Connected to a sisterhood.
That’s how Dr. Shelly Williams feels now after a moment of feeling alone and overlooked.
Committed to not wanting anyone else to feel that way, and wanting to bring together those who feel left behind, Williams created SASSIE (Single African American Sisters Supporting Informing and Empowering) in October 2015, as a network for women, promoting friendship, deep discussions and community service projects.
“What began as a small circle born from lived experiences of social isolation and exclusion has grown into a vibrant sisterhood, grounded in Christian principles of love, unity and belonging,” said Williams, of the Village of Dunedin. “Our mission has always been to uplift, connect and empower one another through meaningful dialogue, shared activities and community engagement. And in doing so, to fill a unique gap that existed within the social landscape here.”
For Phyllis Archibald, working on the first SASSIE administrative team during the group’s early days was about developing a community.
“Because we were single, we were left out of things,” Archibald said. “(It seemed) everything was couples, couples, couples. We needed a group of us to be able to go to events and parties. SASSIE has grown a lot larger since we started.”
On Oct. 18, more than 60 people gathered to celebrate the club’s 10th anniversary at a gala at The Bistro at Grand Oaks in Weirsdale.
During the anniversary gala, 23 members were honored, including those who were committed to see Williams’ vision succeed as the club’s first administrative team — Archibald, Phyllis Mitchell, Helen Saunders Linton and Milele Archibald.
“This was not just a celebration of 10 years, it was a testimony of purpose fulfilled and the power of women coming together with love and intention,” Williams said. “SASSIE was born out of a necessity — a response to the systemic oversight of single African American women’s experiences, a recognition of the stark reality that this demographic makes up fewer than 7 out of every 1,000 residents in The Villages and a desire to foster genuine friendships and extend the Christian values of love, unity and belonging.”
Williams’ academic interests are intertwined into the mission of SASSIE.
Williams, who wrote her doctoral dissertation at Syracuse University in 1998, interviewed 13 African American women who were single mothers, heads of household and formerly receiving public assistance. She asked them to define success as they move toward self-sufficiency.
Williams said using what she learned from working on her dissertation titled “The Meaning of Success: Perspectives of Single African American Mothers Who are Former Welfare Recipients and Heads of Household,” she turned “research into action” with the creation of the club.
Hoping to mitigate some of the dehumanizing treatment single women can face and the frustrations that come along with that, Williams said SASSIE provides a list of reputable businesses for women to patronize to avoid being taking advantage of — another personal experience of Williams.
“It’s important that we find someone not trying to take advantage of us,” she said. “I had a business charging me one price that was almost double of what they were charging my married neighbor. My neighbor spoke up on my behalf.”
Throughout their lifetimes, Williams and several other SASSIE members experienced many of the same challenges as the women interviewed for her dissertation — isolation, invisibility and discrimination.
Using those experiences as lessons on how to be kind to all, members of SASSIE show their commitment to promoting dignity and wisdom through the club’s colors, purple and lilac. Williams echoed the meaning behind the club’s colors, saying they were inspired by Proverbs 31 and reflect grace, strength and spiritual richness, adding that “every SASSIE lady has these qualities.”
During the gala, SASSIE hosted its first 50/50 chance drawing, which garnered $260 that was donated to The African American Club of The Villages scholarship fund. Williams said the donation was the start of a new SASSIE tradition of supporting youth, education and other community organizations.
“We will continue to pass a jar around to raise money,” Williams said. “It’s because we believe that much in the scholarship fund. If we don’t do it, who will? We care and we want to make a difference.”
Dr. Carrie Dixon, president of The African American Club of The Villages, attended the gala to accept the donation and thanked the members for their contributions.
Several members received awards during the gala, including Phyllis Mitchell and Lois Bollin Bote, who received the Legacy Flame Award; Beverly Tucker, who received the Residential Award; Ann Collins, who received The Heart of SASSIE Award; and Lorna Wooding, who received the Mission Accomplished Award.
To learn more about SASSIE, call 407-734-3944 or email sassie.club.info.205@gmail.com.
Staff writer Brea Jones can be reached at 352-753-1119, ext. 5414, or brea.jones@thevillagesmedia.com.
