Black Women Widows Empowered

Well, it's that time! I'm super excited to interview several high-impact widows and community leaders. Dr. Sarah Williams, (Chesapeake, VA) The Celebrity Psychotherapist, TV Host & Creator of Dr. Sarah After Dark, Consultant for members of the Surviving R. Kelly docu-series; Clinical Evaluator for the A&E TV docu-series, Intervention. Visit her at www.iamdrsarahwilliams.com or follow her at @drsarah.w Dr. Geneva Williams, (Detroit, Michigan) This former Ms. Black Fit and Fine Beauty Pageant winner and  Award-Winning non-profit executive is a Leadership Strategist & Podcaster of Ignite2Impact  and can be heard on iHeart Radio & Apple Podcasts.  Visit her at www.DrGenevaSpeakks.com or @drgenevaspeaks Kimberly Wiggins (Eastern Shore, MD) Kimberly is currently a morning anchor at WBOC-TV, Delmarva's #1 source for news in Salisbury, MD. She also helped co-found a faith-based, retail company called Still His for those who would like to share the love for the Lord and/or for a spouse. Kimberly is

Join Black Women Widows Empowered as we recognize Mental Health Awareness Month by holding our very first virtual conference via live podcast, July 21, 2018! A few topics include: -Mental Health, Beverly Wallace -Self-Care, Maureen Bobo -Healing Through Writing & Journaling, Taya Dunn Johnson -Economic Empowerment, Heather Ibrahaim-Leathers/Nicole Mecca, Global Fund for Widows -Special Empowerment Guest, Mario Armstrong, 2x Emmy Award Winner, NBC TODAY SHOW Personality, Creator & Host of The Never Settle Show.  -Sista to Sista segment of BWWE widowed women empowering widowed women with our very own group members, Crystal Pruitt, Rhonda Butler & Danielle James To register, donate or to obtain podcast information, visit friendlyfirewidowsempowermentconference.eventbrite.com To visit our website, visit blackwomenwidowsempowered.com Fiscally sponsored by The Carla Rose Foundation, Inc Donations are also accepted to help future widows in need, scholarships and more!! 

John Polo is a widower, stepdad, author, blogger, speaker and life coach.  His beautiful wife, Michelle, passed away at the age of 30 on January 22nd, 2016.  John and Michelle fell in love in high school and separated for eight years before they found their way back to each other.  Shortly after, Michelle was diagnosed with an extremely rare and aggressive cancer.  Somehow, through the loss and horrific tragedy that was, John was able to work his way from ‘bitter to better’.  John’s true passions are writing and speaking about love, loss, grief and healing, as he tries to help others honor their pain and see that a hopeful tomorrow can indeed exist. You can follow John on his blog at www.betternotbitterwidower.com and on Facebook and Instagram by searching Better Not Bitter Widower.

The book drops December 1! Listen to these wonderful ladies as they chat about their chapters and offer bits of nuggets for listeners. Visit BlackWomenWidowsEmpowered.com/book to reserve your copy today!#widowedbutnotwounded Widowed But Not Wounded Book celebrates the life, work, and resilience of thirteen black widowed women who have chosen to document their life after loss. This introductory book is rich in love and laughter and touches on several of the five stages of grief (denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance). Widowed, But Not Wounded was also written to expose the challenges of what black women widows are often faced with after the death of a spouse. We will chat with each author, and grab a few informational nuggets on how they've survived as well as listen to what they have to offer the black widowed woman - and more! Kudos to the contributing authors: Maureen Bobo, Khadija Ali, LaTisha Bowie, Kimberly Holmes Wiggins, Danielle James, Beverly Wallace, Cheryl Barnes, Beverly Kelley

Yanni Brown is an author, blogger, relationship educator, speaker, and a lover of love. As far back as she can remember, Yanni has always been a passionate observer of relationships, intrigued with the dynamics of what works for some and didn’t work for others. Her signature offerings include “What every bride should know before saying “I DO”, The Touch of Love workshop for couples, and Making Love Better TwoGether, a series of marriage and relationship education workshops designed to assist couples as they navigate through the challenges that accompany love, intimacy, relationships, marriage, and the pursuit of happiness. The Yanni Brown Making Love Better TwoGether brand was birthed from an unsuccessful marriage and learning from past relationships that enlightened her on how to infuse education, research, love, passion, and purpose to create better relationships. Yanni’s writings on love, life and the pursuit of happiness have been featured in Essence, Rolling Out, the Six Brown Chicks blog, and Black and

Certified relationship expert & Grief Recovery Specialist Cortne Lee Smith is a perfect example of someone whose passion and calling in life chose her. As a relationship coach, Cortne prepares engaged couples for marriage so they can stay together and teaches existing spouses how to keep their romance continually blooming. She is determined to do her part to ensure marriages have a strong foundation and don't devolve into another divorce statistic. A Georgia native, Cornte grew up in a tight-knit family in the Metro Atlanta area and has always been the nucleus of relationship advice for her family, friends, and co-workers since a young age. Currently, Cortne shares her advice via spoken word as the host of the Master Relationship Mechanic Show, which airs live on 108Praise.com. Through written word as a contributing writer for Apostolic Voice's magazine; Kingdom Marriage Corner. However, the work Cortne enjoys most is interacting with her private clients, conducting workshops, or hosting group events thro

