Networking: what it meant once upon a time.
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Posted By: Marta Fernandez on October 18, 2008 My training to be a civic, politically active woman comes out the "Coalition of 100 Black Women." It was under the auspices of these, what phenomenal? awesome? brilliant? yes wonderful adjectives, or I can just get jiggy with it..put the verbosity aside and unequivocably state; these were the "baddest sisters" I had ever seen in my life gathered in one place. It was in these 2:00 p.m. 3 hour long Saturday meetings, that I learned about "action." It is where I learned "process" it is where I learned not to gossip about my sisters, because Jewell Jackson McCabe our President and co-founder gave us that talk one day. She quoted Harriet Tubman, "if my slip is showing tell me ,don't tell her." I was in my 30's they were in their 50's, 60's 70's fabulous. They were my mentors all 300 of them. They taught me commitment, skills necessary in getting the JOB done!! They strutted yes, strutted, you know how sisters strut, ready to work, looking every bit the professional business woman, retirees, activists,authors, artists, doctors, ministers, lawyers that they were. Taking us under their wings..we learned to WORK together for a cause, whether it was the Urban League, The 1980 Democratic Convention, helping health clinics in Harlem, hosting the fabulous "Candace Awards" named for the eponymous African Queen. It is also where I truly learned to dress for success. Maybe it was the times or the fashion,but they came dressed to kill. Not in the IBM classic ,but styled with the Afrocentric base ,mixing business and class as only a Black woman can! We "networked" , we would jump into a project and support one another. I still carry those values today, so when I saw that brother Chris Donshale Sims, on this site was an Obama Field Organizer I reached out to him, and he invited me to the Prayer Breakfast in Philadelphia at the Triumph Baptist Church. That's how we do it. Many you see today walked through the doors of the Harlem State Office Building where we held our meetings: Julianne Malveaux,economist and writer whose daughter Suzanne Malveaux is on CNN. Paula Giddings, esteemed historical writer, she announced her first book at our meeting an it was brilliantly researched titled "When and Where I Enter". Dr. Muriel Petioni, long, long time Harlem doctor and acitvist, Hazel Dukes, NAACP , President: Union leader Lillian Roberts, Black women really, on top of their game. Some have moved on to a well deserved rest in heaven and some on earth , and the legacy they left will be forever a part of my commitment to pursue the best for all of us. Network sisters, open your hearts. Network to build a Nation. Photo: Left to right--Michael Strautmanis, senior counsel Obama campaign, DFO's Me, and Christopher Sims. If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
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Marta Fernandez
From Queens, NY CUNY -Queens College class of 1985 Member Since July 2008 |
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