As we all know, history was made when Ketanji Brown Jackson became the first Black woman confirmed for a seat on the U.S. Supreme Court bench, where her unique skill set and qualifications will make a difference in the conversations among the justices. Last Friday, I had the great pleasure to meet and break bread with the honorees of this year’s upcoming 14th Annual Women Unite to Win Women’s Appreciation luncheon, hosted by the National Empowerment Group, Inc. and Team USA Mortgage (Brooklyn Park).
This year, WUTW is recognizing the following women for their contributions to empower our community. The honorees are selected by the community, be they in the fields of nonprofit, for-profit, community work, etc.:
Nekima Levy Armstrong (Activist, Civil Rights Attorney, Exec. Dir. of the Wayfinder Foundation)
Valerie Castile (Founder/CEO of the Philandro Castile Relief Foundation)
De’Monica Flye (D’Flye Consulting LLC)
Dorothy Barnes-Griswold (CEO/Exec. Dir. of the Minnesota COPE Program)
Angela Harrelson, RN (George Floyd’s aunt, civil rights leader, author, mental health care nurse)
Dr. Ella Gates Mahmoud (President/CEO of SEED, Inc.)
Marea Perry (President/Founder of Secrets2Truths/Pain2Power)
Kelly Robinson, RN (Former President of Black Nurses Rock Twin Cities)
Leslie E. Redmond, Esq./MBA (Founder of Don’t Complain Activate, Former President of Mpls. NAACP)
Eliza Wesley (“The Gate Keeper” of George Floyd Square)
JoAnn Hughes (President of Concerned Citizens for Justice)
During the evening, the honorees and I were treated to a lesson in line dancing by NEG’s own Alvena Richburg and J MOST, founder of the WUTW programs. As we ate and shared our stories among ourselves and the WUTW team, I felt a deep, abiding respect for the positive energy and the power in that space. In giving people their flowers while they are here, for all they have done according to their purpose, this year’s honorees richly deserve an abundance of flowers for the queens they are.
For an afternoon of empowering words and speakers, song, steppers, and appreciation, the luncheon will begin at 10:45 a.m. on Saturday, June 4 at
Hilton Hotel, Mpls/St. Paul Airport
Mall of America
Minnesota Valley Ballroom
3800 American Boulevard East
Bloomington, MN 55425
Please contact J. MOST at (612) 237-5118 regarding reservations and any questions. In the meantime, let’s show our support and celebrate with these amazing women!
W.D. Foster-Graham
W.D. Foster-Graham is a native son of Minneapolis, Minnesota. He received a B.A. in psychology from Luther College, and he was an original member of the multi-Grammy-Award-winning ensemble, Sounds of Blackness. He has also been recognized by the International Society of Poets as one of its “Best New Poets of 2003,” is a guest writer for journalist/author/entertainer Wyatt O’Brian Evans.
