Women's Month Edition The Port City Review March 2023

05. vanessa taylor

07. charlena brown

08. Dr. Tonia howard-hall

09. Natalyn Bates Morris

11. Pastor Joyce C. Hall

12.women in warehousing

13. Dr. Ann Levitt

15. Rebecca tanner russell

16. Diana Harvey Johnson

17. Lilian grant Baptiste

18. Debbie johnson

19, Artlise alstone-cone

20. Wendy Bullens

21. Patricia Harris

22, tiffany dennis lancaster

23. Betty Jones

24. anne allen westbrook

25. coco guthrie papy

26. sonya jackson

27 sabriya scott

28. margo baRBEE

29. delores screen daniels

30. julia pearce

31. queen quet

32. ambria berksteiner

33. gabrielle nelson

34. lisa rundstrom

35. vaughnette goode-walker

36. tammy stokes

37. tammy mosley

39. flaujae johnson

Vanessa Taylor

Community Activist

Who said Social Media Isn’t The News? Well, Vanessa Taylor is showing the world what one woman can do with a camera and a passion for her community and her people. Go anywhere to an event in Chatham County and parts of North Georgia, and if you don’t see Vanessa Taylor there, then it’s probably not newsworthy. In Savannah/Chatham County she’s on every scene reporting via social media, all the important events that should matter to our community. In the Atlanta/North Georgia area, she’s connected to Juneteenth Atlanta, and to big stars in the music and film industry, her favorite being Mr. Lou Gossett Jr himself. Mainstream Media does not report fairly to all segments of the community, but Vanessa is usually on the scene to deliver Our News to everyone. If you need to connect with anybody in any industry, a phone call to Vanessa is all you need to make. Her network of contacts is limitless. She’s often referred to as Air, because she’s everywhere. She’s also the secretary of BEMA, the Black Empowerment Movement Association, and sits on several boards across the state.

Charlena Brown

Charlena Brown has over thirty years in business with extensive experience in consulting and coaching. A self-starter, she has always been driven to be an entrepreneur and create opportunities for other people. Her first start as an entrepreneur was as the owner and general manager of two restaurants, Charlie Brown's Restaurant and Seafood and Chicken. After being in the restaurant industry for over two decades, Mrs. Brown decided to try her hand in a new career in manufacturing. One weekend, a life changing injury would leave her unable to return to her new career, and back to her original foundation of entrepreneurship.

During recovery she and her husband, Charlie Brown, were able to create a business plan for Good Service, LLC. In 2004, Good Service, LLC would be awarded a contract to manage the Savannah Entrepreneurial Center for the City of Savannah. Good Service, LLC would manage the Savannah Entrepreneurial Center for eight years. As the managing company and Director, Mrs. Brown would place great emphasis on the importance of having a business plan, while making entrepreneurship an easy concept to understand through classes and real life experience.

She was able to help hundreds of businesses write business plans and open businesses. Businesses such as Savannah Movie Tours, Freedom Trail Tours, and Randy's Bar Que have benefited from her expertise. These businesses and so many others are still going strong and making an economic impact in the greater Savannah community.

Dr. Tonia howard-hall

Chatham County School Board Rep.

Look in the dictionary under Public Servant, and if you don’t find this passionate leader’s photo there, then you should call the publisher and complain, or check the encyclopedia for further reference. Dr. Howard-Hall is always anywhere there is a need to advocate for the students of the Chatham County Public School System. She is the epitome of what great elected representation is suppose to be. After serving 32 years in various roles within the system, starting out teaching to ending up as a program manager for Title 1 Schools, Dr. Howard-Hall felt a calling to continue to serve. She threw her hat in the ring for election to the school board and won by a landslide.

She is noted for being the most unselfish elected official in the state of Georgia.

Going through the public school system and graduating from Tompkins High School in 1979, then on to Florida A&M until 1983, her passion was to touch the lives of our children. She started teaching, all while working on her Masters and Doctor’s degrees and raising two kids. During a time of the unknown, concerning the Covid 19 Epidemic, she was the only board member to vote no, on sending our school children back to class with uncertain data pertaining to their overall safety. After over 40 years of service, she’s still pouring into the lives of our young people. Great things are expected from Great People, and this leader is showing the world why, “Black Girls Rock”.

