The Woman in the Mirror Womens Empowerment Conference 2006

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The Woman in the Mirror Womens Empowerment
Conference 2006

• Presented and Coordinated By
• Watershed Human Community Development Agency
• and
• Chlarissa Pope of D2NINE.com
• Little Rock, Arkansas

The excerpts in this presentation are quoted from
Souls of My Sisters by Ms. Dawn Marie Daniels
and Ms. Candace Sandy
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• Objective and Mission of D2NINE
• The main duty of this organization is the
  empowerment of the African and African American
  woman. We hope to do this by teaching and
  stressing the importance of issues that affect
  our community and our culture. These issues are
  often forgotten as one
• becomes lost in the system and our current method
  of thinking. We will bring our women together in
  an effort to promote unity, self-sustenance, and
  knowledge. We will teach and educate each other
  on social issues, become aware of our actions,
  raise our children to be leaders and hopefully
  many other values that are lacking in our
  community.
• Chlarissa Pope, Founder
• www.d2nine.com
• PO Box 2234 Little Rock, AR 72203
• 501.952.0858
•   
•  

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• "The Woman in the Mirror"
• When you look in the mirror, who do you see? A
  woman of substance, beauty and intelligence? Do
  you see yourself as healthy and able? Do you see
  the truth, or do you see the lies that you've
  come to believe?
• Why do we believe the lies? Just as easily, we
  can believe the truth- God made all of us
  powerful beings. Instead, we allow ourselves to
  be hypnotized by the daily dose of negative
  stereotypes and media images. How we perceive
  ourselves determines the quality of our health-
  mental, physical, spiritual and emotional.
  Whatever we believe about ourselves, good or bad,
  is what will manifest in our lives. If we are
  wondering why our lives are unfulfilling or why
  our bodies feel sick and listless, all we have to
  do is look at our beliefs and self-perceptions.
•  

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• We have listened to the opinions and lies of
  others. We have chosen to believe them, and thus,
  we perceive ourselves negatively. We believe the
  lies because we do not know the truth of who we
  are. Before we blame others for our woes, we must
  look at the heinous of lies- the lies we've told
  ourselves. If you do not care about the truth of
  who you are, any lie will do. Sisters may roll
  their eyes and pay lip service to being
  self-determined (after all, "we don't take no
  stuff"), but when it comes down to it, we are
  controlled by what we think and say about
  ourselves. The proof is in the recent discovery
  that black women have among the highest rate of
  depression in the country. We already lead the
  race in obesity, diabetes, hypertension, certain
  types of breast cancer and other ailments. At
  best, our false beliefs and self-perceptions
  leave us feeling unfulfilled. At worse, they are
  killing us.
• If we can believe a lie, then we can believe the
  truth. The truth will not be handed to us on a
  silver platter, however. We're going to have to
  fight for knowledge or self. It will be like the
  salmon's upstream journey. Society tries to move
  us away from self-knowledge, not toward it. A
  woman who is in full possession of her mind, is
  responsible for her thoughts and actions, and is
  unafraid of bucking status quo is a dangerous
  woman. Such a woman is a force of nature. She
  creates a whirlwind of change in individuals,
  communities and systems just by being herself.
• But despite all the self-help books and
  psychobabble, many of us are not happy with our
  lives, We know something 's not quite right
  because the activities in our lives do not quite
  sustain us. They do not fulfill us. So we get
  busy trying to fix things we go back to school,
  we launch a "man search", we work harder for
  longer hours. So what? We make a few more cents,
  get a little sex and we are still nagged by self
  doubt. Surely this can't be all there is to life!
• Until we do the hard soul work that will serve us
  in the long term, when we look in the mirror, a
  stranger will continue to stare back at us. We
  spend more time getting to know our lovers and
  friends than ourselves. And since we really don't
  know who we are, we're suckers for all kinds of
  stories. This is the danger of living and
  unconscious life people can define you, label
  you, and talk about you, and not only will you
  care, you'll believe them.
• excerpt from Souls of My Sisters by Dawn Marie
  Daniels and Candace Sandy
•  

