On Saturday, January 20, 2020 - The BM Community Media Team was live @ the 2ND Annual Sister March - a Community-Building Event, brought to you by The Women of the 7TH Congressional District. Community members gathered at the 345 Art Gallery on 345 N Kedzie, for another information packed “Women Rising” event… focused on #thewomenswave, “womensrights, “womenshealth, #solidarity, and #love.

Among those in attendance were: State Representative - LaShawn K. Ford, Commissioner - Brandon Johnson, Congressman - Danny K. Davis, City Treasurer - Melissa Conyers-Ervin, and Illinois Supreme Court Judge, P. Scott Neville, Jr.

One tell tale sign of a successful “Community-Building” event, is the exchange of valuable information - of which there was no shortage. Organizational Leaders were on hand to speak about and share information on The 2020 Census, Women’s Health, and the growing effects of mental health on the black community, etc…

Speaker Tandra Rutledge, offered a gentle reminder that you don’t need special training to have an open, authentic conversation about mental health – and often, just talking about it can be the first important step in understanding where someone is with their mental health, and helping them get support or treatment if needed.

She also shared some quick pointers we can all use when having a #RealConvo with the people in your life… the link to which can be found here.

When all was said and done… we caught up with one of the organizers - Crystal Gardner - to discuss the fruits of the day… and have her share here vision for tomorrow, as the #thewomenswave continues.

Ms Gardner said that she felt that the event went amazingly… and that she especially enjoyed the high spirit of sisterhood and solidarity that filled the room. Moreover, she really appreciated hearing the speakers echo the importance of The Sister March - for women in general, but especially on the west side… and the importance of speaking on issues that effect women everywhere, but especially on the west side.

The overall sentiment was that there can never be enough informed and targeted conversations for black and brown people, and that the hopes for tomorrow is that more partners and sponsors will come alongside initiatives like The Sister March - to help grow and maximize the impact of a Community-Building effort, that is already bearing good fruit.