"LEARN TO LEAD: RAISING THE NEXT GENERATION OF WOMEN LEADERS"
The "Learn to Lead" theme of this year's National Assembly was designed to provide women, young women and mothers alike, with insights and practical tools for leadership. Through nurturing and educating women to understand their God-given role at this time, the hope was to empower women to use their gifts and talents to lead their families and others successfully by applying the motto: Living for the Sake of Others. To accomplish this, WFWP is networking with women experts in other organizations. We also worked closely with Mrs. Dottie Chicquelo, a wonderful supporter of WFWP, who works at the University of Maryland and opened major doors for us on the campus.
Two days prior to the main event, a service project for youth and young adults in Washington, DC, set the stage and the focus of "Learn to Lead."
DAY OF SERVICE IN WASHINGTON, DC, THURSDAY, OCT. 24
Mrs. Juanita Pierre Louis
WFWP Vice President, Mrs. Juanita Pierre Louis and Minister Chi Mauusa, community activist, led a team of dedicated volunteers who worked day and night to contact city officials and community activists to create a service project on Georgia Avenue entitled, "Learn to Lead through Service." The local police department, Precinct 4, gave WFWP a free hall and welcomed us to their headquarters. It was a perfect meeting room for the education segment of the project as well as a lunch room after the work was done. All the food was donated by local businesses.
Mrs. Angelika Selle receiving Proclamation from Mr. Ken Holman
A Proclamation was issued by D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray declaring October 24 the "National Day of Service." Mr. Ken Holman, representing the mayor, presented the Proclamation and spoke animatedly to the young people in attendance. Then Mr. Brendan Todd, representative of D.C. Councilwoman Muriel Bowser, read the Councilwoman's Proclamation and gave words of encouragement and guidance to the students and teachers who had come to serve the community. In addition, five leaders and organizers of the event were recognized and appointed as Ambassadors for Peace.
Fifty enthusiastic students from four schools, 70 people total, were present and listened attentively. They were eager to begin the project to clean up a section of historic Georgia Avenue. Later the students of New Hope Academy in Landover, Maryland, offered wonderful testimonies of what they had learned through that day's service project. Three women had driven 1,200 miles from New Orleans to Washington, DC, just to be a part of the team of volunteers helping to make that day one for all of us to remember.
"Learn to Lead through Service" turned out to be an example of good cooperation among many diverse parties. It was a model for teaching all the participated that indeed leadership begins with service.
Students, teachers, city officials and community leaders gathered at Precinct 4, Washington, DC, for the Day of Service, Oct. 24th.
MAIN EVENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, SATURDAY, OCT. 26
Mrs. Angelika Selle (middle) with GWPN Panelists: Mrs. Lecester Johnson, Mrs. Nia Lyte, Mrs. Jennifer Jean and Mrs. Katherine Duncan.
To commence the main event of the WFWP National Assembly, in the absence of WFWP International President Dr. Lan Young Moon, Mrs. Fumiko Balcomb read the International President's Address, and it was warmly received by all present.
Mrs. Jackie Phillips, former federal co-chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission, regaled the audience in the opening session with wonderful nuggets of wisdom and humor.
The Global Women Peace Network panelists shared their personal wisdom and insights for becoming a woman leader from their experience in various fields. The GWPN panel stimulated an hour-long Question and Answer session that brought insight and clarity to many relevant issues. In the afternoon, five breakout sessions were offered all participants unique and valuable hands-on "tools for leadership."
Mrs. Claire Daugherty (right) reporting about the Trail of Tears Prayer Journey at the Bridge of Peace Ceremony.
During the evening banquet celebration, entitled "Honor and Celebrate," women's unique qualities of leadership were demonstrated and highlighted, and an atmosphere of love and joy was created.
This year's Bridge of Peace ceremony, with the theme of "Healing the Wounds of America," highlighted substantial accomplishments of women who had participated in reconciling the divide between Republicans and Democrats; blacks and whites; and Native Americans and white Americans. As we listened to their repentance and personal forgiveness, we were often in tears, and we felt the presence of God during the Bridge of Peace proceedings. Many of the participants affirmed afterward that they experienced personal healing through the ceremony.
Dr. Aziz Baccauche, Her Story Awardee.
The Her Story Award was presented to Dr. Aziz Baccauche who had become blind at the age of eight, and who through faith and love overcame the challenge of five surgeries, and went on to earn a Ph.D. in theoretical nuclear physics. Dr. Aziz has taken upon herself the mission to bring education to the blind population that has a 70% rate of unemployment.
This year the Ambassador for Peace appointment, signed by WFWP Founder, Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon and International President Lan Young Moon, was presented to four distinct groups of women. In total, 43 certificates were given out to the future young women leaders; the Trail of Tears mothers who pioneered a new history; to all speakers, panelists, and breakout session presenters; and to our own WFWP chairwomen, stretching from Louisiana to Michigan and from Maine to Washington, who have worked so faithfully for many years. Special mention goes to the ladies who drove for many long hours across the country to attend the Assembly.
Mrs. Seiko Lee, soprano.
The evening entertainment created an atmosphere of celebration and joy, starting with the young "Ha-nal-du-ru-rim" Heavenly Drummers team, followed by male Indian dancers, a ballroom dance couple from the University of MD, and, as the finale, our very own amazing Mrs. Seiko Lee. She truly was the icing on the cake, the highlight, the ultimate gift to the audience who could feel heaven right there on earth.
What we are most proud of was our illustrious, spirited, sensitive, and great young woman leader emcee, Mrs. Lena Yasutake, who worked together with us in unity and spontaneity to lead the entire day to a great conclusion!
Mrs. Lena Yasutake, Mistress of Ceremonies.
We received positive comments from speakers, from our young women volunteers who attended for the first time, from members, guests, and also from the gentlemen who were present.
Most of all, we thank our chairwomen and members nationwide, who invested heart, prayer, and action, even though many were not able to attend. We felt their presence and heart. Based on our unity and love for the WFWP co-founders and their vision for WFWP, the 21st Anniversary National Assembly brought healing and a new commitment and determination to WFWP in America.
LEADERSHIP WORKSHOP OCTOBER 28-30
Finally, a two-day leadership workshop was held for the WFWP women leaders who had come to the Assembly from Haiti, Mrs. Fujiko Paul and Mrs. Gerthy Lamarre. in attendance also were Mrs. Evelyne Drake, WFWP Co-Chairwoman from Florida, and Mrs. Fannie Smith, WFWP Chicago. Mrs. Drake has been leading the WFWP Relief Project in Haiti for six years now, and through service and education has mobilized the hearts and hands of the women in Haiti to make a substantial difference there.
Haitian Leadership Workshop: Mrs. Evelyn Drake, Bishop Ki Hoon KIm, Angelika Selle, Mrs. Fannie Smith, Mrs. Gerthy Lamarre, and Mrs. Fumiko Paul.
New beginnings were made between the Caribbean Islands and the WFWP USA. We look forward to a continuing fruitful cooperation.
As we go forward, let us always remember that the WFWP National Assembly's main goal is to comfort the heart of the Creator and empower women to bring their unique heart of Living by the Logic of Love to heal this nation and the world and bring lasting peace through education and service.
We are happy to announce that the 22nd National Assembly will be held in the fall in Northern Virginia. Thank you all again for making this year's National Assembly a success.
To view a PowerPoint Presentation covering all three events, click here: National Assembly PowerPoint