Women of the World 2016 Symposium

Sojourner’s Truth Staff

Several hundred women gathered at Start High School on Saturday, March 19, for the 2016 Women of the World (W.O.W.) Symposium to discuss the wellbeing and empowerment of women and adolescent girls, to experience presentation of dozens of women-owned business vendors and to celebrate the accomplishment of this year’s honorees – the SHEroes – who contribute to that wellbeing.

This fourth annual symposium was organized by a planning circle led by Chairmen CeCe Norwood and included Carolyn Wilson, Michelle Radtkin, Deb Stoll, Alcy Barakat, Jada Collins, Kelly Norwood, Ashley LaPlant, Nina Corder, Marjory Curry, Frances Collins, K. LaVerne Redden, Olivia Holden, Glyndale Mathews and Ronda Cobb.

The symposium, with a theme of “Celebrating Women: Past, Present & Future,” began appropriately enough with a tribute to this year’s honorees. Toledo Mayor Paula Hicks-Hudson served as the mistress of ceremonies and introduced the 2016 SHEroe recipients: Carla McGhee in the field of education; Stacy Turner for business, Susan McHugh for volunteerism, Irma Colbert for humanitarianism; Alicia Smith for community involvement and K. LaVerne Redden for political activism.

After the ceremony, breakout sessions were conducted. There were five groups of sessions during the morning: Financial Planning for Women by Ronda Cobb; How Internet, Radio and Podcasting Can Help Your Small Business by Amber Hawkins; Teen Dating Violence (for youth) by Danielle Cisterino-Hajdu; Real Women, Real Stories by Jean Schoen and Caring for Your Adolescent by Monica Berson.

After lunch and a a visit to the vendors marketplace, the next sessions were held: Entrepreurship by Olivia Holden; Build Your Future by Paula Fortini; Empower Yourself in 5 Easy Steps by Tammy Reveszy; My Story, My Way (for youth) by Marjory Curry; Drug Abuse Prevention (for youth) by Andrea Hill; Dance Lesson – the Hustle by Waverly Hawkins; Charge it Right by Michelle Gorsuch; The Golden Circle: Learn Your Way by Nina Corder; Maximize Success and Satisfaction by Monica Berson ; A Moment of Truth (for youth) by Marjory Curry and Finding Your Emotional self (for youth) by Crystal Harris.

“W.O.W. Toledo is a collaborative effort of women-owned businesses, individuals and women-focused organizations that share a common goal and interest: the wellbeing and empowerment of women and adolescent girls,” writes CeCe Norwood about the mission of the group. “We are women who know the importance of uplifting adolescent girls and other women in a society that does not always do so.”

Copyright © 2015 by [The Sojourner's Truth]. All rights reserved.
Revised: 08/16/18 14:12:42 -0700.

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