Taylor Black
Contributing Writer
On Saturday, Feb. 17, the Multicultural Organization Advisory Board (MOAB) hosted the first annual Diversity Ball by President Kelsey Yearde. In previous years, the Diversity Ball was held by the Black Student Union. The event took place at ESU’s Innovation Center.
Many organizations were in attendance to support the event including the Latin American Association, The ESU Warriorettes, the Women of Color Initiative, the Men of Color Alliance, the National Council of Negro Women and many more.
Many faculty and staff members of the University were also in attendance including; President Kenneth Long, Dr. Santiago Solis, Provost Margaret Ball, Lyesha Fleming, Lurine Allotey, Joe Akob, Matt Ingram and Aida Garcia-Cole.
Career Development’s Ateshia Stewart was also in attendance. Her black-owned business Rise to the Occasion served as the decorator and hosted the 360 photo booth for the event.
The night began around 7:30 when host Sherwin Stewart, a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., introduced the Student Keynote Speaker of the night. Member of Groove Phi Groove Social Fellowship Incorporated, Faheem Sultan was welcomed to the stand. Sultan began a story about his experiences with gun violence in the city of Philadelphia.
“As a child growing up in a black community, you have to grow a strong sense of awareness to just survive,” he said. Sultan’s theme for his speech was unity. To come together and strive as one, people need to be unified. He discussed how overcoming these obstacles of violence developed him into the empowering man he is today.
Following up after student speaker Sultan, was Pike County Commissioner, Christa Caceres. In attendance to support her were her husband Enrique Caceres and their son, Josiah Caceres. Prior to her role as Pike County Commissioner, Caceres held many positions. Caceres holds seats on local advisory committees and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Pocono Chamber of Commerce and Pocono Mountains United Way, which assists individuals and families in need in Monroe County. She also serves as co-chair of the DEI Cohort, which focuses on racial equity for school districts, faculty, staff and local businesses.
In April 2019, she was named Pike County Director for the PA State Black Caucus. In September 2020, she served as the chair of the Multicultural Committee of Emerge Pennsylvania. A few years later In January of 2023, PA Governor Josh Shapiro, appointed Mrs. Caceres as vice-chair for the Governor’s Advisory Commission on African American Affairs. He also named her chair of the newly created CLEAR Commission.
As she began her “Road to Excellence” speech she asked every young person in the room to rise and remain standing. Caceres asked, “From this day forward, you shall walk in excellence and remember the people who came before you who knew you would benefit from their selfless sacrifice.” Her inspirational words guided our students to focus on our education, not be afraid to lead, and demand to be heard. The phenomenal speech ended with a standing ovation from the audience.
