NPHC Make a Difference Forum

The National Pan Hellenic Council of Southern University held a “Make a Difference” forum Monday, April 18th, in the Royal Cotillion Ballroom of the Smith-Brown Memorial Union.
A documentary titled “All the Difference” was shown depicting how two teens from the South Side of Chicago pursued a college education while struggling to keep their lives in order. The documentary follows the young men through their five years of hard work, sacrifice, setbacks and uncertainty, as they graduate from college and begin their careers. It is a story that can inspire anyone to keep pushing because defying the odds was something no one expected these young men to do.
Southern University alumni and Regional Recruitment Manager, Kenya Warren-Hollins, works for City Year, a nationwide, non-profit organization that promotes education through service. Warren-Hollins, spoke of how she was inspired and empowered during a City Year career conference.
“I thought it would be great to come back and empower the students here at my school, which was a HBCU. A lot of the different things that go on in the field, I felt it was something that I could relate to and that students face every day,” said Warren-Hollins.
As former Miss Southern University 2010-2011, a member of the Alpha Tau chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and former Pan Hellenic Council representative, Hollins spoke of her work with City Year and how it is her job to recruit young adults between the ages of 18 to 25 to commit a year of service to work in schools, helping children remain focused and graduate from high school.
Hollins also spoke of how as African-Americans, we have to be resilient and that it is important to reach back into our communities through service.
Mechanical engineering sophomore, Keltrin Burrell of Baton Rouge, Louisiana spoke of how he felt inspired to never give up after watching the documentary. “It actually depicted real-life situations and the things that they went through as far as the transition from high school to college. Even though they did struggle in college, they learned to push through,” said Burrell.
Following the screening of the documentary, an open discussion was held in the ballroom. Students and members of the audience were given the opportunity to express their opinions on the film as well as any real-life experiences. Some students voiced how they felt as if they could relate to both young men, as college students struggling to survive and pursue higher education. It was also discussed how as African Americans, we have to face obstacles but as long as you push yourself, a greater reward is at the end.
Junior Public Relations major, Charles Baker of Slidell, Louisiana spoke of how he attended the forum in order to see the reaction of other students.
“I wanted to see what lessons they could learn and how it could affect them in their life and how it could affect them on the rest of their journey in college and into adulthood,” said Baker.