Women's Empowerment Series Heads To Chicago

CHICAGO – Incomparable music legend Chaka Khan and the WNBA’s Tulsa Shock star Marion Jones will keynote the third installment of “Take Back Your Life, Mind Body & Soul” women’s retreat series. The two superstars will join a stellar lineup of women speakers at the October 30th event at the Tinley Park Convention Center in Tinley Park beginning at 8:00 a.m.” “Take Back Your Life”,is an event series dedicated to supporting women in the five most important areas of their lives: spirituality, personal balance, health and fitness, career and finance, and relationships.

Jones will be TBYL’s featured luncheon speaker and discuss her new book, “On the Right Track. For more than a decade, Jones was hailed as the "the fastest woman on the planet." At the 2000 Olympic Games she became the first woman ever to win five medals at one Olympics. That same year, the Associated Press and ESPN named her Athlete of the Year and she was on the cover of Vogue and Time. Now a convicted felon she is now using her story to change the lives of people the world over and inspire others who, like her, face obstacles that seem insurmountable. During her session Jones will candidly share her experiences in prison, her struggles to find the “real” Marion Jones and her reinvention through the WNBA. Jones will be interviewed by Matt McGill, of the Matt & Perri Show on WVON and immediately following her session she will autograph copies of “On the Right Track”, which debuts during this weekend in Chicago.
Monique Caradine, host of Perspectives on My50 TV, will interview the iconic Chaka Khan during the afternoon session. Following the theme of reinvention and redemption, Khan will reflect on a musical and personal career of exalting highs and devastating lows outlined in her autobiography “Chaka! Through the Fire”. The revelatory interview will be followed by a musical salute from another Chicago powerhouse vocalist, Terisa Griffin joined by other Chicago female vocalists.

Throughout the day attendees will experience sessions focused on personal and spiritual pampering, plus employment and career guidance. This year’s presenters from the fields of business, entrepreneurship and spirituality include Rev. Jacquie Hood Martin, author of Fulfilled” The Art and Joy of Balanced Living”; Amy Hilliard, the founder and CEO of The ComfortCake and author of "Tap Into Your Juice - Find Your Gifts, Lose Your Fears and Build Your Dreams”; and Cheryl Pearson McNeil, senior vice president public affairs and government relations, The Nielsen Company, whose topic is “How Do you Eat an Elephant? One Bite at a Time: The Roadmap to Success”. Upwards of 500 women are anticipated to attend the third installment of “Take Back Your Life” women’s retreat. The event provides attendees authentic case studies and experience to draw upon, and enables them to move forward in their personal and professional lives.

“Take Back Your Life” continues to morph into one of the best empowerment series for women, not just in Chicago, but in the country”, states Latrice Levitt, event visionary and organizer. We’re elated to be able to bring such a high caliber of both nationally and locally recognized speakers to this market for our third installment of “TBYL”. Ours is a distinctive series that allows women to get away, let their hair down, fellowship with their peers and truly examine the most significant facets of their lives.

This rare lineup of noted luminaries is brought to Chicago through the sponsorship of WVON-AM Radio, “The Talk of Chicago,” the Black McDonald’s Operators Association of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana (BMOA), PNC Bank, The Nielsen Company, and COMPASS a personal development network for women.