Women of Color

The UMW Women of Color Club's main mission is to create a safe and welcoming space for women here at the University of Mary Washington. We want students to find their people through this club and, most importantly, understand that they are not alone. However, we do not turn anyone away who is not a woman of color or even a woman at all. Our motto is, “We do not discriminate regardless of your race, gender, sexual identity, and/or sexual orientation.” We believe that all students have the right to learn, feel included, and find their place within the university community.

During our meetings, we highlight different women of color who may not receive as much recognition or attention in mainstream spaces. This gives our members the opportunity to learn about inspiring women and discover new and interesting stories that they may have never heard before. Our activities are also based on the woman we feature during each meeting. For example, when we introduce Alicia Yoon, a South Korean businesswoman and the CEO of Peach & Lily, a brand that helped establish the foundation for the U.S. K-Beauty industry, our activity might focus on self-care. This could include makeup, skincare, hair care, and relaxation tips. By connecting our activities to the women we highlight, we are able to make our meetings both educational and interactive.

In addition to our regular meetings, we also like to give back to our community. Each year, we try to host two fundraisers and one donation drive. For example, last fall, we held a lemonade stand at the beginning of the semester and a hot chocolate stand toward the end of the semester. The following spring, we hosted a donation drive and donated to Empower House, an organization that supports victims of domestic violence in the DMV area by providing them with the time, care, and resources they need to heal.

Finally, during the spring semester, we try to host one major event for the UMW community. Last spring, we hosted a poetry slam at the Cedric Rucker University Center that was open to both UMW students and commuters. The event encouraged students to express their creativity, share their own work, and introduce others to their favorite poets and pieces of poetry.

With your support, you will help us get material for our meetings to be more interactive and broad for our students via arts and crafts, decorations for future fundraising events, and allow us to host more events and fundraising on campus.

Follow us on Instagram! @umw.woc