International Association for Women of Color Day

More and more evidence is available: Women are Stronger Than Men. Look at all the growth in formerly all-male careers. Why? Because men have relied on brawn and women rely on brains and are considered more attentive to detail. Differences in sizes mean less and less as technology evolves. Women are more suited for diverse lines of work and better handle stress and risk. Where situations require physical contact with women, for procedures, women can ensure processes are comfortable and respectful for all parties involved. In cases of conflict resolution, women are more skilled at handling conflict. They can read
body language more accurately, quickly diffuse an intense situation, and focus on the needs of a person posing a threat. In a dangerous situation, a level head is mandatory for the best outcome.
Standards for women are already higher than those for men in many fields and may include 1-2 foreign languages, in addition to their native tongue or certifications in skilled activities like scuba diving, pilot licenses and skiing. Women must prepare for every scenario and related fitness.
My point in providing this information is to demonstrate that it is time to see that old ideas about men being stronger than women are outdated. In the context of the changed and changing world, women have evolved most while men have changed little. Women have grown under difficult circumstances and abuses. Thus, their growth will continue at the faster rate and be unbeatable.

Suzanne Brooks
I have been fortunate in meeting several extraordinary women through the years. Nikki Giovanni was one. Lucille Clifton was another. Elizabeth Cotten another. Sonja Sanchez, who is still alive at 90. Each of them was very encouraging to me and in various ways prepared me to keep at my own work in literature, music and more, in spite of the unending racism, sexism, ageism and more. For them and for the many more of us who are still writing, singing and more, I interested in building in establishing a collective and collaborative institution where the work of those who have gone and head and those of us still working and for all those Black and Native American women who have continued much and received little. It is not enough just to remember us after we are gone, leaving behind those who did not support us, but wish to benefit from our art, studies, research and more. We deserve experiencing the benefits of our work while we are alive for the joy of it. We also need to build resources we can share with those of us sill living--older, younger and in our same age groups. We need resources ourselves to create, participate in and produce our own work in literature, music, dance, theater, research and all kinds of collaborations with each other and with other allies. There is still time to make this happen if we reach out and find each other, share our interests and our skills and experiences. We have extraordinary abilities and talents which have empowered us throughout the years and in so many places without giving up and surviving in conditions and environments in which no other groups have done as well. It is time to write our stories and to share them in such a way to heal much and many. I am searching for interested first in Black women who are the Indigenous Africans descendants of the African slave trade here in the US and others throughout the America sharing these thought and desires and Native American/Indigenous women of the same areas. The goal is to recognize those at the bottom of these locations who are not originally immigrants from elsewhere to the US and who generally are not recognized for our existence nor contributions of anything. We have always been powerful influences wherever we are or have been. We are open to the creative thoughts of others and in the kind of unity which will unify and honor us all. As we build this organization, we will share leadership and artistic leadership roles and benefits. We are seeking those women and such men as are interested in similar goals, finding and sharing ways to stay alive among others with similar goals, including ways to enable us to live in reasonable conditions, but not with those only seeking a path to wealth or individual power. If interested, please send me information in 2 pages to serve as your application to this effort. We will retain the already established name, Women, World Culture and the website, https://womenworldculture.com and continue to be a social entrepreneur--a business operating in public interest. We will fundraise online under an existing nonprofit organization already established by a woman leader. These steps will make clear who we are and what our history is, as well as document where we began and verify our identities. We already have a list of proposals which interested women can join or critique. New ideas and participation in spreading the word will be appreciated. Thank you. Suzanne Brooks

