By Deborah Bailey
AFRO Contributing Editor
dbailey@afro.com
First Lady of Maryland Dawn Moore returned to her alma mater, the University of Maryland, College Park on Sept. 24 to speak about her vision of service and her critical priorities as Maryland’s first lady.
Moore spoke to a sold-out crowd at UMD’s Clarice Performing Arts Center in a forum hosted by Stephanie Shonekan, dean of the College of Arts and Humanities, Susan Rivera, dean of the College of Behavioral Sciences, and Kimberly Griffin, dean of the College of Education.
The three women are affectionately called “sister deans” across the campus.
Moore holds a bachelor’s degree in government and politics and a certificate in women’s studies from UMD. The event served as a homecoming for Moore and an opportunity for the “sister deans” to connect the work of their colleges and Moore’s priorities.
“One of the many reasons my fellow deans and I invited First Lady Moore to join us, is that she is passionate about children’s mental health, women’s economic empowerment, supporting Maryland’s military families and championing the arts – all pillars that are important to the work going on in each of our colleges,” said Rivera.
Moore spoke as Maryland’s first lady, but also as a wife, mother and Marylander.
Her approach to dealing with the mental health crisis faced by children across Maryland was laced with basic parental concern for her own and other children, sound social policy fundamentals and her own style as a connector of people and ideas.
Moore said that “the mental health crisis we are living in is the crisis of a generation,” and that as a parent, she “felt the need to take the lead on this.”
Moore added that she wants to hear directly from youth about their concerns and announced a Back-to-School Night on Oct. 6, where she hopes to meet and talk with young people about the issues they are facing.
“We are bringing students together to talk about real issues. The most important thing is to have young people at the table,” said Moore.
The conversation with Rivera, Shonekan and Griffin was conducted in a conversational style, and being led by also touched on the changes being made when it comes to recognizing the Black sheroes of Maryland.
In response to Shonekan’s question about the Harriet Tubman bust at the Governor’s mansion, Moore’s response transformed Tubman’s role in history while connecting it to what she called “our mission for Maryland.”
“You know Tubman was the first woman in the U.S. Army,” Moore responded, referring to Tubman’s service for the Union Army as an armed scout, spy, and nurse, often sent behind Confederate lines.
“She was the embodiment of what it means to ‘leave no one behind,’” Moore added, connecting Tubman’s loyalty to the Union Army and her people with Governor Moore’s 2023 inauguration pledge to “leave no Marylander behind.”
Jordan Embrack, May 2024 UMD Theatre graduate, conversation with a musical tribute to Moore. The mezzo-soprano performed “Home,” the epic theme song of the 1970s musical, “The Wiz.” It was a reminder that Moore always has a place and platform at UMD’s campus.
Moore encouraged the students gathered to make their time in college count.
“When you have the opportunity, figure out something bigger than yourself and how you can be a part of it,” she said. “My husband and I want to make Maryland is known as the state that serves, and to do that, we need your help. Life is more than just the moment that you are in. It is a big arc.”
The post Dawn Moore “Comes Home” to UMD sharing Maryland’s Priorities appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.