Natalyn Bates Morris

Councilwoman, Garden City Ga.

Councilwoman Natalyn Morris is happily married to Dennis L. Morris, Sr. They are the proud parents of 2 adult children and 3 adorable grandchildren. She is a graduate of Groves High School and attended Savannah State College (now University). She is a Human Resource Coordinator at Coastal Electric Cooperative where she has been employed for the past 11 years.

She has over 30 years experience in an HR career distinguished by developing and executing human resource strategy in support of the overall business plan and strategic direction of the organization. Her job is to provide strategic leadership by articulating HR needs and plans to the executive management team. She is a national and local member of SHRM (Strategic Human Resources Management), She serve on the City Council for Garden City, GA, serving the “terrific” 3rd District which she was elected to on January 1, 2020. She is a board member for the Coastal Empire Habitat for Humanity. She is an avid volunteer in her community and enjoy spending time with family and friends.

She is a Garden City Leader who gets things done. She is part of the history making council that is the first ever African American majority council in the city’s history. She is women’s history.

Pastor Joyce C. Hall

Pastor Joyce C. Hall was born and raised in Savannah, Georgia. She grew up in the Hitch Village housing project, where she credits this upbringing as being “the vision and zeal” for the ministry she has cultivated, Living Hope Community Fellowship. She accepted her call to ministry in 1985, serving at Overcoming by Faith Ministries under the leadership of Dr. Ricky Temple.

Pastor Hall had a vision to address the disease of hopelessness and transform urban communities by providing them with an opportunity to experience the life changing force of Christ. What started as an outreach ministry, collaborating with various community organizations (Emmaus House, Savannah, Care Center, etc.) soon grew to worship services at the May Street YMCA, Living Hope Ministry was born. Pastor Hall’s ministry continues to thrive today at its current Garden City location with the expectation of winning more souls and making a greater impact on the community at large. Pastoring runs in her veins, Her mother was a pastor, and her brother (U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock) is also a pastor.

Pastor Living Hope Community Fellowship Church

Tiger woods

Serena (L) and Venus Williams

women in warehousing

By: Chantaye L. Mclaughlin

Happy Women’s History Month. Many have all seen the picture above. Oftentimes, it is associated with the Feminist Movement. Women’s History Month was designed to spotlight and highlight the women who have paved the way in local and global spaces. Women in Warehousing is one of the conversations that have led to the Liberation and Independence of women. Many argue if this was a good thing or a bad thing in the world of good and bad. The reality is that women in warehousing came as a necessity after World War II. When the war began, many men were the primary caretakers of their households. The impact of women being engaged in the work environment of a warehouse was primarily due to supply and demand. During wartime, there was a shortage of supplies and manufacturing positions began to open. The challenge was that majority of the men were off at war, leaving the women to become the bread winners and sometimes sole providers for their families. This boom in manufacturing led many women to be able to participate in what had been deemed for years as “men jobs.” The war was considered to be the only acceptable time in which women were to work in the manufacturing industry or warehousing. After the war, many middle and working class families leaned to wanting a two person income to be able to live the life of their dreams. This is what led to many of the Tupperware parties that we have seen in the movies and that many of us remember seeing the old pictures in the photo albums of family members to often include mothers and grandmothers. Happy Women’s History Month to the women that were told that they can’t, they shouldn’t, and they won’t. You are saluted for the strength, courage, and critical role that you have played in history!

Dr. Ann Levitt

SCCPSS Superintendent

Dr. Ann Levett is a Savannah native. As superintendent, she is the embodiment of the vision of SCCPSS, “ from school to the world: All students prepared for productive futures” as she is a product of the Savannah -Chatham County Public Schools herself, having graduated from Beach High School. Dr. Levett knew she wanted to work in the field of education early on beginning her career as a professional educator as a speech and language pathologist in 1976 (SCCPSS), ultimately becoming principal of the Savannah High School.

