14TH ANNUAL EXCEPTIONAL WOMEN OF COLOR (EWOC) AWARDS & EXPO Tuesday, September 20, 2022 DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton | Sacramento, California Presented by Charting the Way BE BOLD, BE COURAGEOUS, BE EXCEPTIONAL EXCEPTIONAL
2 Connect with African American professionals! Share your services, products and events with Sacculturalhub.com, The HUB Magazine, The Black Physcians Form & Exceptional Women of Color Program Booklet, your leading sources of EXCITEMENT and Urban Entertainment and News in Northern California. twitter.com/sachub916instagram.com/thehublivefacebook.com/Sacculturalhub1 WINTER 2022 www.sacculturalhub.com ABRAMSSTACEY SECOND RUN FOR GOVERNOR OF GEORGIA KEEPING THE U.S. SENATE & HOUSE BLUE ARE YOU READY TO VOTE IN 2022 MIDTERM ELECTIONS? celebrating Contact orcontact@sacculturalhub.comus:916-234-3589
Dear Colleagues, Friends & Newcomers,
In the 14 years that Sac Cultural Hub has been hosting the Exceptional Women of Color Conference, we have worked to foster connections and education to help women achieve their dreams.
is one of the keys to success. While we each have our own path, successful people continually share that they did not achieve their success alone. They build a network of support, consistently learn about their field, get clear about what they do best, and collaborate with others to fill gaps.
Our keynote speaker, Kiki Ayers, Founder and CEO of Ayers Publicity will share her story of resilience going from being homeless to owning a successful media company in just two years. Hear how her education, network and determination to succeed by helping others excel led her to making millions as a young thirty-something professional.
Pleshette
CEO & Founder - Sac Cultural Hub Chief Editor of THE HUB Magazine President - Sac Cultural Hub Media Foundation Twlia
Makes It Happen! Strategic Marketing Director Sac Cultural Hub Media Foundation Valarie
Owner - VisionStep Program Development Manager Sac Cultural Hub Media Foundation 3 True Blessings! 14TH ANNUAL EWOC AWARDS & EXPO EXCEPTIONALWelcome Everyone!
We are excited to share our fabulous speakers for the 14th Annual Exceptional Women of Color Conference on “Charting Your Way: Be Bold, Be Courageous, Be Exceptional.“ They each bring powerful perspectives on how to harness skills to enrich our lives through education and entrepreneurship.
Drawing our specific course is a unique experience and changes as we grow. Through it we experience our highest feelings of joy and success, tap into our deepest wells of resilience and transform our lives. We learn, adjust and collaborate as we create our own Collaborationpath.
Twlia Laster Twlia
Owner -
9th Annual Exceptional Women of Color Conference
As always, our greatest honor is to present women who excel in their fields. The 2022 Exceptional Women of Color Honorees will accept their awards and share their motivations and truths that led them to where they are today.
Valarie Scruggs
Pleshette Robertson
We will hear from Dr. Ramona Bishop on the current state of education. How schools are changing, new learning experiences exist for our children and holding our educational institutions accountable is key to our communities’ success. Dr. Bishop has worked in the field of education for many years and is a leader in rethinking how schools can better serve children and families.
Charting our way through life well is a desire we all share. There are so many possibilities available to us. Our journeys are impacted by shifts in technology, social practices, finances, health, family and more. There is no single ready-made map to navigate our lives that fully considers our unique personalities, skills, and circumstances. It requires us to be bold and courageous in the steps we take to move towards our dreams.
We encourage you to pause with us today to look at the ways you can chart your way to success. Ask what the next right step is for you. Then do it. Be Bold, Be Courageous and Be Exceptional. See you on the red carpet.
