By Megan Sayles
AFRO Staff Writer
msayles@afro.com
In recognition of Women’s History Month, Coppin State University (CSU) held a forum entitled, “Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future,” on March 27. The gathering assembled women for an empowering keynote address and a series of workshops and panel discussions.
CSU Provost and Vice President Chanta M. Haywood opened the forum by reflecting on the legacy of Sojourner Truth, a trailblazer for abolition, civil rights and women’s rights.
“We are not here today to simply celebrate history. We are here because the work is still unfolding. This year’s theme, ‘Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future,’ is not just a theme—it’s a responsibility,” said Haywood. “Sustainability is not just about what we build, it’s about what we build that lasts. It’s about leadership that does not end with us but creates pathways, access and opportunities for those who come after us.”
Frances Murphy Draper, publisher of the AFRO, delivered the keynote address, honoring the women who shaped her life, including her mother and grandmother. From them, she learned the importance of faith, resilience and service to others.
Draper emphasized that women who shape the future are those who understand their own stories—not just the triumphs but the challenges too.
“You have to keep documenting your story because if we don’t document our stories, we forget how far we’ve come,” said Draper. “We forget about who we were before our stories progressed. We stay stuck in the bad part of our story and we forget about the times that we could ‘hallelujah’ because God brought us through our story.”
The forum followed with concurrent panels and workshops on topics such as artificial intelligence (AI), women’s health, student loan repayment and personal brand development.
During one workshop, Tisa Silver Canady, a financial wellness advocate, delivered guidance for staying on top of student loan debt.
“Black women are often referred to as the most educated demographic in this country, but we’re also a demographic that is typically underpaid, overworked and many times we look to education to even the score,” said Canady. “But, if you even the score with an exorbitant amount of debt, you find yourself in a deeper hole than when you first began.”
She advised the women to choose repayment plans that align with their finances and goals, exploring income-driven options if payments become unaffordable and avoiding default—270 days of missed payments—at all costs. If payments cannot be made, Canady said borrowers should request deferment or forbearance.
In an AI-focused workshop, education leader Denise Saulsbury introduced the RISE Framework for prompts, which guides users to provide AI with a professional identity, context, step-by-step instructions and defined parameters for output.
She stressed that while AI can process information efficiently, ethical judgment and meaningful impact still depends on people.
“AI cannot exercise moral judgment in complex human situations; you can. AI cannot inspire, mentor or transform a life but you can,” said Saulsbury. “The most powerful intelligence in this room is a human.”