With a professional education career spanning over 30 years, she has held various higher education positions. She served at Yale University School of Medicine and Antioch University to name a few, where she led innovative tenures, overseeing various partnerships, grants and projects. Upon returning to Georgia ,Dr. Levett was appointed by Governors Perdue and Deal to serve on state education boards, where in 2015 she was recognized for her accomplishments in education by theGeorgia senate. She is not only accomplished in the area of education, she is also a published author and nationally recognized public speaker. Dr. Levett has devoted and will continue to devote her career to serving Savannah’s families and students by “Igniting a passion for learning.” Being the Daughter of legendary Policeman/ Coach, Bo Levett, she was a witness to all things “Savannah”, and wanted to make a difference. And what a difference she made.

Rebecca Tanner Russell

Weeping Time Coalition Member

Equally outspoken on issues that matter as she is soft spoken in conversation, this woman will always bring receipts.

Rebecca moved down to Savannah to escape the long, cold, Milwaukee winters in 2008. Although she has a degree in Printmaking, by trade, she is a self taught pattern maker, designer and bespoke clothier, with fiercely loyal clients around the world. Locally, she works with a handful of small label designers, guiding them through the process of fleshing out abstract ideas with prototypes, to a final, tested, marketable, and reproducible product. “

Diana Harvey Johnson

Former State Senator/ Consultant

If you’re hungry for information, or if you’re ever interested in networking, then Diana Harvey Johnson is that person to call on. Coming to Savannah from Bibb County and noticing a void in good leadership, Ms. Harvey Johnson took her intellectual prowess and moved in the right circles for years, until she became a State Senator.

With a bachelor’s degree from Morris Brown College, and a master’s degree from the University of Georgia in Athens, Johnson taught history at Paine College in Augusta, GA.From Morris Brown University to the University of Georgia, Diana has connected and remains connected to all the key movers and shakers and change agents across the state. She created The Hungry Club Forum of Savannah in 2006, so that she could bring those difference makers together in front of citizens to have a discussion about “what’s next”.

She later created a marketing, media , and public relations firm, Pinnacle Communications Corporation in 2007. This organization and business are vital parts of the fabric of Savannah. It is said, that when Diana calls , you’d better answer. And if you’re hungry, you will get fed.

Servant Leaders (l-r) 25-year Savannah Branch NAACP President and Civil Rights icon Westley Wallace “WW” Law, State Representative (later State Senator) Diana Harvey Johnson,and U. S. Congressman John Lewis. Circa 1991

Lillian Grant Baptiste

Master Story Teller

Lillian Grant-Baptiste is a storyteller extraordinaire. She is from Savannah, Georgia and an alumna of Savannah State University. Grant-Baptiste is a promoter of her family business ventures - her mother’s business - Touch of Africa and her son’s business - Minding My Black Owned Business.

Grant-Baptiste is a former civil servant with the City of Savannah. In the community planning and development office she sought and worked to empower members of the community. Being a voice for neighborhood pride for generations in Savannah.

Honing her craft to tell the stories of African Americans has made her a valuable asset to this area. Grant-Baptiste tells stories to uplift all those around her. Libations or remembrance ceremonies have become her forte - so she can respect and honor to past, current, and future heroes and sheroes. Master Story Teller.

Debbie Johnson

Port Wentworth, Mayor Pro-Tem

Ms. Johnson was a 17 year employee of The Savannah Chatham Metropolitan Police Department. She received her Master's Degree in Criminal Justice and Forensic Psychology and was the first African American woman to serve on the Port Wentworth City Council. She served on the Port Wentworth City Council for many years, and had accomplished a great deal, to include being a pioneer advocator for HB 109 - "Up-Skirting Bill" to make this violation of women a crime punishable by law, and coordinating various events for the City's Feed the Hungry program. Debbie was the first African American Mayor Pro-Tem of Port Wentworth Ga. She was into her second term when she died from complications of a related illness.

Always with a smile on her face, and wanting to see how she could help someone, she was a graduate of Saint Leo University where she received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degree. And also attended North Central University to advance her education in Business Administration & Criminal Justice. She is considered the role model for service in Port Wentworth and has inspired other African American women to seek elected public office.

