2nd Annual Women's Health Conference

Women started filing into the venue at Saint Luke Community Christian Church in the driving rainstorm on Saturday, March 23, 2024, as early as 8:15 for an event that started at 9 am.

- Lorraine Lavender-Sams

Spearheaded by Rosetta Carter and her incomparable team, this year’s event was even better than the inaugural event held in 2023. Meg Grant, Director of Public Affairs for Keystone First, and her indomitable team, along with Delaware County Black Caucus, the City of Chester, Widener University, the Black Equity Coalition, The Foundation for Delaware County, and Laborers’ Local 413, were sponsors for the event.

Thank you to Miss Patty Jackson for substituting for the Conference Keynote Speaker, who was unable to attend due to unforeseen circumstances. Jackson, who suffered a stroke, encouraged the ladies to pay attention to their bodies and remember to take care of themselves while taking care of others.

The event moderator, Cheryl B. Walker, is a certified international protocol and etiquette professional, author, facilitator, and trainer who did a great job keeping things upbeat and flowing despite the seriousness of some topics. The theme of this year’s Conference was “Protecting Our Health to Preserve Our History.”

The dynamic panel of speakers were all accomplished, eloquent, unsung sheros in the Chester community-women who work tirelessly for the betterment of the community and society.

Panelists included Anitra J. Green, LCSW, with over 25 years of experience as a mental health professional speaking on the topic of the importance of “Self-Awareness and Self Care,”

Author and Minister Katrina Jacobs, speaking on the topic of “Trauma, Grief, Loss, and Hope”

Sheila Church, Director of Patient and Community Services, ChesPenn, Certified Advanced Addictions Counselor and Board Chair of Chester Housing Authority, speaking on the topic of “Access to Her-Care”