The women’s luncheon held during the recent Rainbow PUSH Coalition’s 40th annual conference, was an event fit for queens. Local and national women of prestige offered their pearls of wisdom to women everywhere, immediately following the event.
Rev. Willie T. Barrow:
“All the work that we’ve done through the years, we don’t want to lose it because you’re unaware of what’s going on. I tell women, don’t be afraid to learn, because we don’t want to lose what we’ve already accomplished.”
Lauri Sanders, Director, Public Affairs, Government Relations at Dominick’s, a Safeway Company:
“My best advice is to look at the role models that have been presented in today’s event, and to just recognize the fortitude that they’ve shown. Also, identify your vision, keep focused on your vision, and don’t lose sight of it.”
Gwen Thomas, Promotions Unlimited:
“Hold on to your dreams and sometimes it doesn’t happen when you want it to happen, but if you stay focused and follow your dreams it will happen. When you reach that goal, or your dream, remember to reach back and pull someone with you.”
Henrietta Leak:“Be yourself, be strong, follow your dreams and reach for the sky.”
Linda Mathis, wife of Judge Greg Mathis:“My best advice is for you to really be true to yourself because that’s the person you have to look at in the mirror every single day.”
Glenda Gill, Executive Director, Automotive Project, Rainbow/PUSH Coalition:“We have to serve our communities. We love our community and we have to serve so it can reflect us, and the next generation will have something to hold on to. I think that all of the women today reflected a lot of different sectors of the best of who they are in the community, in the corporate sector, religious community, and on and on. We’re everywhere and I think it just reinforces our womanhood and our strength.”
On that note, one of the men of distinction recognized at the luncheon, was Eric Peterson, U.S. Vice President, Diversity, at General Motors.
Peterson told rolling out that GM was committed to reinvesting in the community.
“Essentially what we do is look for those strategic partners that have similar ideals and goals especially in supporting education. And when we look at Rainbow PUSH and the Citizenship Fund, that’s what they do, they’re giving back to the community,” Peterson said. “So we try to do things to support them, frankly, we feel it’s a part of us being a good community citizen. You must give back, our is perspective is, to whom much is given, much is expected, and it’s one thing to make corporate profits, but it’s another thing to reinvest in the community, and that’s part of what we see in working with Rev. Jackson, it’s an ideal opportunity for us.”
During the event, Peterson presented the PUSH Citizenship Fund with a $100,000 check from GM.
