Miss Sierra Leone USA Attends 2014 Sierra Leonean Empowerment Network (SLEN) Conference

Hello world!!!

I hope you and yours are doing well. I'm doing well, thanks to the Almighty. On September 13th, I attended the inaugural Sierra Leonean Empowerment Network (SLEN) conference held at Howard University in the District of Columbia. The theme of this year's conference is "Share Experience. Build Partnerships. Gain Understanding." This is my third involvement with SLEN and second time attending their event; four months ago I attended their networking mixer.

I AM SLENNING
Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson

My personal platform as Miss Sierra Leone USA is advocating for the recruitment and retention of girls/women in Science Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), as well as advocating for SHERO. In SHERO, E is for education and O is for opportunities. Additionally, I am currently in my final year studying Mining and Minerals Engineering at Virginia Tech. Therefore, an organization such as SLEN can provide me with opportunities to network with women and men in my fields of interest which are mining, women, and the continent of Africa; also, networking with my fellow Sierra Leoneans in the diaspora and native land can help us work together in making our Salone great.

Sierra Leonean Empowerment Network Board Members
Miss Janice Williams (SLEN Co-Founder), Miss Joy Spencer (SLEN Conference Coordinator), Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson, Dr. Jaisie Stevens (SLEN Career Mentorship Coordinator), and Mr. Thomas Kaikai (SLEN Outreach Program Manager)

The co-Founders of SLEN are Mr. Lenton Davies, Miss Janice Williams, and Mr. Desmond Ellis. In his opening remarks regarding Sierra Leone's young professionals, co-founder Mr. Ellis mentioned "We need to have an opportunity now to move on from being a reactive community to being a proactive. The next wave is coming, whether it's a health care crisis or a tsunami of opportunities, and whether we like it or not. We have to be prepared to handle it." Activities of SLEN include: career mentorship, professional networking mixers, job postings, career seminars and workshops, and has a large professional database of Sierra Leoneans. The vision of SLEN is to: Establish a conglomerate of professional initiatives for the purpose of fostering information sharing, knowledge acquisition, and resource availability for career development within the Sierra Leonean community worldwide.

My favorite ladies and career women:
Miss Doris Tawiah (best friend), Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson, and Miss Heritage Sierra Leone 2013-2014 Ramzain Suma

Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson and Mr. Moinina David Sengeh (2014 Keynote Speaker)

The conference entailed two panel sessions, group discussions, SLEN Jam Session, networking session/information sharing, and keynote address by STEM advocate Moinina David Sengeh. The first panel, titled Aspiring Professionals, was moderated by Miss Effie O. Johnson (Compliance Analyst). This panel consisted of: Ms. Munje Foh (Attorney), Mr. Salifu Kamara of World Bank, Mr. Jonelle Williams (Business Strategist), and Ms. Veralyn Williams (Journalist). These young Sierra Leonean professionals discussed their various career paths. When asked what does climbing the ladder mean to them, Mr. Salifu Kamara mentioned that to him it means breaking the barriers of stereotypes, and that "when you believe in yourself, empower yourself, inspire yourself." Business strategist Jonelle Williams stated that mentoring got him where he is today and spoke about the importance of having a mentor in one's field of interest. Overall, the panel emphasized the importance of finding mentors, going to uncharted routes, and acting like a leader.

Ruby B. Johnson and Effie O. Johnson (SLEN Conference Panel Moderator)

Desmond Ellis (SLEN Co-Founder) and Ruby B. Johnson

The second panel, titled Importance of Networking and Mentoring, was moderated by Ms. Hennither Cole (Human Resources Specialist). This panel comprised of: Ms. Mariama Jalloh-Heyward (Senior Director at KPMG, LLP), Mr. Cecil John (Architect and Computer Scientist), and Ms. Mariama Levy (CEO of Verdi Consulting). These experienced Sierra Leonean professionals discussed how networking and mentoring has impacted their careers. They discussed how one can spread the word about their craft and harnessing it to success. Ms. Jalloh-Heyward stated that mentoring is about introducing oneself, having quality conversation, and making oneself available to others in seeking knowledge. Mrs. Levy spoke about getting away from one's comfort zone and breaking away from the cycle with respect to working with individuals of a different race or sex. Besides expressing advice for traditional work settings, Mr. Cecil John spoke of the importance of social media; he states "it's about being effective with your followers. Have a digital presence and we have a responsibility to make ourselves valuable." The panelists gave several tips on networking and following-up.

