Essence editorial director for WLI dinner
Susan Taylor, editorial director of America’s celebrated Essence Magazine, will share her inspiring messages of hope and possibility with Jamaica when she takes the podium on Thursday, November 30 at Essence of A Woman, a fund-raising dinner being hosted by the Women’s Leadership Initiative (WLI).
The annual dinner at the Jamaica Pegasus, is a signature event for the WLI – progression of the United Way Women’s Leadership Initiative and “Building Bridges Exchanges launched by US Ambassador to Jamaica, Sue Cobb, to foster economic development, knowledge sharing and partnership between Jamaica and Florida’s public and private sectors.
The WLI, which operates as a committee of the United Way of Jamaica, will honour two Jamaican legends in philanthropy at the event – Hon Danny Williams, OJ, and Beryl Ashley-Steiner.
Noting that the proceeds of the dinner will benefit a range of WLI charities, particularly children and the education and health sectors, WLI chair, Pat Ramsay said, “we are grateful for the opportunity to acknowledge the work of Mr Williams and Mrs Ashley-Steiner and delighted that Susan Taylor has agreed to speak at this year’s dinner”.
“Apart from being editorial director of Essence, one of the most celebrated African American-owned business success stories of the past three decades, she is an entrepreneur in her own right, an author and a highly sought after motivational speaker. She is so admired as a speaker that Dr Maya Angelou will only have Susan Taylor speak in her stead if she is unable to be present at a function. She will be an inspiration to all who hear her.”
Taylor has been honoured many times by industry peers. In 1999, she became the first African American woman to receive the Henry Johnson Fisher Award from the Magazine Publishers of America – the magazine industry’s highest honour.
In 2002, she was inducted into the American Society of Magazine Editorial (ASME) Hall of Fame, and has received honourary degrees from several colleges and universities including Lincoln University, Spelman College, Pillard University, Bennett College for Women, the University of Delaware and her alma mater, Fordham University.
Known for her commitment to serving and empowering the poor and to working with the disadvantaged, especially the youth, with an emphasis on education, Taylor is currently co-chair of a capital campaign with Danny Glover to raise money to build housing in the rural areas of South Africa.
She also serves on the board of the Joint Centre for Political & Economic Studies in Washington DC, and on the Louisiana Recovery Authority, at the request of Governor Kathleen Blanco to aid in the State’s post-Katrina rebuilding.
Tickets for Essence of a Woman are available from members of the WLI and at the Jamaica Pegasus.