CONTENTS Welcome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Congratulations 2022 EWOC Honorees 6 Speakers and Presenters 10 Conference Team Leadership . . . . . . 12 History of Sac Cultural Hub Media Company & Foundation 13 Advisory Committee 15 Y-EWOC Scholarship Program 16 Exhibitor Pavilion . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 EVENT PROGRAM DESIGNED BY Heather Niemann Tingible Design | Coverheather@tingible.comwww.tingible.comPhotoCredit:Shutterstock 4 COMMUNITY & BUSINESS PARTNERS 1 Solution of California Outreach & Recruitment Firm www.1Solutionca.net C.L.A.S.S.Y.-Captivating Ladies Acquiring Successful Standards www.classymbrsonly.org Fortune School www.fortuneschool.us PRIDE Industries www.prideindustries.com Roberts Family Development Center www.facebook.com/RFDCsac Sacramento Realtist Association sacramentorealtist.com Saving Our Legacy, African Americans for Smoke Free Safe Places - The SOL Project www.thesolproject.com Syphax Strategic, Inc./Nehemiah Emerging Leaders Program (NELP) syphaxstrategic.com Weave www.weaveinc.org 14TH ANNUAL EWOC AWARDS & EXPO EXCEPTIONAL Sponsor Partners and Table of Contents The Sac Cultural Hub Media Foundation is proud to present the 14th Annual EWOC Awards & Expo. We appreciate our 2022 sponsors, community & business partners, media partners and donors who also support the EWOC program. www.ewocawards.com SILVER SacramentoSPONSORSCORPORATEMunicipalUtilityDistrict www.smud.org BRONZE CORPORATE SPONSORS Department of General Services State of California www.dgs.ca.gov UC Davis Health Office for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion health.ucdavis.edu/diversity-inclusion MEDIA Sacculturalhub.comPARTNERS Media Company www.sacculturalhub.com THE HUB Magazine https://issuu.com/thehubmag The Gospel Vine www.thegospelvine.com KDEE 97.5 FM www.kdeefm.org Leatherwood Marketing (916) 838-9267 Twlia Makes It Happen! (916) 662-3502 VisionStep (916) 397-4501 Coleman Communications www.michaelpcoleman.com
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Entrepreneur/CEO, Living Your Best Life Enterprise, LLC Social
LORA ANGUAY
California Department of Insurance (CDI) Politics & Government Relations
VANESSA CAIGOY Coordinator of Compliance and Special Projects for Leadership Public Schools Social Welfare & Community Activism
Capitol Impact Social
PATRICIA HATCHER-JONES Welfare
ROBYNNE ROSE-HAYMER
PAULA VILLESCAZ
8th Annual Exceptional Women of Color Conference Sac Cultural Hub Media Foundation is proud to present the 2022 Honorees with the Exceptional Women of Excellence Awards 6 See profile articles of the 2022 EWOC Honorees in the Fall 2022 issue of THE HUB Magazine! 14TH ANNUAL EWOC AWARDS & EXPO EXCEPTIONAL Congratulations 2022 Honorees!
ANGELA LOWE
STACEY SHELNUT-HENDRICK Director Of Education, Crocker Art Museum Arts & Culture
CANCY MCARN
LLC Entrepreneur/Innovator
GEAR Chief
Chief Human Resources Officer, Sacramento City Unified School
Cosmetologist, Best Kept Secret Barbering and Braiding Health, Sport & Wellness
LIEUTENANT SABRINA BRIGGS Lieutenant, Sacramento Police Department Politics & Government Relations
SHEILA MOODY BENNETT and Founder of Services
& Community Activism
TARA
PATRICE HILL Executive Director for Sacramento Area Youth Speaks (SAYS) Arts & Culture
LAMPKINS Assistant Principal, Capital City School, Sacramento City Unified School District Education and Research DR. ADRIENNE LAWSON Director of Diversity, Inclusion, and Compliance, Pride Industries Management and the Professions AISHA LOWE, PHD Vice Chancellor, Educational Services and Support California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office Education and Research
Associate Director of Legislative Advocacy, County Welfare Directors Association Politics & Government Relations
Management
Vice President, Welfare
Chief Zero Carbon Officer for the Sacramento Municipal Utility District and
MELISSA Deputy Legislative Director
CEO
CPMS
Executive Assistant to President of the California Black Chamber of Commerce and
(SMUD) Management
District Education and Research
the Professions
& Community Activism
the Professions
LARAE CLAYTOR
8th Annual Exceptional Women of Color Conference 7 14TH ANNUAL EWOC AWARDS & EXPO EXCEPTIONALAdvertisement
8 14TH ANNUAL EWOC AWARDS & EXPO EXCEPTIONAL Evening Progam At A Glance 5:00 PM EXPO GRAND OPENING NETWORKINGPHOTOSWELCOME 6:00 PM SPOKEN WORD PERFORMANCE – Patrice Hill DINNER AWARDS RECEPTION 6:15 PM RECOGNITION OF EWOC EXCELLENCE AWARDS SPONSORSHIP TRIBUTE Y-EWOC SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS 7:30 PM SPECIAL REPORT: STATE OF EDUCATION IN OUR COMMUNITIES Dr. Ramona Bishop, President/CEO of ELITE Public Schools 7:45 PM KEYNOTE CONVERSATION KiKi Ayers, Founder and CEO of Ayers Publicity 8:10 – 9:00 PM RAFFLE PRIZE DRAWING EXHIBITORPHOTOSNETWORKINGPATRONAGEeveningPROGRAM
STARTS HERE WITHENROLLFORTUNE.NOW! 9 14TH ANNUAL EWOC AWARDS & EXPO EXCEPTIONALAdvertisement
KEYNOTE PRESENTER
a TEDx Speaker and first-generation college graduate, a proud Howard University alumna. She is also the proud mother of a three-year-old son.
