A Better Chance TV with host Dr. Monique S. Robinson
Educational Conversations with Scholars in Mind. "Our mission is to empower and uplift scholars pursuing higher education at HBCUs, ensuring they have the resources, support, and opportunities needed for a successful future. Through mentorship, scholarship programs, and community engagement, we strive to create a pathway to excellence, fostering academic achievement, leadership development, and a strong sense of cultural identity. Together, we are building a brighter future for young scholars, strengthening the legacy of HBCUs, and fueling positive change in our communities."
A Better Chance TV with host Dr. Monique S. Robinson
The HBCU Bond: From College Roommates to Lifelong Sisters
Dr. Monique Robinson welcomes her longtime friend and Wilberforce University sister Dr. Crystallyn Bargers to discuss HBCU friendships, alumni engagement, and supporting future generations of HBCU students. Their nearly 30-year friendship showcases the lasting bonds formed through shared experiences at historically Black colleges and universities.
• Dr. Crystallyn Bargers serves as the first female chaplain for the Wilberforce University Alumni Association and leads the Pittsburgh HBCU Collaborative
• The importance of finding your "tribe" on campus after establishing your academic foundation during freshman year
• Reminiscing about traveling with the Wilberforce University Concert Choir, including performances on The Today Show and an unforgettable camel ride in Egypt
• Dr. Bynes' experience as Miss Wilberforce 1998-1999 and being featured in Ebony magazine
• The PGH HBCU Collaborative supports Pittsburgh students attending HBCUs through scholarships, resource packages, and mentorship
• Highlighting the often overlooked legacy of Wilberforce University as America's first private HBCU and its distinguished alumni
• Call for Wilberforce alumni to share their achievements and support the university's mission
Register to vote at vote.org and make your voice heard in upcoming elections
We'll see you next time. Great programs on the Daily Gospel Network. Catch the Daily Gospel Network on Roku, Amazon Fire, Apple TV, all mobile devices and the Internet.
Speaker 3:Welcome to A Better Chance for Youth television show with your host, monique Robinson, where we highlight, celebrate and recognize students from all over the country who are doing great things in the classroom, community and athletics. Every student deserves an opportunity, an opportunity for hope and a future. So let's celebrate our students, the next generation of teachers, engineers, entrepreneurs and future leaders. Join us on another incredible segment of A Better Chance for Youth show with your host, monique Robinson.
Speaker 4:Welcome, welcome, welcome everybody. Thank you for tuning in Before we get started with our show today, I must say from the bottom of my heart, I truly appreciate everyone who gave on the big give San Antonio. It was our first year doing it and I'm very grateful for even if you gave a penny, I appreciate it. We are able to continue doing our programs, we're able to continue bringing you this show, and then we're also on Monday. This Monday I will be posting soon the Zoom call information for our parent meeting for those interested in the cohort, for a better chance for you, scholars on the Move. And this is our cohort that goes the entire year Parents, parents, parents. This is our first year doing the parent meeting. Parents, parents this is our first year doing the parent meeting because we want you to know that this is not just a program, that you say that this is what you're going to do as a back burner, but we are actually going through the entire college process with you. I must tell you this program is catered to scholars interested in attending historically Black colleges and universities. So we hope to see you Monday and guess who will be teaching the class? So we also have our voters registration drive. Thank you to the men of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity that came out to a Chicago bite, and our fellow HBCU members. And I do believe the young lady from Jackson State is our prize winner. I have to look up her information. She came to the party with her Jackson State football jersey on. She even upstaged me and I know I got a couple of Wilberforce fashions. So we will be doing it again on October 5th, same place, different times. This time FAMU is playing. So we hope to see you and I will be posting that information on the site.
Speaker 4:So today sorry guys, I'm a little raspy Today I have in the backstage one of my friends. So today we're kind of talking about friendships, scholarships, a little bit of everything. So today she is not a stranger to our show. She's actually been on our platform before. But I must say she was also one of those friends that was very influential to me when I first was started on my doctoral track. She kind of finished like several years before me. Some of us take a little bit later, you know. You know what I say all the time Delayed not denied.
Speaker 4:It wasn't time for me to graduate when she did, but last December I did. So any who I like to welcome to the show? Like I said, she is not a stranger to the show. Like I said, she is not a stranger to the show. She's been here before and I am grateful that she is taking time out of her busy schedule now. I don't, uh remember the year, but when my friend come on here, if we start laughing and we start acting silly, you know, mind your business, that's just what we do. So I'd like to welcome to the show today all the way. From Now I know she's not like Not where I knew her for being when we were in college. So yes, you guessed it, it's a Wilberforce person coming on today. So welcome to the show today, crystal Lynn. How's it going?
