September 22, 2023
The Sister Accord®️ Foundation, the organization whose movement is changing the way girls and women treat, support, and interact with each other, is celebrating its tenth anniversary with two significant new relationships, a new platform based on women’s safety and an expansion into the Bahamas. Since its founding in 2013, the Foundation has transformed innumerable girls’ and women’s lives with its many programs, financial support, and beloved YouTube videos, which have 49.7 million total views and 182 million impressions to date..
The Sister Accord®️ Stairway of LOVE
To mark its first decade, the Foundation, in collaboration with AAA, hosted its annual The Sister Accord®️ Day Celebration during a four-day cruise and leadership development empowerment conference, “Embracing Freedom to Live Your Best Life.” With sponsorship from AAA, The Accord Group LLC, Gilead Foundation, Greater Cincinnati Foundation, All-In Cincinnati, Shatter The Ceiling Foundation, FragranTed and Quigley-Simpson, the conference took place aboard Royal Caribbean’s ‘Amplified Freedom of the Seas’ from August 28th – September 1st. Some highlights included:
- An agenda of workshops, presentations, and an inspiring keynote address from Yvette R. Simpson, Esq., MBA, author of “On Purpose: The Power of Authenticity & Intention,” Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for law firm, Ulmer & Berne LLP and political commentator for ABC News. Yvette also received The Sister Accord®️ Leadership Award.
- Musical performances by five-time Grammy Award-Winning Gospel Music Artist Yolanda Adams; Grammy Award-Winning Singer, Songwriter, and Producer Mali Music; and Grammy Nominated Singer and Songwriter Stokley, who were all presented with The Sister Accord®️ Leadership Award (except Mali Music, who received the award earlier this year).
- The new partnership with The Nelson Mandela Foundation was officially announced. In 2021, The Sister Accord®️ amplified its mission of reaching one billion girls and women with an expansion into Africa. The Foundation’s work in Africa is focused on creating a future where all girls and women have safe spaces, positive role models, and the support to develop into tomorrow’s leaders. To date, the Foundation has four chapters in Africa: Lilongwe, Malawi, as well as Harare and Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. There is also a newly established Sister Accord®️ Chapter at The University of Zimbabwe. Now, with the support and partnership of The Nelson Mandela Foundation, The Sister Accord®️ will launch a chapter in Johannesburg, South Africa.
- The announcement regarding the upcoming launch of “Safety in Sisterhood™,” a platform to give girls and women information and strategies designed to help them “Safely Navigate Through Life.” Created by Jackson Myles, “Safety in Sisterhood™” strategies are designed to be holistic in nature and will cover many aspects of life that are important for women to be prepared and protected. The platform will launch with a series on safety during hotel stays, with expert guidance provided by conference sponsor AAA.
- The announcement of a new The Sister Accord®️ Bahamian chapter. During a reception hosted by Bruce LaFleur & Associates, keynote speaker Senator Dr. Erecia Hepburn-Forbes shared her desire to partner with The Sister Accord®️ organization as it continues towards its goal to reach 1 billion girls and women with a message of love for self and love for each other.
- College students who attended the cruise learned they are eligible to apply for a $5,000 Nella D. Jackson Memorial Scholarship, a fixture of The Foundation, honoring Jackson Myles’ late mother.
“When I originally launched The Sister Accord®️ Foundation, with the mission of having one billion girls and women learn to love themselves and each other, I did not know how I would achieve the global scale needed to reach these goals – but I knew that with the right partners and the right messages, we could have a sustained & powerful global impact,” said Sonia Jackson Myles, Founder, The Sister Accord®️ Foundation. “I am absolutely thrilled to partner with The Nelson Mandela Foundation and AAA as we work together to make this a safer, kinder, and more prosperous world for all women and girls.”
As part of The Sister Accord®️ Day annual fundraiser, an online rebroadcast of key moments of the celebration, including Keynote & Award Presentation to Yvette R. Simpson, Mali Music’s Performance, Stokley’s Performance & Award Presentation will take place on Tuesday, September 19th at 7:00 pm ET.