The Maryland Women’s Heritage Center is a rich museum that embodies permanent and changing exhibits about renowned Maryland women. It’s also a sophisticated center for  recognizing ‘unsung heroines’, a resource and reference library, a women’s history archive, a place where women’s seminars can be held and the perfect place to purchase literature and unique gifts by and about Maryland women.

On March 9, 2011, this was the go-to- place to interact with acclaimed Maryland authors. The fifth annual ”Women’s Leadership Forum,” sponsored by the Girl Scouts of Central Maryland, held a bevy of acclaimed panelists, hosts, moderators and performers that enticed an audience of female business and non-profit leaders.

The panelists for this forum were Elizabeth Chandler (aka Mary Claire Helldorfer), who is an acclaimed author that has written numerous picture books for children as well as the Kissed by an Angel and Dark Secrets series for teens; Ginny Gong, the author of From Ironing Board to Corporate Board: My Chinese Laundry Experience in America, and president of GG Communications; Jerdine Nolen, an award-winning children’s author who is best-known for Raising Dragons, Harvey Potter’s Balloon Farm and Eliza’s Freedom Road: An Underground Railroad Diary; and Mia Redrick who is a popular speaker and selling author for the books Time for Mom-Me: 5 Essential Strategies for a Mother’s Self-Care co-author of Taking Time to Care for Me: A Nurse’s Guide to Self-Care.

The forum opened up with a warm introduction by Sheilah Kast, host of “Maryland Morning” that evoked insight on women being great storytellers who have a great ability to spread history through word- of -mouth, writing, journalism, literature and a litany of  other ways.

The panel was then moderated by Joanna Sullivan, editor of the Baltimore Business Journal, who skillfully wove enough Q& A to elicit laughter, insight and instrospection for the panelists.

Each author had different inspirations for writing their books. For example, Mia Redrick, CEO of Finding Definitions, was inspired by her mom to write her books on mother’s self-care. Ginny Gong, President of GG Communications, was inspired by her parents assimiliation into the United States and her desires, at a young age, to read more books on Asian Americans.

Elizabeth Chandler, famed author of The Dark Secrets books,  knew since 10th grade that she was destined to write  and Jerdine Nolen, acclaimed children’s author, has been writing since she was old enough to hold a writing utensil. Her mom even told her that she was born with a pencil in her hand. She also writes stories because there’s a story tell.

Each author contributed a medly of different insights, inspirations, and personal struggles and victories into the forum. However, each author agreed that all women have the power to write “Her-story” down. All it takes is persistence, confidence and taking the initiative to write.

This advice uniformed the crowd and evoked inspiration that all women have the power to pass her story to the next generation.The forum then  concluded with a moving speech about perseverence by vocalist and drummer Gaynell Colburn, who has also toured with Stevie Wonder and Bill Cosby.

If you are a fellow Marylander, and you want to volunteer to make “Her-story” widespread in the state. Please visit the Maryland Women’s Heritage Center’s Website for more information.

By Sherryn Daniel