Suzanne Brooks
There are individuals, organizations and communities that are very important to me, dear to me really, with whom I share critical values and for whom I will make sacrifices in my life and have. I make the following statement carefully and in the hope that my full statement and attached book will be read in full and with equally full consideration. Like many intelligent, conscientious, serious, well-meaning people, I like to think that my beliefs and opinions are based on serious research, study and consultation with others--young to old of diverse cultures and experiences. Through the years, many of us have found that cut and dry opinions which can only be viewed in one way, are sometimes flawed, even though a deeply held belief can seem so true to the believer. I have studied the evolutions of many kinds of governments and religions--touchy subjects which are studied deeply with peaceful goals in mind, yet often lead to terrible conflicts which lead to ever greater conflicts, despite the best intentions. So it is that often the intention of the peace maker can end up in language very similar to that of the war monger. Thus, a longed-for 3rd or alternative political party may view attacks on or killing of those with whom they disagree as justified. A contemporary example for a long time, to many, is the situation of the Palestinian people whose homeland was altered after World War II as a means of correcting unending, historical injustices to the Jewish people after their horrific torture and slaughter by the N***s. The land, which became Israel, became a complicated area, with Christians, Jews and Muslims, living sometimes in harmony and other times in brutal conflict. There are obvious flaws in the solution which quickly (from a long-standing historical view) provided a home-land for the nation of Israel without enough long-term attention to find a solution with which all three of these religions could live with in peace. Even more remarkable, the Palestinians, like the Muslims, were not the causers of the N**i horror. I have always wondered why the goal of reparation for the actions of N***s against the Jews did not begin with restoration of land and property in Germany. Had this been done, perhaps the Jews might have negotiated land exchanges of the land the Jews regained in Germany for land held by Palestinians and even for land held by Muslims who could have increased their presences in Europe. The solution that was applied was clearly a path to more injustices by all parties interested because of relationships among religions or other direct effects. One thing is clear, whatever view is assumed by any group, is asserted as the only right path and whichever course of action is condemned as completely wrong without a consensus among people and nations who are working toward real equality and justice, will result in just more of the same unending assertions of supremacy of some and extermination of others. This is not getting us anywhere. Arguing that the best solution is to do nothing , forcing and encouraging the unarmed to accept being slaughtered by those with the most weapons. This forces belief in the unproven theory that accepting more injustice will somehow, ultimately bring about positive, constructive changes among those who get their way violently. The theory of nonviolence has not quite resulted in the desired outcomes. There needs to be extensive and intensive study and evaluation of the events associated with nonviolence, which has been held up as a moral approach for the less powerful to change the more harmful and powerful people into kind, peaceful people who are shamed into being kind, etc. Where has that been successful? In every case I have found, a false, fairy-tale type story has been created to show the minimal successes as to pretended, super, non-existent tales of heroism and improvement, from the story of the "founding fathers" of the US who decimated the original people in the Western hemisphere of the planet as was done everywhere else too. What expectation of "democracy" was possible from men-only powered people who rob and exterminate, install slavery and establish their descendants as the superior people as their ancestors did in Greece, Rome, Europe, Australia, etc. Everywhere, people on all sides refuse to be honest with themselves and each other about the facts. Those who revolt against those in power invariably create new models of power, control and violence. Truly brilliant, caring people can find real, new paths of interaction and social change. Anything less is another failure. In the meantime, to encourage people facing destruction and extermination, to do nothing at all, not to use whatever power exists to save our lives, our people and our future, with nothing more than committing su***de, is the worst solution of all. It condemns the least powerful to live without any options at all. This is most achieved by asserting false equality on all sides of a dangerous environment. Faced with a new N**i-like figure asserting himself and his followers with a new plan to exterminate on a mass scale again, is the most immoral of all actions. It is to make permanent and perpetual the condemnation of the most vulnerable. With the best employment rate ever in this country, shall we declare this is not good enough and take our people back to slavery. Those who have experienced slavery, in fact, will never desire such a choice. Will we benefit in any way from the repetition of starvation? What parent want to sacrifice their own children. Surely, only those filled with useless anger are willing to reduce the numbers of their own people with the cruelest suffering. Instead, it seems maintaining lives with improved, even in insufficient, is a better choice in conditions of life. How can we do nothing but accept that a ra**st be given freedom from responsibility to obey laws. There is no equality in all groups for this. Are women never to find equality anywhere on this planet? No man has the moral authority to make such a perpetual condition on women that they do not themselves have to endure. Telling people not to vote is to tell us all to commit su***de in the most painful, hopeless way. This suggests a lack of love for anyone but a self only interested in their own control all or kill all mentality that I am certain is not what anyone really intends for others or self. Believe it or not, there are other options. Each of us is morally obligated to find these paths for ourselves, our loved ones and our world and to find ways to make it better. It is a gift we can only give ourselves and then our world..
2m2 minutes ago
Reply
Suzanne Brooks
Send me your email address and I will send you a complimentary copy of "The Constructive Extermination of Women of Color: Consequences of Perpetual Socio-Economic Marginalization"

What are President Biden's greatest achievements as president? (page 1)


The Documented Record of Facts
When President Biden and Vice President Harris took office, our country faced unprecedented crises - a raging pandemic, economic crisis, climate crisis, and racial injustice. The President and Vice President ran for office on the promise to move quickly to tackle these crises head-on and deliver results for working families. That’s what the Biden-Harris Administration has done.