www.ayerspublicity.com 10 14TH ANNUAL EWOC AWARDS & EXPO EXCEPTIONAL Speakers and
Founder and CEO of Ayers Publicity Ke’Andrea “Kiki” Ayers is the Founder and CEO of Ayers Publicity, a prominent public relations firm in Hollywood.
As our 2022 EWOC Keynote Presenter, Ayers promises to share that story, and concrete steps and strategies that will help you take your project or career to the next level! Presenters
spans several industries, including entertainment, film, technology, and business. Most of her clients have been featured on platforms including Forbes, Business Inside, Time Magazine, USA Today, Yahoo! Finance, Complex, XXL, CNN Business, Good Morning America, The Ellen Show, The Washington Post, The Breakfast Club, KTLA, and ABC News. Ayers Publicity has has also been engaged for major red-carpet events for Floyd Mayweather, Snoop Dogg, and Russell Simmons.
Kiki Ayers
The millennial entrepreneur recently shared her incredible testimony on The Tamron Hall Show and in Forbes Magazine, recounting how she went from experiencing homelessness to being an A-List celebrity PR agent in just 2 years.
Since launching the company in 2016, Ayers has been featured on platforms including Forbes Magazine, Black Enterprise, The Tamron Hall Show, BET, and Essence Magazine. She has been honored by the United States Senate, The National Committee for UN Women, The City of Los Angeles, the National Black Public Relations Society, she has been named one of Root 100’s Most Influential African AyersAmericans.isalso
Prior to launching Ayers Publicity, Ayers worked for over a decade as a journalist and entertainment reporter. She has interviewed some of the the biggest names in Hollywood such as Samuel L. Jackson, Ice Cube, Ryan Gosling, Ben Affleck, James Corden, Will Ferrell, and Issa Rae. Ayers has also worked for major TV stations and publications that include MTV, BET, NBC Universal, BBC, REVOLT, XXL Magazine and Ayers’Bossip!clientele
Dr. Bishop is supported by her family, including her husband, Dwayne, her daughters Kilan and Malia, and her mom and dad as well as extended family and friends.
Born and raised in Chicago, IL, Neketia Henry moved to California with her mother at the age of 12. As a child, she knew that performing arts was her true passion, and began performing in numerous stage plays and musicals. Since then, Neketia has appeared in numerous film projects and countless commercials and national print ads.
She is a devoted wife and mother and advocates for students with learning disabilities ages elementary through high school. She works hand in hand with families, various school districts and the State of CA to ensure that students have the resources needed in order to achieve and maintain academic success and truly believes that no child should be left behind.
With the gift that God has given her and her tenacious spirit, she continues to be a voice for the voiceless. Neketia is a professional host who’s witty personality captivates all audiences from concerts to weddings and everything in between....all she needs is one mic! Neketia is a professional actress and host who’s witty personality captivates all audiences from tv to stages and everything in between....all she needs is one mic!
GUEST SPEAKER
principal, she led a staff that facilitated API growth of 122 points in one year. In another principal position, she led a school staff that facilitated growth in similar schools ranking from a four to an eight. Her success as a teacher and principal helped her as she ascended and became responsible for supervising schools and providing the support they needed to improve.
Special Report on the State of Education in Our Communities DR. BISHOPRAMONA
Dr. Bishop is known as a strategic inBishophavecommunityColleaguestrajectorystatusstudentswithorganizationsabilityadministratorturnaroundduetohertogointofailingandworkstaff,communityandtoimprovetheirandputthemonatowardsuccess.andmembersrecognizedDr.forherexcellenceeducation.Asa
Dr. Bishop is the Co-Founder and President/CEO of ELITE Public Schools, a public charter school network that opened it’s first school in Vallejo, California in August of 2019. ELITE is designed to eliminate the opportunity gap for all students, particularly African-American and Latinx students. Dr. Bishop considers this her legacy work in that she has dedicated her career toward improving the lives of students in communities that have been historically underserved.
