Ladies First

Ladies First was founded in October 2008 at First Coast High School by Mrs. Youmone Berrien, Mrs. Sterea Bryant, and Ms. Alexia Robinson. The Organization was born out of a conversation the women had at the end of their first year teaching at First Coast. They wanted to do something that would address the girl-on-girl violence and lack of self-respect they saw in the school’s female population. They envisioned an organization that would produce young women who would embody virtuous characteristics while building a lifelong sisterhood. They also wanted an organization that was committed to academic achievement. And they wanted to turn the school’s young women into ladies, first. Thus, they came up with the name Ladies First.

 

The next step was enlisting support from the school’s principal, Tony Bellamy. He was thrilled with the idea and told them to write by-laws so that the club could begin meeting the next school year. However, Mr. Bellamy received a promotion, which meant the school would have a new principal, Ms. Debbie Smith. The women’s plans to establish the club were on hold indefinitely. Or so they thought. The women could not shake their desire to form Ladies First and met with Ms. Smith in October 2008 to ask permission to start the club. She liked the idea and gave them the green light to establish it. They held an interest meeting and from that meeting they established the Organization’s first membership roster, which included 44 young women. But only 19 remained in the Organization by the end of the school year. The Founding members of Ladies First are: Yasha Albright, Natalie Baker, Seroyal Bradford, Kanesha Brookins, Sherian Brown, Tyra Clinton, Aubree Cottle, Tanisha Crooms, Calise Curry, Felisha Gilbert, Sekia Grimes, Shymiah Jackson, Destiny McKeiver, Brittany Mitchell, Tekia Porter, Jarriel Pulliam, Samaria Scott, Gabrielle Terry and Gakahra Whitaker. The first President was Destiny McKeiver and Jarriel Pulliam was the first Vice-President.

 

The Organization was very active in its first year of existence. It established 2 signature community service activities: a food drive in November and a Toy Drive for African Refugees in December. The organization also took its first College Tour during Spring Break. Mrs. Berrien, Ms. Robinson and Ms. Katrice Shorter, one of the mentors for Ladies First, took 6 young women on a tour of Florida State and Florida A&M universities. They also hosted the First Coast’s Top Model Competition, which was themed, “From High School to High Fashion.” The winners of the show were Kiara Bolton and Josh McConnell.

 

Ladies First hosted its 2nd Annual Membership Drive in May 2009 and began the 2009 – 2010 school year with 44 members on the roster with Brittany Mitchell as the president along with Gabrielle Terry and Kanesha Brookins as 1st and 2nd Vice President. But Miss Mitchell and Miss Terry were removed from office in September 2009. Seroyal Bradford, who was serving as the secretary, became the new president and Miss Brookins remained the Vice President. The sudden change in leadership did not disrupt the Organization’s progress. It went on to establish Sisterhood Month during October in observance of the Organization’s founding, as well as host its 2nd Annual Top Model Competition, themed “Ego Trippin”. In March, 2010, 24 members participated in the 2nd Annual College Tour of the University of Florida, Florida State University, Florida A&M University, University of Central Florida, and FAMU Law School. The Organization also participated in Jacksonville’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade and Relay For Life. They ended the school year with 41 members, including 10 graduating seniors. The advisers awarded scholarships to 3 students who exemplified scholarship, service and sisterhood: Miss Bradford, Chelsea Edwards and Miss Pulliam.

 

During the 2010 – 2011 school year, the Organization enlisted the help of 2 new advisers, Ms. Rachal Graham and Dr. Blair Nolan. With the added help, the membership expanded to 63 members and maintained its high level of service with Miss Brookins as the president and Bria Wiggins as the vice president. Mrs. Berrien, who was named Florida Blue’s Teacher of the Year for Duval County, donated her winnings to the Organization establishing the Founder’s Award, which was given to Miss Brookins, in addition to the 3 previously established scholarship awards.

 

Miss Wiggins became the president in 2011 and Telexus Walker was named the Vice President. Even though Mrs. Berrien transferred to Ribault High School to become an Instructional Coach in October, the organization continued to flourish under the leadership of Ms. Robinson and Ms. Graham. The theme for the year was “Leaving A Legacy” and the membership added a new event to its calendar, “The Father & Daughter Dance” and held the Organization’s 2nd Annual Tea Party. Miss Wiggins received the Founder’s Scholarship. Maleah Wilson, Courtney Chaney and Labrena Simmons received scholarships for dedication to Scholarship, Service and Sisterhood, respectively.

 

The Organization moved to a 3-tier Leadership Hierarchy for the 2012 – 2013 academic year. Jada Booth served as the Vice President of Scholarship, Jasmine Byard was the Vice President of Service and Jayde Stansell was the Vice President of Sisterhood. The Organization’s 35 members focused on “Blossoming into Virtue” and maintained their high level of service to their school campus and surrounding community. The Organization hosted the 2013 Mr. Ugly Pageant and awarded scholarships to the most active graduating seniors: Jayde Stansell, Jada Booth, Alexis Dickey and Tasheria Parrish.

 

The Organization took a hiatus during the 2013-2014 school year due to staff changes at First Coast High School. Ms. Robinson transferred to Atlantic Coast High School and Mrs. Berrien transferred to Ed White High School.  The Organization is poised to build on its legacy by receiving its non-profit incorporation and expanding to Atlantic Coast in Jacksonville, Fla. and Warrington Middle School in Pensacola.