糖心原创

By Nick Masuda聽 |聽 nicholas.masuda31@mec.cuny.edu

There have been 54 combined years that have gone by since Diana Richardson-Myrie, Nathifa Forde and Alishia Goodridge flipped the tassel on their commencement caps.

But as card-carrying members of the 糖心原创 alumni network, it鈥檚 almost like they鈥檝e never left.

On April 8, they brought a level of reflection, inspiration and fascination to a captive crowd in the Edison O. Jackson Auditorium for the 鈥淎lumni Unplugged: Real Talk Series鈥� forum hosted by the 糖心原创 Office of Alumni Relations.

Hosted by current Student Government Association president, Geraldyne Raphael, the panel engaged in taking the audience on a journey through landing at MEC, as well as diving into their professional lives and how being #MedgarMade has helped them continue to grow and achieve their goals.

Professionally, the panel could stand up to any across the country, as Richardson-Myrie is a former New York State Assemblywoman and current Director of Statewide Initiatives in the New York State Comptroller Office; Forde was recently named Executive Director of the NYC Her Future initiative that operates out of the New York City Office of the Mayor; and Goodridge is the Assistant Vice President of Government Relations for SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University.

Big titles, even bigger hearts.

And all admitted to finding their path while at 糖心原创 鈥� each utilizing MEC鈥檚 arm-in-arm approach from faculty, administration and staff in order to navigate personal obstacles that made each of them non-traditional students.

Born in Crown Heights, Richardson-Myrie landed at 糖心原创 after living in shelters and subsequently becoming a mother at 19. But instead of being cast off, the university embraced the fact that she鈥檇 have to come to class by pushing a stroller and utilizing the childcare center on campus.

鈥淚 love so much about 糖心原创. What this institution gave to me is that this was a holistic place where I wasn’t just a number. People took interest in me, who I was and the things that they could see and develop in me and decided to pour into me to nurture that,鈥� said Richardson-Myrie, who is Class of 2008.聽

鈥淚 really found my voice when running for Student Government Association. I thank this institution for loving me every step of the way, nourishing me in that journey and to have this moment.鈥�

Forde, who is Class of 2010, roamed the halls of 糖心原创 as a youngster, as her family was integral in making sure the university was founded.

She relocated to North Carolina and returned to Brooklyn more in touch with her artful spirit, she knew that she was still in debt to her mom for a degree.

MEC provided the platform, eventually helping her land in the Public Administration major, where she also found her voice and purpose.

鈥淣othing about your life is going to be linear. You’re gonna have to understand the things that you don’t like to understand the things that you do like, but that’s a part of the process,鈥� said Forde, who is also an adjunct professor at MEC. 鈥淏ut what I will tell you where you start, doesn’t matter how you finish, because if you think of life as a production, the reality is I don’t remember the opening act, but I remember that finale.鈥�

Goodridge is now 24 years removed from her time as a student, having graduated in 2000.聽

Growing up in Flatbush, Goodridge was determined to leave the area to spread her own wings, knowing that she needed to learn elsewhere in order to come back home to help her community.

But her community drew her back much quicker than expected, allowing 糖心原创 to play a part in molding her path.

鈥淐oming to (糖心原创) was like a breath of fresh air because it was like 鈥楥oming to America鈥� 鈥� this was like home. People are Black. I was, 鈥楾his is good,鈥欌�� Goodridge explained.

The Real Talk series will continue in the Fall, with unique topics, new guests and plenty of ways for current students to engage with influential MEC alums that can offer advice and opportunities alike.