TOP ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Lowering Costs of Families’ Everyday Expenses:
Lower Costs for American Families included $800 annual savings on health insurance premiums for 13 million Americans.
$2,000 annual cap on out of pocket prescriptions drug costs for seniors.
On track to cut emissions in half by 2030 and net-zero by 2050.
• Make the Tax Code Fairer
15% Minimum tax on billion dollar corporations
$0 tax increase for families earning less than $400,000 a year
• More People Are Working Than At Any Point in American History
Created nearly 11 million jobs; 17 states now have unemployment rates at or below 3%; 11 states and DC now have their lowest employment rate; Unemployment rate of the country lowest in history at 3.5%.
First President to March in streets with auto workers on strike in Detroit. https://www.whitehouse.gov/therecord/
Black Americans and Hispanic Americans have near record low unemployment rates and people with disabilities are experiencing record low unemployment.
• Making More in America through the CHIPS and Science Act
Lowers the cost of goods; makes more semiconductors in America.
Creates manufacturing jobs, including union jobs and jobs that don’t require a four-year degree. Across America: in two years, companies have announced nearly $300 billion in manufacturing investments in the United States.
• Rescued the Economy and Changed the Course of the Pandemic
Funded historic vaccination campaign. 79% of Adults fully vaccinated.
• Veterans
• Help for Students:
Increased the maximum value of Pell Grants by $900.
Began and continuing Historic Student Debt Relief for Middle and Working-Class Families.
• Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Accomplished
Largest Investment in rebuilding US roads & bridges since Interstate Highway System was established. Ensures access to clean drinking water in every community.
Most significant investment in passenger rail since Amtrak began.
Provides affordable high-speed Internet for every American.
Builds first ever national network of Electric Vehicle charging stations.
Builds a more resilient power grid and new clean energy technologies.
Biden-Harris Administration (page 2)

• Racial Equity
Responding to the persistent systemic racism and other barriers to equal opportunity in this nation, President Biden is putting equity at the center of the agenda with a whole of government approach to address racial justice across Federal agencies, policies, and programs. President Biden has already begun bold action to advance a comprehensive equity agenda to deliver criminal justice reform, end disparities in healthcare access and education, strengthen fair housing, and restore Federal respect for Tribal sovereignty, among other actions, so that everyone across America has the opportunity to fulfill their potential.
This includes the following actions:
Biden-Harris Administration Announces $93 Million in Grants to Support Research and Development at HBCUs, TCCUs and MSIs, and Postsecondary Completion for Underserved Students
The PSSG program aims to equitably improve postsecondary student outcomes, including retention, transfer, credit accumulation, and completion.
This funding builds on the more than $25 billion in funding to HBCUs, MSIs, and TCCUs through the Department since President Biden took office. Specifically, $7.3 billion in cumulative investments in HBCUs, $474.5 million for TCCUs, and $18.1 billion for MSIs.
• A Complete List of the institutions and programs which will receive these funds are listed on President Biden’s Administration webpage online. Other topics listed there include:
• Student Loans; ; Repaying Loans; Defaulted Loans ;Loan Forgiveness; Loan Servicers
• Grants & Programs; Apply for Pell Grants; Grants Forecast; Apply for a Grant
• Laws & Guidance; Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) ; FERPA ; Civil Rights; ; IDEA Website
• Data & Research; Education Statistics; Postsecondary Education Data; ; ED Data Express; Nation's Report Card
• What Works Clearinghouse; Open Data Platform; COVID Relief Data; Contact Us; ED Offices; ; Jobs
• Press Releases; FAQs; Recursos en español; Budget, Performance Privacy Program; Homeroom Blog
FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration (page 3 & 4 )
Highlights A Record of Championing Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
SEPTEMBER 29, 2023 Contact: (202) 401-1576, [email protected]

