[GALLERY] On The Scene: Our Mind, Our Voices 2019 Women of Distinction Awards Luncheon A Rousing Success

Durham, NC – The Third Annual Aura Galleria “Our Minds, Our Voices” 2019 Women of Distinction Awards Luncheon and Expo was held on the first Saturday of Women’s History Month. One could feel upon entering the JB Duke Hotel, on the campus of the prestigious Duke University, we were in for a “spectacular” experience…empowering, enlightening and entertaining!

This event, envisioned and purposely designed by Aura Galleria Visionary & CEO Gia Wilkerson Peebles and Marketing & Event Director Glyndola Beasley, had an electrifying turn out. Over 300 women and men from all walks of life attended the luncheon to pay homage to ten “Women of Distinction” in the categories of education, medicine, social justice, civil service, public service, technology, fashion and beauty, mental health, business, and humanities.

Empowering

Our Minds, Our Voices Awards Luncheon hostesses, coordinated by Greta Martin, encompassed the multi-faceted event to ensure all details were attended. For many, it was their first visit to the JB Duke Hotel and the elegantly attired hostesses empowered all guests “to feel comfortable and at home” with their professional guidance and service.

The Awards Luncheon was the women’s empowerment kick-off event of the nationally recognized month that has been proclaimed since 1981, beginning on March 7th of 1982, as Women’s History Week. Then after being petitioned by the National Women’s History Project in 1987, the entire month of March was designated as Women’s History Month.

It was empowering to walk into the event space and seeing over 30 businesses, the majority of them minority and/or women-owned, displaying and selling their wares. The Our Minds, Our Voices Women’s Expo, curated by Eric Kelly, was a vendor showcase of fine wears (clothing and accessories) and corporate sponsors with consumer products and services.

The Women’s Expo was sponsored by entrepreneur and realtor Michelle Keaton Barrows. She delivered a keynote address to the Expo vendors during a special lunch held in another part of the hotel affording those entrepreneurs the opportunity to be enlightened by a highly successful one.

Mistress of Ceremony Catherine Williamson-Hardy, in her own sophisticated style opened the event with a message inspired by an analogy that she heard from author and motivational speaker Lucinda Cross about birds being born.

“When all the chicks are prepared to be born and they are focused on cracking their own shell to break free from where they are, to where they are going, they are not focus on how hard the other chick is peaking or not, because it doesn’t matter, it won’t crack their shell.

Instead with focused determination they begin to create a vibration, a vibration of expectancy, a vibration of abundance as they peak towards their goal. You know, the kind of vibration that produces the energy to allow you to see another “Chick” who has it going on and you say to her, I see you my Sista, and I honor you. So, if we have the right chicks, yes girls & women in your nest there is no room or time for competition, pettiness or a scarcity mentality. In other words, as our Forever, First Lady might say, you are too busy BECOMING.”

With her warm smile and engaging demeanor, Williamson-Hardy set the tone for the afternoon.

Dr. Kimberly Moore recognized elected officials and dignitaries present including newly-appointed Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court, Cheri L. Beasley, the first African American female to hold the position.

Empowering was the presence of the Woman of Distinction 2019 “Woman of Influence” award recipient, media pioneer Cathy Hughes. An African-American female entrepreneur, radio and television personality and business executive, Hughes founded Radio One (now known as Urban One), the largest African-American owned and operated broadcast company in the nation. When the company went public in 1999, she became the first African-American woman to head a publicly traded corporation. In the 1970s, Hughes created the urban radio format called “The Quiet Storm” on Howard University’s radio station WHUR with disc jockey and fellow Howard Lindsay.

Local artist Eric Kelly gifted Hughes with two of his framed paintings of her, one black and white and one in color.

Guests witnessed the lively and uplifting presentations by Spectacular Magazine CEO/Editor Phyllis Coley, commentator of the Awards Ceremony. Coley told us about her experiences at funerals where people always make glowing remarks but it made her wonder if they ever honored the person while they could still know about. She vowed to recognize the accomplishments and successes of others whenever the opportunity presented itself. She thanked Aura Galleria for allowing her that privilege at this event.

Women of Distinction Awards were presented to ten powerful Triangle women in ten categories.

Honorees and categories are (see presentation photos below):

Dr. Tonya Armstrong: Mental Health

Dr. Shirley Arrington: Education

Omisade Burney-Scott: Social Justice

Jaki Shelton Green: Humanities

Brenda Howerton: Public Service

Dr. Sandra Johnson: Technology

Kristi Jones: Civil Service

Chelsea Kithcart: Fashion & Beauty

Lesleigh Mausi: Business

Dr. Desiree Palmer: Medicine

(See presentation photos below)

Enlightening

Instead of bios printed in the program book as is typical, Aura Galleria chose to enlighten us with innovative technology usage and elimination of paper waste by having a bar code on back of program that allowed us to scan and read the honorees’ information.

As Award Luncheon speaker, Cathy Hughes enlightened us all while giving a peek into her life through Executive Life Coach, author, television host and event Moderator, the “Handle Your Business Girl” Dr. Gail Hayes.

The celebration luncheon in Durham NC, for Cathy Hughes, was in one of her favorite cities in the world. “I love this city, I love the people. I’ve been coming down for many years.”

She went on the express, “I would have picked North Carolina as my residence if I had been enslaved because here, there is just a different quality of life, and so many black-owned businesses; there are so many initiatives, so much sisterhood and brotherhood. You all are an incredible community in an incredible city. I could be walking down the street and the next thing I know I will have a new friend.”

Hughes further enlightened the audience with her reflections into her family and business life, which intersect as her only son is now also her business partner. She talked about learning to let go and being open to new, innovative ideas.

As it relates to her team at Urban One, many of whom have been with her numerous years, her enlightening words were “take care of your front line and they will take care of your bottom line.”

Entertaining

The “Our Minds, Our Voices” Awards Luncheon was not short on dynamic entertainment.

As guests entered the hotel ballroom, the melodious voice of jazz artist Nina McKinney could be heard. She also graced us with songs during the delicious lunch.

Jazz Vocalist and Corporate Attorney Yolanda Rabun delivered a rousing rendition of “Impossible Dream” in dedication to the honorees, incorporating each of the honorees’ names.

Gia Peebles’ husband, William “Champ” Peebles, spoke affectionately with a heart-filled introduction of his wife. He emphasized that she has an immense love for her work and her clients and that contributes to her success. “I see her love, dedication and commitment to her profession and her customers, to some she is a counselor, and to others a friend and confidant.

And then we heard from the visionary herself. Gia Peebles told us about the thought-process behind her business and this illustrious event. Gia wrapped up the day with words of appreciation to her your patrons, supporters, sponsors and the shoulders which she stands upon, her grandmothers, mother and aunt. Relatives from near and far along with Aura staff were thanked for their presence and support.

She also introduced us to the inaugural issue of Aura Magazine, a digital publication geared to women and women’s issues. Attendees were able to download the issue using another bar code provided on the program.

One could argue that even the perfectly-timed rolling out of the buffet lunch by the hotel staff added to the empowering, enlightening and entertaining afternoon.

You can download your copy of Aura Magazine by visiting www.https://www.theauragalleria.com.

Photos: Sierra Turner