Beyond the Pink Ribbon: When Courage, Conversation, and Community Become a Catalyst for Change
Updated: 3 days ago
IAW Washington, DC Chapter Brings Women Together for an Evening of Powerful Stories, Breast Cancer Awareness, and Purposeful Connections
By Dr. Sharon H. Porter | Community Connections
WALDORF, MARYLAND — October 15, 2026
There are events that bring people into a room, and then there are experiences that remind us why coming together matters.
The International Association of Women (IAW) Washington, DC Chapter's Beyond the Pink Ribbon: Real Conversations About Breast Cancer was more than a networking event. It was an intentional gathering centered on courage, compassion, education, survivorship, and the extraordinary power of women supporting women.
Held on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at the LifeStyles Distribution Center in Waldorf, Maryland, the event brought together women committed to moving beyond the traditional symbols of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and engaging in conversations that have the potential to change lives.
The evening reflected a powerful truth: Awareness may begin the conversation, but education, advocacy, and action are what create lasting impact.
More Than a Ribbon: The Stories Behind the Statistics
Each October, communities across the nation turn pink in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Pink ribbons appear on clothing, buildings, promotional materials, and social media platforms. These visible expressions of solidarity are important, but they represent only part of a much larger conversation.
Behind every ribbon is a person. Behind every diagnosis is a family. Behind every survivor is a journey that may include uncertainty, fear, difficult decisions, extraordinary courage, and an unwavering determination to move forward.
Beyond the Pink Ribbon was created to bring these realities into focus. The gathering provided an opportunity to discuss not only the importance of breast cancer awareness and early detection but also the emotional, relational, and community dimensions of the disease.
It was a reminder that breast cancer is not simply a medical diagnosis. It is an experience that can affect every aspect of a person's life, including relationships, professional responsibilities, emotional well-being, financial stability, and sense of identity.
And while no two journeys are identical, the need for compassion, reliable information, and meaningful support is universal.
Six Women. Distinct Perspectives. One Powerful Purpose.
At the heart of the event was a panel of six remarkable women whose professional backgrounds, personal experiences, and commitment to service brought depth and meaning to the conversation.
Tami Dabney, Chrystal Benson, Dorothea Frazier, Carla Gibson, Carmen Marshall, and Sandy Washington were recognized as featured panelists.
Their collective participation reinforced the importance of creating spaces where women can share knowledge, exchange perspectives, and address issues that are sometimes difficult to discuss openly.
For our panelists, breast cancer awareness is deeply personal.
Tami Dabney: Finding Strength Through Sisterhood
A native of Tarboro, North Carolina, Tami Dabney is an educator, wife, mother, grandmother, and breast cancer survivor who will celebrate four years of survivorship in November 2026.
Her journey inspired a deeper appreciation for faith, mindset, and the importance of surrounding oneself with a supportive community.
As the founder of The Power of the Sister Circle, LLC, Dabney champions the belief that women are stronger when they support one another.
Her connection to the Fight Like a Girl movement reflects a sentiment familiar to many survivors:
"It's the sisterhood you never wanted, but the one you needed."
Those words capture a reality that extends beyond breast cancer. Difficult circumstances can create unexpected connections, and those connections can become lifelines of encouragement, understanding, and hope.
Dorothea Frazier: Courage in the Face of the Unexpected
For Dorothea Frazier, a routine mammogram at age 44 led to a diagnosis that changed her life.
With no known family history of breast cancer, the news came as an unexpected and frightening development.
Her treatment journey included a lumpectomy, chemotherapy, radiation, and preventive medication. Throughout the experience, she remained committed to her family and continued working in education.
Having dedicated more than 28 years to Prince George's County Public Schools, following a decade with Head Start, Frazier's life has long reflected service, perseverance, and care for others.
Her experience underscores an essential message: A lack of family history does not eliminate the possibility of developing breast cancer.
It also reminds us that the women navigating treatment are often simultaneously managing careers, caring for loved ones, and fulfilling responsibilities that do not disappear when a diagnosis arrives.
Carla Gibson: Transforming Adversity Into Advocacy
For Carla M. Gibson, a 2009 diagnosis of carcinoma in situ, also known as Stage 0 cancer, became a turning point that helped shape her commitment to health education and community advocacy.
A North Carolina native and longtime Prince George's County resident, Gibson has devoted considerable energy to helping others understand the importance of early detection, health awareness, and informed decision-making.
In 2014, she founded Powerful Divas with a Purpose, an initiative that evolved into a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization addressing issues extending beyond cancer awareness, including domestic violence, youth and senior services, employment preparation, and community assistance.
Her work demonstrates how personal adversity can inspire a broader mission of service.
