Summit, workshops held annually during the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) conference, are prime examples of impactful, relevant, and timely spaces focused on professional development and growth. During these events, Black student affairs professionals “connect with one another and exchange information related to the successes and struggles they face on their respective campuses (West, 2016).”

People can enjoy an exciting opportunity to network and reflect on who they are and the unlimited potential they possess. With this in mind, there will continue to be a need for professional development programs “for us, by us”.