A message from WPF President, Erica Parker
Dear Members,
As we approach the month of July, I am reminded of the significance of Independence Day. While fireworks light up the night sky and barbecues sizzle, let us also take a moment to reflect on the complexities of this historic occasion.
Our nation’s birth was marked by the signing of the Declaration of Independence, a document that boldly proclaimed equality and unalienable rights. Yet, as Frederick Douglass eloquently pointed out in 1852, this celebration did not extend to all. For those enslaved, the Fourth of July was a stark reminder of their exclusion from the promise of liberty for all.
As women, we recognize that progress has been hard-fought, and there is still work to be done. Let us honor the resilience of those who came before us while acknowledging the gaps that persist.
Independence Day is not just about the past; it’s about our shared future. We celebrate the potential for change, the hope that someday we will fully embody our nation’s values. As we gather with loved ones, let’s also hold space for conversations that matter—the ones that bridge divides and pave the way for a more inclusive America.
In the spirit of July Fourth, let us express gratitude for the progress we’ve made and recommit ourselves to justice, equity, and unity. Together, we can mend the broken places, creating a community that embraces every voice and honors the struggles of those who paved the way.
Let’s continue to shine brightly, knowing that together, we can achieve anything.
Wishing you all a safe and inspiring Independence Day! 
Shine Bright!!
Erica
Future Ready Greensboro
Future Ready Greensboro is partnership between Action Greensboro and the NC Early Childhood Foundation (NCECF). With a goal of creating the first Family Forward NC Certified Community in Greensboro, the campaign is inspiring employers to offer family-friendly workplace policies that improve recruitment, retention and productivity and support children’s healthy development. Learn about the Future Ready Greensboro campaign, how family friendly workplaces build strong and resilient businesses, families and communities and how you can be part of this exciting work.
Lisa Finaldi
Community Engagement Leader, NC Early Childhood Foundation
Community matters. It is where dynamic change happens. Lisa Finaldi is an experienced nonprofit leader dedicated to collaboration, with the ultimate goal to accelerate change and produce results. Her passion is creating healthy, safe, thriving communities. She has launched new organizations and initiatives and strengthened existing ones.
At NCECF, Lisa supports community collaboration and business leaders to build a strong foundation for lifelong success for North Carolina’s children. Her focus is the Family Forward NC and NC Campaign for Grade-Level Reading initiatives. Family Forward NC is an innovative initiative to improve children’s health and well-being and keep North Carolina’s businesses competitive through family-friendly workplaces that improve productivity, recruitment and retention and grow a strong economy.
Lisa has worked with communities around the world, on environmental health issues, across Europe and here at home in places like Calcasieu Parish in Louisiana and Stanly and Bladen counties in NC. She has fostered healthy and safe communities through many lenses, from changing policy focused on prevention of environmental health threats to enhancing what works.
FOUNDATION NEWS
FOUNDATION NEWSFrom Chandra Hackenbruch, WPF Foundation President
Greetings Dear Sisters
I hope you are taking time to have fun with family and friends despite the heat of the season! Speaking of the heat, you ladies are hot! As of today, we have met 1/3rd of our $30K goal for donations! Thank you is an understatement for your contributions to the WPF Foundation. We are grateful for your gifts and I am sure we will meet our $30K goal before the end of the year. We have 6 more months to go!
Foundation update: All grant checks have been sent out and cashed. Now these organizations can get to work on the programs that will benefit women and girls in Guilford County. We look forward to hearing how they have shined their light in the community enabled by these grants. Please continue to spread the word about our grant program and look for the announcement of the application cycle in September.
MEMBERSHIP NEWS
From Laura Burton, WPF Membership Committee Chair
We look forward to introducing you to your newest WPF Sisters in the August newsletter!
BAZAAR NEWS
From Jasmine Beard, WPF Bazaar Committee Chair
Any members interested in serving on the Bazaar Committee should contact Jasmine Beard at jasmine.b@ajoy2consult.com or call her at 336-986-5753.
LADIES OF LEISURE NEWS
Co-Chairs for 2025
The Ladies of Leisure (LOL) SIG has begun succession planning. We are looking for two volunteers who would like to serve as co-chairs starting in January 2025. If you’re interested and/or have questions, please contact Maria Davis Hanlin mariadavishanlin@gmail.com or Christie Soper christiesoper@gmail.com. Thank you!