Speaker 5:It is awesome. How are you?
Speaker 4:Girl, I almost said you was from Indiana.
Speaker 5:I was like nope, springfield, illinois, and then here today from Pittsburgh, see.
Speaker 4:I was like she's not from there. That's right. Crystal Lynn Bynes, Springfield, Illinois. Yeah, I remember. See, I know that's a throwback, Guys, Crystal is actually one of my choir sisters. She actually was my roommate in a strange place. Yeah, she's my roommate in Egypt, Cairo, Egypt. And you know, those who really know me personally know how my love for animals does not exist. Um, crystalline was on a camel with me in the middle of the desert what an experience I thought you know we wouldn't be able to make it back to the united states.
Speaker 5:You, know to be a part of some ice harem here.
Speaker 4:I just, you know, I look every time I look at that picture and I will be posing that picture again. Every time I look at the picture of us on that camel, I'm like people think, oh, that's so nice, you got to ride a camel. I'm like y'all we almost died that day because that man was speaking english and he sure was just walking all through it. Anywho, chris, I'm sorry I got chris. Welcome to the show. I'm so glad that you are giving your time to come on here from pittsburgh it is an honor and I'm excited I'm a stillage fan, so you know, I know.
Speaker 4:But anyway, what have you been up to? You've been busy, like what have you been up to. You've been busy, like what have you been up to.
Speaker 5:Very busy, very busy. A lot going on but a lot of positive phenomenal, no matter what. A lot of the HBCU organization, hbcu alumni, as well as a part very active with Wilberforce alumni, the first female chaplain for the Wilberforce University Alumni Association, and so just getting started, thank you, thank you, thank you. It's exciting and it's an honor. And then leading the group of us who are chapter presidents for our local alumni chapters and so doing that and then serving as president of the board for the Pittsburgh or PGH HBCU collaborative. So a lot going on, a whole lot.
Speaker 4:Yeah, you got me looking like I don't do nothing. You don't read a whole Rolodex and stuff. Yes, rolodex, see. So that's amazing. I am truly, truly, truly proud of you and all your success. Like I said before the show, I was like I never really told her that it was her. You know that was like look, when you gonna finish, when you gonna finish. And you know that was like look, when are you going to finish, when are you going to finish? And you know it's just pushing on through. I was like I don't even want to go to a graduation or nothing, I just just run me my papers. So, but, thank you for you.
Speaker 4:Thank you. Thank you Now, crystal. I laughed like in the beginning of the show. I was talking about friendships and bonds from the HBCU realm. Like I met you, oh my God, I met you Ninety five. You know. Thick glasses, funny shaped hair. Probably you know that's what I met you. You know we were in choir and so, oh my God, that's like what almost 30 years ago.
Speaker 5:Almost 30 years ago, 28 for me. Yeah, because you graduated before me. Yeah, oh my God.
Speaker 4:So how important is it to find your tribe when you get to campus.
Speaker 5:I think it's extremely important, I think, even before finding your tribe when you get to campus.
Speaker 5:I think it's extremely important. I think, even before finding your tribe, though, is setting your pace Once you get onto campus. That first year, it was a year that I got used to the campus. It was a year that I got used to being in the dorms. It was a year that I got used to getting up and going to class, and so setting that pace is important first, but then, after getting your pace together and getting your footing and settling in, it's important to be mindful of the people that you connect to. I thank God for the Wilberforce University Concert Choir, because in that space as well as campus ministries, but in the university choir, in that space, I got to know friends that became lifelong friends, and so, to this day, we can get into a group of us together, support each other, call in, check on each other, support each other's endeavors, you know, be present with each other, and so that it means a lot at Wilberforce, means a lot of school, and it means a lot once you are an adult as well to have those lifelong partnerships.
Speaker 4:Awesome, awesome, now, awesome now I know I'm just thinking Christmas you didn't tell people like one of the titles you earned while you was in I'm sitting there like wait a minute, she done read a whole Rolodex of stuff. Then you just said all that but you didn't say nothing about that. Guys, crystalyn being you know she's being so quiet about this Like Crystalyn was I don't know what number, but I do know Crystalyn was Ms Wilberforce. If you know anything about HBCUs, they have the royal courts on all campuses. And I was like really proud, not just she was my friend, she was my sister, but I was really proud because crystalline was probably one of the um, the queens in our my time at wood wars. That wasn't greek, she wasn't you know, she was just just uh, you know not saying just us too, because you know you more than that, but I'm just saying she wasn't affiliated with anything but the choir and I remember that that night, like we had made like a circle around you and we sang.
