2021 EWOC Awards & Expo Event Program Booklet

WOMEN OF COLOR

Changing the Face of History

13TH ANNUAL EXCEPTIONAL WOMEN OF COLOR AWARDS & EXPO Tuesday, September 28, 2021 Scott’s Seafood on the River | Sacramento, California Presented by

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SUMMER 2021 | www.sacculturalhub.com

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TYLER PERRY

WORLD-RENOWNED PRODUCER, DIRECTOR, ACTOR, SCREENWRITER, PLAYWRIGHT, AUTHOR, SONGWRITER, ENTREPRENEUR, AND PHILANTHROPIST p.8 | 1 | THE HUB MAGAZINE S U M M E R 2 0 2 1

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CENTERSTAGE: BLACK MEN IN LEADERSHIP p. 19

ISSUU.COM/THEHUBMAG

Welcome Everyone!

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TH 13 ANNUAL EWOC AWARDS & EXPO 9th Annual Exceptional Women of Color Conference

Dear Colleagues, Friends & Newcomers, Welcome to the 13th Annual Exceptional Women of Color (EWOC) Awards and Expo. We are pleased to be honoring a group of amazing women who are creating new paths in leadership. Since the COVID-19 virus entered the global stage nearly two years ago, we’ve seen significant changes to our daily lives and community. In response, the innovation and resiliency of women of color has been impressive. We are glad you came to learn about their exciting achievements in business, health, entertainment, politics and more.

It wouldn’t be EWOC if we didn’t also bring you in touch with excellent entertainment, shopping and businesses. Visit our exhibitors for more resources and great finds.

It is wonderful to return to celebrating and encouraging each other in-person. We’ve heard how much many of you have missed the fellowship, yet have been sustained by faith. Dr. Tamara Bennett, Senior Pastor of This Is Pentecostal (TIP) Fellowship Ministry is our keynote speaker. She will share an uplifting message on “Women of Color Changing the Face of History.” Her gift is to empower individuals and families to see, manage, and thrive through their personal lessons. Challenges in housing, employment, finances, relationships, and faith are all around us, creating opportunities that can become part of our story and drive us toward our next chapter.

The COVID pandemic has raised a lot of concern and conflict over historical, personal, and ideological beliefs. During this time of examination, we may only agree that life and living is precious. If nothing else, we can give each other the space to learn, heal, be heard, and make the choices that are best for ourselves and our community. At Sac Cultural Hub we are committed to continue to bring you accurate information and promote dialogue to help you make your decisions.

We hope that this evening, you are reminded how important you are in our community; that you make a connection to help you on your path; and you leave inspired.

Be Bold, Be Courageous, Be Healthy.

True Blessings!

Pleshette

Pleshette Robertson CEO & Founder - Sac Cultural Hub Chief Editor of THE HUB Magazine President - Sac Cultural Hub Media Foundation

Twlia

Twlia Laster Owner - Twlia Makes It Happen!

Strategic Marketing Director Sac Cultural Hub Media Foundation

Valarie

Valarie Scruggs Owner - VisionStep Program Development Manager Sac Cultural Hub Media Foundation

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Sponsor Partners and Table of Contents

13TH ANNUAL EWOC AWARDS & EXPO

The Sac Cultural Hub Media Foundation is proud to present the 13th Annual EWOC Awards & Expo.

We appreciate our 2021 sponsors, partners and donors who support the EWOC program.

SILVER CORPORATE SPONSORS Sacramento Municipal Utility District www.smud.org

CONTENTS Welcome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Congratulations 2021 EWOC Honorees . . 6

BRONZE CORPORATE SPONSORS California Housing Finance Agency www.calhfa.ca.gov

Speakers and Presenters . . . . . . . . 10

Department of General Services www.dgs.ca.gov

Conference Team Leadership . . . . . . 12

California Wellness Foundation www.calwellness.org

City of Sacramento Economic Development https://www.cityofsacramento.org/ Economic-Development

History of Sac Cultural Hub Media

Caltrans Office of Civil Rights https://dot.ca.gov/programs/ civil-rights

UC Davis Health Office for Health, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion https://health.ucdavis.edu/diversityinclusion/

Advisory Committee . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Saving Our Legacy, African Americans For Smoke Free Safe Places – The SOL Project www.thesolproject.com

Wells Fargo www.wellsfargo.com

Company & Foundation . . . . . . . . . 14

Y-EWOC Scholarship Program . . . . . 16

Exhibitor Pavilion . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

COMMUNITY & BUSINESS PARTNERS Amplify www.amplify.love C.L.A.S.S.Y.-Captivating Ladies Acquiring Successful Standards www.classymbrsonly.org African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council www.savingblacklives.org Weave www.weaveinc.org MEDIA PARTNERS Sacculturalhub.com Media Company www.sacculturalhub.com 4

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

EVENT PROGRAM DESIGNED BY Heather Niemann Tingible Design | www.tingible.com heather@tingible.com Cover Photo Credit: Shutterstock

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13TH ANNUAL EWOC AWARDS & EXPO

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Congratulations 2021 Honorees!

