It was a positively charged room of women that gathered as cumulus clouds, answering the call from We Inspire Women’s principal Cortia Bingham for the event, aptly themed “Silver Storm: Sis, Finish Strong”. The reigning queens, adorned in silver, sparkled like stars inside the Black River Room at the stately Iberostar Rose Hall Hotel for the annual We Inspire Women Wealth & Wellness Brunch last Sunday in Montego Bay.

The brunch is designed to provide a space for women to connect, network and share methods for advancement and stories of upliftment and motivation.

The day’s activities started with a praise and worship segment by Leharia Ministry followed by a testimony from Pastor Rehamah Forrester, who spoke on love and faith especially after her husband suffered a crippling accident after four years of marriage that eventually left him bedridden for 29 years. Well Fit Club CEO Kamila McDonald then joined Bingham for a sisterhood circle convo. McDonald spoke on surviving an abusive relationship and the journey to aligning physical and mental health.

A women’s wellness panel followed with Sheryl Garriques-Lloyd, lecturer, UWI School of Nursing; Dr Arusha Chambers; Claudette Bryan JP and certified christian counsellor; and Marcia Williams, senior medical representative, Massy Distribution. The panel explored mental illness, anxiety, stress, self-love, self-confidence, emotional wellness and balancing business with family. Senator Janice Allen during her fireside chat, spoke on charting a successful career path and shared her journey to becoming a senator — from her educational background, surpassing struggles and having a confident mindset.

The women’s wealth panel discussion followed with Patricia Henry, certified chartered accountant; Michelle Sinclair-Doyley, manager, group financial partnership support & financial education, JMMB; and Kenisha Dwyer-Powell, manager, client partnership, JMMB Investments, who discussed finance and investment strategies for achieving a financially stable life.

Closing speaker Marsha-Ann Donaldson-Brown, a “Lupus warrior” and advocate for empowering women, centred her presentation on ‘Overcoming Your Limits, Owning Your Greatness and Purpose’. She opened by sharing that God made no one ordinary but unapologetically extraordinary. Stating that women should embrace being extraordinary by shifting their mindset and focusing on themselves first, she explained how her personal fear of failure, judgment, and the unknown had held her back until she decided to make a change and instead lead a life of purpose.

“This year We Inspire Women celebrated under the Silver Storm theme because we wanted to end the year strong with women who believe that they can rise higher and, going into 2023, can be the best version of themselves. The women that join with us believe in a higher purpose and are looking to pave the way for the generations of women to come,” explained Bingham.

“Today was overwhelmingly amazing. Not only [in terms of] the level of turnout, but the sisterhood that we have had in other events was surpassed in Montego Bay. I was blown away by the conversations that ranged from wealth, wellness, mental health, and the networking. Women were able to bond and walk away with new friendships that can empower them physically, mentally and financially,” Bingham added.

— Photos & Text by Aceion Cunningham