Contributor

Yanique Richards

Howard University Association of Black Journalists

Bio:

Born and raised in Queens, New York, Yanique Richards always shared a passion for change through the power of voice. At a very young age, she noticed that speaking into her hairbrush as if it were a microphone and wearing her mother’s work shoes was not just the childish dress-up that most young girls dabble in. Instead, it was the persona of a career-driven woman that she felt compelled to imitate.

Yanique is a highly motivated nineteen-year-old attending Howard University as a Broadcast Journalism major with a Political Science minor. During her senior year at Baldwin High School, Yanique had the opportunity to intern for the Women’s Media Center; it was here her spark for change ignited. Entering her freshmen year at college, Yanique propelled herself into a whirlwind of organizations, breaking glass ceilings while maintaining a 3.6 GPA. This summer she was granted the opportunity to intern for designer Dolita Paris in New York City.

Yanique is currently working to establish a new project: Change for Change – a series of fundraisers addressingissues affecting the world we live in. As a volunteer for Lady Me (an organization for underprivileged girls) and a mentor to the School of Communications service program, Yanique has begun her campaign to inform young girls on the power of knowledge the media has to offer. While doing so, Yanique is a part of Howard University’s Association of Black Journalists,WHBC News Team and acts as Howard University’s 2011-2012 Event Coordinator for the School of Communications. In addition she is a contributing writer for Howard University’s newspaper “The Hill Top” and a contributing photographer to various media outlets in Washington DC.