Sister’s Keeper event seeks to connect and inspire women

The empowerment brunch will again have noted author and life coach Dr. Anita Phillips as the keynote speaker


Host Pinkie Tuggerson with visiting keynote speaker Dr. Anita Phillips at the 2023 event. [supplied]

Home » Arts & Entertainment
Posted July 29, 2024 | By Jennifer Hunt Murty
[email protected]

Last September I took a leap of faith and accepted a friend’s invitation to attend the Sister’s Keeper Empowerment Brunch hosted by I Am My Sister’s Keeper. The keynote speaker was Dr. Anita Phillips, a trauma therapist, life coach, minister and author of the New York Times bestseller “The Garden Within.”

When Phillips’ keynote address correlated leadership collaboration to the Biblical story of Moses’ insecurity about public speaking and the help he received from his brother Aaron so they could aid the Jews enslaved by Egypt, this news journalist found personal application.

I’m sure there were a lot of others in the room, from various walks of life, who also may have been thinking, “Yes, sometimes we need help from our friends to effectively overcome our insecurities and do the hard stuff—say the hard stuff—to be a leader.”

And not only did Phillips’ lecture/sermon, and many accounts of women’s triumphs and struggles, feed my spirit, the brunch was delicious.

Phillips will return for the next annual Sister’s Keeper Empowerment Brunch, which will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sept. 14 at the Circle Square Cultural Center, and I’ve already got my ticket.

I Am My Sister’s Keeper was born out of triumph and tragedy in the life of Pinkie Tuggerson, the empowerment event founder and a local minister.

Event organizers wrote to the “Gazette” about how the event came about: “In the same year that she felt the call to lead a women’s ministry, her only daughter was diagnosed with cancer and unexpectedly passed away at 32 years old, leaving behind two young daughters. Through her pain and newfound purpose in raising her two granddaughters, Tuggerson continued to follow her call to minister to women from all walks of life, from the business executive to the prison inmate. As she witnessed the testimonies and trials of these women, she found herself not only strengthened but also inspired to connect women to one another in a way that would inspire and empower them to pursue their dreams and purposes through all seasons of life.”

We emailed Tuggerson to ask what she hopes those who attend this year will take away from the Sister’s Keeper Women’s Empowerment Brunch.

“We hope that the women of this year’s Sister’s Keeper Women’s Empowerment Brunch will leave feeling inspired, empowered, and connected. Our goal is to provide a safe space for women to share their experiences, learn from each other, and gain valuable tools and resources to help them navigate life’s challenges,” she replied.

“We hope that our guests will take away:

  • A renewed sense of purpose and confidence
  • Practical advice and strategies for personal and professional growth
  • A stronger support network and community connections
  • A deeper understanding of self-care and self-love
  • Inspiration and motivation to make a positive impact in their own lives and the lives of others

Ultimately, we hope that our event will be a catalyst for positive change and a reminder that, together, we can uplift and support one another,” she added.

And, touching on the meal, Tuggerson noted, “This year, we’re excited to have Chef Mario McTier and his team from American Sunday Plate Catering return to delight the women with an even more impressive culinary experience.”

 

She shared that the meal will feature a pastry board station with an assortment of sweet treats; a fresh fruit station with seasonal delights; a grill station with tender chicken with a bourbon sweet sauce, served in a hot skillet, hibachi-style; sides of sautéed seasoned asparagus and Hibachi-style rice; a refreshing water station and the signature beverage, Pink Blushing.

IF YOU GO:

When: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 14

Where: Circle Square Commons, 8405 SW 80th St., Ocala

Tickets: $70, online at bit.ly/3WEPzpg

 

newspaper icon

Support community journalism

The first goal of the Ocala Gazette is to deliver trustworthy local journalism so corruption, misinformation and abuse are not hidden from the public or unchallenged.

We count on community support to continue this important work. Please donate or subscribe:

Subscribe