JAMES CITY — The Greater Williamsburg Chamber of Commerce launched its celebrations of Women’s History Month last week with its annual Power of Women event.
More than 150 people attended the March 1 event, which featured keynote speaker Connie Matthews Harshaw, president of the Let Freedom Ring Foundation. The event was held at Ford’s Colony Country Club.
Harshaw has worked in public service for more than five decades. She began her career with the U.S. Navy at Newport News Shipbuilding in 1972 and retired from the federal government as a member of the Senior Executive Service in 2004.
While serving as the first female Black SES of the National Capital Planning Commission, Harshaw was assigned to negotiate the site parameters for the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in 1999, which she views as one of her most significant roles. Harshaw, who formed her own management consultant business in Williamsburg after retirement, currently serves as a senior advisor to several presidential appointees in Washington, D.C., as well to the director general of the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland, which focuses on the prevention and response to sexual misconduct in 192 countries.
Harshaw’s speech focused on making a difference, telling the truth, learning from your mistakes and the power of choice. As a child, Harshaw said she counted the hours she planned to have in this life to make a difference. She knew early on she was here to make a change in the world.
We only get so many hours to make a difference and we have to make sure the time is well spent, she said.
In her 20s, a brush with cancer momentarily derailed her plans, and, though she lost some time, Harshaw said she walked out of the hospital more determined than ever to effect change, setting out for Washington. She urged those in attendance to do their homework when it comes to whatever career path they choose in order to have the impact they want.
Learn your craft, she said. Learn all you can in what you want to do. That is where your power is.
Power, Harshaw said, also comes from telling the truth, which she’s learned through her experience with working with sexual assault victims.
Don’t let anybody tell you there is any other way to do it, she said. You’ve got to tell the truth.
Additionally, she said she also learned on her journey not to dwell on mistakes, but rather to learn from failures, as well as the importance of choice.
Tomorrow always presents an opportunity for another decision, she said. As you live out the hours of your life, think about how you can make a difference, and don’t let anyone make you give up your power of choice.
Harshaw ended her speech by reminding the mostly-female audience of one of Harriet Tubman’s famous quotes: Every great dream begins with a dreamer, encouraging everyone to master the skill of dreaming.
That is critical, Harshaw said. No matter our circumstances, we can always dream of a better day.