Guided by faith, hope, and love, Gibson embraces a message that reflects the spirit of the evening: "Together We Are Powerful."
Chrystal Benson: Leadership, Advocacy, and the Responsibility to Support Others
The panel also included distinguished educational leader Chrystal Benson, whose career spans more than three decades in education and school administration.
Currently serving as Senior Manager for Administrative Hiring with Fairfax County Public Schools, Benson has held leadership positions including high school principal and Director of Student Engagement and Conduct.
Her professional journey reflects a longstanding commitment to advocacy, access, and creating environments where individuals receive the support they need to thrive.
Carmen Brown Marshall-Chief Visionary and Founder of the Breast Cancer Survivorship Foundation
Carmen Brown Marshall is a woman of unwavering faith, an accomplished healthcare professional, author, ambassador, and visionary leader whose breast cancer journey has become the foundation for a movement of education, advocacy, and empowerment.
As Chief Visionary and Founder of the Breast Cancer Survivorship Foundation, Carmen leads an organization dedicated to advancing survivorship education, women's wellness, and equitable access to quality breast healthcare, particularly among underserved and underrepresented communities.
Drawing upon more than two decades of experience in clinical diagnostics, she brings a valuable combination of professional expertise and personal understanding to her advocacy.
Carmen is also the author of Looking Well Beyond Breast Cancer, through which she encourages women to embrace life beyond diagnosis and recognize the importance of self-care, personal advocacy, and holistic well-being.
Her leadership extends into community education, survivor storytelling, healthcare partnerships, and public speaking. Through the Breast Cancer Survivorship Foundation, she has helped expand opportunities for women to access information, share their experiences, and participate more confidently in healthcare decisions.
Central to Carmen's mission is her belief that women deserve to feel seen, supported, valued, and empowered throughout every stage of their lives.
Her perspective challenges society to reconsider what survivorship looks like. Rather than viewing survival as the final destination, Carmen encourages women to embrace the possibility of thriving—physically, emotionally, spiritually, and personally.
Sandy Washington: Community Advocate
Sandy Washington is a distinguished nonprofit executive, community advocate, published author, and two-time breast cancer survivor whose life reflects resilience, compassionate leadership, and service.
As Chief Executive Officer of LifeStyles of Maryland Foundation, Inc., Sandy provides strategic leadership for programs addressing homelessness, housing instability, food insecurity, and economic opportunity. With more than 37 years of experience serving Maryland communities, she has dedicated her professional life to helping vulnerable individuals and families access the resources and opportunities needed to rebuild their lives.
Her leadership has helped strengthen community partnerships and expand services throughout Southern Maryland. In 2025, LifeStyles received a transformational $2.5 million grant to support families experiencing homelessness, further advancing its mission of providing help, hope, and pathways toward stability.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Sandy is a proud mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Her personal experience as a two-time breast cancer survivor adds another dimension to her commitment to advocacy, perseverance, and hope.
As a featured participant and host for Beyond the Pink Ribbon, Sandy represents the intersection of survivorship, leadership, and community service—demonstrating that personal challenges and professional purpose can become powerful forces for positive change.
Her leadership philosophy is reflected in a message she shared publicly in 2026: "Hope starts at home."
Together, these six women represented an important principle: meaningful advocacy does not require everyone to share the same experience. It requires a willingness to listen, learn, care, and act.
The Conversations We Cannot Afford to Avoid
One of the most important messages surrounding Beyond the Pink Ribbon is that breast cancer awareness must extend beyond recognizing the disease.
It must also include the conversations that too often remain unspoken.
Why do some women delay routine screenings?
How do we address fear and uncertainty surrounding a possible diagnosis?
What does meaningful support look like when a friend, family member, or colleague begins treatment?
How do we support survivors after treatment ends, when others may assume their lives have returned to normal?
And how can communities ensure that women facing barriers to healthcare, transportation, financial resources, or reliable health information are not overlooked?
These questions challenge us to consider the difference between acknowledging a problem and actively participating in its solution.
They also remind us that self-advocacy is essential.
Women should feel empowered to ask questions, understand their personal risk factors, discuss appropriate screening recommendations with healthcare professionals, and seek clarification when something about their health concerns them.
Equally important, organizations and community leaders must recognize that supporting women's health is not a responsibility limited to healthcare providers.
It is a shared commitment that requires education, accessible resources, supportive workplaces, and compassionate communities.
The Power of Showing Up
The event also highlighted a fundamental element of meaningful connection: presence.
Women gathered not simply to attend another networking function but to participate in an experience grounded in purpose.
The gathering reflected the IAW philosophy that Women Connected. Change Happens.
Connection becomes particularly meaningful when women move beyond exchanging business cards and professional introductions to engage in conversations about the realities affecting their lives.
It is in these moments that networking becomes something greater.
