Sydney Moore Attends the UN Commission on the Status of Women: Multicultural Education
Sydney Moore (r) is attending the United Nations 67th Commission on the Status of Women in New York in part through the female mentors her father Bruce (l) has brought into Sydney’s life.
By Jonathan Gramling
Sydney Moore, a student at Verona Area High School, is a student who has taken advantage of opportunities — sometimes opportunities that her father Bruce brings to the fore — that have allowed her to take in an almost global outlook on life.
As a single parent, Bruce realized that he couldn’t raise Sydney on his own and so he found resources in the community that would aid in Sydney’s personal development, organizations like the Wisconsin Women of Color Network.
“The first thing I remember about Wisconsin Women of Color Network is going to a meeting when I was five-years-old and they wanted me to go up and say something,” Sydney said. “My dad and I wrote down on a napkin something to say, so I didn’t have to memorize it because I was so nervous. It’s such an amazing group. They all took me in and they are all like moms and grandmas to me. I wouldn’t be the same without them.”
Sydney has also taken advantage of groups in the community like CEOs of Tomorrow.
“When I was younger, my dad put me in CEOs of Tomorrow,” Sydney recalled. “I did the Kids Summer Camp from 4th to 8th grade. And I really loved it. They wanted me to do the high school camps. And so I did the Incubator for them and made my second business. It’s about mental health and raises awareness about teen mental health.”
Sydney has also taken advantage of school resources and organizations.
“Multicultural Leadership Club allows me to learn about other cultures,” Sydney said. “I didn’t know about different cultures or even about my own much. I did know some things, but I wanted to know more. That has always been an interest of mine, but I didn’t know how I would pursue that. So these clubs really offer so much information and opportunities.”
Probably the most important organization that Sydney became involved with is one based in Zimbabwe, Africa.
“I don’t really remember how I got to go to the UN the first time because it was so long ago,” Sydney said. “It was probably 4th grade when I went. My dad found this group called Rozaria Memorial Trust. It met at the library then. It was a group of girls and a lady. They were super involved in girls’ and women’s leadership. I don’t remember a lot, but we definitely talked about leadership and the International Women’s Day. And then in 5th grade, it was my first time going to the United Nations. And it was with this group of elementary school kids and their parents. And we just had so much opportunity at that young age. I was so grateful for it.”
Sydney is still involved with the Trust. And through Zoom, she meets with young girls from across the United States and even Africa. It is led by a woman based in Africa. And it is through this group that Sydney — and Bruce — headed to New York on March 5th for the 67th Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women as one of about six young women from the U.S. are participating. It’s a two-week conference for which Sydney will spend 10 days and interact with women from around the world.
“The official conferences are in the UN building and there are several hundred side events being held around New York,” Sydney said. “The conference is two weeks. I’m not staying for the full two weeks. I’m staying for a week and a half. It’s a wonderful opportunity. I expect to get more knowledge about this year’s theme, which is ‘Advocacy and Equity in the Digital era.’ We’re talking about technology all over the world for women and girls and how some rural places don’t have access to technology at all and how it really affects them and their education and health.”
Sydney will also have a chance to speak at the conference.
“I’m speaking at the Distance and Democracy conference,” Sydney said. “The theme there is also Equity and Advocacy in the Digital Era. That’s what I am speaking about too. So I’ve done my own research. I’m speaking about what I am doing here to help with that and also how other people can help and what needs to be changed.”
When she gets back to Verona, Sydney plans to spread the knowledge.
“I don’t have any presentations set in stone yet,” Sydney said. “I do plan to give presentations about what I learn at the UN because I think it is very important to not be selfish with all of your knowledge. I really want to tell other people about the experience.”
Sydney feels that youth need to set their sights high.
“Youth need to read more about what is going on in the world because it is so important and you can help too even if you are young,” Sydney said. “You can help so much because we are the future and we need to do better. Everyone can help the world be better. There are so many things that are going on that need to be changed. And this year, advocacy and helping would be greatly appreciated by everyone in the world.”
And speaking of setting one’s sights high, Sydney plans to attend Harvard and become a pediatrician.
While Sydney has been soaring, she knows who made it all possible.
“My dad’s support is so important,” Sydney emphasized. “I wouldn’t be able to do any of this without him. He’s been my biggest influence and my biggest support. He’s put me in all of the things that I need to succeed.”
Her dad is proud.
“For me, it’s important that as a father that I support my child and create an environment that makes her feel that anything that she wants to do is possible as long as she is willing to do the work and have the focus and the discipline,” Bruce said. “With teamwork, we can make that happen.”
And boy has it happened.