Winners of the Impact Business Plan Competition with me and (far right ) WORC President Lynne Cutler

“Sisters are Doin’ It for Themselves” is a classic Aretha Franklin song and it might have been the perfect soundtrack for last night's Celebration of Women's Opportunities Resource Center. I was honored with this year’s Community Impact Award and gracefully introduced by last year’s winner the fabulous Jeri Lynne Johnson, Founder and Conductor of the Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra. Also announced were the winners of WORC's Impact Business Plan Competition.

As women and people of color we’ve come a very long way and have accomplished much.  And yet when we take an aerial view of the road we’ve traveled – we see that we have only advanced a relatively few steps in a journey of a thousand steps. Despite the increased number of women-run businesses we still fall behind our male counterparts in revenues, numbers of employees and funding.  Which exactly why WORC is such a critical organization. Headed by Lynne Cutler, its mission is to promote social and economic self-sufficiency primarily for economically disadvantaged women and their families. WORC provides entrepreneurial training, individual business assistance, incentive savings programs, and access to business and financial resources.

I’ve come to realize it will take more than laws to create progress in gender and racial equality – although they are important.  It takes economic justice to truly push the needle.  We need women achieving financial independence through strategies like WORC’s Savings incentive program which matches dollars saved so people can put a down payment on a home or provide equity in a business to get a micro loan.

When we talk about economic justice – it’s the freedom for a woman to have the financial resources to leave an abusive relationship or to walk away from a relationship that puts her at risk for HIV. Economic justice is about women starting their own businesses with the help of organizations like WORC that can provide seed money and the support they need to succeed so they in turn can create jobs and a stronger economy.

Last night I met the many women who were finalists for WORC’s Business Plan competition.  Everyone had a story to tell.  Whether it was the women who lost her job but is reinventing herself as a jewelry and clothing maker or the woman who believed ex-offenders should be given a second chance and started a landscaping service that does exactly that.  One woman pulled herself out of a violent neighborhood and started her own event planning business.  I was inspired to commit to telling as many of these stories as I can because behind every business there’s a story worth knowing. 

For more information about WORC click here and for the interview I did with President Lynne Cutler click here. 

With Gilberto Gonzalez at Lutheran Settlement House 2013 Women of Courage Awards

When I was a little girl my father gave me a whole set of biographies and I would spend my afternoons and evenings with these big white bound books on my lap. I especially loved reading about women who made a difference in the world.  Inside one those books was the story of Jane Addams and I remember to this day the deep impression her story made on me. Addams founded the Settlement movement which in the early 20th century helped poor immigrants.  Lutheran Settlement House in Philadelphia is a legacy of that movement. Established in 1902, this community-based organization is committed to serving vulnerable children, adults, and families living in Philadelphia. Over the past century, the programs and services offered by LSH have changed in response to the evolving needs of the community. However, the core mission of Lutheran Settlement House — "to empower individuals, families, and communities to achieve and maintain self-sufficiency through an integrated program of social, educational, and advocacy services"
Today I was honored to be one of the recipients of the 2013 Women of Courage Awards emceed by my wonderful friend Lu Ann Cahn from NBC 10.  I was in wonderful company with recipients like:

Theresa Kellenbenz who Working with LSH,  earned her GED in spite of many struggles .
Theresa Venhaus, has participated in LSH’s programs for most of her life. Today, she assists other seniors with her volunteer work and her generous spirit.

Regina Hightower, who had previously been through the shelter system twice with her children.  With the help of Jane Addams Place, she now has a stable home for her children.

So many amazing women.  For a full list of awardees and their bios click here.

Jane Addams fought for the rights of women and children and sought  world peace - eventually founding the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom and was a founding member of the American civil liberties union.  She was the first American womann to receive the Nobel peace prize in 1931.   Lutheran Settlement House is the perfect expression of Jane Addams vision.  "To empower individuals, families, and communities to achieve and maintain self-sufficiency through an integrated program of social, educational, and advocacy services.”  The women who are honored today give life to her legacy.  To find out more click here.