11 14TH ANNUAL EWOC AWARDS & EXPO EXCEPTIONAL
MC/HOST
As a Superintendent Dr. Bishop worked with staff to implement innovative research-proven strategies while removing a district from state control. In her various roles at the Executive Cabinet level she worked with staff members to implement programs that are receive state and national attention and have a strong impact on student outcomes, including: Wall to Wall College and Career Academies for all high school students, a Full--Service Community School District, systemwide implementation of PBIS, RJ and Trauma-informed Care, K-8 STEAM programming, and innovative magnet school programs.
Speakers and Presenters
President/CEO, ELITE Public Schools
VICKI BLAKELY holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Care Administration/ Management where she worked for various hospitals and clinics throughout Southern and Northern California as a Regional Manager. Vicki is currently studying for her Real Estate License. She also owns “Cheake Enterprises” a family company that specializes in Real Estate Investments and Wireless products. Vicki also serves on the Board of Black Wealth Matters as the Board Secretary and on the Hospitality Committee for the Sac Realtist. Vicki joined the staff of Sac Cultural Hub in the Fall of 2009 and is the Administrative Manager working on special grant projects and activities.
over 20 years in broadcasting, print media, and public relations, MICHAEL P. COLEMAN relocated from Detroit in 2010 to write the latest chapter in his career: Coleman Communications. He regularly delivers feature articles to a variety of print and online platforms, including Jet Magazine, EURweb.com, and Uptown Magazine. Coleman Communications also provides consultation on brand management, event planning & execution, and fund development/sales to corporations and small businesses. Coleman has earned a Bachelor of Arts with High Honors and Distinction in Communication from the University of Michigan, and he’s working on achieving fluency in Spanish.
owner of PR & Associates Business Resources Resources (AKA Sacculturalhub.com Media Company) which is an advertisement and public promotions agency specializing in providing multi-media advertising, social media marketing campaigns, e-blast ad/website production and consultation to new business and startup organizations.
EXCEPTIONAL Conference Team Leadership
14TH ANNUAL EWOC AWARDS & EXPO
She also serves as the Executive Director for the Sac Cultural Hub Media Foundation that educates, empowers, and train young adults and women of color in underserved communities. Several programs under the Sac Cultural Hub Media Foundation include: Exceptional Women of Color Conference; Hub Choice Awards Show; Black Physicians Forum (BPF); BPF Medical Student Scholarship Program; Young Exceptional Women of Color (Y-EWOC) Scholarship Competition, and the Young/Youth Women’s Summit (YWS). For 3 years, Pleshette served as a Covered California Enrollment Counselor and Outreach Educator.
PLESHETTE ROBERTSON is the CEO and Founder of Sacculturalhub. com and the Chief Editor of THE HUB Magazine. The website (launched in March 2002) and magazine (published in February 2006) are leading sources of Black urban media that celebrate the urban lifestyle of African-Americans in the capital region and throughout California serving as the information hub for black-oriented movies, concerts, theatrical performances, art exhibitions, sporting events, festivals and black-owned businesses and Sheentrepreneurs.isalsothe
Pleshette has received numerous awards that include: Community Outreach Award by the Sacramento NAACP at the 40th Annual Prayer Breakfast Celebration in April 2022, MLK Unsung Hero Award Recipient of the 9th Assembly District presented by the California Legislative Black Caucus in January 2018, Entrepreneur of The Year presented by Calvary Christian Center’s Genesis School of Business & Entrepreneurship in December 2017, Martin Luther King Jr. Difference Maker Award for Service and Advocacy in January 2016, NAWBO OWL Wise Woman (a.k.a. Business Woman of the Year) in October 2015; BWOPA-PAC Ella Hill Hutch Award in November 2014, UC Davis Chancellor’s Achievement Awards For Diversity and Community in the Community Award category in February 2014; Business Award from the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Sacramento Chapter in November 2009; “Women of Excellence” from the Sacramento Kappa Psi Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority in March 2008. Pleshette was featured in the August 2007 issue on her personal style and noteworthy achievements in the Sacramento magazine. She holds a B.A. in Business Administration from San Jose State University. Pleshette loves and celebrates her extended family while she is the proud mother of three daughters and also has eight grandsons.
