By Betsy Finklea
The Women’s Empowerment Brunch held at the Dillon County Courthouse on Saturday, May 11, was a time of inspiration and for women to build up each other.
After a delicious brunch, the women listened to various speakers whose words uplifted those in attendance. The first speaker was Manessa Hardin, who shared very personal stories about the hardships she has faced since the age of two and overcome. She said she is looking forward and is not being bound by the past. She is a true example of someone who overcame seemingly impossible circumstances and leads a successful life which includes being a wife and mother to five children.
After Hardin’s beautiful testimony, there was a moving musical selection performed by Felicia McCollum. The next speaker was Tempestt Hough, who motivated the audience with her words of wisdom. She said as women we go through a lot and sometimes put on the mask of being strong and empowering women. She said while we try to be the best versions of ourselves, life happens. She encourage the women to keep pushing no matter how low the valley is. She said God has placed a strength in all of us, and if he can bring you to it, he can bring you out on top. She said there is always light at the end of the tunnel. She said there is a purpose inside of each of us, and if you can take it, then you can make it.
Hough also stressed that women shouldn’t belittle other women. She said women should be uplifting each other.
Dee Crawford from Dillon, who runs a fitness center and juice bar in Marion, was the next to speak. She spoke some truths before giving advice. Some of these truths were:
–You can’t have million dollar dreams and minimum wage habits.
–You behave in a manner consistent with how you see yourself.
–If you consistently do something, you will get results.
She said there are five things that she does in order to be successful after she has set a goal and a daily routine. These are:
–Pray and meditate before you start your day and journal.
–Take 20 minutes out of the day and read something educational or something to better yourself. Set a timer. The minutes will fly by.
–Listen to audio inspirational messages.
–Make a schedule of what you need to do or accomplish the next day and review it in the morning.
–Keep the right company.
A poem, called Superwoman, was read by Alexus Leggett.
After the reading of the poem, the mothers in attendance who lost their children to gun violence were recognized and presented special gifts. They were recognized by Detrice McCollum Dawkins and Patrice Dunson.
A trust walk was held. This involved having one woman who you did not come with lead around another woman who had her eyes closed while the other woman said positive things. Then they switched places.
After the trust walk, Taylor Page spoke on the passage Psalms 46:3. She said falling gives you the chance to get back up. She said you don’t know what the people you encounter are going through. She said you are only a prayer and a breakthrough away from what you are going through. She encouraged everyone to rise up and be the woman you are.
Detrice McCollum-Dawkins, the organizer of the event, said that we never have to shine our light by dimming someone else’s. She said she hopes that we will all uplift, build, and continue to encourag
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Photos by Betsy Finklea/The Dillon County News, LLC
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