Conference Schedule

Pre-Conference, Thursday September 25th, 2025

Gather at the church: 12:30 p.m.

Travel together to the Sojourner Truth Plaza in Akron, Ohio, 37 North High Street, Akron, Ohio 44308

12:30 – 4:00 p.m.

Tour the plaza and adjoined facility
Special ceremony honoring Sojourner Truth, highlighting the “Sojourner Truth Traveling Stole,” led by Rev. Dr. LaVerne C. Hall, President of the Board of Directors of the Dr. James and Janie Washington Cultural Center, Seattle, WA

4:30 p.m.

Conference, Friday, September 26th, 2025

Check-in: 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Dinner: 5:30 – 6:45 p.m.
Opening Workshop: 6:45-7:50 p.m. “Fundraising 101” presented by Rev. Brian Upton, Executive Director of Building Hope in the City
Opening Worship: 8:00 – 9:15 p.m., Guest Preacher, Dr. Lumar Vargas, Managing Director of Leadership and Development at Teach for America

Saturday, September 27th, 2025, Day 2

Check-in and Continental Breakfast: 9:00 – 9:50 a.m.
Opening Plenary: 10:00 – 10:50 a.m., “Post Traumatic Leadership Syndrome,” Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Dennis
Day 2 Worship: 11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m., Guest Preacher, Rev. Dr. TaNikka Sheppard, Executive Director, Cleveland Baptist Association, General Secretary, North American Baptist Fellowship
LUNCH: 12:20 – 1:20 p.m.

Afternoon Workshops (1:30 p.m. – 4:20 p.m.)

“Lead like a Woman” Ms. Gimbiya Kettering, author, former Director of Interculturalism and Diversity at The Church of the Brethren, 1:30 p.m. – 2:20 p.m.
“Financial Freedom and Empowerment ” Ms. Linda Peavy, Entrepreneur, Advisor, Instructor – Founder & Owner, LiPav Consulting, 2:30 p.m. – 3:20 p.m.)
“Caring for Ourselves as we Lead,” Elder Linette Graddic, LLC, M.Ed., LPC, Director, Mercy Center Global Ministries; Therapist, Therapeutic Life Changers Counseling Center, 3:30 p.m. – 4:20 p.m.

Teen Workshops (concurrent with Women’s workshops: 1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m., 3:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.,

“Building our Muscles for our Future:” things to think about as you choose a career path, resume writing, soft skills, interviews, networking, things to help you stand out. Ms. Chanté Roberts | Executive Assistant, Mandel Community Center at The Sojourner Truth Building. 1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
“Self-Awareness, Self-Care, and Self-Esteem:” Pastor Sadawna Gainer, Executive Pastor, M.A.S.H. Ministries New Life Center 3:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.

Closing Commissioning and Holy Communion

Commissioning Service and Holy Communion, 4:30 p.m. – 5:15 p.m., Rev. LaThelma Armstrong, Executive Director, American Baptist Women’s Ministries
Closing remarks and Benediction – 5:15 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Rev. Dr. Chris Smith, Director, Rudd Empowerment Center at ABWM, Conference Host, Senior Pastor, Restoration Ministries of Greater Cleveland

Church Location:

Restoration Ministries of Greater Cleveland (On the campus of St. John of the Cross Parish)

140 Richmond Road

Euclid, Ohio 44143

Hotel Options:

Courtyard Cleveland Willoughby

35103 Maplegrove Rd, Willoughby, OH 44094

(440) 530-1100 (approx. 5.6 miles from the church)

Eco-certified

700 Beta Dr, Cleveland, OH 44143

(440) 646-1777 (approx. 7.79 miles from the church)

1421 Golden Gate Blvd., Mayfield Heights, OH, 44124, US

(440) 442-8400 (approx. 8.77 miles from the church)

Sojourner Truth Women's Ministry Conference

Empowered by God’s Light, Leading with God’s Love