02/10/2020
Meet Sydney Grissom , our second Black woman of the week!
Year: Sophomore
Hometown: Durham, NC
Majors: Economics and Political Science
Most Important Long Term Goal: Advocating for the advancement of all black people but more specifically fighting for the rights of those incarcerated. I have a special passion for Justice Reform and plan to continue educating myself and others about the ways we can make a change. And hopefully, Iâll make some money along the way.
Most Influential Black Woman in her life: My great-grandmother. I was actually named after her. Although she is not with us on earth anymore, she has and forever will be the strongest and most selfless woman I know. My great-grandmother was the backbone of my family. Living through, the great depression, both world wars, and the horrors of the Jim Crow era she never stopped fighting for herself and the wellbeing of our family. At nearly 101 years old, she died just as smart and witty as ever. The best mother, grandmother, chef, prayer warrior, and motivator. She is everything I aspire to be.
Greatest Achievement: This past summer I worked as a research assistant to the renowned professor and social justice warrior Dr. William Darity. With a focus on closing the racial wealth gap, I participated in and contributed to meetings with important researchers and politicians as they formulated a project grant proposal to begin cutting-edge research on government cash-transfers program. In addition, I also conducted a meta-review of literature regarding the impacts of financial windfalls. All the while, I mentored middle and high school students as they conducted their own social justice research projects.
@ University of Pittsburgh
