The last few months have been a whirlwind of activity for me and for all of us here at IMARA Woman Magazine. We celebrated the publication’s 17th Anniversary with a sold out annual black-tie gala. It was a festive night of glitz, glamour, great music and good friends. We were proud to recognize the 2017 IMARA Award recipients and the IMARA historically black college and university student scholars. With the support of our sponsors, IMARA has provided more than $60,000 in scholarships to deserving college students. (page 30)
We appreciate your patience while we juggled the schedule at IMARA to accommodate my campaign for the South Carolina House of Representatives this spring. It took three elections but in the end, voters in House District 70 did their part and I am proud to announce that on June 27, I took the Oath of Office to represent them in the S.C. House of Representatives. I’m sincerely thankful for my dedicated volunteers who canvassed neighborhoods, made calls, sent text messages and emails to help us win with 78 percent of the vote. I truly could not have done it without them. We hope you enjoy the pictorial highlights from the campaign. (page 36)
This edition also commemorates our annual IMARA Man tribute. Each year, we honor IMARA men who give unselfishly of their time, talent and treasure to their community. This year, we are proud to honor Dr. David H. Swinton, president of Benedict College and Dr. Luns C. Richardson, president of Morris College. (page 12) We are also proud to share the stories of two dynamic Midlands women, Sen. Katrina Shealy and Sen. Mia McLeod, who are charting a new course for women leaders in the S.C. Senate. (page 8).
And it’s Health Empowerment Tour season and this year we’re starting early on August 26 in West Columbia, Sept. 16 in Little River and Oct. 14 in Spartanburg. Our 2017 theme is, Mind, Body, Spirit: Sister to Sister. Get all the details and register to attend this free event (page 26) because space fills fast.
Be blessed,
Wendy