Akindele T.M. Decker (SLEN Media Administrator) and Ruby B. Johnson

Ruby B. Johnson and David Moinina Sengeh

The keynote speaker was Moinina David Sengeh. In mainstream media, he is popularly known as the mentor for teenage engineering prodigy and Innovate Salone's Kelvin Doe. Born and raised in Sierra Leone, David is currently a Ph.D. candidate at the MIT Media Lab. His research in the Biomechatronics Group focuses on the design of comfortable prosthetic sockets and wearable interfaces. In addition, he is one of Forbes' 30 Under 30 in Technology for 2013, a 2014 TED Fellow, on the Wired Smart List 2013, winner of the Lemelson-MIT National Collegiate Student Prize, and has accumulated many other awards. He is the Co-Founder/President of Global Minimum Inc. (GMin), as well as owner/lead designer of Nyali Clothing; he is also a lyricist and rapper with meaningful messages. In his speech, Mr. Sengeh spoke of his inspiration for his current research on prosthetic and its connection to Sierra Leoneans that were amputated during Sierra Leone's former civil war. He spoke of the relevance of imagination and that it allows one to see beyond the horizon; he stated "imagine the future we want, then create it." Discovering our moonshot. He mentioned that his purpose for activism, Innovate Salone, and other initiatives for the growth of Africa is about action, encouraging young people that can see problems and find ways to solve them. He spoke of the problem of: having a high of curious learners but little or no resources versus high concentration of mentors and resources but little or no curious minds. He emphasized on the importance of investing in education. In closing, he states "learn by doing, asking questions, and admitting that you're wrong."

Ruby B. Johnson and David Manley

Salone Queens in Action
Miss Sierra Leone USA Ruby B. Johnson and Miss Heritage Sierra Leone Ramzain Suma

BFF Moments
Doris Tawiah and Ruby B. Johnson

The photo below of myself and Miss Heritage Sierra Leone Ramzain Suma captured one of my favorite moments at the SLEN conference. One of the panelists in the second panel session gave a shout-out to St. Joseph's Secondary School (Convent) and Ramzain started cheering for her alma mater. As you can see from my face and action, I was not pleased. I appreciate SJSS but I will forever be proud of my alma mater, the Methodist Girls' High School. It's an intense but loving rivalry.

Miss Sierra Leone Sisterhood
Miss Sierra Leone USA Ruby B. Johnson and Miss Heritage Sierra Leone Ramzain Suma

Juba Connection: childhood neighbors reunited!
Mohamed Kanja Sesay and Ruby B. Johnson

Overall, I thought the event was amazing and I learned a lot from folks in all works of life. I had the opportunity to meet and connect with new people, as well as see familiar faces. The group and one-on-one conversations were stimulating. As a fellow Sierra Leonean and individual in STEM, I was inspired by David Sengeh's speech and loved hearing his personal story. Congratulations to the SLEN board members on a very successful first conference, I look forward to SLEN Conference 2015!

Ruby B. Johnson

I Am Slenning. ARE YOU???
Miss Ruby B. Johnson

slenning (slehn-in) verb - to practice a professional lifestyle while exhibiting the core values of SLEN, including networking with other professionals, mentoring or being mentored, and consistently seeking ways to move up in your career field

Ruby B. Johnson,

Your Miss Sierra Leone USA.

