There are some mornings that do not just begin a day, they begin a movement. Saturday, May 10, was one of those days for me. Cincinnati, National Council of Negro Women, Inc. 30th Annual Bethune-Height Recognition Breakfast was one such morning. As the sun rose over Cincinnati Black women and their allies arrived dressed not only in fashion but in purpose. This was not merely a ceremony. It was a gathering of legacy bearers, community builders and torch passers. The room was filled with stories yet untold, dreams realized and futures being shaped in real time.
When I walked through the double doors of the elegant reception hall, I knew I had entered a safe and sacred space. Not because of the glimmering royal purple, ivory and gold decor, though it was stunning, but because I was welcomed with the kind of warmth only Black women know how to give. That look in the eye that says, “We’re so glad you’re here, sister.” It was more than hospitality. It was a calling home.
Honoring a legacy, 30 years of purpose in the Queen City. The Cincinnati Section, NCNW was founded in June 1989 and chartered two months later under the leadership of the late President Mamie Hall. For 30 years, the women of this section have carried the torch passed down from NCNW founder Mary McLeod Bethune and national president emerita Dorothy Irene Height, honoring their call to uplift, unify and empower Black women and their communities.
Since its founding in 1935, NCNW has served as both compass and shelter, pointing Black women toward equity while supporting generations under its mission. Bethune’s vision was rooted in unity. She sought to bring together Black women-led organizations already doing the work and increase their collective power.
In a time when others built walls, she built tables with chairs. In a world that tried to silence Black women, she gave them the tools of literacy, leadership and legacy. With more than 350 sections and 37 affiliates, NCNW continues its focus on education, health equity, economic empowerment and Civil Rights. That mission was visible and vibrant throughout the event.
More than a breakfast, the event was a loving and living tapestry. While the dining room was buzzing with greetings, smiles, hugs and shared memories with diners, friends and family. The celebration continued outside in the courtyard, which was transformed into a showcase of Black excellence. Artists, authors, and entrepreneurs stood proud. Toilynn O’Neal Turner, founding director of the Robert O’Neal Multicultural Art Center, brought art that echoed history. Corliss Berry of ChoZen 4 U Boutique offered fashion that didn’t just dress the body, it told a story. A pop-up bookstore featured voices from our past, present and future written by us, for us.
The courtyard was not just a display of vendors, it was a declaration. Each business represented served as a chapter in the living book of Black brilliance. Business and culture were woven together, much like kente cloth strong, colorful and enduring. Elders stopped to share stories. I purchased several books with characters who looked like me and my family, and, yes, I asked the authors to sign them. Our words are valuable. In that space between history and present day, we all saw more clearly who we are.
Leading with purpose, Cincinnati Vice Mayor Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney served as emcee. A woman rooted in all 52 of our neighborhoods, she brought grace, intention and deep wisdom to the role. She did not simply introduce speakers. She wove the fabric of the event. Her words reflected both lived experience and a commitment to community. She reminded us that politics are not a replacement for community service. Done right, they are one and the same. She and her husband Eric, their children, Celeste and Asher Kearneym, are a constant example of leadership rooted in faith and family.
When keynote speaker Gloria Samuels stepped to the microphone, the room fell silent. A senior executive in both financial services and construction, a vocation with few women and specifically women of color she shared not just her professional journey but her personal truth and a testimony.
As a single mother balancing parenting, college and the start of her career, she faced challenges that could have derailed her goals. But she spoke not of dreams. She spoke of planning. She spoke of goals, strategy and legacy. Her testimony reminded us that success is not about what you hope for. It is about what you build, step by step. Know this, “You belong. You are capable. You are worthy,” she said.
I thought of the words of poet Nikki Giovanni, who wrote, “I am so perfect, so divine, so ethereal, so surreal that I cannot be comprehended except by my permission. “Samuel’s words were a confirmation. Her testimony was more than inspiration. It was instruction.
Youth carry the legacy forward. Thirteen-year-old Narvis Tribble, a student at the Cincinnati School for the Creative and Performing Arts, sang the Negro National Anthem with a voice filled with ancestral strength. Youth were not only present. They were centered. Tribble did not just perform. She connected. Every note rang out like a message from generations past.
