Women meet for Soul Speak, a weekly session facilitated by Joi Rencher, from 2-3:30 p.m., every Thursday in the Student Center Kiva Room.
Here, women of color are able to reach out to each other in a comfortable environment and speak about present issues. Soul Speak was originally created in 2011 in affiliation with the Department of Diversity of Community Involvement and the Counseling and Psychological Services by Eastern Michigan University staff members Charnessa Paige and Monica Thiagarajan, who have both since left the program.
Joi Rencher, who facilitates the program through Academic Success Partnerships, said she feels very passionately about the principle of the group where girls can come vent about their concerns, such as depression.
“Depression is an issue that is a common experience for all women,” Rencher said. “But for women of color specifically, depression can be complicated by issues relating to race and ethnicity.”
Rencher also clarified that she was in no means supplying professional consultations to the girls in attendance.
“In the beginning, the young ladies would come to group and looked to me to be an expert and give advice,” Rencher said. “I would have to constantly remind them that group was a space for them to learn how to problem solve and receive support from the other group members. Now, they might look to me for some validation, but they will absolutely look to one another for guidance.”
Rencher said that through the consistent and comfortable environment provided through Soul Speak, the conviction of the young women have also perceptively developed.
“I've witnessed young women that felt discriminated against in their classes, that would never speak up and defend themselves in the past, come to the group and report stories about how they advocated for themselves to professors, friends and family,” Rencher said.
She said many of the young women have found peace in the group, especially knowing that they are not the only ones experiencing certain thoughts and feelings.
The young ladies in attendance also spoke about finding a place where they can be open and where they have also established wonderful friendships.
“We’re just like family,” said one attendee, who asked for confidentiality, said. “We hang out outside of the group.”
Rencher said the women have helped one another achieve personal goals set in the group every week.
“For example, if a young lady is struggling with social anxiety, there is always someone in the group that will step up and offer to attend the event with the young lady or make a plan to check in after,” Rencher said. “It's amazing the ways in which they support one another!”
