The precise origin of the symbol remains a mystery as no single hypothesis has been widely accepted. Over time, the ankh has come to symbolize life and immortality, the universe, power, male and female, and balance. The ankh can also represent zest, joy of life, and energy. It is important to note that the ankh is not a religious symbol, nor is YEMAYA a religious organization. 
YEMAYA is a New Jersey City University non-profit, non-religious organization under the auspices of the Black Administrators, Alumni, Faculty, Staff, and Students Organization (BAAFSSO) and supported by The Lee Hagan Africana Studies Center.
YEMAYA recognizes that women of African descent are women of vision, unified across our diversity and spirit. YEMAYA is committed in partnership to the respect for and celebration, evolution, promotion, and enforcement of our womanhood. Furthermore, it is a source of peer/professional support and information to develop leadership among women of African descent within the New Jersey City University community and elsewhere and to provide a voice for women of African descent who might not otherwise be heard.
Goals
- To provide support for women of African descent to foster self-esteem, visibility, self acceptance, and empowerment
- To promote love, honor, camaraderie, and integrity among women of African descent in our communities and in our society
- To encourage and nurture educational assistance through mentoring and scholarships for women of African descent
- To communicate expectations of and encourage the fulfillment of members graduating with a minimum cumulative grade point average of at least a 2.75
- To support retention and graduation of women of African descent
- To aid in fostering personal and professional enrichment
- To offer community-based outreach which encompasses networking opportunities, social and cultural events, and economic awareness for women of African descent
- To produce and provide an annual egalitarian retreat or gathering to affirm the existence of women of African descent through a spiritual, social, and educational milieu
In West African tradition, YEMAYA is associated with female mysteries. Like water, she represents both change and constancy bringing forth life, protecting it, and changing it as is necessary. Portrayed as a beautiful woman, she intervenes in women’s affairs.
YEMAYA also represents surrender. Surrender in this case doesn’t mean giving up, rather giving over, asking assistance so that she may do what she wants to do. Wholeness is nurtured as one realizes the way through certain situations is to surrender and open to something greater. YEMAYA nurtures, heals, touches, blesses, comforts, and makes whole that which is incomplete.
Invoke YEMAYA for blessings, compassion, wisdom, riches, inspiration, creativity, creation, fertility, female power, women’s wisdom, protection of home, good health, true beauty, washing away sorrow, revealing mysteries, and learning not to give your power away. Read YEMAYA's affirmation poem...
Calendar
This year's theme: CONTROLLING YOUR OWN DESTINY: BELIEVE & ACHIEVE
When you deeply desire to surround your life with positive energy, when you aspire to create something positive, when you wholly believe that you can do greater things, when you are prepared to work harder than you’ve ever worked before, and when you are willing to have what you desire and have the patience to wait as it all unfolds, then what you desire simply cannot fail to manifest.
All Yemaya student meetings take place in GSU129 from 3 p.m.-5 p.m. unless otherwise noted. The dates for Fall 2008 and Spring 2009 are as follows:
Sept. 24, 2008
October 8, 2008
October 22, 2008, 12 -2pm Rhonda Berry Tribute
November 5,2008
November 19,2008
December 3, 2008
January 28,2009
February 11,2009
February 25, 2009
March 25, 2009
April 8, 2009
April 22, 2009, Sistah Gathering 12-2pm
May 6, 2009
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RESOURCES
- Lee Hagan Africana Studies Center
- Black Administrators, Alumni, Faculty, Staff, and Students Organization
- Congressman Frank J. Guarini Library
- NJCU Counseling Center
- NJCU Health & Wellness Center
- NJCU Registrar
- NJCU Office of Academic Career Planning & Placement