Speaker 5:You know I was like at coronation, while my mom was shouting in the background hilarious. We have honor and the privilege to serve as miss wilberforce. 98 99 um people find my picture on the ebony magazine archives.
Speaker 4:Like you didn't tell us, yeah, that's big stuff, like you know, to me it is yeah, I share it with my young people.
Speaker 5:So in a couple of employment experiences previous and even now when I've engaged with girls in schools and girls girls in the community, I always show them that picture, our Southern tour pictures, and all of that in hopes of inspiring a new horizon in the young ladies so they can know that they don't just have to stick to Pittsburgh or wherever it is that they are, that whatever they aspire to do they can do. I know I grew up looking at the Ebony magazine, the April issue, and seeing all the Black queens. I thought I would be one of them.
Speaker 4:Never. I love that those magazines where they always highlighted every year and my parents were like you know, they used to get the Jet and they used to get the Ebony and I used to get so excited about that. Oh my God, you might want to frame it. You probably got a framed picture of it, don't you?
Speaker 5:I do somewhere. One of these boxes it's probably over there, one of the boxes. I moved into a house and I haven't decided how I want to hang pictures, like in my living room. Yet I'm in my office now. They're still in a box, but it's framed. I had the little small ones and middle-sized ones that I got to put in the frame H.
Speaker 4:I had the little small ones and little sized ones and I kind of put it in the frame Hilarious, I can't, I really can't with you today, guys. Y'all know, anytime it's a personal friend that come on here. It's never like a script or anything and it just be like a conversation.
Speaker 5:You get to see the HBCU love up close and personal. That's all.
Speaker 4:That's all. That's facts. That's facts. Now, Chris, we got to take a short, short, short commercial break. We always have to tell the young people how they can apply to HBCUs.
Speaker 5:Absolutely. Maybe I'll find the Wilberforce picture while we're breaking.
Speaker 4:Awesome, awesome.
Speaker 6:Are you interested in attending an historically black college or university? Hello, my name is Robert. I'm president and founder of the Common Black College. Our application allows students to apply to over 50 historically black colleges and universities at the same time, for only $20. Hbcu graduates have been some of the most renowned individuals in their respective fields since the late 1800s. In addition to that, our faculty and staff are truly committed to your success and they have a vested interest in seeing that you do well. That, coupled with the academic rigor and the fact that you will establish lifelong relationships, are just some of the many benefits of your attending an historically black college university. So if you're interested in completing the Common Black College app, visit our website at commonblackcollegeappcom to apply now. Thank you, and get educated.
Speaker 7:For 80 years, UNCF has stood as a bright beacon of hope and opportunity, transforming the lives of countless students. From the first donation made in 1944 to the millions of dollars in educational assistance provided today, UNCF has been a pivotal force in breaking down barriers to higher education across the United States. Our alumni span the globe, a testament to the power of your support. As we celebrate this 80-year milestone, our mission is as urgent as it has ever been. A college degree still remains out of reach for far too many, but with your help, UNCF can continue to break down barriers. Today and for 80 years, UNCF has been honoring the legacy, transforming our future. Your support isn't just a donation. It's an investment in a brighter, more equitable future for us all. And remember a mind is a terrible thing to waste, but a wonderful thing to invest in. Learn more uncforg forward. Slash 80th welcome back.
Speaker 4:Welcome back, see, I'm here with my good friend, my sister. Uh, doctor, I'm sorry, it's like reverend doctor. She got so many titles, I don't forgot she made me put mine on here today, and y'all know I'm usually just miss mo, but you know. Anywho, would you stand on business, okay, chris? What do you have like? What did you go get?
Speaker 5:I'm scared to see oh right, so we have one oh, okay, then she had the swoop and the cornrow.
Speaker 4:Oh, I remember that picture, did I take that picture? And then it's the same. But I still have all my yearbooks. So, oh, okay, I don't have. I don't have, um, my yearbooks, um, especially from google force. I do have a lot of pictures from choir tours, the ones that did come out, um, but lately somebody posted a first grade picture and I had I don't know what kind of glasses my mom bought that year.