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Featured Speakers
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• Dawn Marie Daniels was the editorial force
  behind a number of award winning authors at
  Simon Schuster. Ms. Daniels utilized her
  position and power as one of the book
  industrys premier editors to ensure that African
  American projects got the attention and dollars
  they deserve.
•  
• Ms. Daniels has established a commanding
  presence in adult nonfiction with such books by
  Iyanla Vanzant as The New York Times Best Sellers
  In Meantime and One Day My Soul Just Opened
  Up. During her eight years in publishing she
  bought new talent to the surface and helped push
  them to the fore front of the industry. Ms.
  Daniels authors have published through various
  Simon Schuster imprints such as Prentice Hall
  Press, Fireside, Touchstone, SS Aguilar,
  Scribner Paperback fiction, Simon Schuster
  Trade Pocket Books.
•  
• Ms. Daniels is the former President of Simply
  Said a Literary Agency that managed the careers
  of notable authors such as Iyanla Vanzant,
  Rosalyn McMillan, Lolita Files and Reverend Run.
  In addition, she is co-author of Souls of My
  Sisters (2000), The Vegetarian Soul Food Cook
  Book (2001), Souls of My Brothers (2003) and
  Tupac Shakur How Long Will They Mourn Me (2006).
•  
• Candace Sandy serves as the Communications
  Director for Congressman Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY)
  and has led the marketing and public relations
  department for several high profile elected
  officials and leaders. Beginning her career at
  New York University as a producer and co-host,
  Ms. Sandy a former Radio Advertising Bureau
  Ad/Lab Fellow went on to become the first African
  American General Manager of WNYU 89.1 FM. Candace
  is also the co-author of Souls of My Sisters
  (2000), Souls of My Brothers (2003) and Tupac
  Shakur How Long Will They Mourn Me (2006).
•  
• Ms. Daniels and Ms. Sandy also serve as President
  and CEO of Souls of My Sisters Inc. a multi-media
  publishing and entertainment company that
  embraces the values of the African American
  woman.
•  

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• The oldest of six children, Maria
  Davis always yearned for success. Growing up in
  the South Bronx, Mott Haven Projects, the
  foundation was laid to achieve her dreams.
  Marias persistence, warmth, out-going and
  humorous personality attracted the people who
  gave her a shot at her dreams. She began her
  professional modeling career at the uncommon age
  of twenty-one in the early eighties--when black
  faces were rarely seen in magazines. But it was
  Marias true love of Black music that led her
  to her professional calling. She abandoned her
  successful modeling career to pursue a profession
  in the entertainment industry. Maria knew
  talent when she saw it and with the help of
  mentors became known as one of New Yorks
  premiere promoters. With support from various
  record labels who provided her with new artists
  and her background in cinematography, she
  produced, directed and promoted her newly created
  music showcases M.A.D. Wednesdays. The legendary
  M.A.D. Wednesdays music showcases provided
  venues for signed and unsigned RB and hip-hop
  artists and comedians who had no other
  performance options. Maria created an outlet for
  young people to express themselves artistically
  when community programs were being cut and young
  people had no where else to go to hone their
  skills.In 1995 Marias life took a turn, she
  contracted the HIV virus unknowingly from her
  soon-to-be-husband. While in the hospital near
  death her spiritual calling was revealed to her.
  Maria knew that she had to devote her life to
  educating women, men and children about AIDS. For
  the first time Maria bore her soul about her
  personal crisis with AIDS in the book Souls of My
  Sisters.
• Maria has turned great personal adversity into an
  opportunity to teach and to share an important
  message with the world. She challenges everyone
  she meets to do the same.

