By Kendra Bryant
Special to the AFRO
The Baltimore Metropolitan Chapter, National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. (NCBW 100) hosted its third annual Pearls with a Purpose Deluxe Bull Roast Day Party on April 12 at Martin’s West.
With past attendance averaging around 800 guests, this year’s event drew up to 1,200 attendees in support of the organization’s mission.
“We wanted today to feel like a celebration,” said Gail Moody, Baltimore Metropolitan Chapter president. “A celebration of our unapologetic Blackness and a celebration of who we are as a women’s group and who we advocate for. It’s not about us, it’s about them and that’s what we wanted for people to take away from this event.”
The NCBW 100 is a nonprofit organization founded in 1981 to advocate for African American women, with 60 chapters across 25 states.
“We spend all of our time advocating for Black women and girls,” said Moody. “We focus on areas like economic empowerment, health, education, public policy, laws that affect them. We do seminars, we go out to schools, and we do all of those things because we want to make sure that the forgotten few are seen.”
Attendee Sheila Generette, left, had the “best time of her life” with Eltenease Lee. (AFRO Photo / Kendra Bryant) 
Entrepreneurs network at the Bull Roast Day Party. Seen here: Cynthia West and Damon West, CEO of Support By Design. (AFRO Photo / Kendra Bryant) 
Bernadette Hill (left), and Ellsworth Hill (right), accompany their daughter, Ronda Clyburn, a real estate agent at Realty One. (AFRO Photo / Kendra Bryant) 
Household items and beauty products were given as raffle prizes (AFRO Photo / Kendra Bryant) 
The Priceless Collection CEO Sharon Wharton Lewis is a 30-year member of NCBW 100. She is seen here with Reginald Lewis.(AFRO Photo / Kendra Bryant) 
NCBW 100 has served as an advocate for women and girls since 1981. Seen here from left, Tennille Petitt, owner of Purge LLC; Sharon Gamble and Joyce Anthony, realtor at Samson Properties. (AFRO Photo / Kendra Bryant) 
Lillie Roberta owns a store that offers natural products that promote skin and gut health.(AFRO Photo / Kendra Bryant) 
This year’s Purpose Deluxe Bull Roast Day Party broke a record with 1,200 participants, including persons such as Pat Campbell (left), Patricia Johnson, Ronda Clyburn, Bernadette Hill and Fandreia Bowman. (AFRO Photo / Kendra Bryant) 
Members of churches such as New Shiloh Baptist Church came to celebrate NCBW 100. Seen here from top row, left: Theodora Peters, Trina Mello Adams, Gregory Lee and (bottom row) Micheal Barland. (AFRO Photo / Kendra Bryant) 
Several attendees crowded the dance floor to “Wobble” and put their “Boots on the Ground.” (AFRO Photo / Kendra Bryant) 
Phyllis Brewer, CEO of Trivashion, provides customers with elegant and quality pieces. (AFRO Photo / Kendra Bryant) 
Gail Moody serves as the president of The Baltimore Metropolitan Chapter, National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. (AFRO Photo / Kendra Bryant) 
Something Special Boutique, owned by Russell and Maria Hopewell, provides jewelry, body butters and Divine Nine designed items. (AFRO Photo / Kendra Bryant) 
Owner of J’Bleu Event Rentals, Jernae Davis (right) helped guests such as Lisa White, left, and Dawn Keene create memories with a 360 camera. (AFRO Photo / Kendra Bryant) 
Crystal-Scott Harris received an award recognizing her as one of two NCBW 100 Baltimore Chapter members to sell the most table tickets for the Pearls with a Purpose Deluxe Bull Roast Day Party. (AFRO Photo / Kendra Bryant) 
Members of Morgan State University’s School of Social Work attended in support of NCBW 100’s mission. Seen here from left: Corii Hamlett, Ninah Hanna, Myesha Mitchell and Aundrea Harrell. (AFRO Photo / Kendra Bryant) 
Members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. represented the Divine Nine. Seen here from left: Chezia Cager, Epsilon Omega Chapter Vice President of Operations Myrtle E.B. Dorsey, Claudette Edgerton-Swain, Slandria Proctor, Briana Butler and Maya Gilmore. (AFRO Photo / Kendra Bryant) 
Planning the event took several months and relied heavily on committee members, including Cori A. Ramos, a third-year chair of events. (AFRO Photo / Kendra Bryant)
The event featured several Black women-owned businesses, including The Priceless Collection, Something Special Boutique, Lillie Roberta and Trivashion.
“My items are not just for African American women, but for any woman who wants to feel beautiful,” said Sharon Wharton Lewis, owner of The Priceless Collection and a 30-year member of NCBW 100. “All of the different shades of colors display different personalities and that’s what this event is all about.”
Phyllis Brewer, CEO and founder of Trivashion, has been a vendor at Pearls with a Purpose for several years and has built relationships with returning customers.
“I always look forward to reconnecting with my clients at this event,” said Brewer. “The ladies who shop with Trivashion Boutique like an elevated style; a style that when you walk in the room, you command the room without having anything to say.”
Members of Baltimore’s Divine Nine chapters were also present in support of NCBW 100’s efforts.
“It’s important for Greek life to be here because Greek life includes women,” said Lisa White, member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Rho Xi Omega Chapter. “It includes Black women and it includes women who are in power. We support each other and we support non-Greek organizations. Greek life supports anybody who is uplifting the culture and women. That is why we’re here in large numbers.”
Networking served as a theme throughout the evening, as guests reconnected with members of their churches and university alumni.
“Each time we’ve attended we have enjoyed ourselves immensely,” said Damon West, CEO of Support By Design Inc. “The room is full of Black excellence and networking with a purpose.”
The celebration also entertained attendees with raffles and gathered people to the dance floor for songs like “Wobble” and “Before I Let Go.”
“It’s always a pleasure to support this organization,” said attendee Sheila Generette. “I had the time of my life.”