Women make the world go ’round, and for Women’s History Month we’re giving it up to the female bosses on Long Island. We’re putting the spotlight on Vanessa Baird-Streeter.
Baird-Streeter is a graduated from the Academy of St. Joseph in Brentwood and attended Dartmouth College. She received her bachelor’s degree with a double major in economics and education. While in school, she founded the Ujima dance troupe and became a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. After graduating, she joined Goldman Sachs as a financial analyst.
She’s also went back to her dancing community-oriented roots in 1992 becoming the director for the Venettes Cultural Workshop. Her mother Mary Suarez Baird founded the organization in 1967. The Venettes now consists of: Dance Division, Charm Division, Voice Division, and Drum Division. The Venettes has classes at both the Town Hall Annex and the Parish Hall. The Venettes continue to perform and travel throughout the United States.
Streeter has tried to expand the scope the Venettes to include: more academic scholarships, scholarships for additional dance training of students and teachers, college counseling services, career development, leadership awareness, cultural awareness.
She envisions the Venettes continuing to grow. She would like to expand programs and hopefully obtain a building for the Venettes.
On top of everything else, she also serves as the assistant deputy county executive for Suffolk County.
