HERWeek 2024 continues to unite and uplift women across the Fayetteville area with numerous activities to celebrate Women's History Month and the impact of women in the Fayetteville community through business, leadership and more. 

One of the highlight events of the week include the ever popular HERImpact Brunch. 

Held on Tuesday, March 5, the event featured a change in event space and was held for the first time ever at the Greek Hellenic Center located at 614 Oakridge Ave in Fayetteville.

“As we come together to commemorate International Women’s Day, we are reminded of the remarkable progress that women have made in pursuit of equality. And yet, we also recognize the challenges that still lie ahead,” said HERWeek Co-founder and Emcee for the event Rebecca Jackson in her welcoming address. “Today, we reaffirm our collective dedication to breaking down those barriers, challenging stereotypes and creating a more inclusive and equitable world for all.” 

Next up, City of Fayetteville's Council Member of District 1 and Mayor Pro Tem Kathy Keefe Jensen took to the podium to highlight the history of HERWeek and partnering organization the Women of Power Society which she is also the founder of. 

In past years, the Women of Power Society has supported women- led business ventures through the WBC by donating the proceeds of Affair to Remember’s Annual Runway Extravaganza. In 2023, the Women of Power Society donated $10,000 to support CEED and their programs throughout the year. This year that amount was tripled. 

“We’re going to be giving over $30,000 today for women in business for HERPitch. Everyone in here today is helping to move HERWeek along. We have over 70 women that have walked that stage, and there are a few of you here that I’ve been trying to get and I haven’t gotten you yet,” said Jenson addressing women in the crowd. 

Along with gathering to eat, network and show support for one another, the crowd also got to hear from Keynote Speaker Amy Privette Perko, CEO of the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics. A highly awarded athlete herself, Amy is a recognized leader in college sports issues. She is the recipient of the 2020 Dick Enberg Award presented by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), a recipient of the NCAA’s prestigious Silver Anniversary Award, a member of the Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame and was named to CoSIDA’s Academic All-America basketball team three times and earned All-ACC honors twice.

During her address, Perko spoke on equality and the impact of Title IX and its impact on women in sports along with its history and what more can be done in the fight for gender equality. 

Title IX protects people from discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance which had a direct influence on the course of Perko’s career and she continues to advocate for change. 

“My own experience in sports would have never happened without Title IX, my life and the opportunities I've been given, were really inspired and enriched by Title IX,” shared Perko. “When in 1983, I was offered a scholarship to play at Wake Forest, I never could have dreamed that I would have the career that I did. But thinking back on that, I believe my success really came from the help of another core lesson I learned and it’s one of my favorite quotes, that is “small things done consistently over time leads to big results.” 

The 2024 HERImpact Brunch will also hold a special place in HERWeek history as  the first time the Athena Award was presented through HERWeek. 

Sponsored by Piedmont Natural Gas (PNG), the award was presented by Tammy Thurman, PNG’s senior manager for community relations and local government. 

Three nominees were announced for the award: Stacey Buckner, Tonette Sheree Johnson and Stephanie Brown Kegler. 

The first ever HERWEEK Athena Award went to Stacey Buckner for her dedication to the community, her advocacy work for homeless Veterans and her past volunteer work. 

As the award’s first recipient during HERWeek, Buckner not only accepted, but decided to share the award with the other nominees. 

“I can’t thank you all enough. The work I do in the community is not done without powerful women like you here, I’d like to share this with you ladies. It is about leadership, it’s about empowerment, it’s about taking each and every one of your stories and making it your testimony and doing good in our community. We live in a great community because of all you beautiful, trailblazing ladies out here,” said Buckner. 

HERWeek will return in 2025 with more events to engage and connect with the community.

“The power of supporting each other is amazing. We don’t do it enough. Stacey just showed that up here. She's absolutely amazing. And when we can come together and support each other we grow instead of holding each other back,” shared NC CEED Executive Director Suzy Hrabovsky in her farewell speech to wrap up the event. “This is an idea to get everyone to come together to celebrate together.”