By Kevin McCallDuring the Spring 2022 semester, a record seven Marist College students participated in the virtual Gumbo Coalition University Mentorship Program sponsored by Resorts World Casino New York City. Of all the institutions who had students in the program, Marist College had the highest number of participants with seven. In this series of blog posts, some of the Marist students will speak about their leadership experiences, key learnings in the program, and plans to become future leaders. In this post you will hear from Alera Jicha ’23, a Biology major and commuter student from Newburgh, New York. Alera Jicha ’23 has occupied leadership roles since her days at Newburgh Free Academy in the Hudson Valley. As captain of the Newburgh Free Academy varsity volleyball and basketball teams for two years of high school, Jicha constantly sought to build rapport collectively and on individual bases. “I had to figure out ways to connect with my teammates without making them feel like I was trying to gain power over them,” Jicha said. “I had to reach out to each one of them in their own personal way.” Jicha’s time as a student-athlete ended after high school, so she had to explore new outlets to develop leadership traits and skills when she became a commuter student and Biology major at Marist College. During her first semester Jicha connected with Darren McCormack, Associate Athletic Director of Facilities and Operations, at a work-study job fair and eventually earned an events staff role where she worked at football, volleyball, and basketball home games. She said her work-study experience helped her stay connected to her interest in sports and build a support system despite the challenges that most commuter students can face. “School can be a good way to step away from problems that could be going on at home,” Jicha said. “You need to be able to surrounded yourself with people who can provide you with comfort and a sense of escape.” “I’ve lost a lot of friends who have died due to drugs or gun violence and I want to help change that pattern. I know I’m not going to be the only one working at it, but someone has to start." Due to the poverty and other issues she has seen arise in her hometown, Jicha feels obligated to inform other people that there are outlets for them to grow and thrive.
“I’ve lost a lot of friends who have died due to drugs or gun violence and I want to help change that pattern,” Jicha said. “I know I’m not going to be the only one working at it, but someone has to start. I want to help people gain that common respect for each other so that they can come together and make it to where they want to be without having to go to jail or be led down the wrong path.” Early in the Gumbo Coalition program Jicha was drawn to Marc Morial, the author of the book students read and discussed, because he also grew up in a poor neighborhood and was able to rise above tough situations to become a well-respected leader. Jicha said she was impressed by how Morial adjusted his leadership style to fit his teams and colleagues. “It’s interesting how (Marc) brought so many different components of his leadership skills to the program.” Jicha said. “There were different times in his life where he had to change his leadership skills to try to get everyone on board with him and make sure he was making the right decisions for other people.” Jicha demonstrated her ability to organize a group that would work toward a common goal when she helped organize a peaceful on campus protest in September 2020 in the wake of a verdict in the trial for the killing of Breonna Taylor. Plans for the protest started from group messages and grew to more than 300 people marching all over the Marist College campus. “(The protest) was our space to come together when we felt like we were being threatened,” Jicha said. Advocating for minorities is a responsibility Jicha wants to continue to take on in her career. She hopes to go to medical school or pursue positions in forensic science. “There are a lot of African American women who suffer daily because they don’t get the proper attention in the healthcare system and pass away at a higher rate,” Jicha said. “I want to try to help people of color live the best life that they can for as long as they can.” About the Gumbo Coalition University Mentorship Program: The Gumbo Coalition University Mentorship Program is a 12-week virtual mentorship program sponsored by Resorts World Casino New York City. The program brings students face to face with recognized leaders across business, media, and the non-profit world. Over the course of the program, students learn the attributes of a transformative leader, how to build consensus, and how to make decisions under pressure through immersive discussions and exercises. Upon completion of the program students receive a $500 scholarship. The program is inspired by renowned civic leader Marc Morial, President & CEO of the National Urban League, and the leadership lessons from his first book, The Gumbo Coalition: 10 Leadership Lessons that Help You Inspire, Unite, and Achieve.
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