W.E.A.N Charlotte - DIVAS Autumn Awards Brunch

W.E.A.N has partnered with Insightful Visionaries DIVAS Alliance to host an annual Autumn Awards Brunch in October during National Disability Employment Awareness Month. This event aims to celebrate the achievements and contributions of women with disabilities in the workforce and those committed to uplifting their communities. We will also raise awareness about the challenges too many still face in obtaining gainful employment and dealing with the vicious cycle of marginalization.

Women With Disabilities and the Labor Market www.dol.goWomen with Disabilities and the Labor Market

2024 DIVA Honorees

Square shape with a light pink background with floral border with burgundy, pink and golden flowers. A circular full body image of a beautiful black woman posing with her black hair swept up into a bun is in the center of the square. She is wearing a black turtle neck long sleeve shirt and orange pants with black print accents.

Tiena Smith faced hearing loss at 32 due to lupus. Initially embarrassed and scared, she underwent successful cochlear implant surgeries in 2016 and 2017. Tiena's journey shared on social media inspired others globally. Despite challenges, she remains grateful and uses her experience to help others, embracing faith and adaptation. Tiena’s dedication to uplifting her community through her tutoring services, and mentoring young women and girls, earned her the Woman of the Year Award at the Now Faith Magazine Launch in 2013.

Ashley Tatum LCSW from Charlotte, NC, holds a master's degree in social work from UNC Charlotte and works as a care manager. Despite being born with cerebral palsy due to a birth injury, she has achieved success and independence. Ashley mentors women and girls with disabilities in pursuing higher education and finding their independence with WEAN Charlotte. She also enjoys theater, travel, and caring for her cat, Sir Pounce.

Judith Brown is a disability rights activist and Founder of Project 70Forward is a nonprofit organization with the mission to support and advance the lives of people with disabilities. She collaborates with community partners for change on issues, like housing, food security, and economic mobility. A strong parent advocate for her two sons, Judith sees how disability can be a defining moment in a person’s life, how advocacy, activism, and the art of transformation can propel a person forward into a dynamic destiny. Judith is married, a mother to an extended family of five children, and loves the diverse culinary and small business scene of Charlotte.

Xuan (English pronunciation: “Sue Anne”) Truong is a graduate from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate and currently works as a Mental Health Counselor. Her passion for disability justice has led her to have a variety of experiences including career coaching, local systems advocacy, and community building.

Square shape with a light pink background with floral border with burgundy, pink and golden flowers. A circular full image of a beautiful black woman with in a manual wheelchair in the center of the square. She has long black hair and is wearing a black leather jacket, pink dress and black high heel stilletos.

Tae McKenzie is a trailblazer in fashion and advocacy, known for being the first disabled grand marshal of the Novant Thanksgiving Day Parade and the first Black disabled model at New York Fashion Week. She holds titles like 2016 USA Ms. Heels for Wheels, Tommy Hilfiger Adaptive Line ambassador, and Plitz Fashion Icon Award recipient from a collaboration with cnn. Tae was featured in the "Women with Control" book, became QVC's first Black adaptive model, and IS FOUNDER the SEND Foundation to support individuals with disabilities.

Keisha Belcher is a licensed cosmetology instructor, certified hair loss practitioner. She created and launched her own cosmetics line, Auxiliary Beauty. Auxiliary Beauty is a very unique touch as many of her products are named after other influential, powerful and strong women with disabilities such as herself. She created a makeup glove to help women with disabilities apply their makeup with ease. Keisha is also a licensed real estate agent. Keisha is all about learning to live, love and laugh out loud because you never know what the next second will bring. She says, “Thrive after you survive.”

Raven Daleonica Robinson was a fearless DIVA. On May 2nd 2010, an act of gun violence resulted in a spinal cord injury that changed her life forever. In the face of many subsequent challenges, Raven remained steadfast in being the boss that she was born to be. As an advocate and entrepreneur, Raven’s voice, passion and hopes to save lives by sharing her life story empowered everyone who encountered her.

Raven was born on New Year’s Day, a day of renewal and a fresh start to set goals, make plans, and go after your dreams. To honor Raven's legacy in 2025, Women Embracing Abilities Now-Charlotte and Toni Childs & Associates have partnered on an initiative to support women with disabilities with professional goals and endeavors that foster equal opportunities in leadership, economic growth, and visibility. We are moving the dial forward in ending the cycle of poverty and isolation of women and girls with disabilities with the Raven D. Robinson Scholarship.