Speaker 4:I don't know what kind of pigtails she was doing. I think it must have been after recess because my hair was showing it. It was really good.
Speaker 5:Thank God for you know, thank God for transformations and always had one point scale that was going one way, the other was going the other humble beginnings, that's what I call it.
Speaker 4:Oh jesus, so you know so yeah you, you were, yeah, we. We not gonna talk about the, uh, the people in the choir, that kind of like saved our lives, but probably should. I don't know if you was there, you got you about to probably laugh. So michelle allen actually was the choir hairdresser. You're the choir michelle did your hair. Some people wanted the choir michelle did their hair.
Speaker 4:But, I met Michelle in 10 because I caught myself trying to shave the back of my hair Girl. It was a whole experience. I tried to shave. You know how people was having to shave. It looked like I had just a long neck, all the way. Oh no, I do not remember this.
Speaker 4:I think that was my freshman year though but um, so shout out to michelle for always keeping us together, because I was like I don't know what I was thinking, though, like I thought, you know, you could just take a like razor and shave, because that was a look back then Tape was lower, yeah, it was the locks. Why? Didn't we have locks back then.
Speaker 5:Yep, michelle never did my hair. Would have been wonderful to have her do my hair. I don't think she did. If she did, maybe once. But, sean Harrison, in my book you were in ASCII. She was on the first floor of ASKU and she always did my relaxers. And then Shea always did my. Well, she did my hair for Miss Wooden Force, yeah, so she always gave me the Misty. Did it once too.
Speaker 4:But updos and swoops and french rolls that was the style I used to wear the bun. My braids were in the bun Hairstyle. If you are watching, hit the timeline and hit the post. What kind of hairstyle did you wear in school? I was a trendsetter with that up to.
Speaker 5:We had girls with ponytails in the choir and they had all kinds of curls and loops and it was tall and then we went somewhere and the whole choir had braids. I always got braids when it came time for the spring yeah, always, so you don't have to worry about flat irons and all kinds of stuff.
Speaker 4:Yeah, how my hair was set up. It wasn't gonna last like. It just wasn't like. Not at all, not at all. So, kristen, you said you work with the organization in pittsburgh. Now, what does that organization do?
Speaker 5:Absolutely so. The PGH HBCU Collaborative, or Pittsburgh HBCU Collaborative, is an organization of HBCU alumni from our nation's 100 and 205 HBCUs who are living and working in the city of Pittsburgh and are exposing youth, families, institutions, corporations to our nation's HBCUs. We participate in college fairs. We do partnerships with several organizations to connect young people to the viable higher education opportunities excuse me, of our nation's HBCUs.
Speaker 5:Currently, this November 1st we are having our second annual RISE Scholarship Dinner where we are honoring seven community impactful community members who have done amazing jobs of advancing our community, advancing the world, impacting the world. And then we're also going to announce our scholarship recipients, and so we launched our first scholarship this fall. The application is still open and available. You can go to any of our social media pages and get the QR code if you're a HBCU student who lives in, whose permanent address is in, pittsburgh, pennsylvania, and apply to that scholarship. But we'll be announcing the winners at the scholarship dinner while we are celebrating our other community partners. So we're doing everything possible. We have joined the list of HBCU send-offs that happens every summer, and so we, this summer, I wanna say we blessed 15 young adults who are going to HBCUs with very robust packages like baskets, with all kinds of items that they're going to need for the fall, and then our desire is to bless them again for their spring semester, so that they need while they're at school.
Speaker 4:Wow, now there's something different. I never thought of doing one in the wintertime, like around Christmas, I don't know, I mean, but we, honestly, we have a program here where we do motivational mailing. We send cards, notes, gift cards, packages, depending on how. I don't head that program, but it is part of our, one of our missions that we do. But some of our scholars have graduated, so we have four new slots. So if you want to be involved in that, you might want to sign up, because the first package goes out October, so that's that one.
Speaker 5:It's appreciated. It's appreciated we did it in December of last year and blessed about the same. It allows for us to connect with Hbcu students so we can be mentors to them and a resource for them, um, not just for the sendoffs but throughout the year, and so we have them come back, we make them aware of our holiday parties. They come back, we raise money during the holiday parties and they get the split of the money um between all the hbcu students that are present. Um and so I like that.
Speaker 4:I like that I might sell that idea, I might borrow that idea from his bro go ahead.
