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a lot of work to do. I believe women walk a fine line where boundaries still exist. We need to be firm yet gracious, not be a pushover or a witch, and be consistent in words and actions.

Karen Salicath Jamali is a composer, pianist, producer, painter, sculptor, and photographer with over 30 years’ experience. Karen graduated from the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Art, School of Design in Denmark in 1991. She has participated in over 180 solo and group exhibitions worldwide including at the Louvre Museum in Paris. She has received many awards from the international art community, including an Oscar Award in Art. Karen’s built works include several permanent pieces and are in more than 700 private collections. She has created seven albums, over 2,500 compositions, and performed in Carnegie Hall seven times as a soloist. Karen is the grand winner of The Akademia Award in Los Angeles for best classical song in January 2023 with her tracks “Angel Arcadia” and “Angel Gabriel.” Her latest album “Hope of Angels and Sound of Angels” was chosen for the first ballot for the Grammy® Consideration in 2021 and 2022. “Angel Gabriel” was the finalist of the World Songwriting Award for best alternative song in 2022, and “Angel Gabriel” was a #1 hit on Berkshire Media Group Radios Los Angeles for September and November 2022, worldwide. kjamali.com

As a national finalist of American Music, 2022, Karen won The Ernst Bacon Memorial Award for soloists and composers and was a semi-finalist of the American Prize Pianists solo division in 2022. She was also the 3rd Place winner of the American Prize in Piano Performance in 2021, community solo division. Karen is a multiple winner of American Protege International competitions in the category of Romantic Music, New Music Talent, Piano & String, from 2018-2020. She was also a selected semi-finalist for Best Performance and for Composers by The American Prize from 2019-2021. Karen enjoys nature, travel, and her family.

Kathryn Van Dyke Levitt is a retired nurse with over 40 years’ experience. She was responsible for patient care, the coronary care unit, and nursing services. Kathryn was the founder of the Chicago Nursing in Service Organization and co-founder of the Critical Care Nurses Association of Chicago. She was also the coordinator of scientific papers for the CCRN annual conference. She was a volunteer with the Chicago Heart Association, a member of Smart Woman Savannah Georgia, the Telfair Museum of Art, the National Marine Sanctuary, the Ocean Film Festival, Chicago Symphony Society (Auxiliary), Our World Under Water, Lincolnwood Afternoon Philanthropic Club, Chef’s Table, March of Dimes, the Coastal Georgia Arche- ology Society, served on the community advisory board of the Art Institute of Chicago, was president of the Savannah Heart Association of Chatham County, was board president of the Savannah Symphony Society, was on the founding board of the Savannah Music Festival, was a board member and coordinator of the Savannah Science Museum (Low Country Studies), is a volunteer and chair of the State Campaign for Georgia Historical Society, was a board member of the Telfair Museum of Art, the founder of the St. Joseph’s/Candler Foundation - Smart Women, and was a fundraiser with Second Harvest. Kathryn earned a B.A. from Northeastern Illinois University and an M.Ed. from Georgia Southern University. In her spare time, she enjoys swimming and photography. How did you get started in your field/industry?

I worked as a nurse’s aide. My mother was in nursing. I originally wanted to be a doctor, but back in the late 50s and early 60s women were not being accepted into medical school.

What does the word empowerment mean to you?

Power means totally excelling in any area, whatever you are doing.

Lana K. Wilt is the owner of the Shaker Woods Festival. She purchased the established business from her mother and stepfather in 2011 and has been overseeing the operations since 1999. Lana earned an A.S. in Data Processing from ITT. She is responsible for organizing the festival, the administration, overall operations and management, and liaising with the vendors. Shaker Woods Festival offers an annual monthly weekend venue for over 200 Shaker crafters, artisans, food vendors, and related juried craftspeople, who dress in Shaker period clothing while demonstrating and selling their handmade wares. The festival has been acknowledged by National Geographic, Travelocity, and Sunshine Magazine.

Lana serves as the president of the local Chamber of Commerce, is on the board of the Columbiana Tourism Bureau, is a member of the American Legion and Moose Club, and is past president of the local chapter of Safari Club International. She enjoys being with her family, friends, and grandchildren.

How did you get started in your field/ industry?

I started my journey working for my mother and stepfather in 1999 as a secretary/groundskeeper. Through many trials and tribulations and the fear of disappointing either of them, my hard work and efforts became my blessing in 2012 when the business and property were offered to me for purchase. What are some of the biggest challenges/obstacles you faced in your career?