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• Chlarissa Pope is a University of
  Arkansas at Little Rock Alumni and is the
  founder of D2NINE. She has persevered
  through the many obstacles that
  come with being a teenage parent of one son to
  achieve several degrees,
  including a Masters of Business Administration in
  Strategic Leadership and a
  successful career in project management.
•  
• Chlarissa has received several
  awards and recognition for her community
  outreach efforts. She currently
  volunteers with the Birthing Project through the
  Watershed Human and Community Development Agency
  to mentor and assist single, disadvantaged
  expectant mothers and has two little sisters,
  ages 9 and 10, through Big Brothers/Big Sisters
  of Central Arkansas. She co-facilitates the
  Speak2Us-D2NINE Book Club and Discussion group.
  She is an active member of Taariq Chapter 494 of
  the Order of the Eastern Star and the Chi Eta
  Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
  She is also very actively involved in her sons
  extracurricular activities such as boy scouts,
  baseball, basketball, etc
•  
• This conference is the first major undertaking
  for D2NINE. It is with hope that this event will
  lead to additional opportunities to meet with
  like-minded women in an effort to redefine the
  sisterhood within our community.
•  

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• Judy S. Smith is currently
  Executive Director of the Arkansas Minority
  Health Commission. Mrs. Smith
  was appointed as director for the Commission in
  March, 2002.
•  
• In 1990, after defeating a
  twenty-four year incumbent, Judy Smith was
  elected to the Arkansas House of
  Representatives. She served in the Arkansas
  General Assembly for eight years
  until term limits.
•  
• Judy has received numerous awards and honors.
  Most recently, she was the recipient of the
  Barbara Jordan Political Leadership Award. In
  1998, she was named one of the Top 10 Women in
  Arkansas by Arkansas Business Weekly, in which
  she was recognized in 1995, 1996, and 1997 as one
  of the Top 100 Women in Arkansas. The Arkansas
  Democrat Gazette named Judy Smith as a Top 10
  Legislator in 1993. She has been a Flemming
  Fellow with the Center for Policy Alternatives
  and in 1992 Judy was one of eleven Americans
  selected by the American Council of Young
  Political Leaders, to serve as a Delegate to
  Japan.
•  
• Judy Smiths community involvement has ranged
  from serving working with young children to
  helping youth develop intergenerational
  activities. She is presently a member of the
  Arkansas Regional Organ Recovery Agency. As
  Director of the Arkansas Minority Health
  Commission, Judy has led the agency from virtual
  anonymity to broad recognition within the state.
  Under her leadership the organization has
  conducted the most comprehensive disparities in
  health study initiated a hypertension program in
  three delta counties.
•  

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• Kay Roberts Clowney is a Tutor/ Mentor
  in English Composition and
  business at Pulaski Technical College for
  the TRiO Scholars and College
  Pathways Programs, Student Support Services.
  She retired from the VA Regional
  Office of Little Rock, Arkansas in 1994,
  completing a distinguished 26 year career,
  including 8 years as Director. Upon
  retirement, Mrs. Clowney received the U. S.
  Department of Veterans Affairs Distinguished
  Career Award. She also received the
  Arkansas Patriotic Eagle Award for Outstanding
  Service to the Veterans of this
  Country 1968-1994. She is the Founding
  President of the Arkansas Chapter of the Senior
  Executive Association.
•  
• For six years Mrs. Clowney was an adjunct
  instructor at Philander Smith Management
  Institute. She received the UNCF Service Award
  for dedicated service and unwavering loyalty to
  the ideals of UNCF.
•  
• Mrs. Clowney served as a Commissioner on the
  State of Arkansas Martin Luther King Jr.
  Commission on Civil Rights. She was also a
  member of the Bi-Racial Committee of North Little
  Rock Public Schools. Kay is a life member of the
  NAACP, serving in various capacities, including
  speaking at state conventions and judging speech
  contests.
•  
• Mrs. Clowney is a trained, certified facilitator
  for What Matters Most (formerly First Things
  First) for the (Dr. Stephen) Covey Leadership
  Center, Provo, Utah. She is a contributing
  author to the Executive Excellence and Personal
  Excellence magazines with twelve published
  articles.

