LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. – Dr. Sheron C. Patterson, Director of Communications of the North Texas Conference, will speak on the importance of health and personal relationships at the Lake Junaluska African-American Women’s Leadership Conference, “The Strong Black Woman: Poised with Grace-Filled Authority,” September 15-17, 2011.
Patterson will be joined by Ms. Christal Brown Gibson of Gibsong Academy of Music and Worship Arts; Ms. Jennifer Davis, Director of Discipleship Ministries of the WNC Conference; Rev. Telley Gadson, pastor of St. Mark UMC in Sumter, SC; Rev. Candace Lewis of the General Board of Discipleship of the UMC; and Rev. Dr. Renita Thomas, Associate Director of Connectional Ministries in the North Georgia Conference. This conference provides African-American female clergy and female laity an opportunity to strengthen their leadership skills for ministry and promote and practice self-care specifically as it relates to living as female African-American Christians.
Nationally recognized as a Christian relationship expert, Dr. Patterson’s sage advice has been broadcast via Black Entertainment Television (BET) and Jet Magazine.
In 2006, Dr. Patterson was diagnosed with breast cancer. Believing in helping others survive, she turned what could have been a tragedy into a triumph by making becoming an example for other women as she overcame her cancer diagnosis.
She is now an enthusiastic health and wellness advocate and the driving force behind The Patterson Pledge, a program that motivates thousands to take control of their health. Dr. Patterson began to collaborate with the U.S. State Department to host international delegations of breast cancer survivors for informational and inspirational visits in 2007.
In 2008 she launched Breast Cancer Builds, a program that brings survivors of breast cancer together to build a Habitat for Humanity house. Dr. Patterson calls Breast Cancer Builds a gratitude project, because she and the other survivors are grateful to God to be alive and this is one way to give back. This project raises awareness about breast cancer prevention and raises funding to provide low income women with free mammograms via a second project called Mammograms for the Masses launched in 2007 with the help of two Dallas hospitals.
For further information about the Lake Junaluska African-American Women's Leadership Conference, go to www.lakejunaluska.com/african-american-women or call 828-454-6656.