It has been a very busy fall for us here at IMARA—from completing our 17th Annual Health Empowerment Tour to following the historic elections, women were at our forefront. We are proud of the work we do and consider it a special honor to highlight, in this edition, women who lead.
Our cover story features an amazing woman who leads the Gullah/Geechee Nation as its Chieftess, Queen Quet. (page 8) Her tenacity and determination to preserve the strong heritage of the Gullah/Geechee people is earning international recognition.
We began 2018 focusing on “the year of the woman” and we finish with an election season that catapulted an historic number of women elected to Congress. (page 8) South Carolina also fared better for women and now currently boasts 9 African-American women in the SC House of Representatives—the most ever to serve simultaneously. (page 22)
And, as women continue their leadership trek, IMARA Woman Magazine reminds them of the importance of their health at our annual Health Empowerment Tour. This year, the Health Empowerment Tour commemorated its 17th anniversary. The event has visited 35 of South Carolina’s 46 counties, providing healthy lifestyle information, free health screenings and a host of other health services to more than 9,000 women since the tour’s inception. (page 24) We thank our many sponsors with a special thanks to First Choice by Select Health of SC and AmeriHealth Caritas Partnership, our presenting sponsors.
As we close out 2018, we are grateful to you, our readers, for your continued support and wish you and your family a happy and healthy holiday season.
Blessings,
Wendy