The Tangipahoa Professional Women’s Organization met with one theme on their minds for the day, to “uplift, empower and validate.” 

The organization met at the Rosaryville Spirit Life Center in Ponchatoula to network together and hear guest speaker of Younique Rachell Vicknair on August 26 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

After attendees were able to enjoy a friendly atmosphere with lunch, as well as participate in an icebreaker, Vicknair began to explain the meaning behind the theme for the meeting and what it meant to her to “uplift, empower and validate.” This motto is now her driving force for all aspects of life. 

This theme began when she was taking an elective course in college, which involved working for a battered women’s shelter. 

“I started to fall in love with the ladies and their stories,” said Vicknair. “I really wanted to encourage them that they had self-worth, [and] that they did not need to be in a relationship that battered and abused them.”

With being able to hear calls across the 911 hotline, Vicknair was able to not only hear some of the conversations but also personally meet those who called on the hotline. This led to a moral that she learned for herself as well as a message she wants to share with everyone.

“There is something about when you hear those calls come across the 911 hotline,” said Vicknair. “I was able to meet some of those ladies from the counseling sessions that I got to save from the 911 hotline that ended up at our facility. I got to encourage them and that’s when it hit me that we are all seeking that validity and so it just became a lesson for me and it became a lesson I wanted to share with other people; to always encourage, uplift and validate other people.”

Along with the message Vicknair learned from working for the battered women’s shelter, she told of the encouragement that she hopes college students will take to heart. 

“One of the biggest lessons I took away the first year [of college is to] always approach something with an empty basket,” said Vicknair. “When you go out into the world, the way people respond and act to you may not be appropriate. But, it is not because of you. A lot of times it is the issues that they are dealing with. If you deal with all the issues inside your head and inside your heart, then you have gotten rid of all the things within you.”

Vicknair believes that if you do not let all the bad in the world, such as people cutting you off or being rude at work get to you, then you will be able to enjoy life to the fullest.

“Sometimes people aren’t the nicest. But, you start to not take it so personally because you realize that everyone has their own issues,” said Vicknair. 

The Tangipahoa Professional Women organization’s monthly meetings are open for all, including college students. This gives college women the chance to come together, motivate one another and build lasting relationships to empower one another for the future. 

“I started out the network because I believe in women empowering women and I find that it is a big lack in America, where we just don’t empower each other,” said Vicknair. “We are open for the college students to come here and participate with us. There is a very famous quote that says, ‘You build your network, you build your net-worth.’ The sooner they know that and the sooner they can jump in and give of service, give of themselves and give of others, they will have a big, big future ahead of them.”

Those wishing to attend the Tangipahoa Professional Women’s Organization’s luncheons can attend up to three times without becoming an official member and only need to pay for their meal. The next meeting will be taking place on Wednesday, September 23 at the E. Brent Dufreche Conference Center located within North Oaks Diagnostic Center. Speaker will be Magnolia Obstetrics and Gynecology Dr. Marya Porter. Visit tangipw.org for more information.