Taylor Bembery
Associate Editor
The first Women’s Empowerment Conference: How Did I Get Here?, was held Saturday, Nov. 2, 2013 at Brinkley Middle School in Jackson, Miss. The conference, which was free and open to the public, was all about empowerment and fellowship of women.
T
he panel included Brinkley Middle School Principal Marnetta McIntyre, former Miss JSU Ronnika A. Joyner, Jackson City Councilwoman Larita Cooper-Stokes, and keynote speaker Dr. Tongie Scott. Each woman gave a testimony of their journey and how they persevered through trials.
McIntyre spoke about the importance of the role of the woman with children. She said her experiences as a principal has helped understand what important role women have with children.
“Our children went from being slaves to enslaving themselves with ignorance and disobedience. We have to train a child on the way that they go. Teach our daughters to carry themselves with distinction. Women have to instruct and continue to rub in discipline with care into children,” said McIntyre.
Joyner, President of inGENEus PR from Biloxi, Miss., is a young professional that has accomplished many of her goals and found herself along the way. Her goal to become a role model for young girls is her motivation to succeed.
She shared her experience of having insecurities growing up but growing out of them once she realized how powerful she actually was.
“Being Miss JSU, I knew I was different. I was bigger, I was dark skinned but I knew that other young girls would really look up to me. I really went out to all the elementary and different high schools
promoting,” said Joyner.
She added, “Once I graduated, I moved to Atlanta to go to grad school. I didn’t think that I was smart enough to get into grad school but my goal when I moved there was to become the entrepreneur I always wanted to be. In my spirit was that I wanted my own business. In 2012, I started inGENEus PR, to really love what you do and impacting someone else is a dream come true.”
Keynote speaker Dr. Tongie Scott, a JSU alumna and cancer survivor from Columbus, Miss, gave a powerful speech. Dr. Scott earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in biology from Jackson State University and received her medical degree from Grace University School of Medicine.
She strongly believes that no trial is great enough to defeat anyone.
“My assignment is to tell you it isn’t over! I have been cancer free for 23 years. When your faith is on the line, you might be tired but you’re still standing,” said Dr. Scott.
Natya Jones, a senior psychology major from Corona, Calif., attended the conference and identified with Joyner’s message.
“The conference went really well. A lot of the things Ronnika was saying, I felt I identified with because I ran for Miss JSU as well. I’m just really happy that she is here to give her story to help impact other women’s lives,” said Jones.
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