Special Interest Group Upcoming Events
SIPPIN’ SISTERS
Annual Christmas in July Celebration!
Tuesday, July 16
6pm
Erica Parker’s House
710 Golf House Rd East, Whitsett
Dress Code: Summer Christmas Attire
Cost: $20
Join us for a festive evening of holiday cheer, sun, and fun!
We’ll have delicious food, refreshing drinks, and holiday-themed activities. Bring your holiday spirit and get ready to celebrate Christmas in July!
RSVP below no later than July 10.
Hope to see you there!
I am text block. Click edit button to change this text. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
LADIES OF LEISURE
Thursday, July 18
Civil Rights Museum Tour and Lunch at Crafted
Thursday, July 18, 10am
Please join us for a 10:00 a.m. guided tour of Greensboro’s Civil Rights Museum on Thursday, July 18. The International Civil Rights Center & Museum opened in 2010 as a comprehensive museum of the Civil Rights Movement and an innovative educational organization devoted to understanding and advancing civil and human rights in this country and the world.
After our tour (1 1/2-2 hrs), we will walk to Crafted, the Art of the Taco, at 220 S. Elm St. for a yummy lunch.
Ticket Details:
The museum strictly controls the number of attendees, and the number of tours, for each day. In order to hold our reservation, the Museum requires that we have tickets in hand by JULY 8, with a specific headcount. Simply go online to www.sitinmovement.org. Click on “Tickets.” Select number of tickets at $20/ea. Select 10 a.m. tour for July 18. When you enter your name to purchase a ticket, add “WPF” after your name. (Example: “Brenda Madden WPF.” That way, the museum will know which group you are in.)
IMPORTANT! Once you have your ticket, please email your RSVP to retired@wpforum.org BY JULY 8.
Parking information:
Click here for parking information
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Brenda Madden:
Email: brendamadden@yahoo.com
Text: (336) 501-6134
WORKING MOMS
Pho Hien Vuong
4109 Spring Garden St
Tuesday, July 23, 12-1:30pm
Join us for Lunch!
Moms of all ages welcome.
RSVP to Marlee Foster at marlee.foster@conehealth.com.
Working Mom’s group is part support group and part resource group. We learn so much from each other and have the chance to share the trials and tribulations of being a working Mom in this day and age. There is always laughter, an empathetic ear, and sometimes a great suggestion to help you when you thought you have exhausted all possible options.
FINANCIAL DIVAS
Wednesday, July 24, 9-10 am
Weaver Park Center Bldg,
324 W. Wendover Ave, Suite 140
Join us in the “O” to share and learn about “Bridging Generations: Mastering the Art of Wealth and Values Transfer”. Anyone sharing is encouraged to please consider bringing a handout/summary takeaway for group attendees. For questions, contact Paula McMillan 336.337.9507.
Books and Arts and Ladies of Leisure
A Motown Celebration with Chester Gregory
Thursday, August 1, 2pm
Coconut Cake
Saturday, August 3, 2pm
Books and Arts and Ladies of Leisure are joining forces for two great opportunities. Join us for either one or both opportunities to experience the 18th biennial International Black Theatre Festival (IBTF) in Winston-Salem. The two matinees are described below and a link for ticket purchases is included. We will meet at the parking lot at Whole Foods at 12:30pm for both matinees and carpool over to Winston-Salem. Following the production, we will head to The Prescott on Thursday and/or Rooster’s on Saturday for early apps and conversation.
The IBTF draws an audience of upwards of 65,000 theatre-lovers and turns Winston-Salem into a destination for theatre practitioners from across the globe, all of whom see the opportunity to perform on Black Theatre Holy Ground as both an honor and a privilege.
Early ticket purchases are encouraged – that’s when the best seats are available! Please purchase your own tickets at the links below and let either Dawn Kane (daka1@att.net) or Sandra Boren (ssndrawelchboren@gmail.com) know which matinee(s) you have purchased tickets for, how many in your group (guests are welcome!), and if you plan to join us at the restaurant(s) following the matinees. Questions: Call Dawn Kane, 336-340-4807 or Sandra Boren, 336-402-0051.
