Up & Coming Weekly

July 24, 2018

Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.

Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1007462

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 14 of 36

14 UCW JULY 25-31, 2018 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM Saturday, Aug. 4, at 9 a.m., radio hostess Rev. Felicia Thompson w ill host t he Free to Be Me Empower- ment Sy mposium at Simon Temple A ME Zion Church. Thompson is partnering w it h FTM, Inc., a nonprof it organization designed to help people realize t heir full potential t hrough t he help and k nowledge of Jesus Christ. This year's sy mposium, which is t hemed "Free to Soar," w ill encourage men and women to recognize what holds t hem back, break free from t hose t hings, and move for ward to achieve t heir dreams and aspira- tions while being free to be t hemselves. This empowerment symposium was inspired eight years ago by a discussion Thompson had with a pastor's wife who Thompson hosted on her radio show. Her show is, like the symposium, titled "Free to Be Me." Thompson started her show to encourage, inspire and inform her listeners and the community, so the symposium was a natural progres- sion of that goal. She said she wants to help the community "realize their gifts and talents, and network with one another. Then, there is nothing we all can't do as a community in Cumberland County together." This is the second annual empow- erment symposium. The keynote speaker will be Pat Smith, wife of football player Emmitt Smith. Guest speakers include Cher yl Fortune, an up-and-coming gospel singer; Gina V. Hawkins, Fayetteville chief of police; and Dr. Deon Faillace, the first female general surgeon in Fayetteville. Each woman has experienced adversity in various aspects of her personal or professional life and will share stories of how she went through those challenges and came out stron- ger on the other side. In between speakers, guests will get a chuckle from comedian and host Chris Petty. There will also be light hors d'oeuvres, several give- aways and a vendor showcase for guests to browse. The event also gives attendees a chance to network and meet new people. At noon on Thursday, Aug. 2, Thompson's weekly radio show, "Free to Be Me," which airs on WIDU 1600AM, will have a special treat for listeners. During the live show, Thompson will give away free tickets for the empowerment symposium and will host a few of the event speakers, giving listeners a teaser of the discussion topics to come that Saturday. Previous guests and speak- ers will also call in during the show to talk more about the previous and upcoming symposium. "I pray that after leaving the Free to Be Me Empowerment Sympo- sium, people feel more free and more liberated to be who they are in operating their gifts and talents," Thompson said. She has high hopes and prayers that every attendee will feel more empowered, encouraged, inspired and informed. She said she hopes that when they leave they go out into their communities and be them- selves, refusing to be held back from achieving every goal they set for themselves in their personal and professional lives. To learn more, or to register for the event, visit revfelicathompson.com. Be empowered, inspired and encouraged at Free to Be Me Empowerment Symposium by CORY NUNNALLY EVENTS This is the second annual empowerment symposium. The keynote speaker will be Pat Smith, wife of football player Emmitt Smith. CORY NUNNALLY, Con- tributing Writer. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcomingweekly. com. 910-484-6200. Go Online 484-6200 www.uandcomingweekly.com Flip our pages for news, views, art and entertainment! Call and ask one of our marketing representatives to help you grown your business.

Articles in this issue

Links on this page

Archives of this issue

view archives of Up & Coming Weekly - July 24, 2018