Weekend At The Hampton Roads Women's Empowerment Event

Joanna Pascua-Colasito is a visionary woman who clearly knows what she’s doing.

She is the founder of the Hampton Roads Women’s Empowerment Event, an event not only dedicated to honoring Breast Cancer Awareness Month but also a platform to inspire, inform, and encourage women supporting and learning and growing with other women, by connecting female business owners and bringing together female speakers to share a wealth of knowledge about the importance of networking, healthy living, financial well-being, and career-building for women.

I left this event feeling inspired, refreshed, and motivated to continue chasing all of my goals and dreams.

I was in awe of all the different female business owners, vendors, authors, politicians, entrepreneurs, financiers, singles, wives, mothers, and breast cancer survivors I was able to encounter and connect with throughout the entirety of the event. There were different speakers and segments that occurred such as a Pink Table Talk – Healthcare Panel, Millennials Maxing Out, The Art of Public Speaking, A Man is not a Financial Plan, The Influential Leader, along with a provided lunch (which was absolutely delicious and amazing), Starbucks coffee, a fashion show, giveaways, and a swag bag filled with information, cute keepsakes, and treats. And guess what? General admission for this event was only $25.00. And $50.00 for VIP.

So often I hear different women complain about not having access to opportunities, being frustrated about where they’re at in life, and allowing life to pass them by, but when things like the Hampton Roads Women’s Empowerment Event comes around, they don’t take advantage of what an unforgettable and beneficial experience it can be. If you’ll spend money on shoes and clothes and makeup or anything else, you can set aside cash for conferences and networking events. I can testify to the fact that attending events like this one, getting involved with new circles of women who are smart, goal-oriented, go-getting and successful professionals who are encouraging and supportive, and choosing to place myself outside my comfort zone in environments with these kinds of women, has already changed my life for the better. If you want change, better opportunities, and elevation, you may have to do the same.

I’ll never forget the women I met, all I was able to learn, and how transformative this experience was for me. If you are a woman reading this, I encourage you to attend conferences and events wherever you may be so that you’re able to connect with different women outside of your usual circle and to maximize different and new opportunities God has in store for you. To begin, all you need to do is make a decision: I want more for myself, I deserve the best, and I’m going for it.

I believe it’s worth it.

I’m Glad I’m Not Married

When I was about five years old, I was sitting in the backseat of my dad’s car when me, him, my older cousin (my aunt’s son), and my aunt (my dad’s sister) caught my aunt’s fiancé with another woman. My dad had been driving my aunt out to run some errands since she didn’t have a driver’s license or a car. When she spotted her man with another woman, she told my dad to pull the car over, got out of the car, and immediately addressed him. She wanted the keys back to her apartment and was done with him. The other woman she caught her fiancé with slapped him when she realized what was happening, and that was that. When my aunt returned to the car, she was clearly and understandably upset, and the ride back to her place was quiet. Although I was too young to fully grasp what was happening at the time, I knew it wasn’t good. And now, at 34 years old, I can’t imagine how much pain she was in. Her wedding had been planned and paid for – and she never made it down the aisle. My aunt was a beaut

The Best Relationship Advice I’ve Ever Received

I dislike almost everything about what’s now considered “modern dating.” Dating apps. DM sliding. Exchanging thirst traps. Hookup culture. The talking stage. Lingering indecisiveness in the “what are we doing and where are things going?” conversations. And the mindset that anyone and everyone is technically “fair game” if they’re not married (even if they’re “technically” already spoken for…) I’ve moved through some of the things listed above and have found the modern dating world draining. And while I’ve approached dating the “Christian way,” cried out to God, tried being more open, and out of frustration, jokingly considered having a ho phase for fun ( no worries – I’m way too much of a God-fearing church girl to follow through with that life, but I also don’t judge those who do partake ), one evening as I was nursing some hurt feelings after a guy I’d spent some time with suddenly bailed, I remembered some sound relationship advice my dad gave me when I was 18-years-old. And

Teacher Table Talk: When Parents Attack

As an English teacher, a core belief I’ve held close since the beginning of my career has been the importance of relationship building. I believe that if great relationships between teachers, students, and parents are established at the beginning of the school year, everything else will fall into place. Authentically modeling, practicing, and establishing mutually respectful and professional relationships within my classroom has been the bridge for effective communication, solid classroom management, and creating a safe and effective learning environment that fits each of my student’s needs. And though I’ve seen and experienced the benefits of great relationship building, unfortunately, there have been times when some students and parents have not been receptive or interested in my efforts to establish connections that would best serve all parties involved. I’ve also noticed and shared spaces with other educators, school counselors, and administrators who’ve experienced the same. And

Making Waves