By Gregory Childress : The Herald-Sun

Sept, 12, 2008

DURHAM -- Men aren't the only ones receiving mentoring at Durham Tech.

Through a program started about 18 months ago as "Eminence," but which has evolved as the Women's Leadership Initiative this fall, the women at Durham Tech are also getting into the act.

The organization met Wednesday for the first time this semester. Valerie Evans, the college's new vice president for student learning and support, gave a talk to about 30 women on this month's theme -- women in education.

Advisers Karen Mosley-Lyon and Elecia Ridley, both of whom are instructors at the college, said each month the organization will tackle a different topic. Women leaders from the college and throughout the community will be invited to speak to young women in the hope of making a positive difference in their lives.

"What we're doing is enhancing the richness of women's intellectual, academic and social lives, which also is building the foundation for their roles as future leaders," said Ridley.

The idea for the Women's Leadership Initiative grew out of the Visions: Minority Male Leadership Initiative mentoring program for minority males. The women's program is open to women of all color, as is Visions, although the male program began as one strictly for minority males.

"As women saw the progression of the male program, they kept asking, 'Why isn't there something for the women?' said Dorothy Brower Brokaw, assistant to the president for community outreach. "It got to the point we couldn't give them a good answer, other than, 'We just don't.' "

Mosley-Lyon said she was impressed by Visions and thought the women on campus should have a similar program in place.

"I think Visions has done extremely well in showing us women how to help other women," Mosley-Lyon said.

She said that women administrators, instructors and staff members across the campus have agreed to serve as mentors.

But being a part of the Women's Leadership Initiative requires giving back. In the spring participants will be asked to mentor girls from RN Harris Elementary School, Durham Tech's adopted school.

"It's part of their leadership development," Mosley-Lyon said.