Speaker 5:Hey, we have to share so that we can. Then, antonio, we got some work to do.
Speaker 4:But no, I, uh, we, I love the send off. Actually, out of all our events, that is one of my favorite events that we do. Uh, last year's send had St Phillips College. That is a local, it's an HBCU but it's also an HSI. So they came and blessed one of our students with a scholarship and she actually was one of the scholars that I taught at the school that I was at you know, one of the schools I was at since my time here and I was just like so amazed that she was there. And then another person that grew up in the same church as me in Dayton her son, was there. I didn't know she even lived here, but you know, so it was interesting.
Speaker 4:I mean, I guess, cause I don't get out much. You know, when I do get out it's about business, but that's life. I'm sorry, I did too much, too much in college and I was like, look at the face because I don't need it. Why I mean business, if you see, if you see me out, trust me. And if it's not about business, believe you me, it's some type of business involved. So, like I just I'm on the move, got stuff to do. So you said you got a scholarship banquet and you also have, um, oh God, scholarship banquet and a dinner too. Well, dinner and a scholarship, yes. Do they have to be present?
Speaker 5:No, so we anticipate that our scholars probably won't be present, um, because it's in November 1st and that's right before Thanksgiving, right around the time when they're preparing for their finals and things of that nature. And in doing a peruse of our HBCU school calendars, a lot of those students will still be matriculating on campus. So we'll have a different celebration for them where they'll actually be present while they're home for the holidays. Celebration for them where they'll actually be present while they're home for the holidays. Okay, but what we would like to do is show their picture and, you know, celebrate that they're winners of, you know, the scholarship love it, love it.
Speaker 4:Okay. You know, out here changing the world and stuff, okay doing it together.
Speaker 5:Yeah, do what we can now for us. So so many people are such blessings to us.
Speaker 4:You know that's true uh, before we on today and I know she probably will be watching it I would like to talk about Gwendolyn QE Brown. So, ms Brown and I mean this, I'm not even trying to be silly, I'm being so serious even though I'm laughing I truly appreciate everything you've done. Every time you got me out of trouble, every time you showed up on the bus and was like Monique, go to sleep. If you go to sleep, you won't get in trouble. Anytime you hemmed a dress, gave me, you know, medicine on tour.
Speaker 5:What were we? We were, we were in atlanta. They're trying to put us up in a um, a retreat center. Oh my god, back on the bus. It was like I don't even know where we are I don't know where we are.
Speaker 4:We're in the middle of nowhere. Oh my god, that was so bad, that was, oh god, they so like. They don't know how good they got. If you inquire and you're are staying in a hotel or you're on tour, you better, thank god, like choir, like they had us somewhere. I don't even know the name of it, but it was. I didn't even unpack my luggage, I sat with my in my lap and it just was like jesus helped me mama okay, all our coats on her and she was sitting next to the fire, I mean it was cold but thank god, mr williams loved us enough to take us to a hotel.
Speaker 4:So, yes, guys, if you, if you are contemplating on a college experience, uh, I will. I will definitely say you will not have. I will definitely say you will not have the experiences that we have been exposed to at your level traditional school. I just would say you know there is nothing like the HBCU experience.
Speaker 5:Nothing like it.
Speaker 4:I can. I fight with all of my friends, and Crystal included, you know, sister friends. I don't know why, in their mind, they just feel like my mom is their mom. And after 30 years I have finally, you know, say, you know, in their mind they just feel like my mom is their mom. After 30 years, I finally say you know what? Y'all have my permission to call her mom, even though they didn't. She gave us her permission, I didn't care. Anyway. Now I claim my parents. Just like Titus Hague, I will never forget TJ. His parents moved somewhere over a holiday break. That's how TJ and I became sister and brother. Honestly, my mom was like, well, he can come. I'm like no, he can't.
Speaker 4:My mom and dad literally love the choir as if they're their kids and I'm like yeah in my mind I'm the only child she doesn't have any choice. She's got to share so yeah, but I mean, those are things that we experience like and there's so many. Do you remember being on Vibe? No, was I California tour?
Speaker 5:Oh, wow. So I was there. That was my second year California tour. Is that when we did Los Angeles, san Francisco, fresno, is that the same time I do? Because we had to call in the middle of the night. We were like, turn on your tv, turn on your tv it was with simba.
Speaker 4:It was the same bad show. It was with simbad, yeah he called mr williams.
