Jackson State features Scholarship winner Sasha Williams
The 431 Exchange is proud to announce that Sasha Williams, Ph.D. candidate in clinical psychology, is one of seven recipients of its Spring 2021 scholarship. Each student has a unique story that can be found at www.431exchange.org/news.
Sasha Williams
Sasha says, her grandfather, who passed away in 2020, was, and remains, her beacon of light. “He constantly preached the importance of acquiring an education to anyone that would listen,” Sasha wrote. He’d conclude each conversation by stating, “They can take your name, but they can’t take your learning. Keep going and I’m proud of you.”
The 431 Exchange established a Scholarship Fund to award applicants with cash grants for continuing or vocational education in honor of the legacy of the Adult Education Center. Scholarships are $1,431 each in two different categories: Legacy and General Awards. Legacy Awards are open to descendants of the 431 graduates of The Adult Education Center, including: children, stepchildren, grandchildren, siblings, nieces and nephews. General Awards are open to the general public.
The Adult Education Center (AEC) on Exchange Place in New Orleans provided innovative vocational training to 431 inspirational women from 1965 to 1972. These women went on to become the first black secretaries to integrate the multinational corporations and local businesses of the city. Eventually their impact spread throughout the South and helped pave the way for equal employment opportunity for all American citizens. Jeanne and Jeff Geoffray, descendants of Alice Geoffray, the school’s director, created The 431 Exchange: a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization to advocate nationally on behalf of adult education and social justice issues.