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• Crystal Corbin is a 27 year old single
  mother of two. She is currently a full time
  student at Pulaski Tech on a full scholarship
  for academic excellence. She is
  currently involved in many activities including
  Arkansas Career Pathways, Student
  Government Association and TRiO Scholars. Crystal
  is a living example that everything
  worth having is worth fighting for.
• Ruby Moore is the single mother of two
  daughters. She works as a certified nursing
  assistant and private duty home care aide.
  She also works with individuals on
  alternative care practices and methods.
• A biography is not available for Ms. Kafi Hunter
  but she is an outstanding speaker, poet who
  brings a lot of knowledge, compassion and
  encouragement to this panel. Ms. Hunters poetry
  can be heard at events in the Little Rock Area.
  She is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha
  Sorority, Inc.
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•  

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Award Winners
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• The Chlarissa Pope Women in the Mirror Award
  recognizes women who have shown extraordinary
  strength of character and integrity. These women
  have persevered and supported their local
  communities via education, volunteer work, and
  empowerment to pave the way for other women and
  redefine the sisterhood within their communities.
•  
• 2006 Chlarissa Pope - Woman in the Mirror Award
  Winners
•   
• Jannie Cotton, CEO
•  
• Crystal Corbin, Student
•  
• Pamela Smith, TV Personality
•  
• Linda Brown, Philanthropist
•  

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• Jannie Cotton, CEO
• I have been working for Professional Counseling
  Associates for 6mths. In these six months I have
  grown to love Jannie very much. She is a strong
  women who has persevered through so much. I look
  at her life and feel that I can also be
  successful. Her battle with cancer is a true
  testament of how strong she is to survive and to
  continue to reach above and beyond the call of
  duty.
• If you saw Jannie you would never know she has
  had cancer.  She was also at one time a single
  parent who found the motivation to continue her
  education and now is a CEO. She is always
  striving to bring out the best in herself and
  others by encouraging me and other workers to be
  creative and to think outside the box. Jannie is
  making history regionally by being the first
  African American Women CEO of major mental health
  organization.  
• Jannie community involvement include active
  member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. Chair
  of educational development, PARK volunteer and
  being their "Volunteer of the Year" last yr. '05.
  She is very active within her church conducting
  workshops for teens and help form peer groups.
  She is also a part of a legislative task force to
  advocate for the health and safety of children
  around the state. She has sat in on AR
  legislative sessions on policy that directly
  effect AR children. She is a motivational speaker
  for cancer survivors and advocate for abused
  women and children and for the mentally ill.
• Things she has done that directly effect me. Just
  seeing her compassion and dedication everyday for
  her job and people. She is truly genuine and will
  go out of her way to help those in need. The
  compassion and dedication isn't something you see
  once a week or month you see it everyday. She
  inspires me to find some of that same zest and
  zeal for life that she has. She is a positive
  role model for me and others and I felt her story
  was one worth telling.
• Submitted by Ms. Lorraine Nikki Smith

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Candace Sandy, Jannie Cotton, Chlarissa Pope
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• Pamela Smith, TV Personality
• Mainstream - advocacy group for Arkansans with
  disabilities
• Holiday gift wrap - done annually at Park Plaza
  mall benefiting services that enhance quality of
  life for the underserved senior citizen
  population in Little Rock.Holiday caroling at
  various senior centers.Race for the Cure
  volunteer.SCAT board member - Senior Citizens
  Activities Today - group advocates on behalf of
  seniors, helping secure additional funding for
  meals on wheels programs, medical transportation
  and other items for which they may need
  help.Former Board Member - Senior Center in
  Jacksonville.  Services same as above.Mentor to
  aspiring young journalists.Volunteerin Public
  Schools - reading to students and offer
  motivational speeches.Advocate for crime victims
  - helping them learn about services that are
  available to them.Baptist Health Women's
  Advisory Council - volunteer board that tries to
  develop a campaign committed to improving
  women's' health and providing educational
  opportunities that help enhance quality of life
  for women.Previous Spokesperson for American
  Heart Association's "Search Your Heart Campaign"
  - designed to inform African Americans about ways
  to stay heart-healthy.Moderator for public
  forums including school board elections, general
  elections and National United Way
  organization.Volunteer for United Negro College
  Fund - annual fundraiser benefiting Philander
  Smith College.Volunteer for Great Arkansas
  Fitness challenge - designed to promote healthier
  life-styles among state's youth.