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The word that best describes MICHAEL BLAIR is community. Michael serves as Chief Innovation Officer at Neighborhood Innovation Project, a community economic development company that focuses on wealth building education and other community benefit advancement initiatives. As a community leader, Michael works closely with public officials on City, County and State level think tanks and commissions to create solutions for community-wide public challenges. A proud alum from California State University Sacramento, Michael holds a double bachelor’s degree in business management. In addition to an extensive background in Marketing and Brand building for numerous companies throughout Northern California. Michael has also worked professionally in Human Resources specializing in Corporate Recruiting and Employee Relations for fortune 500 companies in both the Information Technology and Healthcare sectors for almost 20 years. Michael is also the Founder of thegospelvine.com.After
leadersSupportingand HEALTHIER FUTURES
■ One of the nation’s top medical schools for diversity as ranked by U.S. News & World Report
14TH ANNUAL EWOC AWARDS & EXPO EXCEPTIONAL
Conference Team Leadership
At UC Davis Health, we take pride in the dedication and culturally relevant care that our physicians and staff provide every day — so our region can be stronger and healthier.
13 health.ucdavis.edu
TWLIA LASTER is the owner of Twlia Makes It Happen! Consulting Service and Travel with Twlia, a concierge travel service. Ms. Laster has over 22 years experience providing consulting services to clients in need of marketing, program development, public relations, event management, health education, and smoking cessation facilitation. For the past 14 years Ms. Laster has served as the Strategic Marketing and Project Director for Sac Cultural Hub Media Company directly engaged in increasing overall company revenue by revamping the marketing model, developing programs, solidifying corporate and community partnerships. Ms. Laster is also the Project Director of Saving Our Legacy, African Americans for Smoke Free Safe Places – The SOL Project responsible for grassroots organizing, training, collaboration and providing technical assistance to 14 Northern California Counties developing community and legislative relationship that influence public policy. Twlia is incredibly passionate about public health, health equity and environmental justice for all.
■ A leader in LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation
■ Improving health for all through the Office for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and the Center for Reducing Health Disparities
Thank you to all physician leaders for breaking down barriers, fostering change, and transforming health care to improve lives in new ways.
■ Among America’s Best Employers for Diversity by Forbes Magazine
DONNA RAMOS writes several multi-cultural novels simultaneously. Her journalism career as a Senior Staff Writer/ Reporter for THE HUB Magazine writes multi-cultural novels and her journalism career as a Senior Staff Writer for THE HUB Magazine has yielded interviews with Maxwell, Venus and Serena Williams and HRH Sarah Ferguson Duchess of York, to name a few. As a selfpublished author, Ramos received acclaim from Essence Magazine and BlackbookPlus.com for her contemporary romance book “HIGH RISE”. “M&M, Madness and Mayhem”, the final book in her HIGH RISE Trilogy, was released in 2014.
VALARIE SCRUGGS is the Health Equity Manager at One Community Health where she designs programs to reduce health disparities by educating the public on health insurance and managing overall health. She is also owner of VisionStep, a consultant business focused on program development and grant writing. She has 17 years of experience in program planning, securing funding, and implementing effective public health campaigns. She develops strategic alliances to conduct campaigns that increase knowledge and encourage individuals and communities to take action to reduce their risk for disease. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Ecology from University of California, Irvine with an emphasis in Psychology and Social Behavior. Valarie also serves as Program Development Manager for the Sac Cultural Hub Media Foundation.
Dr. Oyebimpe Oluyemisi Adesina Hematology and Oncology (specializing in sickle cell disease)
Honored to be:
LESLEY LEATHERWOOD is the CEO of Leatherwood Marketing, and specializes in national internet marketing and print advertising. She possesses over 20 years of corporate experience, including inside and outside sales, hospitality, public relations, media buying, production assistant in television and four feature films. She is an expert with consulting on promoting, advertising, telemarketing products, events and photography. Lesley is originally from Cardiff Wales, England. Lesley has been with Sac Cultural Hub Media Company since 2008 and serves as the Community Advertising Manager.
