Dr. Carrie Dixon, president of TAAC and a program committee member, said the goal of the event was to highlight women who have been dedicated to education, mentorship and leadership that extends across generations.
“What we want to do is put a spotlight on women,” Dixon said. “So this particular program is focused on all women performers, speakers and entertainers.”
The event, which featured praise dances, singing and poetry, was planned and organized by a committee of women.
“It’s about just letting women shine by letting our skills be known and portrayed,” Dixon said. “The purpose of Women’s History Month is to make people aware and help them become knowledgeable about the enormous contributions of women to the history of this country, the education of this country and the success of this country.” she said. “We want to highlight some of the things that women have done that may have not been included in our textbooks.”
The program began with attendees reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and singing the Black National Anthem while sitting at tables draped with lavender-colored tablecloths. The event’s colors were purple, symbolizing royalty; gold, symbolizing hope; green, symbolizing growth; and white, symbolizing freedom.
Anne Collins, one of three committee members who planned the program, said the goal of the event was to empower women across the globe.
Linda Ware-Brown, the third committee member, told the history of how International Women’s Day began in 1911.
“The day marks a call to action to fight for accelerating gender equality,” she said. “Let’s celebrate achievements while demanding for improvement.”
Dixon followed by talking about the event theme, “Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future,” and acknowledging women who have contributed to improvements to the community.
“This Women’s History Month, we honor the women who move us and help us advance — women like Brittany Packett Cunnigham, Nikole Hannah-Jones, Kamala Harris, Ava DuVernay and Serena Williams, who inspire the next generation of girls and women to be bold, to stand up for what they believe in and to follow their dreams,” Dixon said. “And we honor the women who helped pave the way for us all — brilliant inventors like Marie Van Brittan Brown, Shirley Ann Jackson, Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner and the STEM pioneers who helped revolutionize the U.S. space program, like Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson.”
Ovachi Bennette sang “Just My Imagination” by the Temptations, changing the lyrics slightly to reflect the theme of the program.
Carolyn Spence recited the first poem of the night, “Ain’t I a Woman” by Sojourner Truth.
With passion and well-timed diction, Dixon recited Maya Angelo’s poem, “Still I Rise.”
After Lorraine Hinds, of the Village of Dabney, recited Angelo’s “Phenomenal Woman” and a short video, the group honored the first president of TAAC, Vera Davis Marks, of Buttonwood.
Dixon said it was important to honor Marks for all of her contributions to the club, including starting the 50/50 raffles and potluck dinners.
“When people are recognized for their successes, they are more likely to pay it forward,” she said. “That’s what we want to do. So, during the first part of our program, we are recognizing Black women and their historical and cultural contributions to this country.”
During a brief moment of technical difficulties with the audio of the video, Dixon entertained the audience by telling a few jokes — something she loves to do.
“A husband and wife were arguing about who should brew the coffee each morning,” Dixon started.
“The wife says, ‘It’s your responsibility. Besides, it says so in the Bible.’ The husband raised his brow and said, ‘Show me where it says that.’ The wife opened the Bible and said, ‘What chapter is that?’ The husband responded, ‘Hebrews,’” Dixon said, delivering the punchline to laughter as the program got back on track.
As “I didn’t Know My Own Strength” by Whitney Huston played, Diana Hull was on stage drawing a live portrait of Marks.
Hull, of the Village of Sunset Pointe, said she’s been drawing since she was 3 or 4 years old.
“I was really shy, so I would draw horses and then give them to people as a way to make friends,” she said. “I love drawing people. That’s my favorite subject. I did a live drawing of Jesus at my church and after the program, Carrie came up to me and asked if I could do that for (a TAAC member).”
Hull said drawing Marks was an exciting challenge she was happy to accept.
“Ohh, she is beautiful,” she said. “She was fun and almost difficult to draw because she’s so youthful looking. I have them play the subject’s favorite song while I draw, and that’s how much time I have to complete the picture. This song was three minutes and 42 seconds long, so that’s how long I took to draw the picture.”
Marks gave Hull a standing ovation and a big hug after the portrait was complete.
“I really didn’t know my own strength,” Marks said. “I’m 87 years old and I was born in the small town of Flat Top, Alabama — a town that is not even there today. I thank each and every one of you. We started this club 26 years ago, and we wouldn’t be here without you.”
After honoring Marks, the second part of the program, considered to be an uplifting and spiritual “Gospel Extravaganza,” began.
Jewel Ingram, with Glorious Seniors Dance Ministry at New Life Center Ministries of Wildwood, started the spiritual segment with a solo praise dance performance to “God Got it Covered” by Harmony Lovee.
Ingram, who has been praise dancing for the last 25 years, said she performs, “to please God and share his love with others while encouraging them.”
Following a spiritual spoken word piece titled “Testimony,” performed by Karen McGirt, four dancers with the Portraits of the Word group of Bible Teachers International Church in Leesburg performed a praise dance piece to “Break Every Chain,” by Tasha Cobbs.
Amy Fronzaglia, leader of Portraits of the Word, said to be in the spirit for performances, the youth dancers have to be actively seeking God’s salvation.
“They are ministers and dance is the avenue God chose for them to minister,” she said. “Dance is universal and music is universal. We just make sure it’s holy and has a message.”
Spence returned to the podium to recite a spoken word piece titled “Heaven’s Grocery Store” and then Annette Edmonds sang “Amazing Grace” a cappella, with her voice echoing through the speakers and off the wall.
The program concluded with attendees getting a gift bag filled with lotion, chocolates and motivational messages.
For more information about TAAC, visit taaclub.org. Staff writer Brea Jones can be reached at 352-753-1119, ext. 5414, or brea.jones@thevillagesmedia.com.
