The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
NAACP seeks to empower women with inspiration
The Elyria Unit of NAACP sought to empower women March 25 with a second annual Women of Passion in Purple March.
This year’s program, held at Jones Chapel A.M.E. Church at 343 17th Street in Elyria, featured speeches from seven women, each focusing on the theme of Inspiring Change through Empowerment.
According to Mona Atley, chair of the event, each of the women was given a letter that makes up the word empower and five minutes to speak about that letter.
“Each one of them has been assigned a letter in that word and they’re going to have some words that they ‘re going to speak to and bring encouragement,” she said.
Atley said the program, which is presented for women’s
history month, seeks to empower women.
“Our purpose is to empower our sisters to continue to press forward,” she said. “Don’t let things
that happen in life keep you down. And be encouraged.”
The seven speakers for the event were Angela Lee of the Community Foundation of Greater Lorain County,
Evangelist Bernita White of Porter’s Memorial Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, Ann Carstarphen of the Elyria Schools and JVS Boards,Idella White of Power 89.1 FM, Sylvia Small, first lady of Second Baptist Church in Elyria, Evangelist Pamela Perkins of Genuine Diamonds in Christ Ministries and A New and Living Way Ministries and Magistrate Charlita Anderson White of the Lorain County Domestic Court.
Carstarphen was assigned the letter P. She used her time to push the attendees to use their power to make a change in the community.
“This is the year of the woman,” she said. “Women have the power to bring forth change. Our voting power creates truth.”
She also pushed the assembled to be proactive.
“Be proactive with assisting in voter’s registration
“Our purpose is to empower our sisters to continue to press forward. Don’t let things that happen in life keep you down. And be encouraged.”
— Mona Atley, event chair
drives,” Carstarphen said. “Be proactive in assisting at the schools. Be proactive in mentoring children and be proactive in your faith.”
Atley said she hoped the assembled would come away from the program feeling encouraged.
“They are going to walk away with whatever dream in their heart that they had, that they’ve been putting to the side or not thinking they could do it, but feeling encouraged and empowered to just take a chance and push that dream forward,” she said.
“Whatever it is that they thought they want to do, they can do it and they have people around here who can help encourage them.”