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NANBPWC, Inc., Maumee Bay Club, Honors Seven Community Women
By Tricia Hall
Sojourner’s Truth Reporter
The women of yellow and red publicly recognized seven
community pioneer women on Saturday, April 16, 2016 at the
Radisson Hotel on Glendale Avenue. The luncheon also
celebrated the organization’s founding date and the seven
women who founded the organization in 1935. |
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All of the seven women honorees were surrounded by their
families and supporters, presented with flowers, escorted to
the front of the room and presented with a jewel which best
described their contributions.
“I was and am blessed,” said 2016 honoree Vallie
Bowman-English, Toledo clerk of court.
“When I have the opportunity, I pull youth aside and try to
encourage them. I say get a goal, keep it, and don’t give
up. I made mistakes, but I’m here because of God,”
Members of the Maumee Bay NANBPWC Inc. read various honors,
certificates, milestones, educational achievements and
personal information about each of the selected women. The
2016 honorees: Amelia Gibbon, Friendly Center executive
director; Patrice McClellan, PhD, Lourdes University
director of the Masters of Organizational Leadership
program; Yvonne Harper, Toledo City councilman for District
4; Bowman-English; Laura Lloyd-Jenkins, Lucas County
Commissioners administrator; Rhonda Sewell, Toledo Lucas
County Public Library manager of external and governmental
affairs; Linnie Willis, Lucas Metropolitan Housing Authority
executive director and Toledo Maytor Paula Hicks-Hudson.
“I started reading in high school, Woodward High School, and
focused on comprehension. I love encouraging our babies to
lift their heads and remain encouraged. I’m here because of
my mother, so I recognize her. She always told me I could
achieve my goals and to always be a lady,” said Harper.
The mission of the organization is to promote and protect
the interests of African-American business and professional
women; to serve as advisors for young people seeking to
enter business and the professions; to improve the quality
of life in our local and global communities, and to foster
good fellowship.
The organization offers various membership options: adult,
young adult, member-at-large, beta psi, youth and Mr. B&P,
international, and associate. The organization has two clubs
in Lucas County, Toledo Club organizes the annual Cotillion
and Maumee Bay Club organizes the annual black college tour.
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