To the Class of 2010: YOU DID IT!

From your family here at Her Journey we want to wish the Class of 2010 a HAPPY GRADUATION! All your hard work has paid off and we are so glad to share in this milestone with you. Be reminded that Her Journey is here to support you in all your after-college concerns, curiosities and aspirations. Please check back with us every Monday for Motivational Mondays, check out our experts advice for the graduating class (click HERE and HERE), as well as some upcoming articles made specifically with you in mind!

Today we are highlighting a few extraordinary graduates who have studied all over the States (from ATL to California). These young women keep us inspired, and so we wanted to share their triumphs with you!

MS. KEILA DAVIS

School: Clark Atlanta University

Major: History

Journey to: Writer and College Professor (Future HJ team member!)

1 Thing She'll Miss Most about School:

"I will miss the people, the food, and overall carefree attitude of college life."

MS. KATHERINE A. KINARD

School: The College of New Jersey

Major: Mathematics (Get them numbers girl!)

Journey to: Entrepreneurship, Business Investor

1 Thing She'll Miss Most about School:

"I will greatly miss the fellowship I shared with members of TCNJ student organization, Gospel United Ministries, as well as my role as Choir Directress of the group."

MS. MARISSA FLAGGSchool: Iona College

Major: Criminal Justice

Journey to: Graduate school at Iona and playing her 5th year of Basketball

1 Thing She'll Miss Most about School: "I'll miss my Criminal Justice classes because I've decided to switch to Public Relations for Graduate School."

MS. OCHELLE ROSS

School: Polytechnic Institute of New York University

Major: Electrical and Computer Engineering

Journey to: Simulation Systems Engineer for GE Aviation

1 Thing She'll Miss Most About School:
"I'll miss the National Society of Black Engineers. I used it to urge the young African Americans in High School to go into STEM (Science Technology Engineering Math) related careers."

MS. DEVEN BOUCHET


School:California State University, Northridge

Major: BA in Television Production

DR. SHALONDA WILLIAMS

School: University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy

Major: Doctorate of Pharmacy

Journey to: Clinical pharmacist
helping indigent populations in NYC

1 Thing She'll Miss Most About School: "My Friends."

DR. JENNIFER T. WHITLOCK

School: Southwest Baptist University

Major: Physical Therapy

Journey to: Certified Manual Therapist

1 Thing She'll Miss Most About School: "My classmates..they are truly some amazing people."

Thank you ladies for sharing your dreams and accomplishments with Her Journey. As you begin the next chapter of this journey don't forget to pamper yourself, spend time with your loved ones and give back to your communities-- which have all shaped you into the WOWomen you are today!

What encouraging words or tips do you have for 2010's graduating Class? Something you wish you had known when you graduated?

WOWoman: Gwen DeVoe

Gwendolyn DeVoe, a full figured woman with a big personality and even greater style, is more than deserving of the title of WOWoman. On Sunday, March 28, 2010, Ms. DeVoe’s company DeVoe Signature Events hosted the Soul Series Brunch at Taj Lounge to collect dresses for the Pretty Girl Project prom dress drive. This sophisticated event exuded a warm and genuine ambiance. The soulful menu boasted delectable items like the memorable French toast, chicken and waffles, hangar steak and eggs, all accompanied by mimosas, sangria and mojitos. The entire event was beautifully orchestrated and executed by the gracious host Deja Mills, allowing Ms. DeVoe to work the room with warm greetings for everyone who came together with nothing but love and support for the Pretty Girl Project.

The Pretty Girl Project was co-founded by Cassandra Jones-McBryde and Stephanie Penn-Danforth with a mission to “encourage girls 12-17 to embrace inner and outer beauty,” and one of their goals is “to prevent girls from engaging in high risk behaviors by assisting them in building healthy self images.” The Pretty Girl Project is hosting The Annual Prom Princess Event on April 24, 2010 in Detroit, Michigan to help relieve the burden of costs associated with prom from families. Their intention is to meet the prom needs of 50 high school girls not only with dresses and accessories, but also with motivational speakers and demonstrations to prepare them for their journeys into womanhood. Through the combined efforts of events like Ms. DeVoe’s in New York City, it is hoped that they have exceeded their goal and created more opportunities for even more high schools girls’ prom dreams to come true. To contribute to this effort, contact info@prettygirlproject.org.

Gwen DeVoe, who has made major moves in supporting full figured women through her own modeling career as well as with her own trail blazing efforts like The Plus Academy, Full-Figured and Fabulous, and her most recent endeavor Full Figured Fashion Week. With a mission to support the fuller figured women, Ms. DeVoe made it her duty to have all sizes on the spectrum represented in the dress donations for the Pretty Girl Project prom dress drive. Although Ms. DeVoe pays special attention to full figured women, it is in no way her intention to exclude anyone. She simply makes an exclusive effort to reach out to full figured women so that they are eventually included in the norm of the wide variety of shapes and sizes that women come in.

Gwen DeVoe continues to blaze the trail as she prepares for Full Figured Fashion Week, which will take place in New York City June 16-20, 2010. After a more than anticipated reception last year, Full Figured Fashion Week is back this year with a schedule packed with a Big and Tall Male Fashion Show, a Concierge Shopping Trip, an expo and a panel discussion. Bringing together aspiring and signed models, designers and full figured women from all over, this event is sure to leave a major impression beyond the full figured fashion scene in NYC.

WOWednesday: Black History Month

We could not let February pass us by without acknowledging Black History Month. On this last Wednesday of the month, we would like to pay homage to WOWomen: past, present and future.

First, we must pay our respects to those women who have made it possible for many of the privileges we have today:

• Madam CJ Walker, who was an entrepreneur and became the first self-made female millionaire.

• The founders of African American Sororities: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Incorporated and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated, trailblazing organizations that continue to affect the lives of millions of women around the world.

Next, we must acknowledge those still paving the way for us:

• Oprah, whose influence is immeasurable.

• President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, a dynamic duo who has been a stellar example for our generation, all races alike.

On this journey we have had the privilege of meeting and working with some amazing women who will certainly be recognized in the future for the history they are making today:

• Sil Lai Abrams, a woman who has transformed her own experiences with domestic abuse into a powerful campaign to save other women in similar situations
  

• Leah Smith, a young woman who at the beginning of her journey has already made a name for herself through her music. We invite you to get to know her better in our next issue.

Also, check out Clutch Magazine's compilation of women who certainly fall into the WOWoman category.

We know that this is not even the tip of the iceberg. We'd love to hear from you. Which women throughout history have inspired you most?

Photo credit: http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e75/MoneyMa210/Black-History.jpg