In his Executive Order reestablishing the White House Initiative (Initiative) on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), President Joe Biden charged the Initiative to, “develop new and expand pre-existing national networks of individuals, organizations, and communities to share and implement administrative and programmatic best practices related to advancing educational equity, excellence, and opportunity at HBCUs.”
This week, the Initiative hosted the annual National HBCU Week Conference, the nation’s premier convening of HBCU leaders. The event provides a unique occasion for over 2,300 registered representatives from HBCUs, federal agencies, private-sector companies, philanthropic organizations, and others to discuss opportunities to advance educational equity, improve instruction, support degree completion, and deepen federal engagement—all of which strengthen the role of HBCUs. The achievements of HBCU graduates speak to the value of these institutions, which foster academic excellence and emphasize campus cultures grounded in community and inclusion. Despite representing only 3% of colleges and universities, HBCU graduates play an outsized role to support the economic mobility of African Americans, producing:
• 40 percent of all Black engineers; 50 percent of all Black teachers
• 70 percent of all Black doctors and dentists; 80 percent of all Black judges;
• The first woman and Black and South Asian Vice President of the United States
For more than 180 years, HBCUs have raised the bar for equity, access, and excellence, creating doors of opportunity for Black students where none previously existed. The Biden-Harris Administration views HBCUs as central to our vision of a more inclusive, equitable, and valuable higher education system. The Biden-Harris Administration has taken historic actions to support HBCUs, including by:
Investing over $7 billion in HBCUs, which includes:
• $3.6 billion for HBCUs through the American Rescue Plan and other COVID relief.
• $1.6 billion in capital finance debt relief for 45 public and private HBCUs.
• $1.7 billion in grant funding to expand academic capacity and provide support for low-income students.
Supporting HBCUs, the students they enroll, and a diverse teacher workforce in the 2022 and 2023 spending packages, which include securing:
• New flexibilities for minority-serving institutions to use Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund dollars to invest in renovations, construction, and other infrastructure needs related to the pandemic;
• A combined $900 increase to Pell Grants—the largest increase in a decade—bringing the maximum award to $7,395, which is critical to the approximately 75 percent of HBCU students who rely on Pell Grants to afford college;
• A new $50 million grant program focused on supporting research and development infrastructure and capacity for HBCUs, Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), and MSIs;
• A $758 million investment for HBCU institutional development; and
• First-time grants for the Augustus Hawkins Centers of Excellence to strengthen and diversify the teaching profession to help close opportunity gaps, including $1.56 million going to an HBCU.
Drawing attention to funding inequities for 1890 land-grant institutions.
• U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack sent letters to 16 governors emphasizing the over $12 billion disparity in funding between land-grant HBCUs and their non-HBCU land-grant peers in their states that occurred between 1987 and 2020. This disparity has:
o Forced many HBCUs to operate with inadequate resources and delay investments in campus infrastructure, student supports, research development, and more;
o Resulted in states failing to live up to their legal obligations to provide equitable funding to HBCUs, resulting in funding gaps from $172 million to $2.1 billion; and
o Reinforced the importance of equitably funding HBCUs and the talented, diverse students and communities they serve so they may reach their full potential and continue driving innovation.
Supporting HBCUs facing violence: (page 3 & 4)
• The U.S. Department of Education ensured HBCUs affected by more than a dozen bomb threats in 2022 were able to secure over $2.4 million in Project SERV funds— grants to help schools and colleges recover from a violent or traumatic event. The Department worked with HBCUs and across the federal government to:
o Direct Project SERV funds help restore safe learning environments and invest in mental health for students; and
o Develop a compendium of federal programs to help institutions responding to bomb threats.
The U.S. Department of Education is proud to be a part of a whole-of-government approach to pioneering brand new programs in support of HBCUs, including:
• U.S. Air Force’s first-ever HBCU-led University Affiliated Research Center (UARC), led by Howard University with 7 other HBCUs and funded at $90 million over five years.
• Department of Commerce’s first-ever Connecting-Minority-Communities program delivering funding for 43 HBCUs to purchase broadband internet, equipment, and IT personnel.
• Department of Transportation announced Prairie View A&M University in Texas as the first-ever HBCU to lead a University Transportation Center. Prairie View A&M, with 11 other HBCUs, were among 34 schools to receive a portion of a $435 million grant for development of interoperable technology systems.
• Department of Energy’s first-ever Funding for Accelerated, Inclusive Research (FAIR) Program providing over $35 million to build research capacity, infrastructure, and expertise at institutions historically excluded from federal research and development.
• National Science Foundation’s new efforts to break down barriers in STEM such as:
o The Growing Research Access for Nationally Transformative Equity and Diversity (GRANTED) program to encourage transformative ideas and scalable models to break down barriers to federal grants and other resources for emerging research and minority-serving institutions; and
• NASA’s new pioneering efforts to close opportunity gaps in STEM, including nearly $12 million for eight HBCUs to support programs in artificial intelligence and machine learning and create a more diverse pipeline of talent for “data-intensive space-based Earth sciences” careers.

