Article: Leading Ladies Collaboration presents ROYAL Inspire Tea

River & Word was giving exclusive access to cover the Leading Ladies Collaboration Royal Inspire Tea event, hosted by First Lady Gayle Woodard. I had no need to tarry about the invitation, because First Lady Gayle Woodard had already given me a living resume of who she is as a woman, minister and wife. She is a true lady, poised with integrity, and humble in her leadership qualities. Yes, this woman of God loves her Lord and it is evident in how she leads the women in her community, sorority, and church (City Cathedral). As a wife, she understands her role as a help meet to a powerful man of God, Pastor Woodard. I was invited to attend their church by the International Gospel Recording Artist Nikki Berry, who is a member of City Cathedral. I absolutely loved the church and its members.

I enjoyed the loving presence of some great woman that are associated with First Lady Gayle Woodard. The HESS Center, where the Royal Inspire Tea event was held, was fabulous! As I walked up marble stairs, I entered a foyer of sheer elegance, and the colors were so inviting. The warmth of the ladies that welcomed me was even more inviting. First impressions are lasting ones, and I have to say, every time I encounter anything orchestrated by First Lady , it was nothing short of excellent!

The dinning room was beautiful in its white and gold accessories. Each table had a silver plate cake with crystal tears hanging from them, with rose petals on top. The room was fit for the queens that filled the tables with their tea dresses and bill box hat clips. What a refreshing appeal to have women of color come together and look so vintagely elegant and fill the atmosphere with joy!

Gospel recording artist Nikki Berry certainly played the part in her

attire and matching pill box hat clip, that picked up the color of the rose petals, that were so delicately place on the silver plate with crystal tears flowing off its edges. Several of the ladies, young and old, looked so beautiful in their tea dresses and pill box hat clips. The morning began with a prayer by Nikki Berry, which was followed by mistress of ceremony, Lesha Wincher, Ms.Houston. Lesha stood tall, poised, pretty as a picture and she was very gracious to many women, that wanted to shake her hand and take pictures with her. Another gracious beauty was Freje Randall the ballerina. She was in her warm ups and dancing on her toes in the most precious ballet shoes. The two young ladies paused for a minute to allow me to capture God's daughters, the most exquisite creations made by His own hands. Freje had the most beautiful ebony skin, pearl white teeth, and she was just a perfect picture.

Ms. Houston was a lovely MC and Freje the ballerina gave an outstanding performance!

I also had the pleasure of meeting three precious dancers form the Rising Star Academy. The dancers were on one accord as they entertained the ladies with a heart felt inspirational dance.

The purpose of the Royal Inspire Tea was to bring Cancer Awareness to African American women. Ashlee Valavala gave vital information to help increase the knowledge about cancer and the preventive measures to take, as well as the advanced treatments that are not known among most African American women. Ashlee is a representative for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Once Ashlee finished her presentation, which was well received, breakfast was served. The meal was proceeded by fresh fruit and danish. The main meal was beautifully arrayed with sauteed potatoes, red and orange bell peppers and onions, with bacon, sausage and scrambled eggs.

Lady Alfreda Lee brought us all back together with an inspirational story, which was followed by Mary Johnson, Dress for Success. The guess were all given a ticket as they came in, and it was time to call out the lucky numbers. The first prize went to a beautiful lady in the cutest yellow dress and the second prize went to my new friend Kandice Rose, a cancer survivor and looking at her you would have never known. She was so pretty, looked healthy, and Kandice personality was so joyful.

To lighten the mood, Kim Roxie "Beauty Inside Out" almost caused the ladies to loose their bill box hat clips, as they leaned forward in laughter! Kim was quite the comedian and in all the laughter, she manage to convince a few ladies to reveal their secret of having no brow hairs. Kim used one of the ladies as a model to demonstrate her new brow kit. She used a special brow brush and brow powder to draw on eye brows. Kim suggested not using a pencil because of the oily skin most African Americans have. "The powder will absorb most of the oil, said Kim Roxie".

The Tea Time Royal Panelist were lead by the moderator Alexis "Fly" Heron, from Good Morning America. She asked a series of business questions for each panelist to answer and give advice to the audience. The panelist were Sandy Woods (owns a chain of child care), Latisha Grant from the Houston Council, Lisa with Trendy Place and Beauty Wellness., and April Day with Women Business Entreprenuer Alliance WBEA and SBA.

The key note speaker was none other than Dr. Carolyn Evans - Shabazz. She is over the education department for Houston Community College. I was so excited about her affiliation with HCC, because I was a student at the college. I obtained my Associates of Applied Science back in the 80's. I have since obtained my Bachelor's in Business Administration, Master's of Education Administration and working on my Doctorate in Education Leadership and Management. Dr. Shabazz lectured on how to vote, stand as a community of people, getting an education and being a business woman. The ladies were well informed and gave her a unanimous applaud!

An inspirational poem was presented by author and business woman LaTasha Weatherspoon.

Latasha is an eloquent speaker and an equally awesome motivator. She is known for her yearly award event "Black Girl Excellence"and Top Tier Therapy as a Speech Pathologist. I had the pleasure of volunteering at her first award event, and it was excellent. I attended her next award event, as the media for my magazine, River & Word, to write an article, and once again she put on an outstanding event, in fact First Lady Gayle Woodard was honored. (LaTasha in purple)

Finally, the presentation of awards was facilitated by Diedra Smith, who use to be Dr. Evans-Shabazz student. The award winners were Leading Lady Patron of the Year Tiffany Jones, Leading Lady of the Year Shaantera Chatman, and Leading Advocate of the Year Nicole Taylor. Final closing remarks were given by First Lady Gayle Woodard. 0