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By Veronica Mackey
More than 200 ladies turned out in their Saturday morning best, full of smiles, hugs, and laughter. The 3rd Annual Women Rock Empowerment Summitt, held at the Inglewood Senior Center, provided a positive space for women to learn, network and find support. Spearheaded by Inglewood Councilwomen Dionne Faulk and Gloria Gray, and City Clerk Aisha Thompson, the program featured speakers, workshops, and live entertainment.
“As the first African American woman to be seated on the Inglewood City Council, I wanted to let the women of Inglewood know, I’m here! I see you, I know you,” Councilwoman Faulk said. “And I’ve received so much support from the men. There were growing pains in the beginning, when I was the only one, but we worked through them. And now that Councilwoman Gloria Gray has come onboard, it’s even better.”
Councilwoman Faulk was elected in 2020, ending a 7-year absence of women on the Inglewood City Council, after Judy Dunlap was voted out in 2013. Gloria Gray, who was elected to the council in 2023, also serves as Treasurer of the West Basin Municipal Water District for Division II. City Clerk Thompson was elected in November 2020.
Erica Campbell of the Multi-Grammy Award-winning Gospel singing duo, Mary Mary, rocked the house, with chart-topping hits, intermingled with her personal stories of redemption. Erica and her sister Tina grew up in Inglewood.
Second District L.A. County Supervisor Holly Mitchell and Liliana Perez-Palacios, Sr. Director of Cultural Affairs for the Los Angeles Chargers, served as keynote speakers.
Supervisor Mitchell encouraged women to “find your joy” with examples of her own life. Staying active, being outdoors, near water and riding her bike, are among the “go-to” activities that keep Mitchell physically and emotionally in balance. She accentuated her story by getting everyone up on their feet and dancing to Chaka Khan’s “Ain’t Nobody.”
Workshops covered mental health awareness (Dr. Janoc Vance); skin care (Sheri Rhymes); self-love (Erica Bunn); and finances (Gwen Allen). Gwen joined other financial experts Anna “Queen” Tutt, Clarissa Owens, and Diane Wader to provide women with wealth empowerment strategies, covering such topics as real estate, insurance and annuities, estate planning and financial literacy.
