Dr. Lisa Cook Undaunted By the Fight letter-writing event

 

+9 (Aubrey Leigh Patton, Class of 2028)

Reflection Summary:

On September 9th, 2025, I hosted a workshop to write letters of support for Dr. Lisa Cook. Originally, as the Spelman Democrats Program Director, I wanted to plan and host this event with my organization. But due to nonpartisan rules with Spelman College, I could not. Instead of canceling the event all together, I used my intellectual sovereignty to host the workshop individually as a student-led writing workshop. This event was essential to honor Dr. Cook, a Spelman Alumna and the first Black woman on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, while reinforcing Spelman’s legacy of advocacy and resilience. I created a posterboard of what happened between the Federal Government and the Federal Reserve, including who Dr. Lisa Cook is, and the role of the Federal Reserve, also the significance of this moment in history where the Trump administration attempted to fire her. When I started planning this event individually, I did not imagine how impactful it could be. By the end of my planning, Student Government Association, Senior Class Council, Women’s Research Center, and the Spelman Innovation Lab all wanted to collaborate and help widespread this event. Additionally, President Rosliand Brewer stopped by my table to learn more about my event. At this moment, I realized how true impact can spread that fast around campus. This event took place from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm and in just three hours, I was able to collect over 100+ letters in support of Dr. Lisa Cook. From this event, I learned that there is never any idea too small. I also learned that a “No” or even “Rules” and “Regulations” have alternatives and that as an intellectual leader, there are solutions to everything. Advocacy is important on campus and it is my civic duty on campus to continue finding ways to support Spelman Alumna and inform my Spelman sisters.