FAME Church Celebrated the Sarah Allen Women's Missionary Society
Annual Day on Sunday, March 27, 2011.
The Trailblazer Award and Research and Status of Black Women Award were presented to women
who have made significant contributions for the benefit of our community and our nation.
Trailblazer Award honoree: Sister DeBorrah Carter, President of Sassy Survivor
Sister DeBorrah Carter started Sassy Survivor to provide education and awareness of Breast Health and Breast Cancer to All Women of Color. She began her campaign of helping women by bringing Breast Cancer Awareness to the Pasadena community in the early 1990's, before a spotlight was ever focused on African-American women.
In early 2001, DeBorrah was diagnosed with Stage 2+ breast cancer. After her diagnosis and treatment, she recognized that critical information needed to provide women of color with tools to decrease risks associated with breast cancer was lacking. DeBorrah decided to continue to fight, advocate and educate through her web site, www.SassySurvivor.com, as well as through public workshops and seminars.
A woman of strong faith, she believes God and understands that God has gifted physicians. She says “as I pray and believe for a healing miracle, I also seek those professionals who God has placed before me.” This belief is what prompted her to say upon hearing her own diagnosis “Ok Lord, give me 60 seconds to cry and now let’s go fight.”
Drying her tears, Sister Carter made lemonade out of a lemon. Placing God first as The Navigator of her care, and with the loving support of her family and friends, she emerged with the mission of "Making Awareness A Priority," the trademark for the business known as Sassy Survivor.
Some of her health advocacy accomplishments include:
- coordination and participation in State Senator Carol Liu’s Women’s Health Conference in Pasadena, CA
- becoming the Susan G. Komen/LA County spokesperson for the Race for the Cure
- participating in the Revlon Run/Walk, and the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, and
- being the implementer of the first Black Women’s Health Symposium in Pasadena, and first African American Breast Cancer Survivor to speak at Pasadena Women’s Conference in 2001.
In addition to running Sassy Survivor, she is a Career Management Professional providing career coaching to corporate and private clients as well as for community/ non-profit organizations and churches. Additional affiliations include being a member of California Black Women’s Health Project, and serving as Southern California Women’s Health Conference Chairperson, Business Women of San Gabriel Valley.
Sister Carter is a member of the National Council of Negro Women, San Gabriel Chapter; the Susan G. Komen/LA County organization; My Sister My Friend Breast Cancer Support, and also a contributor to Living Beyond Breast Cancer. She is a member of West Angeles Church of God in Christ, where she serves as a Ministry Assistant.
As of this past February, Sister DeBorrah has been cancer-free for 10 years. Giving thanks for that milestone, she and the members of “Team Sassy” participated in the Susan G. Komen ‘Race For The Cure’ at Dodger Stadium on March 5, helping to raise more than $1 million dollars to continue the fight for a cure.
Research and Status of Black Women Award honoree: Rev. Monica A. Coleman, Ph.D.
Dr. Coleman is the Associate Professor of Constructive Theology and African American Religions at Claremont School of Theology and Co-Director of the Center for Process Studies. In 2005, she was named by The African American Pulpit preaching magazine as one of the “Top 20 to Watch” – The New Generation of Leading Clergy: Preachers under 40.
Rev. Monica graduated magna cum laude with honors from Harvard-Radcliffe Colleges with her undergraduate degree in Afro-American Studies. She earned the Master’s of Divinity degree from Vanderbilt Divinity School, and her study focus there included theology, Christian education and ethics. She received her doctorate in Philosophy of Religion and Theology from the School of Religion at Claremont Graduate University.
She is the founding Director of Womanist Religious Studies at Bennett College for Women in Greensboro, NC, the first undergraduate religious studies program to focus on the spiritual experiences of women of African descent. An avid writer, Rev. Monica’s articles have been published in a variety of publications including ESSENCE Magazine, The A. M. E. Review, Ecumenical Trends and The Women of Color Study Bible.
In 1997, Rev. Monica founded “The Dinah Project,” an organized church response to intimate physical violence, while at Metropolitan Interdenominational Church in Nashville, TN. In its first three years, The Dinah Project reached over 3000 people. She wrote about and published her experiences and how congregations can respond in The Dinah Project handbook. Rev. Monica has been a featured speaker around the country at churches, colleges, seminaries, universities, and regional and national conferences.Rev. Monica also studies black and womanist theologies, African traditional religions and the representation of religion in literature. She is the first person of color to serve as a Co-Director of the Center for Process Studies. Her academic writings can be found in journals such as Wesleyan Theological Journal, Soundings: an Interdisciplinary Journal, Journal of Caribbean Literature, Philosophia and Journal of Feminist Studies in Religion. She is also the author of ‘Making A Way Out of No Way: a Womanist Theology’. She also writes on her own website, www.monicaacoleman.com Rev. Monica is an ordained elder in the AME Church, and a member of the Southern California Annual Conference.
Research and Status of Black Women Award honoree: Mrs. Denise Hunter
Denise Hunter serves as the President and Chief Operating Officer of FAME Corporations. She is the first female to serve in that role. Designing programs that support and empower women and children has always been a priority in Mrs. Hunter’s life. As President and Chief Operating Officer of FAME Corporations, Mrs. Hunter has identified serious issues facing community residents, and has worked to create solutions for some of those issues including:
- Introducing the Back-To-School Giveaway to provide school supplies for community children
- Submitting a proposal to purchase foreclosed properties and offer affordable mortgages to borrowers struggling through the recession
- Developing a partnership with So Fresh Produce to create the FAME So Fresh Produce Market and introducing healthy eating and cooking classes
- Being appointed to serve on the National Children’s Study Community Advisory Board for Los Angeles and Ventura counties and
- Introducing “Let’s Move LA” as a supportive arm of the “Let’s Move National Health Initiative” developed by First Lady Michelle Obama
One of Mrs. Hunter’s favorite terms is “Girl Power” which typifies her belief that through the power of God women can do anything.
