AJ's First Ladies Walk 2002

The AJ's First Ladies Walk 2002 Fashion Extravanganza, will be held Saturday, Oct. 12, 2002 at The Dusable Museum of African American History, 740 E. 56th Place, in association with Free Spirited Unlimited. Doors open at 6.p.m.

Cora B. Johnson, of Galiee M.B. Church, is the Mistress of Ceremonies for the event.

Candidates who will be introduced are:

Lucia Roman has worked with Youth Service Project as Community Building Specialist for 9 years serving more than 3000 youth and their families. Her duties include leadership training, Blick Club Organization, Parent Education Safety Workship and Community Empowerment.

Priscilla Maria Hatch has varied from an administrative assistant, secretary, program clerk, and receptionist. She was employed at Hines Veterans Administration Hospital in Hines, IL. for 10 years, and Lakeside Veterans Administration Center here for six years. Currentlly she is working as the Assistant Director/Financial Aid Officer of the Admissions Department at Providence St. Mel School.

Kimberly E. Johnson is employed at the Austin Bank of Chicago. She began as a Teller, was promoted to the Banking Department as a Personal Banker, on to Assistant Branch manager, Branch Manager and is currently Assistant Vice President of the Bank.

Joslyn DiPasalegne, great-niece of Chicago Defender founder and publisher Robert Sengstacke Abbott is currently Assistant to the Publisher of the Chicago Defender, Eugene F. Scott. A graduate of Robert Lindblom Technical High School, earning her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from the National College of Education (National-Louis University). She has also completed coursework toward a Master's Degree in Administration from Central Michigan University.

Geraldine L. Bates is the founder and executive director of Youth and Young Adult Choral Ministries (YAYACM) and the Southside Neighborhood Gospel Festival.

Sarah C. Bolton is employed at Irving Bond in Richton Park, II as a home based busines an advocate for organ transplant donors and recipients, vising transport, educate, and provide resources to donors or recipent from September 2001.

VaNessa Brown, an entrepreneur, founded the Advanced Skills Achievement Program (ASAP) in 1994, which is now known as Legendary Services Unlimited, Inc. She also started a tutoring program in Rockford, IL for low income families that could not afford tutoring for their children.

Jerry Garnetter Lewis, in 1983 became a home care aide at "home Care System" formerly known as "Addus HealthCare Inc". As a home care aide, Jerry would provide domestic assistance, companionship, and oversee, the general maintenance of the client's routine health. Her career advanced quickly moving from home care aide to office staff, consisting of receptionist, payroll clerk and to her former role as Program Supervisor of Chicago's Central West Side.

Michael Gougis-Flowers established "Let the Healing Begin...Now" Outreach Ministries International, Inc. in 1985 here. To date "Rev. Gougis-Flowers has sponsored numerous workshops, seminars and retreats designed to empower and further educate ministers in the organization of ministries and church administration to become more effective in spreading the gospel.

Shirley Smith is currently a caseworker for the Department of Human Service for the State of Illinois and has been in that position for 16 years. She is an active member of New Macedonia M.B. Church.

Free Spirited Unlimited Board Members are Anita Jones, Executive Secretary; Georgia Gibbs, Executive Secretary; Darrell Conner, Director of Planning and Economic Development; Denise Foster, Director of Finances; Steve Geary, Director of Creative Arts; Otha Earl Mabry, II, Director of Information and Technology and Tammy McMiller, Director of Marketing.

Photograph (Joslyn DiPasalegne)