President Biden’s Appointment Achievements in Democracy: (page 5)

Most of Biden’s appointed judges to date are women, racial or ethnic minorities – a first for any president

Nearly two-thirds of the federal judges President Joe Biden has appointed so far are women, and the same share are members of racial or ethnic minority groups, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of statistics from the Federal Judicial Center.

President Biden is the first president who has ever appointed a slate of judges consisting mostly of women or racial and ethnic minorities. He has appointed more women and minorities to these positions than all other presidents of the United States.


This information puts Biden’s judicial appointments into historical context.

What Civil Rights Have President Biden Achieved ? (page 6)
From increasing access to homeownership and rooting our discrimination in the housing market to promoting entrepreneurship, from reducing child poverty to historic lows to expanding access to quality affordable healthcare, from advancing voting rights and police accountability to ensuring equal access to a good education, the Biden-Harris Administration is ensuring that all African American families and communities can live with dignity, safety, and respect and enjoy true equal opportunity.

1. Building on his longstanding support and generations of civil rights advocacy, President Biden signed historic bipartisan legislation protecting marriage for same-sex and in*******al couples.
2. Lowering Energy Costs and Creating Economic Opportunities Through the Inflation Reduction Act. By signing the Inflation Reduction Act, President Biden is delivering on his promise to build an economy that works for working families, including Black families.
3. Making Home Efficiency Upgrades More Affordable
Households can save up to 30% with tax credits for efficient heating and cooling equipment that will save them hundreds of dollars on utility bills. Households can also save up to 30% with tax credits for home construction projects on windows, doors, insulation, or other weatherization measures that prevent energy from escaping homes. When families need to replace or upgrade stoves, ovens, or other home appliances, they can receive direct rebates when buying more energy efficient and electric appliances that can lower future utility bills by at least $350 per year.
4. Providing Relief to Farmer
This will provide help to pay off farm debts and make up for the discrimination by USDA
5. Reason for Biden’s Proposed Change of Democratic National Committee Rules for the schedule and nominating process which has always dominated and oppressed people of color and kept White supremacists in control. Biden is the first president and political leader of the US to understand how to change the system in such a was as to empower women and people of color to match the deserved power which should now enable us to rise to the power that will be ours, only if we rise to the occasion and level of power we deserve.
We need to join those of us capable of taking control of our government. If this opportunity is lost, it will not come again in our lifetimes and Trump & co will take over as Hi**er did the Jews and other minorities and whom Trump will keep his promises to kill or enslave the rest of us, taking advantage of the reduced education and skills to which we have been demeaned. Biden said "I have made no secret of my conviction that diversity is a critical element for the Democratic Party to win elections and to govern effectively. South Carolina, which has a large Black population, played a pivotal role in helping me ( Biden) clinch the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020. It is a great
Fallacy to suggest that the young and uninformed can succeed over the seasoned, experience and most highly competent who are guided by years of commitment and
ethics are to be feared rather than followed. Instead of condemning those who offer their lives and devotion, draw upon them, learn from them. They will have your back as you step into leadership and dedication.

The Biden-Harris Record | The White House President Biden and Vice President Harris ran for office on the promise to move quickly to deliver results for working families. That's what they've done.