Listen in as we hold a Q&A with Financial Advisor, Russ Thornton of Wealthcare for Women who helps women shrewdly and powerfully manage their money with confidence.  1. What professionals can serve as helpful resources when adjusting to life as a widow? 2. What are some initial financial steps that should be taken once you’re a widow? 3. How can widows handle the day-to-day finances? 4. Will we be able to chose to receive our husband's social security and our social security? (Excellent question and response!)  "After watching my Mom piece together her new life, I vowed to spend the rest of my life helping women like her. But know that I’m not here to give you advice because I think a man can do it better. I’m here to help you in the way that I wish someone would have helped my Mom, with EMPOWERING information, support, and a plan I want to help you PREPARE FOR THE UNEXPECTED with a financial plan that will guarantee you lasting wealth. Because hitting a crossroads (losing a spouse, getting re-marri

Karen Millsap became a widow at 29 when her husband was tragically murdered while teaching his CrossFit class. After losing most of her support network and experiencing a domino effect of other losses, Karen recognized the overall lack of assistance in our society for grieving people. This realization ignited Karen’s desire to launch The Grief Consultant, a company that offers leadership development workshops and strategic reinforcement programs targeting emotionalawareness. Grief is ever present across the nation and around the world, from the death of loved ones, to life-altering illnesses, divorce - even job loss. In addition to the workshops offered through her company, Karen speaks at conferences nationwide and hosts community events to teach how everyone can put compassion into action - and why it’s important we don’t stand idle in the face of each other's struggles. She has designed practical tools that, when combined with her inspirational story and magnetic personality, fortify unity and uplift hum

This show is a show as a precursor to the REAL event, July 22 in Charlotte. We'll be chatting with Jeremy Givens, Andre Cox, Kyle Whiteford, Dr. Stafford Sutton and a newly added guest, LaTisha Bowie, who will chat with us about her journey as a widow of suicide. We had so much fun at our event in Baltimore back in March that we had to do a follow-up discussion. If you can't make our event in Charlotte, July 22, then check us out on the radio!

Michelle Miller is a grief blogger, has essays featured on TheRumpus.net and OurSideofSuicide.com, and is the author of, Boys, Booze, and Bathroom Floors: Forty-Six Tales about the Collision of Suicide Grief and Dating. Her memoir chronicles the aftermath of her husband’s infidelities and suicide in 2014 at the age of thirty-one, and how she used dating to run from, and simultaneously into her grief. She is working on her second book, Ghetto Grief which is a collection of short stories about the unconventional ways in which she grieved and continues to grieve her husband; set to be released in 2017. For links to follow her on social media, view her blog, purchase her book, or read her published essays, visit: MouthyMichellesMusings.com   

Niya Mann's entire family was tragically killed in an automobile accident. Her husband Lavell (33), daughter, Logan (3) and son Legend (9 mos) received their wings  July 9, 2016 in Cerritos, California. A former guest on the TD Jakes show, Niya has agreed to speak with Black Women Widows Empowered to share her story on loss, grief and coming out of the darkness. Watch Video clip here: https://youtu.be/GRhI8gv3-KU

Hamm Alert: A Widow's Hustle for Justice for the El Faro God puts people in our path for a reason. Frank Hamm was my friend. We were high school classmates. We often were in the same class. His laughter and jokes are what would often time would make my day. I met Rochelle through Frank's unfortunate death. She's been a godsend in my life and we have since formed a special friendship. Please read this article on the words expressed during a time of confusion and panic by her late husband as the ship anchored down into sea. Rochelle Hamm, you my dear, are my shero. "Rochelle Hamm's eyes fill with tears when she reads her terrified husband's last words — uttered as the cargo freighter El Faro went down in a hurricane, taking the lives of Frank Hamm and 32 others. "My feet are slipping! I'm goin' down!" he cries after the crew is ordered to abandon ship. "I'M A GONER!" he shouts. A few lines later, the transcript ends, along with the lives of Hamm and the captain who desperately sought to save him.

This special tribute comes after the news of the death of actor Charlie Murphy. Why him? Because he has a unique story. You see, in 2009 Charlie Murphy was widowed. HIs healthy wife, Tisha Taylor,  came home one day in tears because she found out she had cancer. She died several days later but had enough time to plan her funeral. Everyone who has experienced grief is invited to listen and/or participate. We'll talk about love, life, health and coping.  "During a past interview, Charlie admitted the impact of his wife’s death was devastating and it changed him forever. He also revealed what she did just days before her tragic death. “I came home and she’s in the kids’ room, crying. That’s when she told me. Cervical cancer. You don’t really grasp it. When the person tells you they’re going to die, you go crazy. You become a different person from the moment you hear those words.”' Read more here: http://www.iloveoldschoolmusic.com/charlie-murphys-heartbreaking-story-of-wife-what-she-did-days-before-she-died/

Follow the journey of three women through one of life's most difficult challenges: becoming a young widow. through the book, The Unwelcome Committee.  Maureen Bobo, Chasity Williams and Khadija Ali share three different perspectives of how becoming a widow and dealing with the process of grief changed their lives forever. This book is not only significant to losing a spouse but to comprehend and grasp the outlook of grief overall. Everyone will lose someone close to him or her at some point in life and will want to latch on to someone or something they can relate to. The ladies cover various topics such as what happened, single parenting, finances, balance, coping mechanisms, digression, resentment, complicated grief, gaining to be understood and so much more. This book is raw, uncut and has many personal reflections that may be surprising to read. The feelings of grief are often times overwhelming, but The Unwelcome Committee welcomes you in and wants you to know that healing does and can happen. This

Andre Cox, a widower of three years gives an honest and open verbal interview about his widower journey without Vikki. It's time to hear him up, close and personal. Check out  BWWE's interview with him on our website here  

  Rochelle Hamm isn't going anywhere! Since her husband, Frank Hamm, was lost at sea in the fall of last year when the El Faro cargo ship sank during Hurricane Joaquin, she has been on a mission to inspire other widows to move from pain to purpose and power!