Where Are They Now?
WILMA catches up with 2012 WTW alum
Since last year’s inaugural Women to Watch awards, the pioneer recipients continue to keep busy, taking on new leadership roles or founding new organizations in their fields. These six alumnae prove they’re positive forces to be reckoned with in the local community, and they’ve updated Wilma on their latest news as the list of accomplishments in our community keeps growing.
CARMIN BLACK, owner and founder of Half United, a clothing and jewelry company that donates half its profit to end hunger, was recognized in the business category.
Next steps: Half United apparel is being sold at a couple Barnes & Noble campus bookstores…We really want to establish a solid campus club program and actually use the money to feed the children in their town, sold on their campuses…[And] we are just securing a partnership with a really well-known, give-back brand.
CARLA TURNER, personal health services manager for New Hanover County Health Department and winner in the health care category.
Milestones: We vaccinated over 2,000 more citizens against the flu than we did the year before… I worked with New Hanover County Schools… so that our Mobile Dental Unit, “Miles of Smiles,” can visit [Snipes and Mary C. Williams elementary schools] and provide dental care to the children who need it.
Goals: I want to continue to push the issue of finding ways to provide mental health services to our public school children (both the insured and uninsured).
SUSAN SAVIA, musician and founder of Stone Soup Concerts and Ms. Susan’s Room, was recognized in the arts category.
Next steps: I started up Wilmington Alliance of Working Musicians, which is a group for local professionals to discuss issues that are relevant to local musicians in the Cape Fear region. We are trying to work together to try and make the music scene more viable to the community… I have expanded my Happy Little Singers business, and I rented a space down in The Art Works called Ms. Susan’s Room, offering music lessons to children and young adults.
LAURA HUNTER, former South Brunswick High School social studies teacher and current professional development coordinator for Brunswick County Schools, won in the education category.
Personal impact: Being nominated and selected as a Woman to Watch in education gave me the confidence to use my voice… As a result of my work this year, I have decided to leave my classroom and to move into an administrative support role in my district, helping to plan and implement professional development for teachers and administrators.
JC SKANE, executive director at Wilmington Area Rebuilding Ministry (WARM) and winner in the nonprofit category.
Latest accomplishments: WARM has grown tremendously as measured by the number of people served (up 80 percent in the past four years) and dollars raised (up 85 percent in the past 4 years)…We were awarded our largest grant ever in June: $150,000 from the NC Housing Finance Agency…We also opened a satellite office in Pender County.
Personal impact: Exposure in WILMA introduced more people to WARM…Reporters and others have identified me as an expert in nonprofit, housing, and related public policy issues. So I have had the honor of representing my hard-working colleagues in the media and other venues.
CICELY PRINGLE, founder, editor-in-chief, and event coordinator for The Urban Surge Magazine, as well as a singer, who won in the Rising Star category.
Latest accomplishments: Being an artist inspired me to start my own digital magazine for independent music artists, which generated such a great response from the community that it is blossoming into a full-scale media company with radio and TV programming this fall.
