Breanna Reeves

Community leaders, students, families and supporters gathered in downtown Riverside on May 6, 2023 for the 10th Anniversary of the Society of Extraordinary Women (SOEW) and Ignite Leadership & STEM Academy, a program created for young girls by Shirley Coates, founder of SOEW.

Hosted at the Civil Rights Institute Inland Southern California, the celebration honored Ignite students, present and past, as well as instructors who volunteered their time to the program throughout the last decade. Coates honored special guests Katie Stephens and Joseph Marsh who were some of the first instructors back when the program started in 2013.

Master of Ceremonies Stan Morrison, retired basketball coach and former director of intercollegiate athletics at the University of California, Riverside, welcomes attendees to the 10th Anniversary Celebration event at the Civil Rights Institute Inland Southern California on May 6, 2023. (Photo by Breanna Reeves)

This year, 14 students participated in the five-week accelerated program which focused on Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Journalism. Led by GIS instructor Kennedy Schneider, journalism instructor Breanna Reeves and student instructor Isabella Cuesta, students learned how to craft stories, how to develop StoryMaps using ESRI software and conduct science experiments.

The Ignite Leadership & STEM Academy traditionally only welcomed middle school-aged girls, but for the first time in the Spring session, boys were invited to join the program. During the ceremony, students were given certificates and sashes to commemorate their completion of the program.

The celebration kicked off with a welcome from the Master of Ceremonies Stan Morrison, retired basketball coach and former director of intercollegiate athletics at the University of California, Riverside. Morrison shared stories of triumph and perseverance as he recalled memories of leading basketball teams to victory, including UCR Highlanders from National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Division II to Division I.

Cashus Taylor, a student in the Ignite Leadership & STEM Academy reads the program for the 10th Anniversary Celebration for the Society of Extraordinary Women and Ignite Leadership & STEM Academy on May 6, 2023. This year is the first time boys joined the program, which was initially designed for middle school-aged girls. (Photo by Breanna Reeves)

Throughout the celebration, featured speakers addressed Ignite students and told encouraging stories of extraordinary women and shared words of wisdom. ​​Dr. Paulette Brown-Hinds, founder of Voice Media Ventures and publisher of Black Voice News and IE Voice, was the keynote speaker at the celebration where she spoke about extraordinary women like her grandmother who took in people who had nowhere else to go. She pointed out all the extraordinary women in the room, including Fair Housing Council of Riverside County Executive Director Rose Mayes, Co-founder of Blumenthal & Moore and criminal defense attorney Virginia Blumenthal and Coates.

Another inspiring featured speaker, Kimberly Anthony-Morrow, founder and lead facilitator of the Urban Excellence Coaching Academy, recited a few lines from “Oh, the Places You’ll Go” written by Theodor Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss.

“Congratulations! Today is your day. You’re off to Great Places. You’re off and away. You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know,” Anthony-Morrow quoted.

Kimberly Anthony-Morrow, founder and lead facilitator of the Urban Excellence Coaching Academy, read a few lines from “Oh, the Places You’ll Go” by Dr. Seuss during her speech at the celebration held at the Civil Rights Institute Inland Southern California on May 6, 2023. (Photo by Breanna Reeves)
Ignite Leadership & STEM Academy students listen as featured speakers share advice and words of wisdom on how to accomplish their goals during the 10th Anniversary Celebration at the Civil Rights Institute Inland Southern California on May 6, 2023. (Photo by Breanna Reeves)
Dr. Paulette Brown-Hinds, founder of Voice Media Ventures and publisher of Black Voice News and IE Voice, was the keynote speaker at the 10th Anniversary Celebration of the Ignite Leadership & STEM Academy. Brown-Hinds delivered a speech about extraordinary women like Harriet Tubman, famously called Moses for liberating the enslaved during the celebration on May 6, 2023. (Photo by Breanna Reeves)
Attendees clap as featured speakers share encouraging speeches about extraordinary women and achieving success during the 10th Anniversary Celebration on May 6, 2023. (Photo by Breanna Reeves)
Motivational Speaker Dr. Susan Freeman, CEO and founder of the Conscious Inclusion Company, encouraged students to go for what they want and to not be swayed by anyone during the 10th Anniversary Celebration on May 6, 2023. (Photo by Breanna Reeves)
Attendees including Nefertiti Long, Board Chair of the Inland Empire Community Foundation, listen as featured speakers address the audience during the 10th Anniversary Celebration of the Society of Extraordinary Women and the Ignite Leadership & STEM Academy on May 6, 2023. (Photo by Breanna Reeves)
Shirley Coates, founder of the Society of Extraordinary Women and the Ignite Leadership & STEM Academy, led the crowd in a mantra, chanting, “Together everyone achieves more!” during the 10th anniversary celebration on May 6, 2023. (Photo by Breanna Reeves)
Led by Shirley Coates, founder of the Society of Extraordinary Women and the Ignite Leadership & STEM Academy, students and attendees chant, “Together everyone achieves more!” during the 10th Anniversary of the Society of Extraordinary Women celebration on May 6, 2023. (Photo by Breanna Reeves)

Breanna Reeves is a reporter in Riverside, California, and uses data-driven reporting to cover issues that affect the lives of Black Californians. Breanna joins Black Voice News as a Report for America Corps member. Previously, Breanna reported on activism and social inequality in San Francisco and Los Angeles, her hometown. Breanna graduated from San Francisco State University with a bachelor’s degree in Print & Online Journalism. She received her master’s degree in Politics and Communication from the London School of Economics. Contact Breanna with tips, comments or concerns at breanna@voicemediaventures.com or via twitter @_breereeves.