Miss Black Cincinnati 2025, Joi Burton, stood with grace and poise, representing the power of investing in our young women not just for the future, but for the present. The Cincinnati Section of NCNW continues that investment through its Young Adult and Collegiate Affairs Committee. Bethune once said, “We have a powerful potential in our youth.” The Cincinnati Section is acting on that belief every day.
For thirty years the Cincinnati Section has honored both men and women changemakers who embody the four pillars of NCNW’s mission. The 2025 honorees stand tall in that tradition.
Economic Empowerment and Entrepreneurship, Michelle Abernathy has helped more than 15,000 individuals through financial education and counseling. She is also the founder of CincyVegan Soul, a pop-up vegan diner. experience dedicated to healthy living.She has a plethora of financial certifications and she has managed a $100,000 loan fund for high risk borrowers.
Engagement and Social Justice, Karen D Rumsey, a licensed independent social worker with the Cincinnati Police Department, produced the documentary “Shoot This Not That” and mentors future social workers across the city. She is the Health Program Manager for Witness Advocacy. Karen is an HBCU Graduate from Central State University and a member of Phi Psi Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha.
Health Equity, Barbara Lynch co-founded First Ladies for Health. Her work has reached more than 22,000 individuals, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. FLFH organizes Family Health Day by providing health services including screening for HIV, diabetes,hypertension and more. FLFH is a faith based organization.
S.T.E.A.M., Sawanna C Lucas, a 27-year veteran of Procter & Gamble, Group Scientist and a product researcher has helped launch products including the Pantene Gold Series and “Next of Us,” both designed to meet the hair care needs of Black women. She continues to leverage her expertise in texture hair and the multicultural consumer. Karen has been recognized with Procter & Gamble’s CEO Award.
Community Advocacy, Kam McKenzie manages outreach for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) through the Freestore Foodbank. Her work spans three states and focuses on food access and housing insecurity. Her journey also led her to work as a Qualified Mental Health Specialist working with at risk teens.
Recognition Awards were given to outgoing Cincinnati Section officers Treasurer Emma Hubble, Sharen Sierra King 2nd Vice President and Michelle-Renee Norflee 1st Vice President were honored for their service.
Melanie Moon, Chair of Health Equity received The Betty Brock Service Award award and Monica Benton, 1st Vice President and Chair of Membership received the President’s Award.
Words to carry forward. Throughout the event, I saw sisters join hands. I saw elders bow in prayer. I saw men stand in support. I saw tears, the kind that fall when you feel seen, appreciated and loved for just being you. The room buzzed with connection and celebration, I leaned in and asked Monica Benton, first vice president, “What do you hope our people carry in their hearts as they leave this space?” “I hope they leave with a clear understanding of how we can use our collective efforts to make an impact, build sisterhood and uplift the next generation,” she said.
Gratitude and final reflection. This event was made possible by support from Closing the Health Gap, Interact for Health, First Financial Bank, Christ Church Cathedral, Caresource, the NAACP and many community partners.
After the last award was given and the room still hummed with grace, I turned to Danyalle Marshall, president of the Cincinnati Section, and asked, “What is the deeper meaning behind the recognition breakfast and the ritual of remembrance and recognition?”This breakfast is a moment of reflection and appreciation, but most importantly, it is a call to action. We need you—the change-makers, the visionaries, and the everyday heroes who continue to stand in the gap for our communities.
As we honor those who uplift and empower others, let us also commit to seeing the best in each other, knowing that when we do, we inspire those around us to reach higher and give more.
The Bethune-Height Recognition Breakfast was more than a program. It was a mirror, showing us our power. It was a window, reminding us of how far we have come and how far we can still go. We did not leave empty. We left full, focused and united. The journey continues.
Join the Cincinnati Section for Charter Day Weekend August 8-9, 2025.
If you or someone you know is interested in joining the Cincinnati Section, NCNW the door is open, the work is waiting and the legacy is yours to carry. www.cincyncnw.org