• Hub Choice Awards (HCA) Show
• Black Physicians Forum (BPF)
The mission of the Sac Cultural Hub Media Foundation is to provide exciting non-traditional vehicles of engagement where businesses and non-profit organizations can market services and products and mentor and provide public service information to educate and inspire the urban community. Our primary goal is to motivate and empower African American professionals, communities of color, and youth to thrive and succeed in life.
• BPF Medical Student Scholarship Program
In February 2006, Ms. Robertson implemented a signature publication to complement the website. THE HUB: Urban Entertainment & Lifestyle Magazine which caters to affluent urban professionals, working class families and the underserved African American and urban communities. Its mission is to highlight individuals for their community contributions which increases enthusiasm in the community and help others to celebrate what Northern California has to offer.
EXCEPTIONAL History of Sac Cultural Hub Media Foundation
14TH ANNUAL EWOC AWARDS & EXPO
The Sac Cultural Hub Media Foundation utilizes the Sacculturalhub.com Media Company to connect with the African American and Urban communities of Northern California. Sacculturalhub.com is known as the #1 grassroots multi-media organization in Northern California and is the most popular resource for networking of businesses, nonprofit organizations, community resources, entertainment, and individuals.
Pleshette Robertson, the CEO and Founder of Sacculturalhub. com launched the website in March 2002. The website provides an internet platform for news, multicultural events, career profiles, professional business services, community resources, educational opportunities, corporate advertising, and photo gallery of Northern California residents, visitors, and celebrities. The website currently receives over 2 million national hits each month with over 20,000 unique visitors each month.
• Young Women’s Exceptional Women of Color (Y-EWOC) Scholarship Competition
• First Fridays Business Initiative
Working to promote the healthy lifestyles of African American and urban communities in Northern California, Sac Cultural Hub Media Foundation (SCHMF) was created in 2003 to develop programs which mentor young adults, women, and underserved communities. The Foundation has implemented programs in partnership with corporations, businesses and individuals to promote higher education, provide entrepreneurship opportunities, further diversity partnerships, and improve and encourage collaborative efforts through exceptional signature events that include:
• Exceptional Women of Color (EWOC) Program
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HOLLY BROWN
Executive Director, Juneteenth,SacramentoInc.
THOMPSON Broker/Realtor & Owner Goree & Thompson Real Estate
MITCHELL Staff Service Analyst in the State of California Public Information Unit for the Department of Consumer Affairs Nursing Board and Business Owner of Bougie Bites Catering CANDICE WILDER Student Review andAdministratorInterventions San Juan Unified School District and Business Owner of Naturally Loved LLC
MICHELE
14TH ANNUAL EWOC AWARDS & EXPO EXCEPTIONALAdvisory Committee 15
BOARD OF
Vice President with CommonSpirit Health’s Office of Diversity, Inclusion, Equity & Belonging
GARY SIMON
WILLIAM JAHMAL MILLER
Individual & Family Plans Outreach Manager Blue Shield of CA
ZORITHA
KIMBERLY
Mortgage Loan Officer & Realtor Answer Home Loans
STACY ANDERSON
BAILEY Owner/Graphic Designer SkuugiBear Graphics
SHEILA BENNETT
School and Community Relations Specialist Schools Financial Credit Union
DIRECTORS EWOC VOLUNTEERS & SUPPORT TEAM
She is an exceptional woman of color in the fields of STEM and health sciences which is a career path dominated by white males. She knows nothing less of being exceptional because of the exceptional of women of color who came before her and raised her. She wouldn’t be who she was without her mother, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers: a product of exceptional black women. She wants to be among those who strive for excellence and success. It motivates her to do the same for those who will come after her. It gives her the intrinsic drive that she needs to conquer her goals and face her fears. An exceptional woman of color is a woman who can face adversity with grace and class; she is able to adapt to any
EXCEPTIONAL Y-EWOC Scholarship Program
Zyan Cagnolatti
16 14TH ANNUAL EWOC AWARDS & EXPO
The annual Young Exceptional Women of Color (Y-EWOC) Scholarship Competition has assisted young women of color, ages 14-21, with a $500 award toward higher education. The goal of this scholarship is to encourage young women of color to pursue their dreams and secure the education and skills needed to make them a reality.