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Candace Sandy, Pamela Smith, Chlarissa Pope
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• Crystal Corbin, Student
• Crystal Corbin is a 27 year old divorced mother
  of two. Her childhood was not one that little
  girls dream of. Her mom was a drug abuser and
  alcoholic which led her to have to live with
  different family members throughout her
  childhood. Unfortunately, her mom died of AIDS in
  2003. She dropped out of high school three times
  and got married while she was in the 11th grade.
  She eventually went back to school to complete
  her high school diploma.
• After seven years in an emotionally and mentally
  abusive marriage, she show courage by leaving
  that relationship to return to the US to regain
  her life. She is current a full-time student at
  Pulaski Tech on a full scholarship for academic
  excellance with a 4.0 GPA. She is currently
  involved in many activities including Arkansas
  Career Pathways, Student Government Association,
  Phi Theta Kappa, Trio Scholars and Women in
  Transition with the Hope Center. Crystal is a
  living example that everything worht having is
  worth fighting for.

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Maria Davis, Crystal Corbin, Chlarissa Pope
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• Linda S. Brown
• After graduating from Mabelvale High School in
  1963, she was employed by the Arkansas Division
  of the American Cancer Society as a secretary. In
  1968, her broadcasting career began with KARK-TV,
  Channel 4 when she was hired as Assistant
  Promotion Manager and was soon assigned to also
  be Assistant Public Affairs Director. In that
  capacity, she was in charge of producing all
  public service announcements that aired on the
  station for various non-profit agencies. She
  also produced an award winning documentary on
  tornadoes for Channel 4. In 1970, she was named
  Administrative Assistant to the President and
  General Manager and also kept her duties as
  Public Affairs Director. In addition, she was
  the first EEOC director for the station.
• In 1974, she married Robert L. Brown, Sr. and
  moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where her husband was
  employed as President and General Manager of
  KTAR-TV. She and Bob moved backed to Little
  Rock in 1978 when he and his partners purchased
  KTHV-TV, Channel 11. Linda was again her
  husbands Administrative Assistant, the EEOC
  Director, and involved in all the stations
  public service activities, including the first of
  many telethons for Arkansas Childrens Hospital,
  Cerebral Palsy, Cystic Fibrosis, and the United
  Negro College Fund and its affiliate, Philander
  Smith College. She was also on the Board of
  Directors for Easter Seals and the Pulaski County
  Humane Society.
• After her husband retired from Channel 11, they
  remained active in fundraising activities for
  Christ the King Catholic Church and School, and
  also produced a monthly newsletter for the
  church. After Bobs death in 2001, Lindas life
  has become less public. She enjoys quietly
  helping others. She and her daughter, Christina,
  continue to fund the Robert L. Brown, Sr.
  Memorial Scholarship at UALR one the recipients
  is Spirit Trickey.

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Maria Davis, Linda Brown, Chlarissa Pope
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Overall Response...
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• You did a great job with the conference! It was
  wonderful and inspirational. I was glad to be a
  part of such an awesome event. - Nikki Smith
• I just wanted to let you know how I enjoyed
  myself on Saturday. What a blessing it was to be
  among some phenomenal women. I was truly
  blessed. Looking forward to the next conference.
  Please keep in touch. - Jacquelyn Peterson
• I wanted to take a moment to thank you for
  exposing my daughters and myself to such a
  wonderful and inspiring group of women. This
  event touched and changed our lives forever.
  Please keep up the good work. Your mom was a
  delight! Chlarissa you are truly a talented and
  anointed child of God. My daughters embraced the
  whole experience and look forward to working with
  you on whatever endeavors you need their
  assistance. And as always they will draft dear
  old Mom as needed. Take Care - Rena
  Sampson-Harshaw
• I wanted to commend you a wonderful job. I
  enjoyed the conference tremendously, and it
  really empowered my soul. God Bless you in all of
  your efforts. - Ruby Dean