Photo credits:

Prince Zamira Photography

Halima Kamara Photography

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Africa needs more Mining Engineers and Experts In Natural Resources Management by Ruby B. Johnson

During my official Homecoming as Miss Sierra Leone USA to Sierra Leone in April 2013, I had the opportunity to visit Koidu Limited (Part of Octea Mining) in Tankoro Chiefdom, Koidu Town, Kono district of Sierra Leone.

One of the highlights of my visit was being conducted to see the Koidu open pit mine, which I felt was very fitting since I was (and still am) a student at Virginia Tech in the USA working at a major in Mining and Minerals Engineering and a Minor in Women’s and Gender Studies. I enjoyed the tour I was given by the General Manager and Human Resources Manager, and I expressed my interest in doing a summer internship with the company.

After my return to the United States, I applied for the internship position and was offered the position for summer 2013.

I was very excited about this opportunity because I saw it as a great way for me to gain experience in my future career, learn about the Sierra Leone mining industry, and also use my position as the reigning Miss Sierra Leone USA, to promote my personal platform of advocating for the recruitment and retention of girls and women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields while sharing my experience on this interesting odyssey through my blog.

As a Sierra Leonean-born woman, I believe it is very important for us, the Sierra Leonean diaspora, to pursue careers relevant to Sierra Leone and the African continent. We must make it a priority to contribute to the development of Africa. My country, Sierra Leone, is a reason why I chose the path of mining engineering in my future, and ideally I would love to work in that industry in Sierra Leone and throughout Africa in years to come. Whenever Sierra Leone and other African nations are spoken of in local and international media, there is always a mention of the many minerals we have been blessed with. However, I rarely hear of or meet young Sierra Leoneans with formal education in this industry.

There are many Sierra Leoneans employed at Koidu Limited, however few are in managerial or decision-making positions. I believe that it is very important for Sierra Leoneans and other Africans at home to earn relevant degrees and work in this field, as well as members of the diaspora to return and make their contribution with their degrees earned abroad. Investing in a quality education that pertains to mining is a great investment in Sierra Leone’s and Africa’s economy, and I believe it is our responsibility as Sierra Leoneans and Africans at home and abroad to do so. In addition, an increase in individuals seeking education and experience in the mining industry is a decrease in unemployment for the youth and Africans as a whole.

Read the full article here.

Ruby B. Johnson - Future Mining and Minerals Engineer and Miss Sierra Leone USA 2012-2014

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Media Alert - Miss Sierra Leone USA Reflects on 2013 Mining Internship in Kono: The Good, The Bad, and The Frustrations

Hello world!!!

I hope you and yours are doing well. I'm doing fantastic, thanks to the Almighty. Please take a few minutes and read the article I wrote about my experience at Koidu Limited - Part of Octea Mining in Kono District, Sierra Leone this past summer on The Network For Change blog. After reading, please feel free to share your feedback, comments, or questions with me via one of my social media outlets. Thank you. To read the full article, click on this link

Click on link below to read the full article

REFLECTIONS OF MY MINING INTERNSHIP IN SIERRA LEONE – THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE FRUSTRATIONS BY RUBY B. JOHNSON

Ruby B. Johnson,

Your Miss Sierra Leone USA.

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Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013 Participates in SLEN Career Mentors Q&A

Hello world!!!

Happy Sunday, and I hope you and yours are doing well! I'm doing great, all thanks to the Almighty. Yesterday, I participated in the Sierra Leonean Empowerment Network's first SLEN Career Mentors Online Q&A Google Hangout. Upon invitation, I served as a representative for the general public; the Hangout was open to Sierra Leoneans in the diaspora and at home. According to their facebook page, the vision of SLEN is to "Establish a conglomerate of professional initiatives for the purpose of fostering information sharing, knowledge acquisition, and resource availability for career development within the Sierra Leonean community worldwide." Moderated by Janice Williams, the Career Mentors were Kevin Thomas, Kha-Benneh Bangura, and Mohamed Dumbuya.

Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson

SLEN flier with Career Mentors

Ms. Williams graduated from Randolph-Macon Woman's college in 2009 with a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and a double minor in Communications and Creative Writing; she's a former Peace Corps volunteer in Niger and Guinea from 2010-2012; she completed her Master's in Government and International Affairs in 2013; Janice is currently pursuing a career in Education, and is certified in English. Kevin Thomas currently works for the Defense Contracting Audit Agency (DCAA) as an auditor; Mr. Thomas performs a variety of assignments that involve the systematic examination and appraisal of financial records. Jaisie Stevens is currently in her 3rd year in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program; Ms. Stevens has been an officer in multiple organizations including Texas Physical Therapy Association, Professionalism Committee of University of Texas Medical Branch, Honor's Committee of Texas, and many more. Kha-Benneh Bangura joined the US Army upon graduation from High School, and was promoted to Sergeant in 1998 after returning from a tour of duty in Egypt; Mr. Bangura graduated at Marymount University in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems and a Minor in Business Management. He has worked for several companies, most notably Lockheed Martin Corporation; Kha-Benneh now owns and operates an I.T. and Security company, Sabi I.T. and Security Solutions Incorporated; . Kha-Benneh is also an accomplished musician with the stage name JayArr. Mohamed Dumbuya is currently working as an IT Business Analyst consultant for Avanade; Mr. Dumbuya's role is managing requirements and leading the testing of the new retail contract management system. Fun fact: Mr. Kha-Benneh Bangura was one of the judges at the 2012 Miss Sierra Leone USA Leadership and Scholarship Pageant!

Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson

During the Hangout, there was a wide variety of topics discussed that were of great relevance to students, as well as upcoming professionals, and I found every question asked and comment made by the Career Mentors very helpful to me as a current student and future career woman. There was not much participation from the general audience, and I can understand because this was the first, but I hope the audience grows in future programs because this is a very beneficial platform for us Sierra Leoneans in all works of life. I can't document all questions and answers during the Hangout, I'll try my best to share some that stood out to me. After introductions and biographies were done, the Career Mentors were asked what was their reason for their career choice and what they love about it. Kha-Benneh Bangura stated that he sees his profession as an IT Specialist more of a hobby rather than a job, and Mohamed Dumbuya mentioned that he wanted a career in which he can get to interact with people. When asked what they think is an important characteristic to be successful in a career, Kha-Benneh stated that he is grateful for the disciple he received while he was in the military; Kevin Thomas stated that it's important "fכ gε ajo" ("to be available and helpful" in English); Mohamed Dumbuya emphasized that it's important to be persistent, make efforts to prove people wrong, and to go above and beyond in one's endeavors.

Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson

During the Hangout, I mentioned the importance of a medium such as this that SLEN has created. I also thought it was interesting that majority of the Career Mentors were in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) fields, and as a current mining and minerals engineering student, I could relate to a lot of the situations they have been presented with in their various career paths. When asked what challenges they have encountered career-wise, Mohamed Dumbuya stated that he had to work on his presentation, image, and learn how to communicate professionally and separate that from his personal language; Kevin Thomas mentioned that he had difficulty getting his foot in the job due to the fact that he constantly applied for jobs but never got them due to their need for someone with experience, he emphasized on the need to find ways around obstacles; Kha-Benneh spoke fondly of his decision to be mentored and that having a mentor in the military helped him tremendously in being successful.

