Lynn University hosts 4th Annual Women Today Luncheon

March 23, 2017March 28, 2017 Hadassa Delhomme 0 Comments women, Women of Today

Lynn University was home to the 4th annual Women Today luncheon on March 18 at noon. This event hosted by the Women’s Center featured five key note speakers Dr. Phil Riordan, Dj Stichez, Myhosi “Josie” Ashton, Pamela Goodman and Johanna Neuman. These speakers focused on the empowerment of women and their effect on society in the past and today.

“It was my priority to create the Women’s Center so women on this campus could have a place to go and feel safe, empowered and understood,” said Philip Riordan, Vice President of Student Affairs. Opening the program, Riordan spoke freely on how important the Women’s Center was to him and why this campus and every campus in America needs a place specifically for the female students. He specifically made it a priority to open women’s centers in each university he has worked with and made sure to carry on the legacy when he joined Lynn in 2009.

Among the female speakers, Dj Stichiz, a musician, radio personality, motivational speaker and former President of Florida State Conference of the NAACP Youth and College Division shared her story and her secrets to success. She took pride in her wisdom that she had to acquire at a young age. She struggled with negativity coming from the outside world and within, but through the empowerment of great women around her and her environment of positivity she was able to achieve every single goal in mind.

“We are women, we will move forward, we will complete every task ahead, we will step over every obstacle because we are women of today,” said Stichiz. Another speaker Josie Ashton admittedly was taken a back by the words Stichiz shared with the audience and was shown through her emotional delivery of her story.

Ashton made headlines back in 2001 when she decided to walk from a home in New Jersey down to Miami, FL. She was walking in remembrance of Gladys Ricart, a Dominican woman shot on her wedding day by her ex- boyfriend.

Josie set out to change the story of her death into a powerful movement. She took the ultimate step by quitting her daytime job and starting to partner with centers for domestic violence victims and their families.

In an atmosphere of female empowerment, all of the keynote speakers touched on how women carry so much poise and how as individuals and groups they have the power to change the world if they choose. Women live in a world and society that is constantly changing, and they should not be swept under the news.

“We are 52 percent of the population of this country, we are not a minority we are the majority,” said Pamela Goodman, keynote speaker.

Hadassa Delhomme

Hadassa Delhomme is a sophomore pursuing a degree in multimedia journalism. A Florida native, Delhomme originally found her love for writing while enrolled in a creative writing course in high school. Since then, Delhomme has pursued any opportunities that would help elevate her writing and leadership skills. In her short time here at Lynn, she has been fortunate to gain editorial experience through iPulse and also served as a contributing writer to the Palm Beach Post. Outside of school, she carries a passion for music, community service and political activism. She strives to be able to live in a world with no barriers and as ever-changing as the world of journalism. Without a doubt, Delhomme has grown in short order, due to the experiences she has received at Lynn. She looks forward to growing with her fellow Fighting Knights as she actively seeks her career goals.