On Wednesday, February 19, the Bring Your Lunch & Learn series at the Muzeo continues with “Women: Your Votes Count.” The women’s suffrage movement was a decades-long fight to win the right to vote for women in the United States. This fight for the right to vote took nearly 100 years. The 19th Amendment to the Constitution was finally ratified in August of 1920, enfranchising all American women, and acknowledging that they deserve all rights and responsibilities of citizenship. This program is presented by panelist Dr. DeVera Hears, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Orange County, National Council of Negro Women-Orange County/NCNW-OC; Beatrice Jones, NCNW-OC Section Historian and Vexillologist; Dr. Denise Reid, member of Friendship Baptist Church and a professor at Biola University; and moderated by Joan D. Powell, President of NCNW-OC, Inc.
The program will also include information on the 100th Anniversary Flag Universal African, History of Voting Changes in 2020, History of Women’s Voting Rights in the USA and the African American National Anthem Video. This program is presented as a free service to the community. It starts promptly at 12:30 and concludes at 1:30. You are encouraged to bring your lunch and RSVP to clatham@muzeo.org.
Dr. Heard is a retired educator from Santa Ana Unified School District. She was a teacher, then principal at the elementary, intermediate high school, independent studies and teen parent programs. Currently she is an adjunct professor. Her focus had always been on all youth, but especially female empowerment. Dr. Heard’s community service includes Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc Orange County, National Council of Negro Women. National Coalition of 100 black women, Susan G. Women and others. She has represented these organizations locally, in Sacramento, and in Washington, D.C. to advocate for women. She is a positive resource for the growth and advancement of the community.
Dr. Denise Reid serves as an Associate Professor in the School of Education at Biola University, located in La Mirada. Dr. Reid has a BA in Behavioral Science, MS in Special Education, a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, and an earned PhD in Education with an emphasis in Disability Studies. Dr. Reid has authored several academic journal articles and book chapters. Dr. Reid’s current research includes exploring the lived experiences of individuals who attended all-black segregated schools during the Jim Crow era. Most importantly, Dr. Reid wants you to know that she is a born-again believer in Jesus Christ. Dr. Reid is keenly aware that her academic accomplishments are secondary to her relationship with Christ and service to others. Dr. Reid is a member of Friendship Baptist Church in Yorba Linda. Her ministry involvement includes serving in the clothing ministry and on the Prayer Posse. Dr. Reid has organized and led six domestic mission trips. Five of these trips were to the Navajo nation in Northern Arizona and one was to the San Francisco bay area.
Be a Jones is a vexillologist with a particular interest in the Universal African Flag and Flags of the African Diaspora. Over the years she continues to educate, promote, research and market flags locating and identifying the beginnings of black flag images by and for descendants of black Africans worldwide. Since 1996 she has been a member of the North American Vexillological Association, member of the Canadian Research Flag Bulletin and the Flag Research Center in Winchester, Mass. She submitted input to the design of the first Kwanza stamp that gave flag colors to the stamp—a first in US stamp history. Since 1993 she has been a member of the National Council of Negro Women Orange County, and is currently the historian. Bea is sought after to present programs and teach. She is currently teaching “OC Learning Black History” in Huntington Beach.
Joan Durnell Powell is President of the National Council of Negro Women, Inc Orange County section. Joan’s mission is to fight for the dignity of all, especially the underserved whose rights are trampled upon. Today in this political climate, she states that, “I owe a responsibility for everyone in my diverse community to assist in their participation in their political and civil rights.” Joan is a native of West Chester, Penn. and earned a bachelor’s degree at Pennsylvania State University in Social Welfare. Her professional career began as a Coordinator for Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Philadelphia. In later years, she made a career change to the business world as a personal lines and commercial lines claims analyst in the insurance industry. She is a current member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc in Orange County Alumnae Chapter and 13-year member of the National Council of Negro Women, Inc. Presently, Joan is a California Democratic Party Delegate for the 73rd district and alumni member of Big Sisters and Big Brothers of Orange County. She is a member of various nonprofit organizations. In addition, she is a patient advocate spokesperson for numerous patients’ nonprofit organizations and foundations. She travels from the beaches of California to the steps of Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.
The Muzeo’s hours are Wednesday-Sunday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Validated parking is provided when parking beyond the second level gate in Parking Lot 5 off Center Street Promenade and Anaheim Boulevard.