13 AWARDS & EXPO 8thTH ANNUAL AnnualEWOC Exceptional Women

of Color Conference

Sac Cultural Hub Media Foundation is proud to present the 2021 Honorees with the EWOC Excellence Awards

TOMIYA GAINES

Television & Radio Show Personality, Executive Producer & Host of Gain Ground TV & Real Estate Broke Communications & Public Affairs

JARITA PICHON

Lead, Guidance & Policy Team, CDPH COVID-19 Response CA Dept of Public Health Health, Sport & Fitness

COLLEEN SYKES- RAY

Executive Director/Founder Bags of Hope Stockton Foundation Social Welfare & Community Activism

KATRINA HAHN

Elementary School Teacher at Elk Grove Unified School District Exceptional Career Mom

AYESHA RANSOM-WHITE Serial Entrepreneur Entrepreneur/Innovator

MAI VANG

Councilmember, City of Sacramento District 8 Politics & Government Relations

KULA KOENIG

Senior Director of Impact, United Way California Capital Region Executive Director/Founder, The Social Justice PolitiCorps for Sac County Social Welfare & Community Activism

RACHEL RIOS

JUANITA MARTIN Juanita Martin Freelance Writer/Poet Arts and Culture

MONIQUE SMITH

Executive Director of La Familia Counseling Center, Inc. Social Welfare & Community Activism

Behavior Therapy specialist & Spoken Word Artist Mopeacelifecoach.com Arts & Culture

JULIE M. WATERS

ANGELINA R.J. WOODBERRY

Chief Policy and External Affairs Officer at Alameda Health Consortium EWOC Champion Woman to Watch in Political Leadership

Adult Consumer Advocate Liaison at Cal Voices in the Sacramento County Behavioral Health Services Department Social Welfare & Community Activism

See feature stories on the 2021 EWOC Honorees in the Fall issue of THE HUB Magazine 6

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TH 13 ANNUAL EWOC Conference AWARDS & EXPO 8th Annual Exceptional Women of Color

Dr. Oma N. Agbai Director of Multicultural Dermatology and Hair Loss Disorders at UC Davis Health

Congratulations

Women of Color

Supporting physicians and healthier futures

At UC Davis Health, we take pride in the dedication and culturally relevant care that our physicians and staff provide every day — so our communities can be stronger and healthier.

THANK YOU to all physician leaders for breaking down barriers, fostering change, and transforming health care to improve lives in new ways.

Honored to be: ■

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■

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One of the nation’s top medical schools for diversity as ranked by U.S. News & World Report Among America’s Best Employers for Diversity

by Forbes Magazine 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

health.ucdavis.edu

The City proudly sponsors

CITYOFSACRAMENTO.ORG 7

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Evening Progam At A Glance

13TH ANNUAL EWOC AWARDS & EXPO

evening

PROGRAM 5:00 PM EXPO GRAND OPENING WELCOME NETWORKING 6:15 PM DINNER AWARDS RECEPTION 6:30 PM RECOGNITION OF EWOC EXCELLENCE AWARDS SPONSORSHIP TRIBUTE 7:30 PM KEYNOTE PRESENTATION – DR. TAMARA BENNETT, SENIOR PASTOR AT THIS IS PENTECOST (TIP) FELLOWSHIP MINISTRY 8:00 – 9:00 PM NETWORKING, EXHIBITOR PATRONAGE

EXHIBITORS PAVILION WILL BE OPEN FROM 5:00 PM TO 9:00 PM

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13TH ANNUAL EWOC AWARDS & EXPO

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Speakers and Presenters

13TH ANNUAL EWOC AWARDS & EXPO

KEYNOTE PRESENTER

Pastor Tamara Bennett Senior Pastor, This Is Pentecost Fellowship Ministry Pastor Tamara Bennett is an anointed and influential world leader who serves with excellence and integrity.