ArtLise Alston-Cone

Making a Difference through Servant Leadership

Determined to make a difference, ArtLise Alston-Cone has dedicated the last 27 years to serving students, teachers, and leaders by leading educational transformations from the classroom to the boardroom, utilizing data to effectively and efficiently lead organizations, empowering parents and community engagement, implementing innovative strategies to enhance teaching and learning, as well as inspiring the change we want to see. Her unique approach to problem solving has led to ArtLise being one of the most consulted educational leaders in our state.

Educated at Bennett College, Dartmouth College, and Nova Southeastern University, ArtLise synthesizes her acquired knowledge in her current position with the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) where she manages a school for community students who are on probation and want to complete their high school diploma or GED via credit recovery or acceleration. This school serves as DJJ’s model for community school reform in transitional education and provided the foundation for the opening of three more programs across the state. In her quest to make a difference, ArtLise has fostered the collaboration of many successful businesses, programs, and projects. The ones near and dear to her heart are the programs with a mission to improving one’s quality of life like with Georgia Tech’s Logistics Education and Pathways program or Jack and Jill of America, Inc and empowering change through voting with the Chatham County Democratic Council.If there was ever a phrase used to describe ArtLise AlstonCone, it would be ‘to make a difference”!

Wendy Bullens

Boss Entrepreneur

Wendy Bullens is a silent force of good in Chatham County. This daughter of Jamaica has made Chatham County her home and financial empire. Bullens is a Real Estate Mogul owning and investing in properties throughout the area. She’s developed residential and entertainment places for all. Her White House on Tybee Island has become “Thee” Place on Tybee Island.

Bullens has become a Restaurateur in Savannah. She opened Kool Vibes Pizza and Wings, the home of the Oxtail Pizza. The restaurant provides a diverse menu for the community and city. She wanted to give the community a variety of food choices with her restaurant.

Philanthropy has been a part of her mission, also. Bullens is aware that the people have supported her so she has felt an obligation to support the people. She has supported a variety of programs and efforts in Chatham County.

Patricia Harris

The City of Savannah continues to benefit from the talent and historical lineage connected to the women of it’s fifth district, especially the deeply rooted heritage of the residents. One such link is the cherished educator community that developed many years ago as African American teachers raised families in the fifth. Dr. Patricia Harris and Pastor Betty Jones are two retired educators who found themselves in the fifth district and have been active in protecting the area for many years.

Dr. Patricia Harris is a retired educator and served most recently at the historic Alfred Ely Beach High School. She made a tremendous impact as an educator, given the following she has of former students who she has named “her babies”. Dr. Harris is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and leads efforts to engage and educate her community about voting and civic engagement. Dr. Harris created the fifth district coalition to raise awareness about the value, history, and importance of the fifth district because she noticed a need to offer a voice to represent the community. Her ongoing commitment to community organizing has made the fifth district stronger, especially at city hall where there have been missed opportunities in the spirit of providing resources to the district.

Tiffany Dennis Lancaster

Wentworth Recreation Director

Tiffany’s mother was a strong woman with the focus on “women can do anything men can do”. She also have a brother who is 15 months older whom he’s always envied. Tiffany was gymnast and swimmer; gymnastics was her passion and she competed all over the nation. She was a competitive surfer with the eastern surfing association. Her other enthusiasm was learning as much as she could about martial arts.

Her career as a director started after her senior year in college when she was awarded the captain of the ocean rescue lifeguards on Tybee Island beach. After graduating college, Tiffany was blessed with the opportunity to start the first ever YMCA on Tybee Island. As a female in the sports and fitness area at times it was challenging but always a new adventure.

After many years, she was offered a position to grow her profession and took an offer as a District Manager with Learning Care Group in Charlotte North Carolina managing eight pre-schools.

Six short years later she was presented a job with the City Port Wentworth as the Leisure Services Director. Parks and recreation were a perfect fit. Community development and the opportunity to build programs was her desire. Now she’s the president of the Coast Athletic Association, a certified parks and recreation professional and an American Red Cross trainer.

