Celebrating Resilience, Empowerment and Hope
Written by: Yumi Willett
The final National HerStory Award ceremony of 2024 took place on November 9, hosted by the Women's Federation for World Peace (WFWP), marking a powerful conclusion to an inspiring year. The event was beautifully led by Adia Lancaster, the GWPN Field Coordinator, who welcomed all attendees and set the stage for the evening’s meaningful celebrations. She then introduced WFWP Vice President Katarina Connery.
In her remarks, Vice President Connery quoted Mother Moon’s memoir: “I launched Women’s Federation for World Peace as a movement to awaken women to their true value.” She underscored this statement as a cornerstone of WFWP’s peace philosophy—empowering women to recognize their intrinsic worth as a foundation for meaningful and lasting change. Connery also outlined the organization’s three pillars:
Creating Communities of Women: Building networks that inspire and support.
Leadership in the GWPN Sphere: Nurturing leaders committed to global peace and harmony.
Peacebuilding Initiatives: Implementing projects such as the Bridge of Peace and various humanitarian efforts.
Following this, the awardees were introduced by their nominators and shared their stories.
The first awardee, Tremaine Abenaa Moore, owner of Naturally GeeChee LLC, shared a deeply personal story of resilience. Her journey began over eight years ago, when struggling with a lymphatic condition, she turned to natural healing. Inspired by her father's farming background, she created products rooted in nature’s healing power. Despite facing personal grief, she found strength through her connection to her roots, saying, “Naturally GeeChee is a reminder that nature provides us with the tools we need to thrive and that our stories have power. Through loss and hardship, we can rise, rebuild, and succeed.”
Doris Etheridge Edwards, the second awardee and President of AMVETS Auxiliary Hawai’i, spoke of the lessons she learned growing up in a multigenerational household. Her grandmother instilled in her the values of generosity and kindness, saying, “It is better to give than to receive, and the best gift is something unexpected.” Doris has lived these principles her whole life. Even in the face of personal trials, she’s devoted herself to helping others. After her husband suffered two strokes, Doris became his caregiver. When she noticed that many veterans in care facilities had no visitors, she took action. Her initiative to provide Christmas gifts and cards to veterans last year reached 800 people, ensuring they felt the love and aloha they deserve. “My passion is working for veterans in nursing homes who may not have family. They fought for our freedom, and I feel passionate about bringing them aloha and happiness,” she shared.
The third awardee, Keelin Washington, Assistant Program Director at GenerateHope, shared her experience of surviving human trafficking. At just 14 years old, she was groomed into exploitation and trapped in a cycle of abuse and manipulation that spanned across 12 states over 3.5 years. Despite the trauma, Keelin held on to faith and hope, believing she would eventually be rescued. After her escape, she dedicated herself to raising awareness about human trafficking. She worked with a university to develop a curriculum for middle and high school students, educating them about the realities of trafficking. Today, Keelin advocates for survivors, helping them rebuild their lives. She partners with law enforcement to educate officers about the dynamics of trafficking, all while reminding others, “No matter what trauma we may have faced, we are not our trauma. We have the ability to heal, overcome, and do something meaningful with it.”
Senator Maggie Wallace Glover, the final awardee, shared from Dianne Reeves’ song “Better Days,” emphasizing that perseverance and patience through tough times lead to brighter days:
“You can't get to no better days
Unless you make it through the night, baby.
(Be patient) Oh, you will see those better days
But you gotta be patient.”
Senator Glover connected these lyrics to her own experiences, encouraging everyone to hold on to faith and trust that, with time, better days are ahead. “No matter the struggles we face, if we persevere and hold onto God’s unchanging hand, we will reach our better days,” she said, offering words of hope for everyone.
The HerStory Award ceremony highlighted the power of resilience and the transformative impact of sharing our stories. Each awardee’s journey was a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the ability to inspire change.We congratulate all the 2024 HerStory Awardees for their courage, perseverance, and boldness to share their stories, encouraging others to rise above their challenges and make a difference.