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“Sisters Speak Out on
Leadership and Afrocentricism”

A summary of responses provided by breast cancer survivors who attended the 2002 Sisters Network, Inc. conference in Detroit, Michigan, April 19-21-2002

Leadership

1. Leadership – the ability to share, direct, and encourage others through motivation and education to reach others, and teach us we partnership. As a leader must display servant hood, thus serving others to let know “If you feel it you can achieve it” and believe it.

2. The ability to present ideas visions and programs inspiring others to come together and staying focused to attain a common goal.

3. Actions and proper use of power to motivate the people and their talents and skills to develop and resolve a humane mission to.

4. Communication
Committed

Trust

5. Being able to take the forefront when there is a present need or when a
need arises.

6. The ability to bring people together to reach a goal

7. Vision/ Direction

By being a role model and leading by example

By recognizing and making the connection for potential /talent in the
community

8. Leadership is the process of teaching, learning and motivating others to
achieve tasks and meet common goal as a unified body.

9. Leadership is the ability to work collectively with groups of people and
follow groups with a shared vision to impact and change and improve
quality of life issues-via public policy –legislation-change in delivery
of services.

10. Responsibility/caring

Vision/taking charge

Ability to put together the varying personalities together in a common
goal

11. Characteristics of a leader lead by example, except criticism,
understand individual needs, delegate.

Good leaders can inspire and encourage others to share in their vision.
12. The ability to objectively bring people and ideas together in a
comprehensive state to serve the community.

Characteristics: Inspires others, emphasizes follow-up achieves results, embodies good communication, has clear vision, is energetic and is flexible.

13. Leadership is having clear vision of your goals- Being able to delegate

knowledge of subject matter. A successful leader must believe in what
you’re doing

Afrocentricism

1. Afro centered

Afro American women more impact from others and communication

Serving others

Educating others encouraging “pronoun

Follow thru

Being sensitive

Culture myths”

2. Embracing African descent and focused on the mission and goals and
how to effectively reach them

3. Having a developed consciousness of African American needs and social
values to identify, and resolve African American needs and subsequent
problems.

4. From your heart

Being real

Knowing the African American community

5. Afrocentric leadership is the ability to make an impact upon the African
American community

6. The ability to cooperate and bring people together to reach a goal
thinking from a cultural wholistic way about African centered
community.

7. Bridging the gap between past and present

8. Integration/infusion of African heritage into current societal values

9. Afro centric leadership is a global vision that spiritual connects all the
people of the African diaspora -to collectively work to push for
equitable resources –living condition and access to resources.

10. Support African theme

11. Do the same things in leadership adding adaptability and cultural pride.

12. The ability to realize (recognize) the differences within diverse
subgroups of African community and be able to positively come to a
consensus

Inclusive/recognize diversity

13. Afro centric leadership is first looking who you are and recognizing
that you can do all things that you

1. Sets the tone for achieving a common goal.

2. Ability to interact with diverse personalities.

3. Ability to work with grass roots individuals in the community

Project Director
Mary Shaw, PhD, CHES
Texas A&M University
Center for the Study of Health Disparities
(979) 862-4403

Funded by The
Susan G. Komen
Breast Cancer
Foundation