In celebration of Black History Month, It’s Time has partnered with REACH Riverside to produce a two-part round table series “Celebrating Black Excellence” next Thursday, March 25th at 7pm on Facebook Live and YouTube Live (Click here for event information and streaming links!)
This month’s installment is Part 2 in our series, and will include a panel of black women discussing their personal experiences of growing up in Wilmington, Delaware. It is following an all male discussion we held last month with CEO Logan Herring of The WRK Group (Missed it? Stream now on Facebook or Youtube!)
Learn more about REACH and our upcoming virtual round table below!
Our partner: Reach Riverside and The WRK Group
For this event, we really wanted to partner up with a community organization that is making a huge impact on the city of Wilmington. REACH Riverside is a part of the The WRK Group, a collaborative of 3 community organizations also including The Warehouse and Kingswood Community Center. Individually these 3 initiatives are catalysts for change and are facilitating lasting impressions on Wilmingtonians.
The Warehouse– is located in Northeast Wilmington and is a center “designed for teens by teens”. It focuses on “providing our city’s youth with the tools and opportunities they need to become confident, courageous, and contributing young adults who will make a positive difference in our world.” They offer opportunities in recreation, education, the arts, careers, and health. Visit their Facebook and Instagram.
REACH Riverside– combines three pillars of revitalization that have been statistically shown to have the greatest impact on long term community health and well-being. These include redevelopment, education, and community health all within the historic Riverside community. Visit their Facebook and Instagram.
Kingswood Community Center- has the deepest roots out of all 3 organizations; with its story dating back to 1946 when neighborhood residents asked the Kingswood United Methodist Church to offer after school activities. Their passion for education, community health and wellness, safety, community engagement, and workforce development is funneled into opportunities that bring the community together. Visit their Facebook and Instagram.
The WRK Group unites these separate initiatives to influence a “holistic revitalization” of Northeast Wilmington “by creating pathways out of poverty for the lowest-income residents and building a strong, economically diverse community.”
About Our Host: Kenyetta McCurdy-Byrd
Kenyetta McCurdy-Byrd is Chief Operating Officer (COO) of REACH Riverside. Kenyetta is responsible for building REACH’s infrastructure to propel the company toward its mission of eliminating structural racism in Wilmington’s Riverside neighborhood. As COO, she drives the vision, establishes the culture, formulates operational strategy, and directs talent management, along with translating strategic initiatives into meaningful goals for individual and organizational performance and growth.
Prior to joining REACH, Kenyetta served as Deputy Director of the West End Neighborhood House, a community-based organization that provides social and community services; a tenure which spanned two decades. From managing teams, processes, and operations to generating revenue, Kenyetta helped lead West End in attaining amplified organizational success and productivity, while forging strong partnerships throughout Delaware and the surrounding area.
Kenyetta holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice/Sociology and a Master of Science in Criminal Justice/Sociology from Saint Joseph’s University. She is also a Society for Human Resource Management Certified Professional (SHRM-CP).
A champion of diversity, equity, and inclusion and a passionate advocate for public service and lifelong learning, Kenyetta is a long-standing member of the Lions Club International and has served on multiple boards of directors and committees.
Meet the Rest of the Panel:
After careful consideration, CEO of The WRK Group Logan Herring and COO Kenyetta McCurdy-Byrd hand selected four female leaders from different generations with ties to Wilmington to make up the round table panel. These innovative women will explore their experiences as females living and working in the city, along with current and future work to support opportunities for black community members.
- Kenyetta McCurdy-Byrd- COO The WRK Group
- Jessica Wescott- founder Planting to Feed, Inc.
- Zorah Rothwell– co-founder The Warehouse
- Rep. Sherry Dorsey-Walker- State of Delaware House of Representatives
- Bebe Coker– Community Advocate
“What does Black Excellence mean to YOU?”
As a part of this event, It’s Time and REACH Riverside invite YOU to explore the question: “What does Black Excellence Mean to You?”
Whether it’s artwork, video, spoken word, quotes, photos, or a crazy science experiment we want to hear how YOU see black excellence – the sky’s the limit!
You can send your submissions a few different ways. Tag us @ItsTimeWilmDE on your social media posts or stories, or email us at itstimewilmde@tappnetwork.com.
Join Us!
Join us via Facebook Live by clicking HERE or YouTube Live by clicking HERE on Thursday, March 25th at 7pm and be ready to weigh in and ask questions through our live chat.
We hope these candid conversations shed a light on the true experience of black Wilmingtonians and inspire others to see that, together, we can support one another to succeed.
Comment below with questions you have for our panel!
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