By Kathy Chouteau
Girl power—and empowerment—took center stage at Chevron Richmond’s “Black History Awareness Celebration” Feb. 25, hosted during Black History Month at the company’s headquarters by its Black Employee Network (BEN).
The 20th anniversary celebration, attended by hundreds of employees and community members, presented $10,000 in Dr. William F. King scholarships to four standout female students from the WCCUSD. Top honors and $4,000 went to first-place winner Journey Dotson of DeAnza High School, followed by Maelynn Chen of Hercules High School with $3,000 for second place. Jannez Tecala Babista of Middle College High School earned $2,000 for third place, and Corinne Mackey of Pinole Valley High School received $1,000 for fourth place.
The scholarship winners wrote winning essays as part of the contest, which they each read aloud at the BEN Black History Month celebration. In her essay, Dotson praised Madam C.J. Walker, an entrepreneur, philanthropist and activist who was the first female self-made millionaire in the U.S.
“She is a figure in black history whose life has influenced my leadership aspirations and my belief in myself as a black woman,” Dotson said.
Walker’s story reminds Dotson that leadership is not defined by where you start, but by the courage you have to create opportunities for yourself and others.
“Learning about her journey helps me understand that I can succeed, speak up and take space even when the world makes me feel like I do not belong,” Dotson said.
Doctors
Maelynn Chen’s essay touched on the accomplishments of Dr. Patricia Bath, the first black female doctor to receive a medical patent and the inventor of the Laserphaco Probe for cataract treatment.
“Dr. Bath used her own perspective to challenge inequities in vision care, shaping how medicine treated those who had long been overlooked…,” Chen said.
Learning about Dr. Bath helped Chen realize that her own lazy eye, once a source of embarrassment, had helped her notice and empathize with the quiet insecurities of others.
Babista’s essay and speech focused on Claudette Colvin, “one of the most unsung heroes of the Civil Rights Movement.” Before Rosa Parks had become the face of the Civil Rights Movement, 50-year-old Colvin “refused to move” nine months earlier in 1955, Babista said.
“The more I learned about Colvin’s story, the more I admired her unwavering determination…Though she was not on the forefront of the movement, she…made the right decisions,” Babista said about Colvin’s leadership qualities.
Mackey’s writings focused on the Black Panther Party, particularly its initiatives like the Free Breakfast for Children Program. She noted the importance of leadership focused on fulfilling needs, not on achieving personal visibility.
Funding the future
Tolly Graves, director of the Chevron Richmond Refinery, said the Richmond BEN has awarded scholarships to deserving high school students in the WCCUSD since 2006. The scholarships are funded by Chevron’s Corporate Affairs group in partnership with the BEN.
They are given in honor of Dr. William F. King, a distinguished African American chemical engineer who dedicated more than 27 years to Chevron Richmond, and was known as a recruiter, a mentor and a community activist who remains deeply revered to this day.
“Nothing more beautifully speaks to enriching the future than the scholarships we’re going to be giving out today,” Grave said.
Chevron Richmond has invested more than $52 million since 2012 with regional community partners to strengthen education, economic development, job training and opportunities for local youth, Graves noted.
The speaker lineup also featured WCCUSD Superintendent Cheryl Cotton, Refinery Business Improvement Manager Matt Greenfield, Lead Engineer and Scholarship Chair Michael Adams and Experimental Systems Unit Manager Seun Ayeni.
Notable attendees from the community included local representatives from the offices of Congressman John Garamendi, County Supervisor John Gioia, and Assemblymember Buffy Wicks. Richmond City Councilmembers Jamelia Brown and Cesar Zepeda joined candidates Ahmad Anderson and Brandon Evans at the event. Richmond Chamber of Commerce President Vernon Whitmore and his wife, Linda, were also present to show their support.
Guests were treated to lunch and a number of black, female vendors were also on hand at the event, including the Royal Touch Wellness, She Me Her Sister Circle by RCF Connects, recondition2elevate and BE Life Coaching & Consulting.
