CAS-NCNW To Honor Three Women With Harambee Women of Excellence Awards

RALEIGH, NC – In 1935, Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune created an empowering organization, the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW),  that has been able to positively impact millions of women worldwide. Her legacy was fulfilled by those to whom she dedicated her life through her civil activity and teachings.

In February of 1997, the NCNW expanded into Raleigh, North Carolina with the Capital Area Section (CAS) of the NCNW. The co-founders were Christine Jones and Frances Gram who believed that the CAS- NCNW would be able to encourage African American women to become more active in the community as well as become recognized for their achievements. Since then the CAS-NCNW has created and been apart of a series of community outreach programs as well as funds as an annual scholarship for the students of Bethune-Cookman College.

On February 20, 2021, the CAS-NCNW will hold its Harambee Women of Excellence Awards program. This year will mark the 17th annual celebration since the expansion. Even though troubling times of the pandemic the current president of the CAS-NCNW, Sigmon Zeleke, and VP Shiretta Shaw-Wiggins have kept the tradition alive by hosting a virtual event. 

CAS-NCNW will honor three African American women who have made an outstanding impact on the community. This year’s awardees are Dr. Donna Corbett, Faith Bynum, and Dr. Tammie Moore. Each woman has been excellent in her way doing numerous things for the community of the Capital Area.

The NCNW’s seventh president Dr. Johnnetta Cole will be the keynote speaker. Dr. Cole is an influential African American anthropologist who has dedicated her life to education. Spending a short amount of time as Secretary of Education during President Bill Clinton’s term. Cole has released several books and taught at universities such as Spelman College, Washington State at Pullman, the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and Hunter College in NYC. The program will also include Les Long, a local comedian.

Dr. Donna Corbett

Dr. Donna Corbett, who spent more than twenty years in Corporate America, is the founder of Amazing Grace Etiquette School. She admits that although working in Corporate America was very competitive, it still allowed her to develop skills which she shares with her students and mentees to ensure that they reach success.

Amazing Grace Etiquette School provides a sense of structure to the youth and African American women who attend, providing them with the education on how to maneuver throughout life with professionalism and grace. Corbett helps the community by working with correctional facilities in the form of a “charm school” that builds desirable traits in women and men who have fallen victim to the system. She also works with several universities, Girl Scouts, and a female youth pageant league. Dr. Corbett’s list of contributions has made a noticeable impact on those who have the pleasure of being in her presence.

Dr. Donna Corbett, who holds a doctorate in divinity from Kings College, believes she owes her success to her parents who raised her to become the excellent woman she is now. She lives her life through the 5P’s of Etiquette…Positive, Polished, Professional, Poised, and Polite. 

Faith Bynum

Faith Bynum, a Certified Public Accountant in Raleigh, grew up in a household of entrepreneurs. Her father, an iconic businessman, raised Bynum to be strong-minded and determined for success. At a young age, seeing how difficult managing a household could be, Faith took a leadership role in her family and worked well into college. She attended North Carolina Central University (NCCU) to gain her formal education.

It was while at NCCU, Faith followed her calling to become a businesswoman and studied in business and accounting. Also, Faith proudly became a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., which allowed her to network and lead to the expansion of her clientele when creating her own business.

Upon graduation, Faith Bynum became a single mother and worked for the same CPA company for eleven years. Even after achieving several promotions, Bynum was laid off. Not sure if she would be able to manage the responsibilities of being a single mother and a businesswoman, she knew that chasing her dream was worth it when previous clients of the CPA firm where she had worked starting calling her for services.

Dr. Tammie Moore

Dr. Tammie Moore, a Louisiana native, does her part for the community by reaching the minds of those in distress. Graduating from Lousiana State University (LSU), she found her way to North Carolina when she had the opportunity to intern at Duke University. She obtained her Ph.D. at UNC-Chapel Hill and, along the way, had four children.

Dr. Moore is the founder and CEO of Western Wake Counseling in Cary. In her private practice, she allows her clients to speak free of judgment and teach them ways to handle crippling mind situations. During the pandemic, her business has been busy with a variety of new clients. She states, “There are two positive sides to the pandemic. It has brought a sense of awareness to mental health. The pandemic has caused people to be more comfortable with speaking with a psychologist. It is also allowing people to better understand that the body and mind work together as a unit to properly function. 

For her own mental health, Dr. Moore finds a weekly outlet during a prayer group with her Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. sisters. During this time she communicates her troubles and builds strength from the Lord while being a confidant.

One thing all the women had in common was that they were not looking to being awarded for the charitable act but to do it for the greater good of being a positive influence in the community. Another is the fact that they all are firm believers in a higher power which has been able to lead them to their success.

For more information on the 17th Annual Harambee Women of Excellence Awards, click here.