It becomes community.
It becomes encouragement.
It becomes an opportunity to strengthen relationships while expanding our collective capacity to make a difference.
The women in attendance represented the importance of showing up—not only for themselves but also for one another.
And sometimes, showing up is the beginning of someone else's breakthrough.
From Awareness to Action: What Happens After October?
Perhaps the most significant challenge emerging from an event such as Beyond the Pink Ribbon is determining what happens after the gathering concludes.
What happens when the decorations are taken down? What happens when Breast Cancer Awareness Month ends? What happens when the pink ribbons are placed back into drawers and the social media campaigns begin to fade?
If awareness does not inspire action, we risk allowing an important message to become merely a seasonal observance.
The real opportunity lies in what participants choose to do next.
Perhaps it means scheduling an overdue screening. Perhaps it means encouraging a loved one to speak with a healthcare professional. Perhaps it means supporting a survivor who continues to navigate the emotional effects of treatment.
Or perhaps it means partnering with an organization that provides education, resources, and assistance to women and families facing breast cancer.
For leaders, the responsibility extends even further. We must consider how our organizations can create environments where health conversations are welcomed, employees feel supported during difficult circumstances, and access to information and resources is prioritized.
The impact of a gathering should never be measured solely by attendance. It should also be measured by the conversations it inspires, the connections it strengthens, and the actions that follow.
A Stronger Tomorrow, Together
The IAW Washington, DC Chapter's Beyond the Pink Ribbon gathering reflected what becomes possible when women come together with intentionality and purpose.
It celebrated courage without minimizing fear.
It honored survivorship while recognizing that every journey is different.
It emphasized the importance of education while acknowledging the emotional and relational realities of breast cancer.
And perhaps most importantly, it reinforced the power of women supporting women.
The event's message extends far beyond one evening in Waldorf, Maryland.
It is a reminder that every woman deserves to be informed, respected, heard, and supported.
It is a call for communities to move beyond expressions of concern and toward meaningful engagement.
It is an invitation to recognize that even the smallest action—a conversation, a phone call, an appointment, an offer of assistance can make a meaningful difference.
As the IAW DC Chapter continues its commitment to connecting, empowering, and developing women, gatherings such as Beyond the Pink Ribbon demonstrate the important relationship between leadership and service.
Because leadership is not simply about the positions we hold or the recognition we receive.
Leadership is about the lives we touch, the voices we elevate, and the difference we make when we choose to act.
Beyond the Pink Ribbon Is a Commitment, Not Just a Conversation
The pink ribbon remains a powerful symbol of awareness, remembrance, and solidarity.
But the greatest tribute we can offer to those who have fought breast cancer, those who continue to navigate the disease, and those whose lives have been lost is to ensure that awareness leads to meaningful action.
May we continue to educate. May we continue to advocate. May we continue to support.
May we continue to create spaces where women can speak openly, share courageously, and find strength in community.
And may we never forget that behind every pink ribbon is a human story worthy of compassion, dignity, and hope.
Beyond the Pink Ribbon was more than an event. It was a reminder of what happens when courage meets community and conversation becomes a catalyst for change.
Dedication
I dedicate Beyond the Pink Ribbon to my beautiful dear cousin, Devay Campbell. Devay was beautiful in spirit, brilliant in mind, and kind at heart.
Though breast cancer took her life in 2020, her light continues to shine in the lives she touched. Forever loved. Always remembered. #mybusinessbestie
Devay T. Campbell ( June 8, 1973- March 13, 2020)
About the Event: Beyond the Pink Ribbon: Real Conversations About Breast Cancer was hosted by the International Association of Women (IAW), Washington, DC Chapter, on October 15, 2026, at the LifeStyles Distribution Center in Waldorf, Maryland. The gathering focused on breast cancer awareness, education, survivorship, support, empowerment, and community action.
About the International Association of Women (IAW): The International Association of Women (IAW) is a global community built to help women be seen, heard, and valued in every stage of life and leadership. We believe that when women connect with purpose, share knowledge, and lift each other up, extraordinary things happen.
About IAW DC: The International Association of Women (IAW) Washington, DC Chapter is a dynamic and inclusive professional women's organization dedicated to connecting, empowering, and advancing women across the Greater Washington, DC metropolitan area, including Washington, DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia.
The IAW Washington, DC Chapter is guided by a dedicated Executive Board committed to advancing the organization's mission, strengthening member engagement, and expanding its presence and impact throughout the Greater Washington, DC region.
President: Dr. Sharon H. Porter
Vice-President: Tajala Battle Lockhart
Director of Operations & Finance: Milvia Garrido
Director of Membership: Dr. Denise Moore Revel
Director of Community Partnerships: Joyce Awuro
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