“Keeping the Dream Alive for our Youth”

Young Women of Promise, Inc. held its 11th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday celebration in eastern North Carolina on January 15, 2018 at  Temple of Zion International Ministries located at 1012 Dickinson Avenue, Greenville, NC.

According to Theresa Williams, Young Women of Promise Founder, “we selected the theme, “Keeping the Dream Alive for our Youth,’ as the agency stands poised to introduce its youth development program initiatives to the Pitt County community.” 


​Mr. Willie Joyner, the Pitt County Public Schools 2017 Assistant Principal of the Year delivered the keynote address. He is the Assistant Principal at North Pitt High School.  Joyner is also a 2017 WNCT and Southern Bank Southern Star Recipient; Care Award recipient for 2014-16; 2014 Substantial Award Honoree; Pearls and Rubies Educational Leadership Honoree and the Founder of the HYPE Performing Arts and Leadership Academy.  He has created afterschool reading and tutoring programs for young men.

Mr. Joyner is the son of the late Bishop Willie Joyner, Sr. and Pastor Betty Joyner Haddock. He is married to Latoya M. Joyner and the father of 3 daughters; Kyra, Keturah and Mia.

Performing at the MLK Day event was national recording artist Lessette. Raised in Kinston, North Carolina and the youngest of 6 children, she followed in her father’s musical footsteps. Lessette shares her love for God in her 1st gospel cd entitled “After The Storm”. She sings of her hurts and disappointments, and how faith in God will help you overcome life struggles.

Her CD was selected to be in the permanent collection at The Kinston Lenoir County Public Library. In October 2017, Lessette released her new album "You Know My Name". This album consists of tracks that she wrote, sang lead;  the background vocals and coproduced. She gives hope and love in various genres of sounds that transcend cultures and age. 

Lessette earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Painting and Drawing at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina.

Young Women of Promise presented Keeper of the Dream Awards to several individuals living in Pitt County.  Recipients were Jumail Blount: Tyrell Clemons; Willie Joyner, Jr.; Jermaine McNair, Stephanie Webb and Temple of Zion International Ministries.
 
Three youth were recognized with Teens and Kids Who Care Awards.  Honored were Tanasia Jenkins; Isaiah Shikeem Harper and Kiara Lorraine Williams.

Young Women of Promise has an 18-year history of hosting MLK Day events.  Starting  in Cabarrus County from 2000 – 2006; moving to Kinston, NC from 2008 – 2017 and hosting the event for the first time in Greenville, NC on January 15, 2018.
A reception with light refreshments was held in the church’s fellowship hall following the program.
For additional information call Theresa Williams at 252/295-8476; email: ywopromise@yahoo.com or visit www.youngwomenofpromise.org.

 
About Young Women of Promise, Inc.
Young Women of Promise, Inc.  (YWOP) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization.  The mission of Young Women of Promise is to inspire and empower youth in grades K-12 with a passion for learning.  Our programs allow youth to pursue their dreams confidently and creatively while developing academic, leadership and service learning skills that will allow them to be successful in life.

Young Women of Promise believes that the strength of a community lies in its youth.  Our programs are designed to help youth to find their voices and acquire skills and knowledge that will help them become productive citizens in their community.  Our programs include the Take 5 and Read literacy initiative which provides free book distribution to youth in our programs; Camp Promise summer enrichment programs; Saturday Leadership and Service Academy and Teens and Kids Who Care recognition program for youth (male and female) in grades K-12.
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Young Women of Promise was founded by Kinston, NC native and children’s advocate Theresa Williams Bethea in 2001.  The agency has served youth from Lenoir, Mecklenburg, Pitt, Greene, Cabarrus and Rowan counties.