Since June 2000, Pastor Bennett has served as senior Pastor of This Is Pentecost Fellowship Ministries, which has two locations in Oakland and Sacramento, CA. She and her husband Elder Quentin Bennett have touched the lives of thousands around the globe through breakthrough prayer sessions, anointed revivals, youth conferences, multiple outreach services to the community and a worldwide virtual congregation. Her passion for the improvement of individual lives runs over in their 501(c) organization, entitled the Daughters of Zion Enterpryz (DOZ), Inc., where they annually feed, clothe and house over 9000 individual families. Additionally, DOZ, provides housing, job training skills, and financial workshops for misplaced young women desiring empowerment and transformation. While God has gifted and anointed Pastor Bennett with an array of gifts and responsibilities, she proclaims the greatest gift of all is being a loving mother to their four children and a supportive wife to her husband.

www.tamarabennettministries.com www.dozenterpryz.org

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Speakers and Presenters

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13TH ANNUAL EWOC AWARDS & EXPO

MONIQUE SMITH Behavior Therapy Specialist, Author & Spoken Word Artist Sacramento native Monique Smith, aka Miss MouthPeace, is a visionary who inspires, motivates, empowers and merges all of her worlds together through empowerment music and life coaching. Her focus is to provide non–traditional educational seminars, leadership development, self discovery and creativity. She not only embodies the sound and deep achy feeling of soul music; she pours all her passion into her singing. For the music, she tinkers with different genres but has an affinity for old school grooves with jazzy elements and just a slice of hip-hop—the perfect companion to her smoky voice.

But more than anything, the most important aspect for her is to make sure that what she’s singing moves people. “R&B gives you a love feeling,” she explains. “But a soulful thing penetrates your soul.”

MC/HOST 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!

Inspire. Encourage. Share.

Doing good in a community is harder than it looks. It takes commitment, vision, and the spirit to inspire others. Thank you for helping to make our community a better place.

Thank you, Exceptional Women of Color Honorees, for your service to the community.

wellsfargo.com/donations © 2021 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. 6998748-2 MOD: 988

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Conference Team Leadership

13TH ANNUAL EWOC AWARDS & EXPO 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 entrepreneurs.

She is also the 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.

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 has received numerous awards that include: 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 2013, UC Davis Chancellor’s Achievement Awards For Diversity and Community in the Community Award category in February 2013; 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 six grandsons.

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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.

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 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.

Conference Team Leadership

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13TH ANNUAL EWOC AWARDS & EXPO TWLIA LASTER is the owner of Twlia Makes It Happen! Consulting 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 13 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.

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.

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 self-published 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 2013.

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.

CAL WELLNESS salutes the 2021 EWOC honorees for all you do to

improve the health of our communities!

The mission of The California Wellness Foundation is to protect and improve the health and wellness of the people of California by increasing access to health care, quality education, good jobs, healthy environments and safe neighborhoods.

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History of Sac Cultural Hub Media Foundation

13TH ANNUAL EWOC AWARDS & EXPO

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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Networking Brunch Conference

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Hub Choice Awards (HCA) Show

•

Black Physicians Forum (BPF)

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BPF Medical Student Scholarship Program

•

Young Women’s Exceptional Women of Color (Y-EWOC) Scholarship Competition

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.

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, non-

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profit 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.

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.

Advisory Committee

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13TH ANNUAL EWOC AWARDS & EXPO

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

STACY ANDERSON Individual & Family Plans Outreach Manager Blue Shield of CA

SHEILA BENNETT Mortgage Loan Officer & Realtor Answer Home Loans

HOLLY BROWN School and Community Relations Specialist Schools Financial Credit Union

WILLIAM JAHMAL MILLER Vice President with CommonSpirit Health’s Office of Diversity, Inclusion, Equity & Belonging

GARY SIMON Executive Director, Sacramento Juneteenth, Inc.

ZORITHA THOMPSON Broker/Realtor & Owner Goree & Thompson Real Estate

EWOC VOLUNTEERS & SUPPORT TEAM

ASIA ALLEN

KIMBERLY BAILEY

MICHELE MITCHELL

RANDALL OGANS

CANDICE WILDER

CHERYL HOWARD

MICHEL REDDING

Realtor, Entrepreneur, & Artist Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate Reliance Partners

Owner/Graphic Designer SkuugiBear Graphics

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

Enterprise Applications Developer at University of Pacific

Student Review and Interventions Administrator San Juan Unified School District and Business Owner of Naturally Loved LLC

Freelance Writer

Resident Service Specialist

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Y-EWOC Scholarship Program

13TH ANNUAL EWOC AWARDS & EXPO

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 12 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.

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.

This year we are presenting a endowment of $1,000 in the name of a fallen community angel, DANA MAESHIA, Founder and Executive Director of Escape Velocity to present scholarship awards to their students.

IN MEMORIAM DANA MAESHIA Dana Maeshia, bookseller, literacy advocate and owner of All Things Literacy transition from this life on August 30, 2021.

Ms. Maeshia moved to Sacramento from San Francisco and opened All Things Literacy in south Sacramento.

She became known as a “ community champion for the unification of Black Sacramento,” and her bookstore sold books by Black authors as well as accessories, essential oils, handbags, clothing and more. She started youth book clubs “Boyz In The Hood” and Around The Way Girls” to get children reading and promote literacy.

