Empowered Bronx Women Celebrate Achievements
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A new award ceremony in the Bronx recently honored positive images of women and nurtured what organizers called "Uptown Girl Power." Borough reporter Dean Meminger filed the following report.Actors-models Kerry Washington and Joy Bryant traveled back home to Longwood in the Bronx to take part in what they hope will be an annual event called "Uptown Girl Power." The event was put together by activist Majora Carter.
"The situation in the Bronx for women is really dire, from domestic abuse, to the dropout rate, to teenage pregnancy, to health problems," said Carter.
The event honored women who have made a difference as well as support those who need encouragement, and at times it became emotional.
Tiffany McKenzie, 22, has served jail time but now wants to make a change by becoming a lawyer.
"It makes me feel great," she said. "It is a big deal in my life because I have never been honored."
The other honored women honored say by sticking together the lives of Bronx women can improve.
"We must learn how to reach out and to be proud, and to love and accept," said honoree Eva Sanjurjo.
"We don't scare easy in the "B-X," said Washington. "Women from the Bronx, we know how to show up for life, no matter what our given circumstances are."
Money raised from the event will go towards painting murals around the Bronx that reflect positive images of women.
"We have so many negative images of women I thought we needed to counter that," said Carter.
Honoree Mildred Ruiz sang powerful words from blues great Koko Taylor that captured the event's spirit: "I'm a woman, I'm a ball of fire. I'm a woman."