By Larry Caballero
This year the Orange County Chapter of The Links, Inc., an international, non-profit corporation established in 1946, consisting of women of color, hosted a Career Workshop at the Cerritos Senior Center Jan. 23 to introduce 11 debutantes to the many careers they might want to consider as they prepare for their future.
Chapter President Robin Hastings Bonner welcomed more than 50 guests including Debutantes and their families. “We want all of you to become community leaders someday,” said Bonner. “We also want you to understand the value of social skills and the building of teaming skills. It begins with defining your character and knowing who you are inside.”
Cerritos Debutante Elishebah Tate-Pulliam is attending the California Academy of Mathematics and Science (CAMS), located on the campus of California State University, Dominguez Hills.
“It is at this lovely school that I have been blessed with the opportunity to sing at the world renowned Carnegie Hall under the direction of Dr. Joanna Nachef. I take college level courses in chemistry, am a part of numerous musicals, and co-founded the first ever jazz band on campus.”
Tate-Pulliam is a five-year Ambassador of the International Peace Choir based out of Long Beach that promotes the motto, "Children singing and dancing with a vision of world peace".
She loves the message of the choir, and “I enjoy with all my heart being able to brighten the lives of our audiences with an inspirational song of peace and love. There is nothing like seeing the smile of a person and knowing that they are a little happier because of a song that you sing.”
Tate-Pulliam is also an Ambassador of the Cerritos Girl Scouts of America troop 3303 that feed the homeless and less fortunate during the holidays, and give toys and toiletries to children in need of help.
When she learned that she was chosen to be this year’s Deputante, she was very happy. “This is such an honor and I can't even begin to express how grateful and deeply touched I am to be a part of this. I have met so many inspirational and strong women who have given me a renewed drive to help the generations that are coming into this world.
There is so much chaos and bad influences circulating today, and to be apart of an organization that is standing strong, and being a beacon of light in so much worldly darkness, is something that is spirit filling and humbling.
I am ever appreciative for their love, support, and for the lessons that they have bestowed upon my Debutante sisters and me. The Links are true angels of this world.”
Debutantes were given the opportunity to ask questions of the panelists who represented many professions including management consultants, lawyers, motivational speakers, advertising and corporate executives, operation managers, a clinical geneticist, educators and a choreographer.
Panelists advised parents to get more involved in their children’s lives and for the young women to choose a profession wisely and to “love what you do.”
The national organization consists of more than 12,000 members and is one of the nation’s oldest and largest volunteer service organizations of extraordinary women who are committed to enforcing, sustaining and ensuring the culture and economic survival of African Americans and other persons of African ancestry.
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