Alumni News
Suzanne Brooks: Singer, Songwriter, Bandleader and Activist Says the Secret to Life is Making New Friends
By Christel Woods, English department graduate student
All interviews have a structure, a rhythm and pace from the origin of the questions to reflection of the responses, which is what I expected from the straightforward open-ended questions she prepared for an interview with WSU alumna Suzanne Brooks (’79 MA). Instead, I soon discovered my interviewee was not only a phenomenal woman, but a social entrepreneur whose tireless efforts have brought about significant attention to women’s issues and especially women of color.

Since the first celebration of the International Association for Women of Color Day held March 1, 1986, Brooks has been CEO and founder of the organization with the objective of providing a day to celebrate the contributions and achievements of diverse women of color. In 2012, Brooks created WomenWorldCulture, a network with educational and social services that connect, empower, support, and engage women and cultural groups to exchange information directly, collect and develop educational content, conduct and promote research, and to encourage, support and fund social entrepreneurs, the arts, social change, and actions to sustain the planet.

Quicklinks
Suzanne Brooks: Singer, Songwriter, Bandleader and Activist Says the Secret to Life is Making New Friends
A New Perspective on Women’s Representations on the Scaffold
Dale Herd Releases Dreamland Court
Where are They Now? The Grauman Family

Suzanne Brooks
Brooks, who grew up in an era when being from a multicultural and multiethnic family was not safe in many parts of the United States. Nevertheless, she has used her family and life experiences to organize people and bring opposing groups to the table. Brooks contends that each generation, and especially the younger generations, must work together and maintain conversations on issues of global climate change, health disparities, poverty, racism, and classism. She believes that sustaining discussions over and across generations, including the present one, will prevent humans from continually starting over. Brooks argues that each generation should not need to relearn and repay for what “previous generation(s) have already paid for, bled for, and some even died for, and Brooks believes: “No one can bring about global change better than U.S. women.”

Women of color don’t usually come to education in traditional ways: the education of many women of color reflects interruptions. Brooks provided examples of situations and stories that demonstrate how women, and especially women of color, must often patch together opportunities and support to achieve a higher education. Today, women enter college because they need a degree to qualify for a job, to break a glass ceiling, or to avoid a floor that doesn’t stop revealing a basement. Family crises, incarceration rates, or a desire to fill a leadership position are issues that must be addressed by those with higher education. As Brook pointed out, “all of these pathways are familiar barriers to entring higher education, and education is the key to minimizing those barriers.”

One way that Brooks breaks down those barriers is by tutoring non-native English speakers, and every week she works with the people in her neighborhood to develop their language skills. Brooks contends, people who teach English are not just teaching the language, but other skills, as well. She reminds people that “we had languages before English. When we’re working with students, we don’t just teach them the English language, we also use symbols, sounds, music and our shared experiences.”

She smiles really big when we talk about jazz.

Jazz, a sound that is quintessentially American, which originated from the belly of the south, from the struggle, the beauty and the pain of American life. The music migrated far beyond the Mason Dixon Line into the nation and then later to the world. But jazz was generally music controlled by men. Brooks argues there was a need for a woman-led jazz band. Recently, society is seeing women as jazz band leaders in shows such as Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, produced by Netflix, and HBO’s Bessie (starring Queen Latifa). Both portray women in jazz as mainstream. The new perspective has allowed for conversations that uncover issues pertaining to women of color and identify issues surrounding their lives to articulate barriers to entry.

Group photo.
The Jazz Generation
Despite the growing popularity of female jazz bands, many women-led bands rarely get recognition. Women like Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith, Dinah Washington, Ella Fitzgerald, and the unmistakable and soul satisfying sounds of Billie Holiday have inspired other women in jazz such as Casandra Wilson. Jazz, a product of both the southern and Black culture relies on many different and moving parts to create an ensemble. In jazz, each instrument has a solo part, but none outshines the other. Brooks shares this same vision when she started the International Women of Color Day. Much like her teaching brings together jazz and language, Brooks’s creation of the International Women of Color Day and WomenWorldCulture offer an ensemble cast for all women of color.

Brooks contends that Americans are still on the road to pursuing freedom and equality, and while some of the journeys may appear to be detours, there may may be exits on the road to progress. To that end, Brooks has organized grassroot organizations and created solutions within communities and has blended her love of jazz and teaching the English language beautifully.

Brooke currently lives in Sacramento, California, where she is the bandleader of The Jazz Generation. As a WSU graduate, her dream is to come back to WSU with her band.