Speaker 5:Um, oh, he just died. Um, oh, with the deep voice. When he asked him like who we were in the audience and Mr Williams told him, he said all right, and he called him his name. He just passed.
Speaker 4:James Earl Jones. We have had some experiences of a lifetime. I remember Vibe and I will never forget meeting Felicia Rashad. I don't know if that was the same tour that was the new york tour.
Speaker 4:I came in new york, probably, yeah but, um, we sang and she was just crying and it was just like this claire hugs the book. You know, it's just different things that you are, you are, um, allowed to do, yeah, and then you know, the other perk is, you know, just saying, I don't know if you experienced this, but I had, wear that, wear that hbcu shirt when you travel and see how your your.
Speaker 5:You know, stuff get upgraded instantly absolutely hbcu stuff for wardies, fraternities, see each other in the airport. It's all love, it's absolutely wonderful. Do you remember when we came into LAX and Mr Williams had us sing the Wilberforce alma mater as we came through baggage claim?
Speaker 4:Yes and the whole airport stopped.
Speaker 4:It stopped and it was so like I told some I think I told somebody about that, the other, on one of the platforms I've been on, I was like I've never flown into a place and just the acoustics and we're singing the alma mater and everybody just froze. And then I think even on the plane, welcome back. I was like, oh God, we don't know. The plane, welcome back, leave. Well before his universe. I was like, oh god, we don't know. They're giving us. You know, yeah, I hope the young people, if you are in the band or you're in the choir or you're representing the university, no matter which one it is, that you are doing it with class, grace and excellence, because I wish I could go to Egypt free twice again. I'm just saying.
Speaker 4:I want to see you take spending money. Who gets to do that On any trip? You know, yeah, and I think in New York when we were on the Today Show, I wish somebody, somebody needed to find the archives of that. When we were on the Today Show I um, tia williams saying, was it give me the old time religion? I think so. Um and uh, ms cuff rest her soul, ran with that wilberforce flag assigned through outside. I'm like all you seen was that Wood before sign and I'm like you know it was just like one of those. Yeah, she was the boss. She was the boss. She didn't play no games.
Speaker 4:But, I loved her as well. So I think something that we should do is you know, I'm not really like a young alum, I'm kind of like a young old alum, I'm like mid-mid Me and you both.
Speaker 5:We'll call ourselves O-Heads. We're not going to do it.
Speaker 4:No, I'm not an O-Head. My parents, they're O-Heads. My parents, yes, they're O-Heads. I'm not an O-Head. Well, they are. Well, they are. I mean Crystal and Debbie. They're 50th this year.
Speaker 5:I mean I'm saying we're not old yet.
Speaker 4:Listen. No, not yet Not yet I'm young, old, I like it. We're young, old, a lot, but I think what we really should start doing, because a lot of legends and a lot of great, dignified people have even some graduated with us, absolutely Like. We have Kamal Smith, who is. I watch his films on Tubi and some of my I mean not some of them, he has a whole catalog.
Speaker 5:A whole catalog Tubi and Amazon.
Speaker 4:Right and I'm like, oh my God, that is awesome. Isn't that amazing? That's our little brother, right. He was'm like, oh my God, that is awesome. That's our little brother, Right, he was in the choir with us. And then we have Jamie. Even though Jamie graduated from FAMU, jamie's doing amazing things also, you know, as a producer, as a singer. You know it's so many things. And then we, you know, it's like oh, these talented people and nobody really knows what you're doing. You gotta, we gotta help each other.
Speaker 5:Dino Brooks yeah, another filmmaker. Yeah, I watched.
Speaker 4:I watched a couple of his films as well. Yes, and it's like we have all these amazing talents that has walked the grounds of 1055 Bickett Road, but it's so many great Dr Tiffany Dent and her impactful ways with mental health and things that she's doing. I think that we really should start maybe highlighting talents from Wilberforce. That would be awesome.
Speaker 4:And things that they're doing. So if you are interested in appearing or sharing what you do, I will provide that space. Nice, Because one thing people don't know they may know people who graduated from Howard Right. They may know people who graduated from Howard Right. They may know people who graduated from Tennessee State. I even go as far as Central State.
Speaker 5:Yeah.
Speaker 4:But there are so many giants. Giants literally Giants, yes, that have graduated from Wilberforce, and I get it. Wilberforce is a smaller school, maybe often overlooked, maybe because it's a church school, but where did it start?
