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Onyx Woman Magazine
4/23/2007
by Leslie A. Rodriguez, Contributing Writer
Onyx Woman® magazine recently named its annual Amazing 10 women in the Winter/Spring 2007 issue. The magazine annually recognizes 10 African-American women from across the nation that you should know that are highly achieved leaders in their various vocations. The current edition includes five amazing women who are noted for their contributions to the Pittsburgh region.
Topping the list is Maurita J. Bryant, the Assistant Chief of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police. She is a twenty-nine year veteran of the Bureau and oversees the Investigations Branch. Her assignments over the years have covered the entire gamut of law enforcement, including Narcotics/Vice and Firearms Tracking, and Major Crimes. She also served as the Commander of Sex Assault and Family Crisis.
Women involved in business are not left off this list as evident by Onyx Woman’s selection of Ruth Byrd-Smith and Lyzona Marshall. Byrd-Smith, director of Allegheny County Minority Women and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (MWDBE), joins these very accomplished women as a catalyst to level the business playing field. Byrd-Smith has worked tirelessly to help MWDBEs gain business opportunities in the Pittsburgh region. This former entrepreneur left her own comfortable business in order to mentor other emerging business owners.
Similarly to Byrd-Smith, as the Manager at Seton Hill University E-Magnify® women’s business center, Marshall had one vision in mind when she joined the organization and that was “transformation.” While using tactical planning and the implementation of initiatives through entrepreneurship, Marshall has managed to boost the utilization of her organization’s resources within the local business community. Marshall’s passion for encouraging economic independence for women and minorities continues to persevere.
The Amazing 10 also includes women who demonstrate a passion for representing the disenfranchised and the young. Celeste Taylor works with African American Outreach People for the American Way/Foundation and has spent a majority of her career speaking about social injustices. She takes to the streets and to local organizations a voice for the voiceless and power to the powerless. While focusing on the critical needs of children is Carmen Anderson’s passion as officer for the Heinz Endowment’s Children, Youth and Families Program. Anderson works to develop innovative programs to assist parents with knowledge and skills to improve the well-being and health of their children. Like many others on the list, Anderson also develops strategies of inclusion and diversity in the region.
Other amazing women recognized by Onyx Magazine include: Earnestine Shuemake, founder of Camp Girlfriend, a place to uplift African American women; Dr. Julianne Mealveux, economist, author, and entrepreneur who is President & CEO of Last Word Productions, a firm committed to enlighten and empower businesses; Dr. Gwendolyn Lee, The National President of The Links, Inc., a national non-profit organization of 10,000 members committed to enhancing the quality of life in communities; Andria Hall, President of SpeakEasy M.E.D.I.A., and award-winning CNN/USA anchor and author; and Spelman College student Asha Jennings, a recognized leader of tomorrow who has led boycotts against unfavorable depictions of women.
For more information on Onyx Woman magazine please visit their website at http://www.onyxwoman.com/.
About the Author: Leslie Rodriguez is a student at Seton Hill University.
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