WIN Black History Month Innovation Panel

“There is no royal flower-strewn path to success.
And if there is, I have not found it
for if I have accomplished anything in life
it is because I have been willing to work hard.”
~Madam C.J. Walker 

It’s Black History Month in honor of which the Women’s Innovation Network will be hosting a panel discussion this Tuesday, February 21, 6 pm at International House, 1414 E. 59th St, on the University of Chicago campus. It promises to be an evening full of inspiration and empowerment. There is still time to reserve a spot via www.ladiesofwin.org.

The title of the event is: “Super Successful Black Women Entrepreneurs Share How They Did It – the Story Behind the Glory!”

“Now all we need is to continue to speak the truth fearlessly,
and we shall add to our number
those who will turn the scale to the side
of equal and full justice in all things.”
~ Lucy Stone 

Here’s the promo video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIn6n3QqF40&feature=channel_video_title

More information on the event from the WIN press release:

“Moderated by NBC TV Reporter LeeAnn Trotter, … attendees will hear success stories from an inspiring panel at this exciting event.

Panelists include: Regina Taylor, Golden Globe-winning actress and playwright; Brenda Palms Barber, social entrepreneur and founder of Sweet Beginnings; and Barbara Bates, fashion designer and a contestant on NBC’s forthcoming Fashion Star TV show.

“With this powerful event,” said Valerie Beck, president of the Women’s Innovation Network (WIN), and founder of Chicago Chocolate Tours, “we are filling an important need for education and connection, and making it fun in the process. Get ready for massive inspiration, as our panelists share the story behind the glory!”

Moderator LeeAnn Trotter is NBC’s entertainment reporter, covering everything from restaurants to celebrities to what’s happening around town. This Chicago native joined NBC in December 2005, after working at CLTV for eight years. There, she anchored the weekend news and hosted the award winning entertainment show, “Metromix: The TV Show,” which earned her a local Emmy and several nominations for Best On Camera Performance.

Panelist Regina Taylor’s career continues to evolve with exciting and challenging projects. Taylor is best known to television audiences for her role as Lilly Harper in the series “I’ll Fly Away.” She received many accolades for her performance in the show including winning a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a TV Series, an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series and two Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. Taylor was most recently seen starring in the CBS hit drama “The Unit”. She took home the NAACP Image Award for “Outstanding Actress in a Drama” for her work on the show.

Since becoming the North Lawndale Employment Network’s (NLEN) founding Executive Director in 1999, Panelist Brenda Palms Barber has grown the organization from two to 14 employees and has generated an annual budget of $1.9 million. A wholly owned subsidiary of NLEN, Sweet Beginnings is a transitional jobs program that provides green collar jobs to formerly incarcerated individuals, producing honey in an urban neighborhood setting, and manufacturing and marketing honey-based personal care products under the beeline® label throughout the Midwest region. Whole Foods Markets and other high-end specialty boutiques like Mark Shale are important partners and distributors of beeline products.

A contestant on NBC’s Fashion Star, which airs next month, Panelist Barbara Bates has been a designer for 25 years. Barbara’s heart and dedication to the community is as large as her designing talent. In 1999, Barbara established the Bates Foundation which donates prom gowns and tuxedos to the neediest high school students in Chicago. Barbara is also a cancer survivor who never misses an opportunity to advocate for testing to aid early detection.

The WIN Black History Month Innovation Panel will be catered by Loquacious Catering, a WIN Member. Tickets to the event are free of charge, though contributions for food and beverage may be made at $10, $15, or $25, and spots may be reserved at www.ladiesofwin.org.

An energetic and new-thinking organization, the mission of Women’s Innovation Network (WIN) is to foster massive business growth for women entrepreneurs through innovation, inclusion, and inspiration, in a positive and ethical environment.”

“I think, with never-ending gratitude,
that the young women of today do not and can never know
at what price their right to free speech and to
speak at all in public has been earned.”
~ Lucy Stone

 ADDENDUM: As of March 10, 2013, I no longer support the WIN Board and its actions. However, I do support small business, women-owned businesses, and the gracious hosts of past WIN events.