Evolution of the Superwoman is the theme of the 7th Annual Women’s Conference. Hosted by the University of Memphis RSO, PAUSE, the event will be held on third floor of the University Center on March 21st, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Known as the Professional Assertive United States Sisters of Excellence, PAUSE is a professional women’s organization on the University of Memphis Campus.
Samantha Frazier started the organization 10 years ago.
According to the PAUSE RSO webpage, the organization was created to unite the women at the U of M off all races, creed, and economic background.
The ladies of PAUSE has a mission to work and encourage success academically, professionally, and socially in female students by providing information, training, and networking opportunities. The organization has currently over 100 paid members who are actively involved on campus.
Kaeyla Willis, Vice President of the organization, said, “The 7th Annual women’s Conference focuses on the evolution of the superwoman.”
According to the Department of Labor, 56 percent of women participate in the workforce. However, the same study also found that women’s unemployment rate in 2013 was 7.1 percent compared to 7.6 percent for men.
Also, the unemployment rate of women 25 years of age and older with less than a high school diploma was 12.6 percent, 8.1 percent for those with a high school diploma and no college, 5.5 percent for those with an associate’s degree, and 3.8 percent for those with a bachelor’s degree or higher.
“Out of those women, a little over 70% are mothers,” Willis said. “In today’s society, women are responsible for wearing so many hats. We wanted to showcase and highlight the strength and tenacity of the women in today.”
Willis said that the 7th Annual Women’s Conference consists of eight workshops, which are open to men and women.
“The event is a public event, “ she said. “We believe that that the information will benefit not only students at the University of Memphis, but members of the Greater Memphis Community.”
Summer Owens, President and C.E.O. of So What! Inc. will start the women’s conference off as a guest speaker.
The conference will also have an evening speaker, Charner Rodgers, of Rodgers and Rodgers Contractors, Inc. Rodgers is also a professor at Kennesaw State University.
Registration for the 7th Annual Women’s Conference is free and open to the public. If anyone is interested in attending the event, go to www.eventbrite.com, and search for “Evolution of the Superwoman.” There will also be free registration available the day of the conference at 8:30 a.m.
The event is co-sponsored by the student allocation committee, African and African American Studies.
As the Vice President of the organization, Willis said that she became involved with PAUSE three years ago during the Women’s Conference.
“I’m a huge believer in the power of women,” she said. “And I believe that this organization prepares and empowers collegiate women to become more active in the community.”
For more information on the event, visit PAUSE’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/pauseuofm.
