Today, Catherine Wilson, President & CEO of United Way of Greater Newark (UWGN), announced that UWGN hosted its 8thAnnual Women’s Breakfast to virtually celebrate “Women Leading through Crisis” on Thursday March 18, 2021. The event brought together female community leaders in Greater Newark and 170+ virtual attendees to discuss the personal and professional challenges they’ve faced during the pandemic and ways in which they’ve supported the community. The event raised $26,000, a portion of which will support UWGN’s Young Professional United food insecurity project to provide relief to three food pantries in the Greater Newark community.
“There are so many amazing women in our community who have demonstrated true leadership during this pandemic and we’re grateful to have been able to bring many of them together despite the ongoing pandemic,” said Wilson. “This year, our breakfast focused on the challenges many of us have faced over the last year and the ways in which we’ve pivoted our organization’s responses to support our community members during this challenging time. I’m grateful to the panelists and moderators for their participation and for their commitments and service to our community.”
The event began at 9:30am with three breakout rooms to discuss: the glass cliff phenomenon; racial disparities and COVID-19; and social equity in a pandemic. Moderators for the discussions included: Mary-Ann Jackson, VP, Process Management at Prudential Financial; Keri Logosso-Misurell, JD, Executive Director, Greater Newark Health Care Coordination; and Andrea Lewis-Walker, Deputy-in-Charge, U.S. District Court, NJ. Panelists include: Dr. Chris Pernell, Chief Strategic Integration & Health Equity Officer at University Hospital; Andrea McChristian, Law & Policy Director, New Jersey Institute for Social Justice; and Adenah Bayoh, Entrepreneur & Foundation, Adenah Bayoh & Co.
“As the national discourse on racial equity and health justice grows louder, it is important to amplify the voices of women of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds in shaping this critical dialogue, especially at a time when the nation is grappling with an unprecedented public health crisis that has devastated Black and Brown lives disproportionately in our local community, state and nation,” said Dr. Pernell. “It is through equity, inclusion and antiracism work that women will help solve public health and social justice issues of our day.”
“It is imperative that we honor women in leadership. As leaders of nonprofits, corporations, and everything in between, women play a key role in creating innovative solutions to new challenges,” said McChristian. “As Law & Policy Director of the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, I am honored to have participated in this important event that both honored women leaders and celebrated all women during Women’s History Month.”
“The ongoing public health crisis has been a mirror. It has exposed and exacerbated so many existing inequities and issues. Its impact on women, particularly women of color, has been devastating. And yet, it is women who have risen to the occasion demonstrating the significant value and need for our leadership. We continue to step up and lead all while facing severe headwinds. There has been no greater testament to women’s leadership globally than this pandemic, and that is why this conversation is so important. We need to center women’s voices and leadership as we reimagine our institutions as we emerge from this crisis,” explained Adenah Bayoh, Multi-Franchisee, IHOP and Co-Founder, Cornbread.
If you’re interested in attending the free event, register here.
If you’d like to donate to support UWGN’s Young Professional United food insecurity project, visit:https://uwnewark.org/give-now/
