Alumna Ayanna Crawford ’98 Returns to Westfield State, Sharing Wisdom and Advocacy

On February 12, the Black Student Union (BSU) on campus hosted a guest speaker event featuring Westfield Alumna Ayanna Crawford. Ayanna, who was born and raised in Springfield, graduated from Westfield State University in 1998. Her strong ties to the University led her back on campus, where she expressed enthusiasm upon her return. Crawford kicked off her address with warm sentiments and gratitude for Iyana Gordon, President of the BSU, for reaching out and organizing the event. 

During the event, chairs were positioned in a circle centered around Ayanna in order to create an atmosphere where everyone felt close and comfortable. “My primary goal when planning this event was to create a safe place where people can share their experiences and where we can learn from each other,” Gordon said. 

Crawford is an educational consultant and motivational speaker for various nonprofits and colleges in addition to serving as Chief of Staff for House Representative Orlando Ramos of Massachusetts. She is also an active advocate for underprivileged communities who face barriers in the legal system, commenting, “I take that on as an opportunity to help them, right? Because if I’ve helped them and we’ve resolved their problem, now they can let someone else know if they might need the same support.” 

Crawford described receiving numerous phone calls a day from people seeking guidance on various issues, adding, “If you feel as though folks are not responding to you or you’re not getting what you need, you can call your representative.” 

After graduating Springfield College with a Masters of Education, Crawford spent 25 years as an educator. When transitioning into politics, she noted the increased resources surrounding her, including people and places she can access to help resolve varying issues. In 2014, Crawford created a public speaking program called “Take the Mic,” aimed at developing useful public speaking skills for young girls. The program was so successful that it has lasted 10 years and led to the development of a similar program for adults. Crawford reflected on this success, remarking, “Never in my wildest dreams would I ever have thought that not only would my program be effective, but that it would last this long.”

With so much experience and having spent much of her professional life educating and supporting others, Crawford emphasized her current position as being exceedingly meaningful and effective in her mission to support the marginalized. Despite having doubts in regard to the efficacy of her goals, Crawford has made a name for herself as she maintains a love for her community and the people intertwining them. 

Additionally, Crawford, in her address, highlighted the necessity of taking care of oneself as well. “I always think to myself: What did I do for myself today?” 

She emphasized the importance of self-care, especially throughout the rigors of college life. Incorporating activities such as meditation, utilizing pet therapy on campus, and regular walks around Stanley Park helps to reinforce a more empowered and productive version of yourself. 

“It can’t always be about do-do-do-do-do,” she clarified. “It also has to be about taking care of you and taking care of the things you need.”

Crawford left the audience with an inspiring quote from Carter G. Woodson, a prolific American author, journalist, and historian. “‘No man or woman knows what he can do until he or she tries,’" she quoted. “I encourage all of you to go out and try something you’ve never done before.” For Westfield State and the BSU, plans of having Crawford return are already being made.