歪歪漫画

BEMIDJI 鈥� Throughout her life, has allowed her intuition to speak louder than her fear.

Detailing her life鈥檚 journey starting in French Guinea 鈥� and every step along the way that led her to California 鈥� she had a chance to encourage others to rely on their intuition during a president鈥檚 reception at Bemidji State鈥檚 Beaux Arts Ballroom on Thursday as part of Black History Month.

During her introduction, BSU and Northwest Technical College president John Hoffman spoke to Davant's presence as an opportunity for all to listen to her story and words of advice to grow as leaders in the community.

"That requires all of us to engage, to listen, to continue our journeys," Hoffman said, "and to hear from others who perceive what others might miss."

Annalise Braught / Bemidji Pioneer

A former art director at Apple, Davant co-founded a creative agency based in Oakland, Calif., in 2019 to be 鈥渁 safe space and a home for undervalued, underrepresented and overlooked creators and talent to be their best selves and create their best work.鈥�

Specializing in digital and experiential marketing, Savant co-founded the agency after spending time as a freelancer. The agency aims to help clients understand and practice business strategy, client acquisition, talent and project management and operations.

Today, she describes the agency as a nurturing environment that enables overlooked creatives to unlock and trust their zone of genius and produce impactful work.

Throughout Thursday鈥檚 event, Davant served as a source of mentorship and inspiration for all in attendance.

鈥淭o me, intuition drives magic, advocacy, allyship, love and freedom,鈥� Davant said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really a powerful tool that connects us to do things good for ourselves and good for each other. And intuition is what keeps Black history alive. It鈥檚 never-ending. The story continues and it鈥檚 still present today.鈥�

Davant emphasized intuition as a uniting force that brought all attendees together at Thursday鈥檚 event.

Annalise Braught / Bemidji Pioneer

鈥淭here鈥檚 a connective tissue that brings us all together. Even choosing to be in this space on this day, something told you to come here,鈥� Davant added. 鈥淚ntuition is a guide that gets us to a place of connectedness, a place of understanding. It鈥檚 what we find to be the first voice we hear.鈥�

Those in the audience had a chance to speak one-on-one with Davant following her speech in front of the masses. BSU student Sarah Kessler sought advice from Davant regarding her post-graduation plans and potential careers in accounting versus higher education.

鈥淚鈥檓 about to graduate college and I鈥檓 really inspired, but I鈥檓 having trouble separating the intuition from the fear,鈥� Kessler said. 鈥淚鈥檓 struggling to decide between what I really want to do. 鈥� I鈥檝e accepted an internship with an accounting firm, but I also love education and I鈥檓 struggling to decide.鈥�

Annalise Braught / Bemidji Pioneer

Davant encouraged Kessler to make note of how she feels when she thinks about each career path and use those feelings as the basis for her decision.

鈥淲hen you think about accounting and doing that work, do you feel good? And when you look at higher education, is it a different feeling?鈥� Davant said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 no wrong path. You can do accounting for a year, then go back to education. Then, you can go into education and maybe decide you don鈥檛 like it anymore.

鈥淏ut it鈥檚 about feeling how you feel. If you don鈥檛 know, then try because we don鈥檛 know all the time.鈥�

Annalise Braught / Bemidji Pioneer

BSU鈥檚 president鈥檚 receptions aim to educate the Bemidji area and amplify voices respective to a month鈥檚 national recognition.

Previous events focused on the history of the Two Spirit identity for National Coming Out Month in October and Supreme Court cases concerning gender and sexual identity for Women鈥檚 History Month in March.

With a particular focus on Black and African Americans in the arts, Davant was a natural choice for February鈥檚 reception.

鈥淚n every stroke, every note played, every dance step taken, the African American community has left an incredible mark on the world of arts,鈥� associate campus diversity officer Ashley Gomez said. 鈥淭he arts have long been a powerful approach for storytelling, resilience and the celebrations of identity.

Annalise Braught / Bemidji Pioneer

鈥淭his is a time to honor the significant contributions of Black individuals throughout history, celebrate their achievements and recognitions, the ongoing journey toward justice and equality they have shared in their art.鈥�

With upcoming events for February and a future reception planned for Women鈥檚 History Month next month, Gomez encouraged attendees to view art as a therapeutic journey, enabling them to connect with their emotions, confront challenges and celebrate triumphs much like Davant had demonstrated.

鈥淟et us continuously engage in thoughtful dialogue,鈥� Gomez left off, 鈥渓earn from one another鈥檚 experience and commit ourselves to creating an environment where individuals can bring their own selves.鈥�

Annalise Braught / Bemidji Pioneer

• Wednesday, Feb. 21, Miss Uchawi will perform at 7 p.m. in the Beaux Arts Ballroom. 鈥淛oin us for a night of magic, a drag show, and fun with Miss Uchawi," a release said. This event is hosted by the Campus Activity Board and Center for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
• Friday, Feb. 23, the Black Student Union, Council of Indian Students, International Student Organizations and World Languages Club will host a Black Student Union Dance from 9 p.m. to midnight. This is a night for students to embrace culture through music and dancing, the release added. The location and theme are to be announced.

More information can be found on the

Annalise Braught / Bemidji Pioneer