We invite you to our celebration of the 36th Annual Dr. MLK Jr. Leadership Awards Virtual Event. We will honor Dr. King and recognize individuals in our community who exemplify his ideas and vision.
This year’s theme is “Moving Forward ”
The program will include dynamic speakers, a musical medley by a renowned performer, and much more. The cost for attending is $25.00 per person.
What a joy to see how our SPMS family continues to grow. Please welcome our newest members who have joined our section. Let’s make sure we extend a very warm welcome to our new SPMS sisters and associate members.
Our service to the community speaks for the work we do, thank you new members for becoming a part of our local SPMS section of the NCNW organization. Together with all of you we will continue to serve and support our community.
The St. Petersburg Metropolitan Section (SPMS) has kept the momentum, fulfilling the vision and mission while providing services and building partnerships with others in their community.
Our mission is to advance programs that provide the quality of life for women and young girls of color. Members have opportunities to represent NCNW as a volunteer in matters to advance the quality of life for families and your communities.
Purpose: The National Council of Negro Women, Inc. is an organization of organizations that promotes empowerment and unity among black women and other women in matters affecting the educational, cultural, economic, social and spiritual life of people.
For 79 years, SPMS has represented the interests of black women in the community, energized by concerned individuals.
Congratulations to our SPMS Sisters of the Year!
Valerie ‘Penny’ Williams and Lynn Harrell-Johnson
Valerie ‘Penny’ Williams Sister of the Year for 2019/2020
Valerie Williams Legacy Life Member, who has assisted the St Petersburg Metropolitan Section of The National Council Of Negro Women, during the pandemic zoom meetings, reports and helping members with computer questions. Valerie is truly a servant leader in our community through her love and passion for serving at church, NCNW, and I can only imagine where else she shares her time and talents when available. Valerie makes herself available at church for administration duties, church functions and worships services to make sure to offer her talents as needed. Read more.
Lynn Harrell-Johnson
Sister of the Year for 2020/2021
Lynn Harrell-Johnson, since becoming a member of the St Petersburg Metropolitan Section of the National Council of Negro Women, has shared her wealth of technical knowledge that has assisted the section in areas of technology during the pandemic. Lynn has worked tirelessly since joining our Section in 2019. Her expertise in the area of technology has made for a system within our organization one to be admired. Read more.
79th Founder’s Day Celebration! Fannye Ayer Ponder
St. Petersburg Metropolitan Section
Est. 1942 Highlighting SPMS Presidents Join us by watching our celebration on YouTube!
We salute our amazing St. Petersburg, Florida NCNW Sisters that are educators: some retired and some actively teaching and educating others through their strong contributions and commitment to educate and empower families in our St. Petersburg communities.
Carolyn Wilson
50 years – active
Education is not the piling on of learning, information, data facts, skills or abilities – that’s training or instruction – but is rather making visible what is hidden as a seed.” Thomas Moore
Rose Mack
45 years – active
“It’s not your aptitude but your attitude that determines your altitude. If you are not struggling, you are not learning”
Joan Thurmond
44 years
“Time spent teaching children is never wasted time.”
Carole Moore
42 years
“Find the good and praise it” – Alex Haley
Beverly Campbell
41 years – retired
“Get wisdom, and with all thy getting, get understanding.”
Georgia Thomas
38 years – retired
“Follow me as I follow Christ.”
Sandra Patterson
38 years – retired
“I can do all things though Christ who strengthens me.”
Gwen Anderson
38 years – retired
“Education is not just preparation for life, education is LIFE itself.”
Rene Waymon
37 years – retired
“A good education can change anyone. A good teacher changes everything.”
Sharion Thurman-Reeves
36 years – retired
“Go forth and be a credit to the race.”
Teresa Anderson
36 years – retired
“Helping one person might not change the world, but it could change the world for one person.”
Althea Hudson
35 years – active
“Today is a great day to learn something new.”
Dr. Cynthia Parker White
35 years – retired
“For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required.Luke 12:48”
Gayle Ashwood
35 years – active
“Strong towers have mighty powers an Educated mind, a Warm heart, a Physically fit body, and a Spiritual soul collectively Contribute to a Strong tower with Mighty Powers…”
Barbara Norris
34 years – retired
“Reading is the key.”
Dr. Tonjua Williams
34 years – active
“From our Founder, Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune who is also known as the “First Lady of the Struggle” – “if we have the courage and tenacity of our forebears, who stood firmly like a rock against the lash of slavery, we shall find a way to do for our day what they did for theirs.”
Apostle Clarice Pennington
33 years – retired
“Wisdom is the principle thing; therefore, get wisdom and in all thy getting, get understanding. Proverbs 4:7”
Mary Murph
32 years – retired
“God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the Courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the Difference.”
Dr. Sharon Jackson
30+ years – retired
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”
Valerie McGarrah
30 years – retired
“Man look at the outside but God looks at the heart.”
Jacquelyn Wilson
27 years – active
“So many of the smiles in my heart are there… because of you.”
Sandra Law
25 years – retired
“With God all things are possible.” – Matthew 19:26″
Dr. Marva Dennard
20 years – retired
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” – Proverbs 3:5
Twanna Monroe
18 years – active
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams…” – Eleanor Roosevelt
Karen Davis-Pritchett
16 years – retired
“Educators are essential to helping our community and world thrive, because we have been entrusted with the children that will lead, advocate, invent, and continue to shape society. I was blessed to share their journey.”
Christina Fields
13 years – active
“The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.–William A. Ward”
Jennifer Richardson
11 years – active
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world .” – Nelson Mandela
Caprice Edmond
7 years – active
“You can accomplish many things by working hard and remaining focused.”