Her love for the youth of Port Wentworth and the love that she pours into them, is what makes every parent want to bring their children to activities and sporting events in the city. She’s changing lives, One Child at a time.

Port

Betty Jones

Pastor Betty Jones is a retired educator and served at schools in the SavannahChatham County School System. Pastor Jones serves as the president of one of the neighborhood associations where she engages her residents on the concerns that matter. Pastor Jones is also an advocate for the responsible redevelopment of the fifth district fairgrounds project and has voiced her concerns are various meetings and forums. She is also the Associate Pastor at Litway Baptist Church in Savannah and mentors’ younger adults on their values and how to present oneself in public. Her community organizing efforts have helped city leaders realize the resilience and authority that the residents of the fifth district vary – demonstrating love and value for the community.

We salute our elders, educators, family, and neighbors in the fifth district, remembering their teachings as we walk daily in our personal journey. xThank you all for paving a pathway for people like you to walk in spaces where our ancestors could not dare dream to exist.

Anne Allen Westbrook

Anne Allen Westbrook, Mother, Lawyer, Advocate, Chatham County native, and elected Georgia State Representative. Anne has served on multiple Chatham area boards, as well as serving as a Cultural Affairs Commissioner for the city of Savannah, which supports the many arts organizations that make up the cultural fabric of Savannah.

A 2001 Law School Grad from the University of Georgia , She has worked in many fields within the law profession, but specializing in insurance defense litigation and family law.

Once elected, Representative Westbrook has been a staunch advocate for doing the right things on the state level. She is especially concerned with Juvenile Justice and Gun Control. Two things people have said about Westbrook is, she shows up where there’s an issue in our community and she listens. Girl Power at its best.

Attorney/ Ga. State Representative

Coco Guthrie-Papy

She received her training as a restorative justice practitioner at the International Institute for Restorative Practices, is a Highlander Education Center Greensboro Justice Fellow, a PEN Prison Writing Fellow, and a People for the American Way’s Front Line Leader Fellow, and has served on southeastern regional boards such as Planned Parenthood Southeast and Georgia 9 to 5. She currently serves as a SWOP behind Bars prison mentor and as a legal observer for the ACLU of Georgia, and has consulted on multiples electoral campaigns regarding policy development, communications strategy, and movement building.

Last but not least, she is a proud clinic escort, an abortion doula serving the state of Georgia, and training to be a full spectrum doula. She believes we can never stop helping one another.

Coco Guthrie-Papy is a community organizer, restorative justice practitioner, public policy nerd, and born-and-bred Savannahian. She works as Deep’s Director of Public Policy and Communications, where she develops Deep’s public policy and advocacy positions, as well as working as the organization’s lobbyist.

Sonya Jackson

The first Black person to be elected as the Chatham County Tax Commissioner, Sonya L. Jackson, promised to leverage her business expertise to improve access to services, educate residents about the tax laws and their rights, and reform government accountability. Jackson leads the Chatham County Tax Commissions office managing a $6.3 million dollar budget and leading a staff of 78 employees. Jackson’s office bills, collects, and disburses approximately $500 million in property and motor vehicle taxes to state, county and local governments and schools each year.

An Alumna of Savannah High School and Savannah State University, Jackson’s choice to serve her hometown has provided great benefit to all citizens in Chatham County. The Tax Commissioner has brought Automated Automobile Tag Renewal Kiosks to the area. The kiosks provide residents with a rapid and safe alternative for tag renewals. Customers are now able to get their decals instantly. Residents can locate the kiosks at Kroger stores on Mall Boulevard, Ogeechee Road, and Wilmington Island. In addition to using the Chatham County Tax Offices’ three locations, residents are encouraged to conduct their business on-line for a variety services.

Working diligently to keep her promises, Jackson is also educating residents about their rights and tax laws through a variety of methods, to include community forums, workshops, and partnership with area organizations.

Sabriya Scott

Sabriya Scott is not only selling the American Dream to thousands but more i mportantly she’s making it a reality. Scott is an entrepreneur, Realtor, and Wealth Developer for individuals and families. She has developed her company, Scott Realty Professionals, into one of the top realty companies in the U.S. Becoming an expert in the field she has become a beacon of light for current and generational wealth.