Miss Sierra Leone USA 2012-2014 Ruby B. Johnson

My question to the panel of Career Mentors was how they deal with being the only underrepresented individual in their fields; that was question was followed by some of them stating that they are sometimes the only Black or African in their occupation. In a field such as Mining Engineering, a field that is predominant of white men, I shared that there have been several instances whereby I am the only Black, African and/or Woman; in situations such as these, I sometimes feel the need or to get to the extent of saying, pressured, to be perfect because I am not there as myself but also a representation of Africans/Blacks/Women. In response, Kevin Thomas mentioned that it's okay to play to your advantage, enjoy the opportunities that comes with it, and always remember to be inquisitive and ask lots of questions because there really is no such thing as "stupid question;" Mohamed Dumbuya emphasized that I should not feel the need to carry such burden and have those thoughts, remember that I'm representing myself (Ruby) and doing that can carry the message of positively representing a group (Blacks, Africans, or women); Kha-Benneh Bangura mentioned that I must however remember that I will have to work twice or three times as hard due to this reason, so I must always prepare myself; adding to the comments of the Career Mentors, Janice Williams mentioned that I should see it as a positive because it can help me attend prestigious events, get free stuff, and get invited to exclusive programs because I am representing my race and/or sex. When asked what people can do to foster mentoring in the Sierra Leonean community, Kha-Benneh stated that he usually pulls Sierra Leonean youths aside and lets them know about their talents and tells them the importance of pursuing their dreams and making use of opportunities; Kevin Thomas stressed on the importance of members in the Salone community to be focused, have goals, set priorities, and remember that sacrifices may need to be made sometimes in order for one to achieve a goal; Mohamed Dumbuya added that it is important to set professional and personal goals, as well as long and short-term goals; adding to goal-setting, Janice Williams mentioned that it is very important to set specific goals and how they can be achieved.

Kisses from your Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson

During the conclusion of the Hangout, I emphasized on the importance of getting experience before entering the professional arena. I used my experiences at my co-op internship with Polydeck Screen Corporation last year and my internship at Koidu Limited (Part of Octea Mining) as examples. I talked about how they helped me realize the things I love and dislike about mining engineering, how to behave in a professional setting, holding oneself accountable for their work, as well as how it helped me get a better understanding of my future career field. In conclusion, Mohamed Dumbuya spoke about the importance of networking, getting involved with organizations related to one's major in college/university because they are helpful for potential job opportunities; Kevin Thomas mentioned that one must be very mindful of who they are surrounded by, filter your environment, and make it a duty to surrounded oneself with people that are positive and uplifting, and will be an inspiration, not a distraction. Overall, the Google Hangout with the SLEN Career Mentors was fantastic, I learned a lot, and had a great time with them. Hope you can be a part of the next one, mi fambul dεn!

Have a productive week, remember to love yourself, and do something nice for someone else!!!

Ruby B. Johnson,
Your Miss Sierra Leone USA.

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23 Facts: Get to know Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013

Hello world!!!

I hope you and yours are doing well. I'm doing fantastic, thanks be to God. Just for fun and an opportunity for you all to get to know me more, I wanted to share some interesting/weird things about me. I have loved serving your Miss Salone USA, but being Ruby is the best role I've had all my life. If you can relate to any of these, please share them with me in the comments section below, facebook, or twitter. The purpose is to create a dialogue, and to create a platform for interaction with you all. I chose to write 23 facts (in random order), because I turned 23 years of age this past Monday (September 9). Enjoy!!!

Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson
Always representing the Green, White, Blue

Here we go...

