{"id":11830,"date":"2024-04-18T15:31:14","date_gmt":"2024-04-18T15:31:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/?p=11830"},"modified":"2024-04-18T15:31:14","modified_gmt":"2024-04-18T15:31:14","slug":"a-local-business-and-professional-organization-honors-women","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/2024\/04\/18\/a-local-business-and-professional-organization-honors-women\/","title":{"rendered":"A Local Business and Professional Organization Honors Women"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Award recipients<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Tricia Hall<\/strong><\/em>
\nThe Truth Reporter<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

The Maumee Bay Club of National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women\u2019s Club (NANBPWC) held their annual program on Saturday, April 13, 2024 at Arthur Hills Golf Club in Ottawa Lake, Michigan. The occasion and 2024 theme, \u201cWomen Who Advocate for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion,\u201d celebrated Women\u2019s History Month and the organization\u2019s founders, awarded scholarships, included a featured speaker and acknowledged local women.<\/p>\n

Maumee Bay member Patricia Poston opened the program with a warm welcome and Crystal Taylor delivered heartfelt greetings. Program mistress of ceremonies Candice Harrison completed a special presentation, Birdena Martin presented history and occasion, Tonu Epperson and Patricia Snelling conducted Tribute to Founders and Jenai Hicklin delivered the innovation.<\/p>\n

Crystal Harris Darnell, the current director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for the Lucas County Board of Commissioners, delivered the keynote address. Harris Darnell oversees the coordination and guidance of the county\u2019s initiatives to define, assess, promote and foster diversity and inclusion across all aspects of service delivery and employment within the Lucas County Commissioner\u2019s departments.<\/p>\n

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Youth Award recipients with scholarship recipients<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cI just want to take in this room,\u201d began Harris Darnell during the speech introduction. \u201cThere was a time that I didn\u2019t believe that I should be in this space. Thank you ladies for the invitation to inspire you this morning. I get to speak to an audience of Black women.\u201d<\/p>\n

She went on to talk about the history of racism and colorism, share personal experiences and inspire the audience to support each other. \u201cWhat does DEI mean? What does it mean when I\u2019m the only Black women and I feel unseen. What does it mean. This has become my passion. I\u2019ve experienced colorism, we used to tease ourselves. It wasn\u2019t until I got older that I realized it was wrong when I first heard \u2018Black is Beautiful.\u201d I had never heard that in the schools or even in the church.\u201d<\/p>\n

Several individuals were acknowledged:<\/p>\n