Scott is an alumna of Savannah High School and Armstrong Atlantic State University (now Georgia Southern University). At AASU/GSU she became a charter member of the Tau Alpha Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.

Scott’s commitment to excellence and to serve people has propelled her into being one of the leaders in real estate ventures in Georgia and South Carolina. Her endeavors has caused her to grow other business ventures: T & J Properties of Savannah and Scott Management & Consulting Services.

All of her efforts have been to uplift people and communities.

Margo Barbee

Community Advocate

If Giving was a photo, it certainly would be this Go Getter, Margo Barbee exemplifies two things , Service and Giving. In Chatham County, especially in the City of Port Wentworth, Margo Barbee is everywhere try to make a difference. From all her many years in different organizations and positions, to her years with the Savannah/Chatham Economic Opportunity Authority, (EOA), Margo has always been willing to Serve. She’s a proud Suma Cum Laude graduate of Savannah State University.

From running for statewide office to serving on the Port Wentworth Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, to volunteering at major events in the city , to being a 8th district representative of the Chatham County Democratic Committee, Margo sees her role in life as trying to make a difference in the space that she walks in every day. Margo has worked hand in hand with local and state agencies and organizations in different efforts to eradicate poverty and injustice in underserved communities. Margo Barbee is a Networker, and she has used that skillset to network with others to help with Mental Health Awareness, Workforce Development, and Affordable Housing.

Married to the Mayor ProTem of Port Wentworth, Thomas Barbee, Margo gets up every morning trying to outwork him. And every citizen of Port Wentworth knows that’s a tough job. She believes that it is her job to step up and provide assistance to help move her community forward regardless of what the conditions are. Asked why she works so hard and gives so much, she responded with, ”so my grandkids can have a better life”. We’re glad that she chose Port Wentworth to call home.

Delores Screen Daniels

Serial Entrepreneur/Trend Setter

From Jeans Junction, to Styles By Deloris, to Deloris on 37th, to Facials by Deloris, this Trend setting business woman has been showing us how to start , manage, and own your own business since the 70’s. If 1099 had a face, her face would be it.

Always creating a business to make people dress better or to look good , this ageless beauty is what being creative is all about. Her runway fashion and hair shows of the 80’s are what set the tone for entertainment in Savannah. Her comfortable waiting areas in her hair salons and her elegant looking styling areas were always the talk of the town.

Five decades later and she’s still helping clients look good and feel good. She’s what you get when you mix classy, beauty, intelligence, determination. Deloris surely is a living legend.

Julia Pearce

Community Activist

When it comes to putting people together, especially people from different races,backgrounds, and cultures, Julia Pearce is the person to see. Julia lives on Tybee Island Ga., which is where Savannah Beach is located. Tybee Island is approximately 98% white, but Julia was still able to organize a MLK Parade and event, and also a ceremony (Juneteenth Wade) on the Island.

She’s soft spoken but forceful in her opinions of the facts and circumstances. She makes sense in a world that seems to be going crazy. Julia is a people’s person, a person that unites instead of dividing , a person that is colorblind instead of blinded by color. If you’re ever near Tybee, Come Wade in The Water.

queen Quet

“Yeddi We" here we stand - a Head was placed upon the Body. In July 2002 the former Marqueta L. Goodwine was enstooled as Queen Quet Chieftess of the Gullah Geechee Nation. Queen Quet is from Saint Helena Island South Carolina. She created the Gullah Geechee Sea Island Coalition and AKAN - Afrikan Kultural Arts Network.

She was formally known as an Artivist - an artist who is an activist. Now she is known as the foremost leader regarding matters pertaining to Gullah Geechee people in the US. She has traveled the world working on behalf of her people and the culture and she is recognized by various governments.

Queen Quet is the first Gullah Geechee person to address the United Nations. In 1999 she addressed the UN's Commission on Human Rights in Geneva, Switzerland. Since that time she has been invited to address other forums at the UN on behalf of Gullah Geechee people.

Side Note - She has left Savannah and Hilton Head native Jamal Touré in the US while on her travels to Brasil and Panama.