Zyan Cagnolatti is a 20 year old graduate student at the University of Southern California. She graduated in 2022 from Regis College in Weston, Massachusetts with a B.S. in Biology and a minor in Spanish. She is currently pursuing her doctorate in Physical Therapy in the Division of Bio-kinesiology and Physical Therapy Program at USC. Her goal is to specialize in Orthopedic Physical Therapy, Sports Physical Therapy, and Spinal Physical Therapy. In the future, she hopes to work for a professional sports team, like the Los Angeles Lakers, as well as owning an outpatient clinic. In her spare time, she likes to bake for her family,
This year we are presenting a total of three (3) scholarship awards in the amount of $500 for each student. These young women were selected based on their submission of their scholarship application that included resumes, letter of recommendation, and an excellent essay about “What Makes An Exceptional Woman of Color?”
Today’s youth are tomorrow’s leaders and business owners. Our mission is to inspire young women to seek successful opportunities and affect positive change in their communities. Our purpose is to empower young women to embrace their strengths and to reach their full potential in the career world. For the past 13 years our Young Women’s Summit has featured locally recognized young women who share their own insights on college, career building, entrepreneurship and how to address challenges that are attributed to the strides of success.
I was raised in Stockton for nearly my whole life, and having my father and mother taking turns raising me was definitely a barrier, but because of them, they both taught me how to be a successful black woman. My mother taught me how to nurture and express my emotions to others who needed help. While my father taught me how to work hard at whatever I’m doing and constantly hustle, I never took an easy route in life. Once I finally arrived in Sacramento, I was elated, but soon came to understand I was on my own. I found a place to stay near my university and worked at a retail store near me. The place wasn’t catering to me, especially in a work environment where I’m constantly overshadowed for my hard work ethic. Being the only African American woman there definitely made me feel a little inferior, but I was taught to never settle for less, and certainly I didn’t.
Honesty Hunter, a Stockton native, is a 21 year old junior at Sacramento State University. She is majoring in studio art, with a desire to minor in Asian Studies to expand her career choices. Honesty wants to become a video game graphic designer. In her spare time she enjoys dancing and caring for her cat at home.
Seventeen year old Larriah Jackson has been performing vocally since the age of 3. In 2020 Larriah was a contestant on NBC’s The Voice. She wowed by the Jackson 5. She graduated from St. Francis High School in Sacramento and now attends the illustrious Howard University in Washington, DC. Larriah’s dream is to someday be both a professional entertainer and a Physician Assistant. Look out world here she
Adversity is not a foreign topic to women of color. Not only are we expected to conform to society’s standard of femininity we must also remain racially conscious and act “accordingly”. Going to a predominately white, all girls, Catholic school in my hometown truly exposed me to the bitter truth of adversity. An exceptional woman of color does not conform or change due to lack of fitting the standard, yet at times it seemed impossible not to. High school is supposed to be a place where you discover who you want to be. In my case I couldn’t live in my true feelings or emotions because I didn’t want to be perceived as angry or too emotional. I couldn’t always vocalize my point of view because I didn’t want to be the “spokesperson” for all women of color at the institution. I can recall times when an articulated, opposing comment in a religion class led to a conversation with the dean about the natural intimidation a black woman exudes. Adversity isn’t always so simple to point out. Adversity tends to make you censor your everyday activities without even realizing you’re doing so. It took a very long time for me to recognize the mistreatment I experienced as a young black woman on that campus, but the aftermath has forced me to always recognize my own worth and beauty since not all people do.
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19 14TH ANNUAL EWOC AWARDS & EXPO EXCEPTIONALAdvertisement www.sacculturalhub.com/media-foundation DONATENOW! Big Day of Giving Thursday, May 4, 2023 www.bigdayofgiving.org/organization/sacculturalhub Building a strong community of leaders by EDUCATING, PROMOTING, and INSPIRING individuals to pursue their personal, academic, and business goals. SAVE THE DATE!
Sac Cultural Hub Media Foundation would like to thank all of our corporate sponsors and community partners for supporting the 14th Annual EWOC Awards & Expo Program PRESENTED BY CORPORATE & COMMUNITY PARTNERS Sac Cultural Hub Media Foundation 7902 Gerber Road, Unit 367 Sacramento, CA 95828 (916) 234-3589 | Fax: www.sacculturalhub.com/media-foundation866-302-6429 C WRITING.communicationsCMICHAELPCOLEMAN.COMWRITING.communicationsCMICHAELPCOLEMAN.COMWRITING.communicationsOLEMANEDITING.MARKETING.MOREOLEMANEDITING.MARKETING.MOREOLEMANEDITING.MARKETING.MORE