Speaker 5:Listen, all else came from us. First tribe historically black really could say. The first that you know. No name change, same location, for the most part, same town. We have a whole town named after us, wilberforce, ohio, you know, and a lot of firsts. I just had a conversation with one of my local chapter alums. Common's dad, lonnie Lynn, Attended Wilberforce, played basketball. He was a part of the 1966 NBA draft, 12th round pick out of Wilberforce and so a lot of hidden gems that people don't talk about and it's sad that Wilberforce isn't as spoken about as widely, but it should, because out of us came so much. You feel your central state.
Speaker 4:Yes.
Speaker 5:Pain Theological Seminary was our theological department All out of Wilberforce before us. I mean absolutely amazing you know.
Speaker 4:so I am going to put out a challenge and I know you're like, oh god, here go monique with her stuff. She's so radical. I'm without a challenge to all wilberforce alums. Um, what before is? I'll even just say all 42 alums. If you came from either side of the street I'm 42. But mainly Wilberforce. But I will put out this challenge who will you highlight or what are you doing business wise, so we can shout you out and give you a big highlight? Because I was doing history one day and one of the scholars that I deal with got excited. They was like that's your school and so if you don't tell them and teach them, they will never know. That's it, that is it, and so I get it. Like I said, we may not be big as some of the other hbcus, but our history is rich and authentic yeah, one of the first female presidents.
Speaker 5:yeah, that's true followed her dad um ormond walker taylor, and yonne Walker-Taylor became president after him years later. Yeah, wonderful stuff.
Speaker 4:Look at you. Okay, there's been no facts. You paid attention to history before I used my parents. I was like Ma, you going to help me pass this class Because they talking about history? My dad was like you better read that book, girl. That's the only book I kept. Did you keep your book? No, I think it's in my parents' house, but I don't know I might make some copies. Somebody still got their history of WooBook.
Speaker 5:I need them to pass it along to me. Pass it along.
Speaker 4:I'd rather have a digital copy.
Speaker 5:It was rather a big book it was a nice big self-bound book.
Speaker 4:I mean, but it was funny because, like it was literally stuff in the book and I'm like mom, is this how it happened? And she was like girl, get off my phone, mci calling cards. Back then, right right, right, it ain't free minute time. I'm like I'm trying to pass this plan put me back.
Speaker 5:That is a throwback. Yeah, my first family member used to send me them cards so I could make calls yeah, but you couldn't talk to after 9 o'clock.
Speaker 4:Talk after 9 o'clock is free. Woo, free minutes. Kick in. Don't try to call at 8.59 because you're going to get charged. You got to wait until 9.01.
Speaker 5:These kids think they're having a good time now. If they could just take a couple seconds and the experience we had, boy, that ain't anywhere near a good time, our time, oh my goodness, that ain't anywhere near a good time.
Speaker 4:Our time, oh my goodness, any of the time Heaven forbid it snowed on campus.
Speaker 5:I remember I tried to walk up to the classroom and I kept getting turned around by the ice.
Speaker 4:What could?
Speaker 5:be going that way today.
Speaker 4:Get turned around by the ice. It's like we escaped one snowball fight across the street. And, chrislin, you know, to this day I'm still kind of mad at jamie mccoy. And no, jamie went with us that day. I'm mad at my cousin and charmaine rest her soul. Mad at her too. I know she's deceased but I'm still mad at it. We came from Central who had a really unique festivity in the snow they had a snowball fight. I'm like we escaped we good. Back on Wilberforce grounds your choir brother he almost about to owe me a pair of glasses All I seen was snow in my glass on both of them.
Speaker 4:It's almost like he just did like this and put the snow in my glass. Oh my gosh. And I was mad at TJ. I didn't talk to TJ for two days because that hurt my feelings. I was like I thought you was my brother. I was like what is it? So, yeah, you know we fun times, but he almost broke my glasses with this sorry, that was wrong.
Speaker 5:It was wrong. He probably laughed and walked away he did.
Speaker 4:But I mean, then they end up getting you know, charmaine, and my cousin too. So I didn't feel too bad. But I was mad about my glasses, because anybody who know me back there, I did not play about my glasses and I wasn't going to let you talk about them either listen when you can't see you also can't hear.
Speaker 4:I'm doing good right now, chris, and they can go all day long reminiscing about our days in the choir and our time, of course. Uh, I hope, I hope. I hope you enjoyed our chat today. I hope you enjoyed our time. Um, it probably don't get no realer than this. I probably should invite some more of my friends, if they act right, because some of my friends they get on here and they're like girl, I'm like behave, yeah, but um, honestly, you know, and before we get out of here, kristen, is there anything that you want to reiterate for our audience?