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• Thank you so much for sharing your vision with
  the women of the Little Rock area.  I truly
  enjoyed the luncheon and was happy to be able to
  nominate Ms. Cotton for the Woman in the Mirror
  Award. Erica Jenkins
• You did a great job. You paid attention to all
  details. It was a wonderful experience from
  beginning to end. Thanks you so much. I thank God
  daily for being able to attend the conference.
  I've lived in Little Rock for 4 years and I've
  yet to experience anything like that in my
  lifetime. It was a moment for women to be honest
  and truthful and vulnerable without fear of
  judgment. I can write on and on about how my life
  was touched by the conference, however, I won't
  as I know you have better things to do. May god
  bless and keep you. Nicole Washington
• Saturday, October 6, 2006, I attend the 1st
  Annual Womens Conference of The Woman in the
  Mirror envisioned by my family Chlarissa Pope. 
  She read the book Souls of My Sisters and was
  moved by what she read.  Chlarissa wanted to
  bring empowerment to as many women as she could
  and the first thing she did was create a website
  called D2nine.com. After the website became a
  success and her work with young women at the
  Watershed helped her to see a great need, she
  decided to do more by pioneering The Woman in
  the Mirror workshop! I had the pleasure of being
  among a room of extraordinary women. 360 family,
  I met one of the authors Candace Sandy of Souls
  of My Sisters as well as one of the
  distinguished women Maria Davis that included her
  dynamic story in the book!

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• I cant tell you how inspirational it was to sit
  among these women hear their stories. It was so
  good to hear how GOD brought them through! We are
  talking about women who had it allthe money, the
  fancy cars, the big houses, the A List friends
  and the name brand this that! They spoke from
  the heart on how GOD was all that they really
  needed. They spoke on how this world is full of
  people that think happiness is in the material
  things that you think you worked so hard for but
  actually GOD blessed you to have!
• As they spoke, I begin to think on where I am in
  my life!  Am I really where I want to be?  Am I
  really doing what GOD wants me to do?  I have
  been ridiculed so badly for decisions Ive made,
  hated by people who didnt take the time to get
  to know me and devastated by others doing
  whatever it took to steal my joy! And for a
  while, I let them possess my joy then GOD
  picked me up, dusted me off showed me all the
  things I needed to see!  I was so encouraged that
  Ive decided to start writing my own story! Ive
  been working on it for a while but just never
  took it very seriously.
• Sis. Candace Sandy said something that stuck with
  me. She said that she was going through a storm
  she prayed prayed prayed prayed but GOD
  didnt answer! She said she had begun to think
  that GOD had forsaken her! Then one day she
  realized that GOD couldnt speak with her because
  he was busy working everything out! That touched
  me because Id been praying praying praying
  and things werent rolling in the way I had
  hoped! Instead, I was at a standstilla delay of
  sorts! It seemed as if everyone around me was
  getting ahead. I begin to get discouraged because
  I know I have put plenty of time in the field for
  GOD and I did it all from the heart!

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• The night before the conference, I had so much on
  my mind I had a migraine coming on. I flipped
  through my bible and prayed as I looked for some
  guidance. GOD guided me to the pages of Job! As I
  read, I became uplifted was finally able to
  rest! I woke up to a wonderful womens conference
  that I wish you all could have been theremaybe
  next year! (smile)!
•  
• Ive learned a few points that I would like to
  share with you all
•  1.   Live your life with GODs purpose in your
  heart on your mind
• 2.   Never allow what others think of you to
  overshadow what you think of yourself
• 3.   Put GOD first in everythingno matter how
  small
• 4.   Dont allow past mistakes or hurt to block
  you from living
• 5.   Forgive them, forgive yourself let go
• 6.   Talk it out or write it out! Never bottle up
  your issues
• 7.   Love yourself
• Please, take the time to check out www.D2nine.com
  and support this worthy cause! You never know,
  next year you could be uplifting someone with
  your story!
• - Nichele Thompson
•  

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Event Photos
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Our 2006 Sponsors...
US Senator Blanche Lincoln
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• The Woman in the Mirror Womens Empowerment
  Conference 2006