• When I'm very hungry and finally get to eat, I get excited to eat as if it's my first meal ever in life.
• Unintentionally, I tend to think of something really funny that happened in the past when I'm in very serious situations and start twitching in order to suppress the laughter.
• When I'm nervous and don't know what to do, I start laughing even though nothing is funny, and my laughter annoys the person angry at me because they think I'm not remorseful.
• I can guess what the words are going to be when listening to a song that I've never heard before.
• I don't know all the lyrics to most of my favorite songs, so I always fake through the words when it's playing. As said in krio, "a kin chamכt."
• I subconsciously pop/crack knuckles and toes; when told to stop (usually by my mom), I get tempted to do it some more.
• When participating in an activity that I'm not allowed to make any movements, that's when my nose, ears and other random places of my body start itching.
• When holding something in powdered form, I suddenly get the feeling to sneeze.
• When someone tells me of a bad habit that I have, I can no longer behave the same way anymore because I become so self-conscious about it.
• When I watch certain shows on television, I feel embarrassed to tell some people because the shows are just so pointless.
• I can stay home and watch Lifetime Movie Network (LMN) all day and be a couch potato.
• When watching something very interesting on television and get sent to do errands around the house, I tend to turn on the televisions in every location I'm sent so I don't miss anything on the show. Of course I'm sprinting around the house like Usain Bolt while at it too.
• When I'm watching my favorite shows, I get annoyed with too many and too little commercials; less commercials mean no time for a drink/food/pee break.
• When watching a foreign movie without subtitles, I start assuming what they're talking about because of one English word that I may have heard.
• I subconsciously talk to myself when I'm alone but never happens when in the midst of others; I also love to talk in third person about myself. That's Ruby for ya!
• When I'm praying and get interrupted by someone who didn't know I was, I start all over again and tell God that I'm sorry for losing connection (as if I'm on the phone).
• I'm constantly appalled at how some teenagers (especially in the West) get angry and rebellious for no reason and society justifies their anger just because "they're teenagers" and tolerate it.
• I became very aware about what I put online after witnessing all the embarrassing things and secrets that were revealed about the candidates from online research in the 2008 and 2012 U.S. presidential elections. I don't want anyone digging up "dirt" on me during my future endeavors.
• I refer to children I'm fond of as "my babies." I've got more than 30 babies living in Sierra Leone and the USA.
• Due to the fact that I started living in the USA 10 years ago, I frequently use the excuse that "I'm foreign" when I don't understand some American jokes or facts just so I won't look clueless (sometimes I really do not understand).
• I actively use my face, and make a lot of weird expressions on my face when talking.
• I talk with my hands, A LOT! Don't believe me, watch my interviews on youtube.
• I tend to show favoritism towards certain things; so if you want to win my heart, you must like/talk about things such as: Salone (Sierra Leone in general), girls' and women's empowerment, red (the color), Africa, Raven Symone, autism awareness, little Black girls with natural hair, Rani Mukherji, mining, God, Whitney Houston, feminism, STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) fields, Michael Jackson, and dance (specifically Salone/African & bellydance).

Hope you enjoyed my facts. Have a fantastic weekend!!!

Miss Sierra Leone USA 2012-2014 Ruby B. Johnson

Ruby B. Johnson,

Your Miss Sierra Leone USA.

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Where in the world is Miss Sierra Leone USA Ruby B. Johnson???

Hello world!!!

Hope you and yours are doing well. I've been doing fantastic, and grateful to the Almighty for all the blessings and lessons. So...where in the world is your Miss Salone USA??? Well, she's been living and working in Sierra Leone!!! I am currently doing an internship with Koidu Limited (part of Octea Mining), working in Koidu, Kono. Read more about my internship in this news article that was published couple weeks ago.

Due to my busy schedule with this internship, I am currently unable to actively blog. However, I've been trying my best in updating everyone about my time in Sierra Leone on my facebook page. I've been taking pictures showcasing the beauty of Sierra Leone's landscape, culture, and her people; there's a story for every picture that I post, so check them out on the page. As Miss Sierra Leone USA, promoting tourism and showcasing the greatness of Salone is part of my job description. Therefore, I encourage you to Like the page and keep up with your Miss Salone USA while she's in Salone. Here are some pictures below of my time so far:

Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson with new friends at Kroo Town Road Market in Freetown

Vendor and her beautiful setup at Kroo Town Road Market in Freetown, Sierra Leone

Kroo Town Road Market in Freetown, Sierra Leone

Mr. Amadu Bah, Butcher at Kroo Town Road Market in Freetown, Sierra Leone

Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson at Lakka Beach

Little Mr. Sierra Leone Ralph and Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson

Salone Cuisine: Kasada bred, fray fish, en grevi (cassave bread, fried fish, and gravy)

Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson eating kasada bred in Waterloo

Beauties of Sierra Leone: Rokel River under Rogbere Bridge

Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson in Makeni, Bombali District, Sierra Leone

Ruby B. Johnson - Mining & Minerals Engineer, and Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014

Beauties of Sierra Leone: Mountain View of Five Mile

Fambul den, this is Salone!!!