"When Truth Arrives Falsehood Must Perish"

Ambria berksteiner

Ambria Berksteiner is a Savannah native who graduated from The Savannah Arts Academy in 2013. While attending Savannah Arts Academy as a Visual Arts major, she had the opportunity to participate in the Engineering Explorer Post Program. It was during this experience with the Thomas & Hutton firm that she developed her passion for engineering. Following high school, she attended Spelman College where she majored in Mathematics and was a participant in the Dual-Degree Engineering program. She went on to attend Auburn University where she studied Industrial and Systems engineering completing her dual degree. In 2017, she won the Miss Savannah USA Pageant, gaining the opportunity to compete at Miss Georgia USA. While fulfilling the duties of this prestigious title, she decided to empower young Women of Color in the STEM fields as her pageant platform, launching ‘Operation One STEM at a Time’.

Operation One STEM at a Time is an initiative she solidified on her platform as Miss Savannah USA 2017-2018. The organization educates, enlightens, and empowers young women to pursue STEM-related careers, and Ambria is affectionately considered its mentor-in-chief. Over the past 6 years, she has worked and partnered with The Live Oak Public Libraries, Georgia Tech’s CEISMC program, the Society of Women Engineers, and The Creative Coast. Recently she was appointed to the Live Oak Public Library’s Board of Trustees helping to further cultivate spaces of limitless learning in Savannah. In 2018, Ambria Advocated to local lawmakers the need to recognize women in STEM-related careers in our local community. Due to this lobbying, she was ultimately granted a proclamation for the first Women In STEM Day for the Savannah-Chatham County area. Through her STEM advocacy, she has received numerous awards and honors. Most recently she was recognized by Savannah Magazine as a 2021 New Guard honoree and recognized by the 100 Black Men of Savannah, receiving the organization’s 2021 Leadership Service Award. She was appointed to the Live Oak Public Library’s Board of Trustees and serves on the Woodville Tompkins Technical High School Engineering Advisory Board. Ambria believes that exposure leads to expansion and that she is helping to launch each child closer to their dreams #oneSTEMatatime.

Gabrielle Nelson

This Young Trailblazer is not only a rising star in Chatham County Ga, but in the state of Georgia. Her campaign model is “Having A Heart”. She does not care about party politics, which often divides instead of uniting, she only cares about the bottom line and how it affects regular citizens. This mother, wife, and advocate is everywhere fighting on the frontlines for everybody’s rights. She’s the past Secretary of the Chatham County Democratic Committee, as well as being on the board of several charitable, civic, and governmental organizations. She’s only the third African American female elected in the City of Port Wentworth, following in the footsteps of Former Mayor Pro-Tem Debbie Johnson and Barbara Powers. We can look to see this young trailblazer in the future setting trends for other young women. This Girl Is On Fire.

Councilwoman Port Wentworth, Ga.

Lisa Rundstrom

Community Activist

Lisa Rundstrom is a multi-media artist working in sculptural interactive technologies, video, community and public art. She is a published author and Professor of Foundation Studies at Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah GA, where her focus is on 4D, time-based media.

She has exhibited in art centers, galleries, museums and in public spaces nationally. Her most recent works extend in to the community, producing inclusive public art and events including the non-profit Hello Neighbor SAV & Hello Neighbor Radio featured on community radio and streaming.

Her work with the community extends into coalition building and is a member of the Weeping Time Coalition in effort to preserve the historical site of the Weeping Time Slave Auction in West Savannah and Woodville. She is a certified yoga instructor and community servant.

Vaughnette Goode-walker

Vaughnette Goode-Walker is a historian, poet, journalist, educator, cultural advocate and organizer, entrepreneur, truth speaker, legacy holder, museum executive, and torch bearer for truth, justice, and righteousness. One could say she is a multitalented genius. Goode-Walker grew up in Savannah and Chatham County. In fact she went to high school as young girl to Tompkins High School. Her mother taught home economics at Tompkins and at times she had to go there with mother.

Sista V as she is known to many across the globe is a graduate of Saint Vincent’s Academy in Savannah, GA. Later her college experience would take her to the Atlanta, Ga to become a Morris Brown Wolverine. The pride of her alma mater becomes clear as she proudly proclaims “I’m a Brownite”.

