EMPOWERED WOMEN, EMPOWER WOMEN!

Empowered Women Empower Women is a beautiful sentiment that highlights the importance of supporting and uplifting one another. When women come together, share their strength, knowledge, and encouragement, they create a powerful force for positive change. Whether it’s in the workplace, community, or personal relationships, empowering each other leads to progress and resilience.

So, let’s celebrate the achievements of women, amplify their voices, and continue to build a world where all women can thrive!

Please Join us as we amplify the voice of one of our member’s!

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Empowered Women Empower Women

by

Donna Sherrer-Gantt

Empowered Women Empower Women means to make someone stronger and more confident; especially in controlling their life and claiming their rights. The only person on earth that needs empowering more than Black women is the Black child. I believe that if we empower the Black woman, we in turn empower the Black child.      

The late, great Malcolm X once stated “The most disrespected person in America is the Black woman. The most neglected person in America is the Black woman.”  Black women have faced discrimination and adversity from other races, and their own race due to the intersection of race and gender. Although this is the reality for Black women, we still manage to be one of the most educated demographics. Black women make up two-thirds of the Black college undergraduates. Between 2002 and 2008 the number of businesses owned by Black women rose by 19%, generating $29 billion in sales nationwide. This leap to leadership was twice as fast as all other firms.

There are studies of the lived experiences in the workplace of Black Women. Studies conclude that Black women are independent, competent, and demanding of respect which are all classic leadership traits. Black women lead with passion and have a strong grounding in their faith. Black women, albeit adversity, are making a difference in the lives of children and making organizations they lead better. Increasingly National Black Women organizations such as Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated and When Black Women Gather (both of which I am a member of) provide Black women with the support structure needed to support one another, collaborate, empower self, and empower one another. This allows us to take our control back, to be visible when others desire invisibility, we are successful when others fail through oppression. We must continue to lift as we climb.

I read an article written by Katherine Phillips: Black Women are Succeeding Rapidly. It inspired and reminded me of our ZETA principles of scholarship, service, sisterly love, and finer womanhood during Black History Month and as we look at the precepts that “elitism and socializing had overshadowed the real mission of sororities-to address and correct the problems of society, particularly, those plaguing the African American community.” Empowered Women Empower Women.

EOZ Member Spotlight

It's only so often that we have the opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments and achievements of the people we care about. On October 6, 2023, one of our own will be celebrated as a Community Awards Achievement Honoree presented by the Destined for Greatness Outreach Youth Center, Inc. I caught up with our fellow EOZ Member to ask a few questions and to get her take on how it feels to win such a prestigious award?

Question: Tell us a little about who Sebrina Stokes is and what inspires you?

Answer: I am a person who believes that I was created to worship God and help others. My parents were my inspiration and they instilled in me to always be kind to others and treat people with respect.

Question: Where were you, and what were you doing when you found out you had received this award, and what was your first thought?

Answer: "I was at home checking my personal emails after making a few phone calls to parents. A little disappointed with a couple of my students' negative behavior. I saw that the email was from DFG. I clicked on the email, read it and read it again. My first thought was "Wow!" this is AWESOME! I was extremely excited and begin to share the great news right away with my family and friends."

Question: In your own words, what does this award mean to you?

Answer: "This award means that my works are not in vain. Even when I think things are going unnoticed, someone is always watching. It means that my small contributions matter. It means that the time I've put in in the community makes a difference. It means sacrifice, hard work, persistence and perseverance".

Beautiful and Poignant Words from a Finer Woman. Thank you for your honesty and transparency. Well to our EOZ member and sister, we see you and we love you. We celebrate with you and wish you many more awards and celebratory opportunities.

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The Angel We Knew!

Have you ever just sat and thought about the people that are no longer here? Some of us think about those no longer here daily. Focusing heavily on the impact they had on us and how our lives were affected by their presence. Most of us know death is a natural and inevitable part of life. It is the permanent cessation of all biological functions that sustain a living organism. While death is often associated with sadness and grief, it is also a reminder of the infinite nature of our existence. Throughout history and across different cultures, death has been a subject of contemplation, fear, and fascination. It has been explored in various religious, philosophical, and artistic contexts, with different beliefs and interpretations surrounding the nature of death and its implications.

Often, death serves as a catalyst for reflection and a reminder to live life to its fullest. It prompts us to appreciate the present, cherish our relationships, and pursue our passions. The inevitability of death motivates us to make the most of our time and prioritize what truly matters.

While the concept of death may evoke different emotions and beliefs, it remains a universal human experience. It is a topic that invites introspection, contemplation, and a deeper understanding.

While in introspection we begin to understand how privileged we were to know those we loss, the role they played, and the lessons we (l)earned. When you really think about it, the ones we loss were angels on earth. Most people spend a lifetime looking for a heavenly sign or angels, but I believe ANGELS roam among us, and they are one of the heavenly signs hidden in plain sight. Although, we cannot identify them by sight, only by their earthly interactions and contributions. They can come in many forms such as, family, friend, or even a coworker. This time she came in the form of a mother, grandmother, co-worker, friend, Sister, and Finer Woman. To have met Mrs. Margaret Tribble was more than a privilege and to have known her was more than a blessing. She was honest, transparent, and welcoming. She always spoke her mind which is a key attribute for an advocate. Mrs. Margaret Tribble was employed in 2002 with VISTAS. VISTAS provides advocacy, job training, assistive technology, and other resources for the functionally impaired. Prior to that she retired from a 30-year career in Elementary Education. She attended Benedict College and received a B.S. She went on to obtain a master's in education from the University of Georgia. She was also a Golden Life Member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. She was one of the five charter members of the Eta Omega Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority. Inc, which was charter on March 15, 1975, in Athens, Georgia. She spent her life in service and in contribution in assisting those in need. She never shied away from a commitment or a need. Her life was an impactful one of optimism and compassion. That makes her an angel hidden in plain sight, which in my book makes her "The Angel We Knew!"

In Remembrance of Our Dear Sister

The Angel We Knew!

Donation - Lay Park

Award

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