Ruby B. Johnson,
Your Miss Sierra Leone USA.

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Miss Sierra Leone USA Attends 2013 Yengema Descendants Association Fundraiser

Hello world!!!

Hope you and yours are doing well. I've been busy and happy, thanks to the Almighty. This past Friday, I attended the inaugural Annual Fundraising Dance by the Yengema Town Descendants Association - USA. According to the President of YDA-USA, Alhaji Sheku Kakay, the purpose of this event was to raise funds that will be used to "support children of Yengema" in getting better education. Besides raising funds for such a great cause, the event was full of laughs, food, and dancing; I was warmly welcomed by the YDA-USA members and humbled by the love they showed me; thank you  YDA-USA for the VIP treatment you gave to your Miss Salone!

Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson

Alhaji Sheku Kakay (President of Yengema Town Descendants Association - USA)
and Miss Sierra Leone USA 2012-2014 Ruby B. Johnson

Fact: Yengema is a town in Kono District in the Eastern Province of Sierra Leone. The major industry in and around Yengema is diamond mining. The town is home to Yengema Airport, the main airport serving Kono District. During the civil war (1991-2002) in Sierra Leone, Yengema was heavily destroyed and constantly fought over due to the rich diamond reserves in the town. This forced many of the residents to flee. Yengema has several primary schools and the town is home to the Yengema Secondary School (widely known as 'YSS'), which is one of the most widely known secondary schools in Sierra Leone.

Left-Right:
YDA-USA member, Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson,
Ms. Nyama Deen (YDA-USA member & Event MC), and Mr. Deen (YDA-USA member)

Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson and
Miss Joanna Arku (Designer and Fashion Expert)

The former civil war in Sierra Leone and its effects in Yengema Town is the primary reason this event was held. Primary and secondary schools were destabilized during this time, and the effects are still visible in the community. Being that my platform as Miss Sierra Leone USA is Advocating for SHERO and one of the pillars is Education, I found this event to be very relevant. During the event, Ms. Nyama Deen recognized me (one of the best introductions I've ever heard - thank you Ms. Deen), and I had an opportunity to speak to the crowd about my platforms (Advocating for SHERO, Advocating for the recruitment and retention of girls/women in STEM fields), the importance of education, my recent Salone Homecoming Trip, importance of culture, my experience in mining and minerals engineering, and many more.

Beautiful Sierra Leonean women in elegant afrikanas on the dance floor!

The dance floor!

Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson and
Mrs. Mariatu Kakay (Wife of YDA-USA President)

The YDA-USA Annual Fundraiser was a great time to celebrate the culture and lives of the people of Yengema Town, and Sierra Leone heritage. Although I am unsure of the total amount that was raised at the end of the event, I am happy to say that there were exorbitant amount of monetary donations made throughout the night by individuals and other ethnic group organizations.


Ruby B. Johnson,
Your Miss Sierra Leone USA.

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Miss Sierra Leone USA Speaks With Paint Branch High Students About STEM Fields

Hello world!!!

Hope you and yours are doing well. I'm doing fantastic, thanks be to God. On June 6th, I visited Paint Branch High School and spoke with students in a "Women in Engineering" seminar. My robotics club mentor (Mr. Raymond Jenkins) in high school, who now teaches at Paint Branch, invited me to speak with the women students that have interest in engineering careers in the future. Being that my platform is advocating for the recruitment and retention of girls/women in STEM (Science. Technology. Engineering. Mathematics) fields, this seminar was very important and relevant to me.

