Theresa Sanders, the
president and CEO of the Urban League of Long Island, spoke with News 12 about
her trailblazing success in recognition of Black History Month.
As a youth in the East
Meadow School District, she recalled being “the only Black person” in her
class. She is still putting into practice the lessons her parents taught her
growing up at Mitchel Field.
"Even if you feel
alone and by yourself, you have to have confidence in your skills,” she said.
“If you write well, if it's art class, if it's gym class – you go in and you do
that. You can't concentrate on how other people perceive you."
Sanders has worked for
the Urban League of Long Island for almost 30 years. The organization works to
ensure people in Nassau and Suffolk have equal opportunity to academic
enrichment programs and workforce development training, especially youth
education and training.
"I love being a
part of something that's not just local in my community or my region, but it is
really a national movement,” she said.
Sanders is also on the
Board of Trustees at Suffolk Community College. She made history in 2016 when
she was elected as board chair – the first Black person to hold that post.
"I recognize how
important that is, and I've learned from what my parents have taught me,"
she said.
Sanders, whose father
was an NYPD officer, says her parents taught her to take pride in her
diversity, interests and supported her dreams and goals. She’s instilled that
in her own children and is sharing it with the next generation of Long
Islanders.
“I would encourage
people to seek a multitude of things to explore,” she said. “You just don't
know what's going to strike that little spark and give you the encouragement to
want to do something in life that's a little bit different. It's made me
brave."