Gainesville Florida chapter of National Coalition of 100 Black Women Inc.

The National Coalition of 100 Black Women Inc. chartered its 64th chapter in Gainesville, Florida.
Gainesville native Gwendolyn Carroll was the driving force behind the chapter’s creation.
The new chapter launched with 83 charter members from Alachua, Marion, and Columbia counties.

The National Coalition of 100 Black Women Inc. (NCBW) celebrated the chartering of its 64th chapter on Nov. 1 at the University of Florida Hilton Conference Room.

Marking a historic milestone for the Greater Gainesville Florida Chapter, the ceremony drew hundreds of attendees, including local officials, community leaders and members from NCBW chapters across Florida and neighboring states.

The Greater Gainesville Chapter becomes the seventh NCBW chapter in Florida, joining a network of chapters across 24 states and the District of Columbia dedicated to advocating for Black women and girls through leadership development, education and community engagement.

An impassioned speech honoring the organization’s mission and the local pioneers who made the chapter possible was delivered by Florida Bridgewater-Alford, the chartering president-elect.

Bridgewater-Alford recognized Gainesville native Gwendolyn Carroll as the driving force behind the chapter’s creation, calling her “our North Star.”

“We stand on sacred ground,” Bridgewater-Alford said. “Her [Carroll] energy can power a city block. We are deeply grateful for your dedication and vision. We are coming together in purpose, guided by a shared mission to create policies to help Black women and Black girls. We are here to amplify the voices that must be heard. This is not the end of a process but the beginning of a promise. This chartering ceremony shows what’s possible and what happens when promise meets purpose.”

Carroll, who spent decades in New York as a charter member of the NCBW Long Island Chapter, said bringing the organization to her hometown was a labor of love and determination.

Carroll added that when she returned to Gainesville following her husband’s passing, she learned that the city had a 100 Black Men chapter but not one for women.

“I said, ‘That cannot be. I have to get this done,’” she said. “So, I just put in a few calls to some friends and to find out exactly how should I go about it. We formed a leadership team of six of us. After that, we began making a list of women who we thought would fit the bill to be a contributor for this particular national organization. So, today I’m beyond excited that this has become reality.”

The Gainesville chapter launched with 83 charter members representing diverse professional backgrounds and communities in the surrounding areas.

“We have 83 strong women from various backgrounds and careers who will now work together for us to formulate plans and activities to better the lives of women and girls in our three counties,” Carroll said. “I’m beyond excited.”

The Gainesville chapter includes Alachua, Marion and Columbia counties.

Phyllis Hilliard, one of the charter members, said the ceremony represented both celebration and commitment.

“It was a glorious celebration to a year and a half of hard work,” said Hilliard, who works for the School Board of Alachua County. “So, we’re looking forward to being impactful in this community to make a change according to what our guidelines and bylaws say, and impact women and girls.”

The turnout reflected strong community support,” Hilliard said.

“I think the showing that we had here today says the support is there,” Hilliard said. “We will be getting out into the community and continuing to expand and get more people to participate and make a difference.”

National President Virginia Harris traveled to Gainesville to formally charter the chapter and welcome the new members.

“We chartered our 64th chapter here in the great city of Gainesville and we are looking forward to the great work that they will do with the Black women and girls in this area,” Harris said. “We are looking forward to them making a difference.”

Harris called the occasion “a historic day in Gainesville, Florida.”

“We’re excited to welcome 83 amazing women to this organization,” she said. “I am looking forward to the great work that they will be doing here in Gainesville.”

Source link