Led by the Elon NYC Alumni chapter professional development chairs Kanree Wright ’14 and Heather Harder ’14, the event featured speed networking, group discussions broken down by industry and an open networking session. Attendees also had the opportunity to have their headshots taken by a professional photographer as well as their resume reviewed in partnership with ����app�ٷ���վ�� Student Professional Development Center.

Wright shared, “Our board planned this event with so much intention. We wanted to create a space for our New York City alumni to come together with ease and open the floor for meaningful conversations. It’s been an honor to lean into the growth and development of  our Elon community and we hope to curate more networking events in the future.” 

Lauren Ludlow ’13, vice president of the Elon NYC Alumni Chapter, added that, “Our chapter mission is to positively impact the NYC-area alumni and the community we live in — the best city in the world. To do that, we aim to provide a fresh take on networking and connecting alumni to each other. Whether it’s hosting alumni at a fitness class, self-defense course, or putting our take on speed networking, it has been empowering to provide resources and experiences for our alumni community.”

NYC is a city where many are able to get ahead by having an connected network. With Elon having over 4,000 alumni in the area, events like this are vitally important — both for those entering into new industries as well as for those hiring within their departments.

Ludlow shared, “The best part of being on the board is supporting our community. As a business owner myself, I love being involved in supporting others to pursue the opportunity to freelance and work for themselves.”

Rob Lachenhauer ’15 had this to say about his experience: “It was great to network with fellow Elon alumni, some of whom I did not realize were in the city. It is important that Elon alumni support each other professionally, and this event catalyzed many great connections for the future in this regard. I look forward to the next one.”

The panel took place at Alta Adams, an award-winning Black-owned restaurant, and brought together students studying in the ����app�ٷ���վ�� in Los Angeles program and Los Angeles-based alumni for a lively discussion about representation in front of and behind the camera today.

More than 50 students, alumni and industry guests attended the four-hour gathering, which featured Black women industry professionals sharing life lessons and professional insights. The panel was moderated by Nneka Enurah ’11, global video partnerships lead at Amazon Ads, and featured three entertainment industry leaders.

Panelists included Joy Donnell, co-founder of CIME (Center for Intersectional Media + Entertainment); Amber Mike, vice president of video at BET; and Camille Bernier-Green, director of documentaries at Onyx Collective (Hulu).

The panel discussion focused on Black women’s experiences in media, celebrating Black excellence and centering Black voices. Panelists shared stories of success and struggles in the industry, highlighting ways to break into the media landscape and emphasizing the importance of diversity and inclusion.

The “Black Women in Media Brunch” was a great success, creating an open dialogue about Black excellence and providing valuable insights into Black women’s experiences in the media landscape. Unity LA and WEEE hope to continue hosting inclusive conversations in the future and engage more women working in entertainment and media.

To learn more about the Unity LA initiative and how to get involved, email���ܲԾ��ٲ���������dzܱ谪����������.���dz�.

To learn more about WEEE and how to get involved, email womenoftheeee@gmail.com.

Xavier Mission is a for-impact organization providing basic services as well as opportunities for empowerment and self sufficiency to New Yorkers in need. The term “for-impact” is an intentional choice as opposed to “non-profit” because Xavier Mission would rather be defined by what they do rather than what they don’t do.

Elon alumni have worked alongside Xavier Mission for the past three years and most recently supported the mission over the weekend of Jan. 14. Alumni volunteers worked in the food pantry, serving hot meals and distributing pantry staples, while engaging with the Xavier Mission patrons interested in taking advantage of their incredible services.

As a board, Elon alumni in NYC are committed to community outreach that impacts the surrounding community. In fact, the board has two positions dedicated to this specific focus. Kelsey McCabe, community outreach co-chair explained, “In a city that is full of everything one could want, there is also a huge need for help. We cannot make the impact we want on our community without giving back.”

Rob Lachenauer, community outreach co-chair, added that, “Graduating from a school like Elon and living in NYC, we recognize that many of us are extremely fortunate. However, there are many people in NYC that unfortunately are not in the same position.”

Both McCabe and Lachenauer expressed interest in partnering with Xavier Mission again, and overall encouraged others to get involved within your local community. .