Her journalistic career has taken her to Chicago, New York City, Atlanta, and Savannah. She is one of the authors of Brokers, Bankers, and Bay Lane – a tremendous work on the economics and the foundation of Savannah’s wealth –human trafficking of Africans.

The King-Tisdell Cottage and the Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights have been given new life and new meaning based on her work both museums. Goode-Walker organized some of the first Spoken Word events in Chatham County. A former manager of reggae band is a part of her background.

The fight for human rights is in her blood. The Civil Rights leader, Rev. F. D. Jaudon, “the Walking Preacher”, is her uncle. Goode-Walker stands on his shoulders, and the shoulders of Benjamin Van Clark, W. W. Law, Earl Shinholster, Esther Garrison, and countless others who sought equality and equity for African people here and beyond. She lets be known her work is paying respect and honor to their legacies.

Judge tammy stokes

Tammy Stokes is the Chief Judge of Chatham County’s Recorder’s Court in Savannah, Georgia, she also serves as Judge-elect for the Superior Court of he Eastern District.

Judge Stokes has served in Chatham County’s Recorder’s Court since 2004, and became Chief Judge in 2012, making history both times as the first black woman judge, and first black chief judge in Chatham County. Prior to her current work, Stokes served as Judge Pro-Tempore for the City of Thunderbolt, Chatham County Probate Court, and Chatham County Juvenile Court. She also owned a private law practice in Savannah from 1996-2004.

Previously, Stokes served as an Assistant District Attorney in Fulton County, and Assistant Solicitor in Dekalb County Solicitor’s Office, and Juvenile Court. She began her law career as a staff attorney with the United States Board of Veteran Appeals in Washington, D.C.

Tammy Stokes received her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Georgia Law School, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from the University of Georgia. She calls herself a “triple dog” because she also graduated from A.E. Beach High School in Savannah, whose mascot is a bulldog, like the University of Georgia.

Born and raised in Savannah, Georgia, Judge Tammy Stokes dedicates her life to her hometown through both her work and involvement in the community.

Chief Judge

Tammy Mosley

Clerk of Superior CourT

Having received her undergrad degree from Morris Brown College and her Law Degree from Drake University, Tammie came back home to serve.

The Superior Court Clerk is known as The Master Keeper of The Records.

After numerous years working in different areas of the law, from Staff Attorney in Superior Court, to practicing law in the private sector, Tammie sets her sights on the head records keeping job.

Her experience and expertise in the judicial system, provided her the opportunity to show her innovative and energetic vision on how to improve the case management processes.

She volunteers and serves on many boards and organizations in the Savannah-Chatham County area.

Tammie believes in giving back and showing up. She attends every community event engaging with the voters and citizens of her community. This is how she really keeps the records, through Accessibility, Transparency, and Accountability. Just check her record, she has the receipts. Tammie is part of why Women Rule The World.

flaujae johnson

Music Artist/ Athlete

Flau’jae Johnson has got talent – 2 ways. Savannah born Johnson has been a star in entertainment as a rapper and as athlete in basketball. One of Savannah’s legendary rappers the late Camoflauge a/k/a Jason Johnson is her father. Her gifts for words, flow, and bars are in her genes. Her Momager (“Half Mom Half Manager) said one of the first time she performed she fell asleep before the performance. Her father Camouflage would fall asleep before his performance.

As it stands it’s no sleeping on either one of them. Flau’jae signed a recording deal with the billionaire Jay Z’s Roc Nation. She performed on “America’s Got Talent”. Prior to that Jermaine Dupri had her as a contestant on “The Rap Game”.

She’s impressive with her skills on the mic and stage but Flau’jae is an even larger standout. Johnson was a stellar performer on the basketball court. Her star loomed large at Sprayberry High School becoming one of the most sought after recruits in the country. After finishing her high school career she took her talents to Baton Rouge - Louisiana State University (LSU). Playing in the tough Southeastern Conference (SEC) Flau’jae Johnson has been named the Freshman of the Year in the Conference.