March 3, 2010: Women of Moxie Awards

MOXIE: The ability to face difficulty with spirit and courage;verve, fortitude, determination. The women honored at this ceremony and reception were from all walks of life, each with her own story of hark work and triumph. They each embodied the idea of MOXIE! The positive energy was palpable in the Conversation Room of City Hall as Councilwomen Blondell Reynolds Brown (pictured) offered the biographies of each of the honorees. It was surreal to be in the company of members of the Philadelphia City Council, Pennsylvania State delgates, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, judges, television/radio personalities, corporate CEOs and countless other incredible rising stars! I feel fortunate to have received a personal invitation to attend this awesome celebration of excellence--a celebration of MOXIE!


Esteemed Awardees:

Autumn Adkins, President of Girard College (Pictured)

Katherine Gajewski, Director, Mayor's Office of Sustainability

Anika Hawkins , producer, 6abc

Julie Hawkins, VP Public Policy, Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance
Melanie Hidalgo-Britt, Manager PerformRx (Pictured)

Mellanie Kai Lassiter, Corporate Contributions Manager, PECO

MoShay LaRen, Asst. Program Director, Host Radio One (pictured)

Debonair Oaes Primus, Professor, St. Joseph's University

Kimberly Reed, Founder or Reed Development Group, LLC

Aditi Roy, News Anchor, NBC10
Alexandra Sacavage, Esq., Attorney

Alisesha Vaughn, Community/Public Relations, Councilwomen Brown

Lauren Vidas, Esq., Asst Director of Finance, Coordinator External/Public Engagement Mayor's Office

March 1, 2010: Valerie Goes to City Hall (Again)

I had the distinct pleasure of meeting with the office of Councilman Curtis Jones, Jr. --It is always great to finally be able to put a name with a face! During my 3 hour long meeting we discussed the importance of community involvement and education, how to improve the compliance for the 2010 Census, Councilman Jones' future initiaitves for his district and we even networked resources to show our support for families devastated by the earthquake in Haiti. As you can see they managed to put me to work while I was there :-) I had enjoyed speaking openly with the councilman's staff and left feeling confirmed in God's call on my life. While at City Hall, I met with the office of Councilwoman B. Reynolds Brown, the only female African American At-Large delegate, and the office of Maria Quinones-Sanchez, the only Latina member of City Council!! WOW--and all in one afternoon!

In His service....

February 23, 2010: African American Chamber of Commerce--The Rebirth!

I had the distinct pleasure of being on hand for the official "Rebirth" of the Philadelphia African American Chamber of Commerce! On hand for the celebration was the newly appointed chairman of the board Sulaiman Rahman, as well as, the other members of his energetic board. Mayor Nutter even joined the celebration by offering his words of support and encouragement for the mission of the AACC. I was able to meet incredible professionals and was so busy networking that I forgot to take photos :-( Other people were snapping shots so I am sure photos are floating around somewhere--stay tuned!


In His service...

February 13, 2010 (Evening): The Vagina Monologues

The Vagina Monologue is a powerful dialogue about the devastation caused by rape, incest, battery, genital mutilation and sexual slavery. It is a movement that seeks to educate and empower its listeners through creative references to a certain part of the female anatomy....

As I watched each monologue, I began to notice that I was not only entertained, but educated about secret lives and atrocities I had once been unaware of. If ever given the opportunity to attend this show--I highly recommend it!

**Kudos to Jackie Limberakis, Hayley Ryan, Marsha Wesley Coleman, Lauren Viscount, Melissa Bertha, Jennifer Patterson, Debra Collier, Rachel Hoke, Lauren McCourt, Erin Feinstein, Marie DiMattia, Lisa O'Brien, Courtney Hudson, Marysa Mumphrey, Jamie Via and Kerry-Anne Perkins!!**

February 13, 2010 (Day): The Franklin Institute and Women's Heart Health Awareness

The Pennsylvania Mainline Health Partners Joined the awarenss campaign for Women and Heart Disease! Philadelphia's famed Franklin Institute served as the venue for families to meet with health professionals and receive resources on how to live the heart healthiest life possible. Intertwined with all of the professional resources, participants were able to "Go Vogue" for heart health by posing for fun photographs in boas, glasses, hats, wigs and even lights! Courageous women had the opportunity to share their personal battles with Heart diease, ranging from personal survival stories to experiences with loved ones. I was even able to share my personal connection to heart disease, having lost my grandmother to the disease.

The days festivities culminated with my helping to crown the 2010 "Queen of Hearts". The Queen of Hearts is selected from a group of women who have each been impacted by heart disease in one way or another. After crowning the "Queen" I went on a walking tour through a gigantic replica of the human heart--neat-o!!

In His service...

January 29-31, 2010: LadyDiva Conference produced by Shayna Rudd, Miss Black USA 2009!

"The mission of the LadyDiva Corp is to Cultivate, encourage and Empower young women from low- income areas to relentlessly pursue their God-given purpose in oeder the break the cycles of negativity that surrounds them". This goal was exemplified in every aspect of this seminar series! On each of the three days the young ladies and mentors were ministered to by women from all walks of life, each with a powerful testimony of strength and courage. It was imperative that the young ladies felt "safe and comfortable" in this female only environment and no topic was deemed as off-limits. We discussed self-esteem, education, abuse and sisterhood during this incredible GIRL-POWERED event. One of the most poignant parts of the series was the one time in which males were permitted to particpate. It was an all-male panel ranging in ages from 15-70s, that volunteered to give a "man's perspective" in answering questions from the young ladies, many of whom did not have postive male figures in their lives. The end of the second day culminated in the "Pearl Ceremony" during which time mentors placed a string of pearls around each young woman's neck and reminded her to not "cast her pearls among swine" (Matt 7:6) as she continues through her life's journey. At the following Sunday service, the new, transformed young women were presented to the church congregation in a moving display of unity.

This seminar was established to help grow girls into young women of God, but I can comfortably speak for everyone when I say that ALL of our lives were changed and we ALL left stronger women of God!

February 8, 2010: Black History Month Celebration

"Remembering our Legacy and Celebrating Humanity: Stepping Outside of the Box to make a Change" I had the pleasure of being a part of the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine Black History Month Opening Ceremony! During the program we were greeted by PCOM CEO and President, Matthew Shure, PhD.,(pictured) and representatives from the Office of Student Affairs and the Student National Medical Association (pictured). One SNMA member, David Pierre shared the personal account of his family in Haiti during the devastating earthquake and its aftermath. It was a moving tribute to the strength and courage of our Haitian brothers and sisters, that exemplified the need for continued Haitian support. My keynote address focused on the importance of observing the contributions of African Americans in American and world history. When the foundations were set in 1926 by Dr. Carter Woodson, for what we now recognize as Black History Month, it was out of frustration about the incomplete recounts of Africans in American History. Woodson believe that "We should emphasize not Negro History, but the Negro in history." To rephrase it, rather than focusing on a few men significant in the advancement of African Americans we should focus onthe countless Black men and women who had contributed to the advancement of human civilization. Contrary to what is still all too often taught, African history in America did not begin with slavery! Let's accept the charge to educate ourselves and someone else on what it TRULY means to celebrate cultural diversity!

In His service....