Mae Welch
7 years – retired
“Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.” – Psalm 119:105″
June Kicklighter-Peterman
4 years -active
“It is a privilege and a great responsibility to be a part of shaping the perspectives and ambitions of young people.”
Armetha Williams
2 years – retired
“Education is the Key to the Future.”
Dr. Sharon Brown
?? years
“Education doesn’t make us smarter. It makes us whole.”
Dr. Yvonne Williams
?? years
“Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepared for it today.”
Roshan Reno
?? years
“In learning you will teach, and in teaching you will learn.”
Mary McLeod Bethune
Educator-NCNW Founder
“Education is the great American adventure, the world’s most colossal democratic experiment.”
Dorothy Height
Educator-NCNW Founder
“Greatness is not measured by what a man or woman accomplishes, but by the opposition he or she has overcome to reach his goals.”
Fannye Ponder
Educator-SPMS Founder
“Education allowed me to develop competent and courageous leadership among African-American women.”
Congratulations to our SPMS Educators for impacting the growth of our familes and communities. Our educators – some retired and some actively teaching through their contributions and commitment to educate and empower others.
Celebrating our NCNW SPMS Sheroes
Councilwoman Deborah Figgs-Sanders, Commissioner René Flowers, and SPC President, Dr. Tonjua Williams
during Black History Month!
Black History Month: Black, Bold & Beautiful Butterflies – Women of Color
featuring The Black Pearls of SPMS
Free Viewing on YouTube – Friday, February 26, 2021
February begins Black History Month celebrations. St. Petersburg Metropolitan Section plans a grand cinema presentation. Watch the promo video and stay tuned, more info to come!
Black Pearls in the Holiday Spirit of Giving purchased Christmas gifts for the elderly at two nursing home locations. The Black Pearls was able to serve South Heritage – 66 residents (33 Females and 33 Males), Concordia Manor – 25 (6 men and 19 women).
Meeting ID: 872 0609 7831 Passcode: 221412One tap mobile
+13017158592,,87206097831#,,,,*221412# US (Washington D.C)
+13126266799,,87206097831#,,,,*221412# US (Chicago)
This video captures the 2020 3rd Annual Thanksgiving Give-Away that our section hosts annually. While we had to overcome obstacles regarding Covid-19, we were determined to make the required changes for this project to be successful. We were truly blessed so that we could be a blessing!
Join Us to Support the Mission of SPMS NCNW
on #GivingTuesday
Let’s share our gifts of giving to help someone else in an effort to continue to make our world a better place. Support the mission of NCNW St. Petersburg Metropolitan Section to lead, develop, and advocate for women of African descent as they support their families and communities. Join us to serve and give back – not just for GivingTuesday on December 1, 2020, but for every day.
Whether it’s making someone smile, helping a neighbor out, showing up to assist people we care about, or giving some of what we have to those who are in need our help, every act of generosity counts and everyone has something to give.
A percentage of money you spend on purchases will go to the non-profit of your choice. Both the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), St Petersburg and Carter G. Woodson Museum are listed.
If you have questions, please contact Dr Sharon Jackson 727-647-6112 or email her at drjackson130@gmail.com.
Event: SPMS Honors President Bruce for Years of Service 2016-2020
Surprise Drive-by Parade Salutes President Bruce
On Saturday, August 29, 2020 the Sisters of the St Petersburg Metropolitan Section honored
our outgoing president, for her extraordinary leadership and service as President of the St.
Petersburg Metropolitan Section from 2016-2020, with a surprise drive-by parade.
Section members full of excitement, met at the Lakewood Sports Complex early to deck out their vehicles with balloons, poster’s, lights, and streamers. Colorful balloons and elaborate posters were snugly placed on their cars. Cars lined up at 11:45 a.m. with horns tooting and arms waving and off they went for an endearing surprise.
Members wanted to express their gratitude for her endless hours of service, enthusiastic energy, and unflagging commitment to our section. As president, Ms. Bruce has to her credit, under her leadership, these major achievements.: (1) Fannye Ayer Ponder House capital improvement, (2) increased membership, (3) increased social media footprint and (4) expanded community outreach projects.
As a token of gratitude, members showered her with gift of appreciation. A beautifully crafted customized denim jacket presented to President Bruce by Red Elephant Embroidery, owner Audrey Lane. Other members presented keepsakes baskets of her favorite indulges and cards. Blessed to be a blessing was echoed as members dropped off their gifts, shouted accolades as they departed.
Description
The St. Petersburg Metropolitan Section of NCNW, Inc. held it’s first backpack give-away on Saturday, August 22, 2020. The project was the brainchild of Lynn Harrell-Johnson who spearheaded the event along with her co-chair, Valerie Williams. A list of school supplies that were needed was issued to the membership and they wholeheartedly came through and furnished supplies to fill 150 backpacks. Members came together the week of to assemble the backpacks while others came out on Saturday morning to help distribute them. The entire project was a labor of love that infused ‘we are one’ in the community.
We are indeed pleased with the outpouring of support from the members and The Board for their generosity! Consider joining our Section or if you are a member consider what project can we do next.
Topic: Compassionate Conversation: Where do we go from here?
Description
The St. Petersburg Metropolitan Section of NCNW, Inc. presents varying perspectives of the impact of multiple crisis, including the Covid-19 pandemic, on our lives. One spiraling effect is that of uncertainty. However, one thing of which we can be certain is that we are a strong, determined and resilient people. With God on our side we can overcome all obstacles. As we acknowledge the pitfalls, we also evaluate and strategize. Join us in conversation as we look forward to “Where We Go From Here “!