Speaker 5:Absolutely. I want to invite everyone to our RISE Scholarship Dinner happening here in Pittsburgh on November 1st, 6 pm. We'll have information for you. Just look for the newsletter, look for the PGH-HBCU Collaborative. We are taking promotions through an ad program book that we have. There are sponsorship opportunities. Come and help us to celebrate our young people, provide scholarships for them, but then also fund our programs for the rest of 2023 and 2024 so that we can make sure we provide the support to our students and our families attending our nation's HBCUs and then also celebrating impactful community members who are doing absolutely wonderful things in the community to ensure that we have what we need, that spaces are provided for everyone. So, november 1st RISE Scholarship Dinner PGA HBCU Collaborative would love to see you there and or supporting would love to see you there and or supporting awesome, awesome.
Speaker 4:So again, chris Lynn, thank you for spending time. Always a pleasure when you stop by and give us that good information we need. And then you know, anytime you come, we gonna laugh and play. But, most important, if you are a Wilberforce alum first, that's what. If you're a Wilberforce alum or you, if you're a Wilberforce alum or Central State, we'll take you too. We want to start shouting out some of these good things that alum or their scholars are doing, because you don't tell us we don't know. But also get behind and start supporting some of the school's missions. Pay them alumni dues, get involved. Also, make sure you register to vote. I can't tell you who to vote for, because this is a non-profit organization, but, however, I can tell you to go to voteorg and make sure that you're legit to get. Absolutely Can't be absent.
Speaker 4:Can't be absent at all.
Speaker 5:So it's been real.
Speaker 4:Thank you guys for tuning in today and be great, and if you're not great, try to be. I'm just playing, uh. So thank you, crystal, and again you like, try to be.
Speaker 5:Thank you, dr molly be great, just be great just be great, be good, be great, be awesome.
Speaker 4:That's it. Phenomenal. Oh, man see, I told you my friends don't act right when they come on here, so thank you again, dr. Well, we got to say it the right way. Reverend Doctor, she got like 99 titles y'all. Reverend Doctor, krystalyn Barger, ms Wilberforce, ms Wilberforce, thank you for giving me your time.
Speaker 5:Thank you giving me your time.
Speaker 4:Anytime you need us. You know I'm just a phone call away, phone call, text email and we can get your announcements in the newsletter. So, everybody can join. So it's been fun, but we definitely got to run. It's been fun, but we definitely got to run.
Speaker 2:It's been said that each person is an island unto themselves, for the greatest individuals of our time forged their own paths, but UNCF knows that the opposite is true, because when you start to peel away the surface, beyond the borders of the history books, there lies a richness of people before, beside and ahead, brothers and sisters, partners and peers, mentors, who helped pave the way.
Speaker 2:And so, for the next generation, bright, brimming and beautiful, we will surround them the most. To surpass the wildest imaginations of our founders, to move mountains, minds and hearts, to solve the world's biggest and smallest problems. To soar higher than regulations permit and pave the way onwards and upwards, because the truth is, no person is an island, and thank God for that. It's the present that connects the past to the future. Since 1944, uncf has raised over $6 billion and helped more than 500,000 students thrive. Uncf has helped, historically, black colleges and universities produce 80% of Black judges, 50% of Black doctors and 40% of all Black engineers. So together, join UNCF and our 37 HBCU members as we honor the legacy, transform our future and walk as one. Visit uncforg and give today.
Speaker 1:For inspiration, motivation and the good news of Jesus Christ. Pincforg and give today programs on the Daily Gospel Network.
Speaker 3:Catch the Daily Gospel Network on Roku, amazon Fire, apple TV, all mobile devices and the internet Tune in to a better chance for youth television show with host Monique Robinson on the Daily Gospel Network, the television show dedicated to highlighting incredible students on their quest to change the world. Join us every week as we uplift the youth and help them on their journey to the bright future they deserve. Catch a Better Chance for Youth television show with host Monique Robinson on the Dairy Gospel Network. Thanks for watching a Better Chance for Youth television show with your host, Monique Robinson, the television show where we highlight incredible students in their quest to change the world. Join us each and every week as we uplift our youth and help them on their journey to the bright future they deserve. So until next time. God bless From your friends. On A Better Chance for Youth television show with your host Monique Robinson.