Dana was also the Founder of Escape Velocity Foundation, a nonprofit that provided services leading to family literacy, wholeness, well-being and enrichment. Ms. Maeshia was often quoted as saying: “The more you read, the wiser you become. The more confident you become when you’re able to articulate your ideas, your thoughts and your feelings. Escape Velocity Resources Foundation wants to disrupt the school to prison pipeline and change the narrative for Black youth.

Ms. Maeshia was also one of the organizers of Sacramento’s inaugural Malcolm X Festival, and she was honored recently at the Florin Square Community Development Corportation’s Small Business Success summit. Dana belived in changing and shaping the lives of young boys and young girls, so that they could go out into the world, confidently and empowered.

Dana Maeshia was truly an Exceptional Women of Color.

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13TH ANNUAL EWOC AWARDS & EXPO

What If There Were No More Tobacco?

Make...tobacco sales a thing of the past

thesolproject.com | 888.774.7685

Imagine! What if there was a world without commercial tobacco?

No more tobacco-related cancers like lung, colon, mouth and breast!

No more strokes and heart attacks caused by smoking!

No more Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), asthma or kids with learning disabilities caused by exposure to second hand smoke!

Yes, that is what a world without commercial would be like if we had the political and community will to end it!

What is commercial tobacco? It is cigarettes, vapes, chew, cigars, little cigars and cigarillos marketed with heavy amounts of nicotine with the intent to addict the user who then becomes a life-long customer. With the nicotine, more than 4,000 chemicals fill their bodies and can cause hundreds of diseases and finally, an early death.

Traditional tobacco has been used by Native Americans and differs by Tribe.

It is used in ceremonies and in offerings to the ancestors. It has not been genetically modified to have more nicotine, the addictive chemical in tobacco.

Who have you lost from commercial tobacco? Your mother, father or grandparent? Or spouse or best friend? It is sad to say, but we all know someone who smoked, chewed and even vaped and then later became ill.

How many of us have taken care of sick relatives or how long have they suffered from lung diseases like COPD or Emphysema, which last for decades, as we watch them slowly suffocate because they can’t breathe.

Now imagine a world without tobacco! Store shelves would have healthier foods like fruits and vegetables or other products we use. And guess what, we don’t have to imagine it anymore. We can act now and eliminate commercial tobacco so our children and future generations don’t have to imagine this world. They can live it!

California has a goal to end commercial tobacco sales by 2035. We do not have to wait. We can start in our own communities and join cities like Beverly Hills and Manhattan Beach who have already accomplished this; and join Pasadena who is currently working on this.

We can plan our own “End Game” of commercial tobacco.

Join the SOL Project!

Start by taking our survey and tell us what you think! Scan the QR code to begin The SOL Project (Saving Our Legacy: African Americans for Smoke-Free Safe Places) is a project of Heluna Health and is funded by California Department of Public Health under contract #20-10385.

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Exhibitors Pavilion

13TH ANNUAL EWOC AWARDS & EXPO Angela Lofton Moore Consulting AngelaLoftonMooreCoaching.com

SMUD www.smud.org

Blue Shield of California www.blueshieldca.com

SOL-Saving Our Legacy www.thesolproject.org

California Housing Federal Agency www.calhfa.ca.gov

Starr Fashion Jewelry & Handbags starr4u.com

DGS www.dgs.ca.gov

Swagger House of Fashions www.swaggerhaf.com

My Favorite Little Boutique www.myfavlilboutique.com | 916.398.3959

VIP Beauty by Lekisha Appleton Mary Kay www.lekishaappleton.com

Sacculturalhub.com Media Company www.sacculturalhub.com Sac NAACP www.naacpsac.com Sexy After Kids www.sexyafterkids.com

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Wanda Thomas Author of When Girls Cry wandamthomas.com Wells Fargo www.wellsfargo.com

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Sac Cultural Hub Media Foundation would like to thank all of our sponsors and partners for supporting the

13th Annual EWOC Awards & Expo

CORPORATE & COMMUNITY PARTNERS

COLEMAN communications WRITING. EDITING. MARKETING. MORE M I C H A E L P C O L E M A N . C O M

COLEMAN communications WRITING. EDITING. MARKETING. MORE M I C H A E L P C O L E M A N . C O M

COLEMAN communications WRITING. EDITING. MARKETING. MORE M I C H A E L P C O L E M A N . C O M

PRESENTED BY

Sac Cultural Hub Media Foundation 7902 Gerber Road, Unit 367 Sacramento, CA 95828 (916) 234-3589 | Fax: 866-302-6429 www.sacculturalhub.com/media-foundation