Ladies First: Celebrating International Women’s Day

Educator, serial entrepreneur, and community leader Kimberly Fitten had an idea. The vision, a culmination of her years of work in inspiring, encouraging, and uplifting others was simple — she wanted to put on an event dedicated to women's empowerment. Fitten also envisioned a partnership; one that would see her teaming up with another local leadership powerhouse.

“Briana Smallwood’s name came to mind right away. She is someone who will support anything positive without any agenda,” Fitten said.

Briana Smallwood, a corporate leader, speaker, and entrepreneur is locally well known in her own right. As is so often the case, the two had become acquainted via social media. Several years ago, Kimberly began regularly livestreaming daily messages of encouragement on Facebook, and Smallwood was an early supporter.

“On my first morning livestream, Briana was the only one to stay on! Women who believe in each other are so necessary, and women who see your potential before you can see it. When I had this idea, I called her and said ‘Hi, I think we’re supposed to work together!’”

Briana smiled, adding “When Kim reached out, it felt different. I have been asked to share my story many times, and I have said yes because I felt obligated. But Kim called and said — will you pray on it and get back to me? I am typically asked to be in certain spaces as the representative of a demographic of women who aren’t usually in those spaces. So to be building this event of my own accord and with someone I trust is major.”

SD: “Tell me more about the event — “The Caliber You Deserve”.”

BLS: “It’s three hours, the day after International Women’s Day. Short, sweet, to the point, and on purpose. We cap out at 75 participants; it will be interesting to see who shows up. I’m not banking on any one particular demographic — but I do know that when you see someone who looks like you, when you see what they have been able to accomplish and the joy and peace that they have — that’s encouraging. I hope we will attract women in general.”

KF: “The Corridor area has a definite need for women to have a place to be uplifted and to receive life at the caliber they deserve. Something Briana and I have in common was that we lived our lives for so long undervaluing ourselves, and being afraid to pursue life outside of our comfort zones. Until you’re no longer breathing, there will always be a place of comfort to leave in order to access a higher quality of life. I wish I had someone to tell me in my 20s that this isn’t even half — not even an eighth of what you deserve.”

SD: “Is that what led you into education?”

KF: “I'm a non-traditional student. I was unhappy with where I was, but I had no one to help me figure out how to put together my fractured life. In an office cubicle, I decided I needed to walk in my purpose. I went back to school. It was hard! I ended up living in my car — it was very humbling. In 2008 when I got my first teaching job, there wasn’t a day I walked in that building. I wasn't happy to be at work. I didn’t even know entering administration was possible, except for seeing Miriam Coleman, the first Black administrator at ICCSD.”

Smallwood also highlighted the importance of role models, describing the impact of watching the women in her life deprioritize themselves in unhealthy relationships during her formative years.

BLS: “That’s what I saw growing up, so when I grew into a woman I was immediately devaluing myself. If I had someone in my world who could inspire me at 20, at 25, maybe I would have understood that I could have expectations and requirements at that time. I could have lived a caliber of life that at the time I didn't believe I was worthy of. We want to have an impact on women who — we were once in their shoes. They say that you’re most equipped to help the old you.”

SD: “What does that look like long term? What do you see five years down the road?”

KF: “Long term, it’s packing out — having a larger event. A ballroom event, and in more locations.”

BS: “Impact and quality is more important than quantity. We are not trying to make a quick dollar. We are still figuring out what that looks like — but Kim is a manifestation expert and coach. We are manifesting what this will evolve into. This is the pilot, but what I see in the future is speaking tours. To give the same high quality impact to as many women as we can touch.”

KF: “This is coming out of our pockets. We are investing in our community to see the return on investment later on in the lives of others. Every woman who (because of this experience) will say no to receiving less and thinking less of herself is a win. It’s less about how many people we can put on flyers, and more about sharing genuine stories and connecting each other. What this will lead to is phenomenal.”

For more information about the upcoming event “The Caliber You Deserve,” visit www.kimberlyfitten.com

Sofia DeMartino is a Gazette Editorial Fellow. sofia.demartino@thegazette.com