JACKSON, Miss. — More than 60 area moms gathered at the Roberts Walthall Hotel last month for the kickoff of the local Feeding Dreams Get Together initiative program, which is now in progress.
The local initiative consists of Feeding Dreams Get Togethers between September and December that will celebrate and honor 100 metro area moms and reach over 2,500 women.
Lorenda Cheeks, a Jackson Public School principal who was 2010’s national “Feeding the Dream” Grand Champion, was also in attendance at the breakfast.
“Jackson, you beat out such cities as Atlanta last year!” said Lafayette Jones as he welcomed everyone to the kick-off breakfast. Jones is the CEO of SMSi-Urban Call Marketing, Inc. of Winston-Salem, N.C., which handled the kickoff. “We’re looking for the hero in all African-American moms,” he said.
The Feeding the Dreams Get Togethers initiative provides intimate forums in communities across the country to discuss efforts to positively impact health and education in African-American communities. Jones said at each gathering moms talk about important health and education issues. “We know for a fact that the two things mothers are mostly concerned about are education and the well-being of their families,” he said.
At the Jackson kickoff, the education and health presentations were made by husband-and-wife duo James E. Williams, Jr. and Dr. Loretta Jackson-Williams. Jackson-Williams stressed for women to know their vital signs. “High blood pressure really is a silent killer,” she said. She encouraged them not believe that they can tell whether their blood pressure is up by whether they have a headache.
He said they are encouraging churches, community organizations, sororities and individuals to host these gatherings. “Each gathering will contain General Mills gift bags for the attendees.
Debra Turner, SMSi Lead ambassador is the coordinator for the Jackson efforts. “General Mills is recognizing outstanding moms – the community champions we have in our communities,” said Turner.
Educator James E. Williams Jr. emphasized to the moms that they should make sure their children understand the “whys” of a given lesson. “It is no longer just okay to know that 8 divided by 2 is 4; they have to know why and be able to explain the process,” he said. He warned them that the new national curriculum that will be adopted by 2014 will be one in which students have to go further than just knowing the answer.
During the breakfast, Cheeks shared that with the winnings she received for her charity, which was her Girls Scout, troops are being used for a fitness program and to teach the girls about business.
Jones and Turner honored Cheeks at the breakfast with a plaque and gift bag.
Other mothers in attendance had the opportunity to win a number of door prizes. Dorothy Husband, who was one of the many door prize winners, said she was pleased to know that a national company would want to recognize African-American mothers for what they go through in helping to provide for their families.
More than 60 area moms gathered at the Roberts Walthall Hotel last month for the kickoff of the local Feeding Dreams Get Together initiative program, which is now in progress.
“I really enjoyed being a part of the General Mills (Feeding Dreams) Kick-off breakfast,” said Husband. “The information Dr Loretta Williams presented on Healthy Living and Excellence in Education was very helpful. I’m looking forward to being a part of Feeding Dreams.”Feeding Dreams sponsoring brands are Honey Nut Cheerios, Nature Valley Granola Bars, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Yoplait Light, Grands Sandwich, Betty Crocker Brownies and Hamburger Helper.
Essence Magazine Editor-in-Chief Emeritus Susan L. Taylor is national spokesperson for General Mills Feeding Dreams, and entertainer Steve Harvey is the program’s national media partner.
For more information about the program, contact SMsi at (336) 759-7477.
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