Mr. Raymond Jenkins (Paint Branch Teacher) introducing
Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson

Thank you for the sign, Mr. Jenkins

I had a wonderful time talking with the ladies and some guys that attended about my path to mining and minerals engineering and coursework at Virginia Tech. I talked about: my career goals as a young girl; my developed interest in STEM-related courses and activities in high school; my experience as a member of robotics club and going to robotics competitions; my experiences as a woman in a field that predominantly consists of men; racism and sexism in STEM fields; what it means to be a Sierra Leonean/African woman in a non-conventional field; my STEM-related activities at Virginia Tech; my co-op internship experience last year; getting college scholarships and grants; the importance of doing internships and co-operative education (co-op) internships; and many more. I answered the many questions the students had about engineering professions, as well as my life as Miss Sierra Leone USA. 

Paint Branch High students

Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson and students of Paint Branch High

Some of the students told me that they were of Nigerian, Ghanaian, Jamaican ancestry, and felt empowered that a Brown-skinned woman like me was in this position, and could relate to me in many ways. I spoke to the students about my platform as Miss Sierra Leone USA, which is Advocating for SHERO, and the importance of education (a pillar in my platform). Some of the girls loved the fact that I was also Miss Sierra Leone USA because they explained that they are girlie girls but also have interest in STEM fields and always thought that those two passions cannot be combined. I made emphasis to the girls that it is possible to be a girl and love STEM-related activities. It's okay to be a woman and get dirty, use big tools, operate grand machinery, perform scientific experiments, and many more. The students loved that I have a variety of interests that are not connected but I do it all.

Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson

Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013 speaks with Paint Branch High School girls about STEM fields

I shared my story of wanting to be a lawyer as a young girl, but changed my mind in 9th grade in high school. One of the girls mentioned to me that she can relate to me, and that she's always wanted to be a lawyer but is now considering the option of becoming an engineer. I told her that the way she feels is perfectly normal, and let her follow her heart. Also, I told her that since I was in her predicament few years ago, I was advised by one of my mentors/teachers in high school who told me I could also go to law school after getting my engineering degree and practice patent law or be a lawyer for engineers. After talking with her further, I could tell she was more at peace with her situation and I know she will make a great decision for her bright future. While I was in high school, I noticed that some career services staff intentionally do not talk about STEM majors in college/university to the girl students, so I let them know that they should ask about those as well, and let them know that they have interest in those.

Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013 speaks with girl students interested in STEM fields

Paint Branch High School students interested in STEM fields

Since Paint Branch also has a robotics club, I told the students that I highly recommend that they join it. Thanks to the robotics club at my former high school, I got to learn how to use various machines (band saw, drill, etc.), practice teamwork, and learn about various things related to the technology and engineering world. I also recommended some courses that they can take while in high school that can be of benefit to them, such as physics, algebra, calculus, foundations of engineering, geometry, etc. A student shared her concern that she feels it is too late to get into courses like this since she was on a different path, and has a year more to graduate from high school. I told her that she's still young and should never feel that it's too late; I explained to her that she should discuss with her Academic Advisor and see what they can do to accommodate any of these classes in her next schedule. I shared my story to her of switching my major very late while in college, but my choice of getting into the mining engineering department is one of the best decisions I've made in life, and I have no regrets about having a later graduation date.

Paint Branch High School students

Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013 Speaks with girl students interested in STEM fields

The girls in this photo below stayed after the seminar was over to ask more questions. They were excused by Mr. Jenkins to stay back, and I'm happy I was able to answer their questions. I gave the students my contact information so that they contact me for further information and questions they may have. I am very thankful for my awesome mentor, Mr. Jenkins for creating this seminar and giving me a platform to reach out to these amazing and brilliant ladies and guys. Overall, I had a great time with the students, and I wish them excellence and nothing less for the future.

Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 and students of Paint Branch High School

Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 and students of Paint Branch High School

Ruby B. Johnson,

Your Miss Sierra Leone USA.

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