When I first started to work in 1999, I was holding a full-time job and raising three children with another on the way. The fear of disappointment was always present. shakerwoods.com

With over 12 years of experience, www.healthrevolutionmassage.com

Lisa MacNally is the owner and a Licensed Massage Therapist with Health Revolution Massage, LLC. She is responsible for general massage therapy, sports massage, Swedish massage, oncology massage, geriatric massage, pregnancy massage, chair massage, acupressure, pressure point and trigger point therapy, orthopedic massage, Ashiatsu foot massage, hot stone therapy, therapeutic deep tissue massage, and postural counseling. Lisa earned her L.M.T. and passed the National Exam Certification for Massage Therapy. She is a member of the A.M.T.A. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, hiking trails, nature, and being with her family.

Cheryl A. Hayes is the owner of Strollin Pawz, a home-based pet grooming service. Cheryl is a Certified Master Groomer through the New York School of Dog Grooming. She has been in the industry for over ten years. She specializes in styling cats and dogs, clipping nails, Poodle clips, Schnauzer cuts, and monitoring animals for health issues. Prior to transforming her living room into a grooming salon, Cheryl freelanced at the 145th Street Animal Hospital. She belongs to the Minority and Women Business Enterprise, Small Business Administration, and National Dog Groomers Association of America. She received assistance with her start up

Dr. Patricia Ann Matthews-Juarez is a senior vice president and professor with Meharry Medical College. From 2003 – 2013 she served as the assistant vice president and professor in the department of pediatrics. Additional past positions have included serving as the administrator for the Meharry-Morehouse-Drew Consortium Cancer Center, where she co-authored the first national grant for the National Black Leadership Initiative on Cancer. Dr. Matthews-Juarez was the vice chair/administration for the Department of Family and Community Medicine at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, the cofounding director of the Research Center on Health Disparities, Equity, and the

Exposome with the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, Tennessee and a professor in the Department of Preventive Medicine. She earned a B.A. in Psychology from Fisk University, an M.S.W. from New York University, and a Ph.D. in Social Policy from Brandeis University, Heller School. Dr. Matthews-Juarez is responsible for teaching medical education, cultural competency, and environmental health courses. She is experienced in research training, medical education, administration, and management. She belongs to EnHip, the Nashville Regional Library, and is on the board of the University of Pittsburgh. In her spare time Dr. Matthews-Juarez enjoys travel and art. home.mmc.edu through The Harlem Business Alliance. Cheryl enjoys ice skating, jigsaw puzzles, and her family. How did you get started in your field/industry?

I began raising, breeding, and training American Staffordshire Terriers in 2000. I found my niche working with animals. In 2010, I decided to go to school for grooming after seeing many unkept pets in my neighborhood. I wanted to enlighten people about the importance of good pet hygiene. What are some of the biggest challenges/obstacles you faced in your career?

Confidence, patience, and passion are required to succeed in this industry, because many animals don’t like getting groomed. However, they always look great when they leave my establishment. It’s a hard job, since they move, bite, and challenge you, but I love doing it.

What does the word empowerment mean to you?

Perseverance, resilience, determination, and achievement.

Eighteen year-old Jillian Jordyn always knew she wanted to be a singer and her unique talent became apparent early on in life. She was the youngest camper allowed to perform in the camp play at the age of four and she sang the national anthem at her sister’s gymnastics meet when she was six. Her vocal lessons and cabaret classes paid off when she performed at halftime at a NY Knicks game at Madison Square Garden when she was 12 and sang the National Anthem at Citi Field for a NY Mets game the following summer. Since then, Jillian has gone on to perform the National Anthem at Barclays Center for both the Brooklyn Nets and NY Liberty and, as an actress, Jillian appeared as a recurring character on NBC’s “Law and Order: SVU.”

In October 2022, Jillian made a successful and inspiring return to NBC when she was selected to be a contestant of the hit show, “The Voice” (Season 22), where she was chosen to be a member of Team Gwen. Her ‘battle round’ performance has been viewed online over two million times.

Jillian released her first original song, Fake Friends, in 2020 and is continuing to expand her social media presence, releasing covers of top hits on TikTok and Instagram to critical acclaim. She will be debuting more original music in 2023. In her spare time, Jillian enjoys baking, hanging out with friends, making music, acting, and creating social media content.

When did you first realize you had a talent for singing?