Let's face it.  Off year elections just aren't very sexy.  We're not voting for a Presidential Nominee, Governor or Mayor and the District Attorney is running unopposed.  Yet elected positions that
could have an immediate and direct impact on your life are being decided on Tuesday May 21st.  Controller's race aside - there are critical decisions to be made about who will be banging the gavel for Common Pleas, Municipal and Traffic Courts.  If you're like a lot of folks you probably don’t know a whole lot about the candidates.  You’re not alone and many voters make their selections ...well let’s face it – if there was a dart board in the voting booth plenty of voters would be using that method for making their decisions. 

What you should be looking at is whether the candidate is qualified.  The Philadelphia Bar Association has made life easier for us with a Judicial Commission that looks at an extensive list of criteria and interviews each candidate who participates.  The Commission is nonpartisan.  In the end they provide us with with a list of Recommended and Not Recommended for Common Pleas and Municipal Court.  You're on your own for Traffic Court however - the Commission doesn’t rate those candidates.  Check out my interview with Philadelphia Bar Association Chancellor Kathleen Wilkinson and Judicial Commission Chair Teresa Sachs here on the importance of these elections and how they rate Judges.  Click here and print out a copy of their judicial recommendations.   And don't forget to VOTE!!

Philadelphia Bar Association Chancellor Kathleen Wilkinson and Judicial Commission Chair Teresa Sachs

Starting this month we're going to support the many wonderful charities and non-profit organizations with a digital town hall streamed live from our websites.  This month we're focusing on Lupus with a hour that will focus on the disease on Wednesday May 15th from 1-2 pm.  It'll be streamed live on www.wdasfm.com, www.wdasam.com and www.power99.com keyword "community." Guest include  Annette Myarick  - Chief Executive Offices of Lupus Foundation of American Philadelphia – Tri State, Regina Spencer – Lupus Advocate and volunteer living with Lupus, Dr. Anapama Shahane, Assistant Professor, Division of Rheumatology University of Pennsylvania.  Also joining the discussion are Bryant M. Green Always Best Care Senior Services – an organization that works with Lupus patients, Jonathan Marks – National Development Director Alliance for Lupus Research and Diomaris Gonzales – Assistant Director, Research Administration for Alliance for Lupus Research.

 Lupus is a chronic, autoimmune disease that can damage any part of the body (skin, joints and/or organs inside the body).

Lupus is also a disease of flares (the symptoms worsen and you feel ill) and remissions (the symptoms improve and you feel better). Lupus can be mild or serious but should always be treated by a doctor. It can truly impact the life of someone living with Lupus.  Here are just some of the symptoms:

• extreme fatigue (tiredness)
• headaches
• painful or swollen joints
• fever
• anemia (caused by low numbers of red blood cells or hemoglobin, or low total blood volume)
• swelling (edema) in feet, legs, or around eyes
• Pain in the chest on deep breathing (pleurisy)
• Butterfly-shaped rash across the cheeks and nose
• Sun- or light-sensitivity (photosensitivity)
• Hair loss
• Blood-clotting problems
• Fingers turning white and/or blue in the cold (Raynaud’s phenomenon)
• Ulcers in mouth or nose

Because the symptoms mimic many other conditions - it's often misdiagnosed but with good medical care, most people with lupus can lead a full life.

In the United States alone it is believed that at least 1.5 million people -- women, men, teens, and children -- have lupus. More than 16,000 new cases are reported across the country each year.

• Lupus strikes mostly women of childbearing age (15-44). However, men, children and teenagers develop lupus, too.
• Women of color are 2-3 times more likely to develop lupus.
• People of all races and ethnic groups can develop lupus.

Please join us for this important conversation. 

I met four beautiful women who demonstrated that you can dress stylishly and modestly.  Saniyyah Bilal, Ameerah Khabir, Aliyah Ali and Lubna Muhammad came to the studio to talk about the upcoming 15th Annual Sister's Recognition Luncheon and Fashion Show on Saturday May 11th at the Hilton on City Ave.  

the event is one of the longest running Islamically based fashion shows in the United States and will feature designers for modest closets of Muslim women and women of all kinds who just want to look good.  We had a great conversation that dispelled a lot of stereotype surrounding the clothing worn by Muslim women.  Check out the interview by clicking here  and find about more about the luncheon and United Muslim Masjid by clicking here.