Helena Chen Carlson
Organizer Petisia Adger at Saturday’s gathering: Claiming stories that are too often left out of history books.
Nearly all seats were filled on Saturday in the New Haven Museum’s upper floor auditorium where over 90 guests arrived to listen to the stories of black women who pushed boundaries and made history in the greater community.
The lively afternoon forum, titled “Black Women’s Firsts,” was hosted by a local nonprofit, Urban Grants 4 Us. The panel highlighted seven women who paved ways for other women of color in their respective fields, ranging from library sciences to medicine and politics.
Entering a particularly male-dominated occupation, Ina Anderson, was the first female officer to serve on the Bridgeport Fire Department. She was initially drawn to the benefits of the job but soon realized it was the right career for her.
“My brother was a fireman, and I was really interested in his hours,” she said as the audience laughed. Anderson sought to find balance between having time to raise her children and maintain a career to support them. Although the application process was challenging, when she joined the fire department in 1994, it was the best decision she made for herself and her family, she said.
As she moved up in rank, Anderson gained a reputation as someone who did not hold back. People either liked her or didn’t, she said, and it was important not to let the judgement get to her.
“When you fear something, that fear can overtake you and you don’t want to take your own self out,” Anderson said.
Iman Uqdah Hameen, Aissa Wonkoye, Petisia M. Adger, Susan Robinson, Lensley Gay, Margaret Anne Tockarshewsky.
Among the other women in the panel were Stetson Library Branch Librarian Diane Brown and Alisa Bowens-Mercado, whose life took several turns from having founded a dance school to being the first black woman brewer in the state.
Esther Armmand, former president of Sojourner Network of Democratic Women, and Toni Harp, the first woman and second African American to serve as mayor of New Haven, spoke about organizational leadership and women of color in politics. Inner-City News Editor and WNHH “Love Babz Love Talk” host Babz Rawls-Ivy and Dr. Tamiko McArthur, who founded the first black woman owned pediatric clinic in Connecticut, emphasized collective growth and support for other sisters in the community.
The panel discussion was opened by public educator and activist Iman Uqdah Hameen. She introduced the guest speakers as well as the moderator, retired Assistant Police Chief Petisia M. Adger, founder of Urban Grants 4 Us. Her organization provides grant writing services and community awareness forums to benefit the public.
Adger, who was the first black female assistant police chief in Connecticut, said that she organized this forum because the breakthroughs women of color make are often left out of history books.
“Our stories don’t get told,” said Adger. “This is an opportunity to get them out firsthand.”
Inspired by the positive reaction to Saturday’s event, Adger said she plans to organize a similar forum towards the future with new guest speakers so more people can share their stories.
Mayor Harp (center) addresses forum.
As the afternoon drew to its conclusion, former Mayor Harp (pictured) offered the following advice to young girls of color: Take ownership of your self-perception.
“African American women in particular have to deal with what people think about them every single day,” said Harp, “and so if we know our only protection is what we think about ourselves, it doesn’t matter what others think. The most important thing is what your thoughts are and how they empower you.”
The crowd at the event.