{"id":3619,"date":"2022-01-13T17:45:27","date_gmt":"2022-01-13T17:45:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/?p=3619"},"modified":"2022-01-13T17:45:27","modified_gmt":"2022-01-13T17:45:27","slug":"women-celebrate-women-at-black-brown-women-rising-event","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/2022\/01\/13\/women-celebrate-women-at-black-brown-women-rising-event\/","title":{"rendered":"Women Celebrate Women at Black & Brown Women Rising Event"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Diana Patton and Rhonda Kimmons<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By Tricia Hall
\nSojourner\u2019s Truth Reporter<\/p>\n

Local advocate Diana Patton organized an in-person celebration to acknowledge Black and Brown women. The bash was held at the Toledo Museum of Art\u2019s Glass Pavilion on January 6 and was called, \u2018Black & Brown Women Rising.’<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s time to draw a line in the sand, we need to take care of our mental health as Black and Brown women. We need to stop hiding behind a mask and realize that we don\u2019t need to have it all together,\u201d shared Patton.<\/p>\n

The sold-out ticket event began with socially distance networking, wine and appetizers for attendees and foot-stomping musical selections by DJ Dave Kevin Adams.<\/p>\n

Rhonda Sewell, the Museum\u2019s director of Belonging and Community Engagement, kicked off the gathering by welcoming guests and Museum Director Adam Levine, also delivered remarks. Local 21-year-old artist Loveli received a standing ovation after sharing her new song called \u201848 hours\u2019 and Robert Edwards presented a poem called, \u2018Black Queens.\u2019 One of the event features was Rhonda Kimmons, the principal at Ella P. Stewart Academy for Girls, receiving the Black and Brown Women Rising award.<\/p>\n

\"\"\u201cLet\u2019s erase the stigma that surround Black and Brown women and mental health. Many people around the world, even our brothers, are seeking therapy to work through trauma. We all know that God can work it out, but therapy can help too,\u201d shared Sewell.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is your museum of art and studies cite that walking through the museum is a way to destress,\u201d shared Levine.<\/p>\n

Diana Patton, founder of Rise with Diana and the Rise Advocates Academy, shared words of encouragement with the audience. She opened by explaining how COVID, George Floyd\u2019s murder and social distancing connect to her diagnosis of depression.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had to get myself together. I suffered from anxiety but didn\u2019t know that it was called anxiety. I couldn\u2019t think or even function. When the doctor told me that my symptoms could be depression, I said no, not me. I have a book, an academy and social media followers. I didn\u2019t want to take the prescribed depression medication because of the stigma of mental health. That\u2019s why we\u2019re here today, we\u2019re not perfect and we need to stop hiding behind our masks,\u201d shared Patton.<\/p>\n

The event sponsors were Toledo Museum of Art, JumpStart, Diana Patton, Women of Toledo, and NAMI of Greater Toledo. Art graphics were designed by Israelle Nelson, the DJ was Dave Kevin Adams, an event video production was created by Creadio and the event photographer and videographer was Robert Cummerow. Event volunteers were Mary Brucker, Kyndra Gaines, Nina Border, Isabella Corder and Deborah Porter.<\/p>\n