WOMEN MAKING THE DIFFERENCE
Caption from L to R: Nancy Martinez, Erica Ford, Senator Sanders, Silaka Cox and Dianna Blount
By: C. Harrison/March 22, 2016
A Women’s History Month, event that showcased Women Making a Difference, where female community leaders shared their stories of success and inspiration along with tips on how to achieve one’s full potential. The event was held at the Greater Rescue Church of Christ, in Jamaica in conjunction with State Senator James Sanders Jr. (D-Rochdale Village).
Keynote speaker was Erica Ford, Founder & CEO of LIFE Camp, Inc., an organization that provides educational, employment and social opportunities for at-risk inner city youth, with the goal of keeping them in school and out of the criminal justice system. Ford began her presentation by asking attendees to pause for a moment of meditation, for which the exercise proved difficult for some and illustrated to her that women experience a lot of stress because they are burdened with many responsibilities.
“Our mind is constantly running, as providers, as the foundation for so many things and people, and organization, our mind is running,” Ford said. How can we be present for everyone else, if we can’t be present for ourselves? Sometimes it’s important to just be still and breathe and be present for right now; free from all of the stress and anxiety of every single thing that will still be there after you breathe,” Ford said.
Ford said she knew that she could change the world but realize it was a tenuous journey to make it a reality. She said that has she took steps to in that process she became a Deepak Chopra, an angry peacemaker. Ford explained that her first attempt to affect change were hindered by her forceful approach, a style that was fueled by a distrust and resentment of those in power such as elected officials.
“Every elected official didn’t do their job,” Ford reflected on her philosophy. “Every elected official deserved my fist, my foot; whatever I had to chop them down. I might have been coming in the door with some great information that could have saved the community, but since I blew the door down, they were unable to get my message. So, I had to convert my approach from seeing others as the problem to doing what I believe was correct.”
In addition, Ford also lamented that many people come from a place of comparison and jealously, where they judge those around them instead of being compassionate and interconnected. This way of thinking she said causes barriers and prevents individuals from viewing others as equals. Ford said that when we try to embark on someone else’s life and someone else’s purpose, we fail automatically.
Ford grew up in Jamaica, Queens during the 1980s, when crack use and gun violence were an everyday occurrence. She dedicated her life to affecting change and ending the oppression faced by the African-American community. She was inspired after attending a rally at age 18, held by the December 12 movement, an international human rights group.
Nancy Martinez, also lend a voice of wisdom–a local entrepreneur and longtime resident of the Rockaways. After buying a home in 2008, she set her sight on running a business and was determined that it be located in the community where she lives.
In 2011, Martinez became Owner/Operator of New York Career Training School LLC., which teaches students (in four different languages) how to become home health aides, nurse’s aides and personal care aides, assisting in rehabilitating aged and disabled individuals within the confines of their residences.
Martinez, started out with a $60,000 investment and has since generated over $1 million annually. Since the school’s inception, it trained 9,365 students thus far with 98% of them finding employment. Martinez is currently working on two new corporation in the Rockaways– New York Home Care Agency LLC and Community Action Response Emergency (CARE) Unit 911.
Dianna Blount also found her calling after months of thinking about creating a mentoring program and combining that goal with symbolism of a caterpillar metamorphosing into a butterfly. Blount founded Beautiful Butterfly Inc., an organization which serves to inspires a diverse community of young girls and women to set and accomplish daring goals. The program focuses on five key areas: Spirituality, health, finance, education, community service and activism. “We need to shape our future leaders,” Blount said.
Mistress of ceremonies was Silaka Cox, a community activist and chief Officer with the Rockaway Youth Task Force. She is also the youngest serving member of Community Board 14 and is currently studying Public Affairs, at Baruch College.
According to Senator Sanders, who presented certificates of recognition to several attendee for advocacy and leadership roles; said, “I am proud to bring before you some dynamic folk who have broken the rules. The rules say that women will always be the mules of the world. Break the rules, do not accept this madness. Any game that is fixed and says you’ve got to lose, don’t play it. Men can learn a lot from women.”
