Staff’s Take: Women’s History Month
Bayview Women have embedded a culture of resilience among themselves and their community for years. Among these women, Lottie Titus served our community in a way that touched every member. She was a mother, caretaker, teacher, advocate, and protector of the community. We are blessed to have had her serve as a board member to City of Dreams. She worked to uplift the presence and needs of her peers by working as a San Francisco Housing Authority Commissioner. To tackle an issue present within her own life, she created Hope SF, an initiative to rebuild San Francisco’s severely distressed public housing sites. Her presence embodied grace, positivity, and kindness. She gave of herself relentlessly, personifying the true resilience of Bayview Women.
In honor of the women of City of Dreams and in honor of Lottie Titus, we asked Co-Board Chair Cassidi, and Executive Director Jarae for their thoughts on womanhood and leadership.
What does Women’s History Month mean to you?
JARAE: To me, Women's History Month is a time to honor all the contributions Women have made to the world and their unique leadership styles. As a woman, it's also a time to show gratitude for self. Women are known for being nurturers and givers but we also deserve to give ourselves some credit.
CASSIDI: To me, Women’s History Month is a time to spotlight the incredible women who have paved the way to empower individuals across the map. It’s about drawing on the boldness of female figures and celebrating the legacy of female contributions to society. Another deeply important aspect of Women’s History Month is recovering our history to tell a fuller story of the past that more accurately represents women’s influence.
What qualities make a great female leader?
JARAE: I think the qualities of a great female leader include being empathetic and tenacious. The women leaders I know also show extreme attention to detail and are great listeners.
CASSIDI: Someone who gives you the tools to realize and then continuously believe in your potential. Someone who has the strength to take risks and the courage to fight for what they believe in. Someone who creates women-empowered workplaces that contribute to a culture of change.
Did you have any female mentors or icons that you looked up to on your journey?
JARAE: My first Woman mentor was the youth leader of my after school program, Rian Barrett. She was a great listener, relatable, and we never saw her sweat!
CASSIDI: There are so many incredible women who have helped shaped me, but I would like to highlight my mom and my boss.
My mom, Traci Goll, is the Director of Horizon High School, a nonprofit organization that supports high school students in recovery from substance abuse disorders, including those who may have co-occurring mental health struggles.
From a young age, my mom has shown me the importance of connectivity and the development of strong community ties. Engaging in community allows for a sense of belonging and enables us to share personal relatedness and support the perpetual growth of each other - something that is especially important for women.
What is something you wish you knew earlier as a woman in this field?
JARAE: I wish I realized earlier that I don't have to figure it all out on my own. It's okay to ask for help and also as a strength to do so. I don't have to prove that I'm strong to anyone, I just have to be myself and put my best foot forward.
CASSIDI: There have been many times where I feel like I need to have a certain level of expertise to accomplish something but have been surprised by how approachable a task can be when you actively foster a growth mindset. I have also found that breaking up a challenging task into bite-size pieces helps to break the fear of approaching a subject matter you may feel is “out of your wheelhouse.”
I wish that concepts like fixed vs. growth mindset, implicit bias, stereotype threat, imposter syndrome, financial literacy, etc. would have been integrated into my school curriculum growing up. There are names and explanations for these phenomena, and our youth should know them.
Another takeaway: Mentorship is KEY and that is why organizations like the City of Dreams are such important pillars in our communities.
Thank you to all the women who have contributed to the success of City of Dreams. We learn to serve the youth through the insight and nurture of local, influential women.