A Motown Celebration with Chester Gregory
Brendle Recital Hall, Wake Forest University
Lucid Life, LLC, Los Angeles, CA
Broadway legend Chester Gregory leads this epic Motown bash. Get ready to groove as Chester performs your favorite classics from the Motown era like no other. Dive into his heartfelt stories of meeting and working with icons like Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, and the man who started it all, Berry Gordy. This isn’t just any show – it’s a full-on party packed with tunes that’ll have you dancing in your seat! (Musical, General Audience)
https://ncblackrep.org/events/a-motown-celebration-with-chester-gregory/
Tickets: $60, buy through link or by calling the box office, 336-723-2266.
Coconut Cake
Hanesbrands Theatre – Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts
NC Black Rep, Winston-Salem, NC
Written by Melda Beaty
Directed by Nathan Ross Freeman
2022 Sylvia Sprinkle-Hamlin
Rolling World Premiere Award Winner
Coconut Cake tells the story of four retirees who spend their days debating the mysteries of life over coffee and games of chess at a local McDonald’s. But when a mysterious woman moves to town, tempting Eddie Lee and his chess buddies to indulge in melt-in-your-mouth coconut cakes and medicine cabinet secrets, their lives are changed forever. (Drama, Celebrity Performance, General Audience)
https://ncblackrep.org/events/coconut-cake/
Tickets: $45, buy through link or by calling the box office, 336-723-2266.
DINING OUT
Wednesday, July 31, 6:30pm
Embur Fire Fusion
107 Smyres Place, Greensboro
Host: Kathy Saunders
If you would like to join us for a fun evening, please RSVP HERE.
Questions:
Amy Meinecke, Diningout@wpforum.org
BOOK CLUB
Tuesday, August 6
7:00pm
Host : Ronnie Grabon
119 Nut Bush Road W
Book:
Good Night, Irene by Luis Alberto Urrea
Taking as inspiration his mother’s own Red Cross service, Luis Alberto Urrea has delivered an overlooked story of women’s heroism in World War II. With its affecting and uplifting portrait of friendship and valor in harrowing circumstances, Good Night, Irene powerfully demonstrates yet again that Urrea’s “gifts as a storyteller are prodigious”.
RSVP
Polly Sizemore
Text 336-202-6188
Email pollydsizemore@gmail.com
WOW – WOMEN OF WALL STREET
Investment Club
Thursday, August 22, 6:00 PM
Mt. Pisgah Church
There will not be a meeting of WOW in July as many members are on holiday.
Please mark your calendars now for our third quarter Business Meeting on Thursday, August 22, at 6 pm at Mt. Pisgah Church. We will review the portfolio and discuss the companies we own.
Peggy Ward
BOOKS AND ARTS
Portugal (Spain?) Travel Update
Oct 6-13 or 20th, 2024
Several of our group have responded that they want to be included in the Portugal trip scheduled for the fall (and possibly to go on to a Spain adventure). If you have not yet responded, but are interested in the trip, please let Christie Soper know (christiesoper@gmail.com) asap and reach out to her with any questions you have regarding the info below.
G Adventures offers a guided tour of Portugal (Lisbon to Porto) in partnership with National Geographic Sunday – Sunday, Oct 6-13, 2024. Then they have another tour for southern Spain with Nat Geo Sunday – Sunday, Oct 13-20. Each tour is $2449 per person, so if someone chooses to do both tours back-to-back, the total cost for tours would be $4,898 per person, and dates of travel would be Oct 5 (depart the day before for the overnight travel) – Oct 20. Note: the tours don’t include all the meals; so add another $350-500 per person per week for meals, and then add international flights and tour guide gratuity.
Below are the links to both tours. These are a good value and can work with different levels of activity within a group. A note on the guides – they are more generalists, like a cruise director, than experts on specific topics, so if folks wanted an expert art guide in the Prado museum as an example, that would be extra cost, but easily arranged and reasonably priced depending on the number of travelers.
GUESTS
WPF members signing up for the tour are welcome to invite a female guest to join the the trip. The maximum capacity for the public tour is 16, and it’s first come, first served.
FLIGHTS
We estimate the flights for coach on Delta departing from GSO to be approximately $1400. Note: price is likely to fluctuate until actually purchased.
Portugal: https://www.gadventures.com/trips/ngj-portugal/EPENG/
Southern Spain: https://www.gadventures.com/trips/discover-moorish-spain/ESMNG/