Byrdsong and Oglesby inspired to make change in their community

May 9, 2017

Troy Byrdsong (left) and Alison Oglesby (right) discuss information they learned at the 61st CSW. (Photo by Gail Strange)

Troy Byrdsong and Alison Oglesby are two young women with big dreams and big hearts. The freshman and junior attend Wayne State University and attended the United Nations 61st Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) as part of the 12-person delegation of the Racial Ethnic and Women’s Ministries of the Presbyterian Mission Agency.

Each year Women’s Leadership Development and Young Women’s Ministries provide scholarships for young Presbyterian women from around the world to attend the CSW—the global policy body of the United Nations Economic and Social Council dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women.

Byrdsong, a member of Hope Presbyterian Church, and Oglesby, a member of Broadstreet Presbyterian Church, also attended the conference through the generosity of the National Black Presbyterian Caucus and as representatives of the Detroit Presbytery.

While attending the CSW the two young women discussed the challenges facing youth in Detroit and how they would like to see and be a part of the change in their communities. They were excited to take information learned at this year’s CSW back to Detroit and help impact the changes they’d like to see.

“The panel discussions provide an opportunity to hear firsthand information on many of those issues [facing women],”  Oglesby said. “This is information I can take back to my church and my caucus on ways we can make a difference. In my high school, there were many girls from countries like Bangladesh where prostitution is legal. Here we learned how young girls are tricked into prostitution and the sex trade. Information that helps young girls avoid these traps will benefit any community.

“The CSW has opened my mind,” she continued. “I am so excited to see all these women from different countries. After hearing all of the information it has challenged me to think about [how] I can make a change.”

Byrdsong agreed. “It has encouraged me to think of ways I can make things better in my city, the African American community of Detroit, my church and the Presbytery,” she said. “I live in a predominately black community and I went to a predominately black high school. However, my community is not a high crime community, it’s a good community. It does not suffer from the issues that they focus on in the news that appear to impact every African American community in Detroit. I was not aware of many of the issues talked about here at the CSW. Many of these topics I’ve seen on TV or you’ve heard about them on the news. But I’ve never met anyone who has been a victim of sex trafficking or human slavery.”

Oglesby pointed out that while it’s great to see so many women doing such great work at the CSW, it should be the norm rather than the exception.  Byrdsong and Oglesby also would like to have seen a lot more young people at the event and expressed a need for more African Americans from presbyteries and congregations to attend the CSW.

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has been active in the United Nations since before the UN was officially formed. The Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations represents the policies of the PC(USA) General Assembly to the United Nations.

Gail Strange, director, Church & Mid Council Communications

Today’s Focus:  UN Commission on the Status of Women

Let us join in prayer for:

Presbytery of Detroit Staff

Allen D. Timm, executive presbyter
Edward H. Koster, stated clerk
Neeta Nichols, temporary executive assistant
Sandy Jensen, office manager/IT administrator|
Rhonda Barley, bookkeeper
Pat McBride, accounting manager
Diane Agnew, hunger action coordinator
Kathi Johnson, resource center director

PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff

Judith Coons, PMA                                                                                       
Catherine Cottingham, PMA

Let us pray:

Loving God, thank you for faithful women who lead us to Christ through their love, ministry, proclamation and service. Amen.

Daily Readings

Morning Psalms 98; 146
First Reading Jeremiah 30:10-17
Second Reading Colossians 1:15-23
Gospel Reading Luke 6:12-26
Evening Psalms 66; 116