Women's History Month with OTO and the Women Who Run It

Women of the Black Panther Party in Oakland in the late 1960s (Photo: PBS)

 The Inspiration Before Us

When considering Women’s History Month, we would like to reflect on the value of this time. Established officially in 1987, Women’s History Month was designed to reflect on women's impact throughout history. Expanding initially from Women’s History Week in 1981, its origins and date selection were inspired by the events on March 8, 1857. On this date, women from multiple New York City factories staged a protest for poor working conditions, which was an unprecedented feat at that time (Census, 2022). From this lens, we want to acknowledge women who have been leaders, particularly in equity-driven work. While at OTO, it was imperative to introduce you to the women who run it; we want to acknowledge a few revolutionary women who have radically assisted in the paradigm-shifters that got us here. 

Our pillars of women include Angela Davis, Toni Morrison, Maya Angelou, and countless unnamed women who have transformed our realities. Erica Huggins states, "When I say that women ran the Black Panther Party, I'm not bragging. It wasn't fun; it wasn't cute. It was dangerous, and it was scary," says Huggins. "The work that women did held the Black Panther Party together" (Smithsonian, 2022). Erica Huggins was a co-leader of the Los Angeles chapter of the Black Panthers and the widow of John Huggins, who was assassinated in 1969. Huggins and the women above exemplify the amplification, expansion, and reinforcement of equitable systems and resources through their actions and ideas. These women were more than lecturers and writers; they were and still are eloquently and necessarily about that action. 

We at OTO draw inspiration from the women before us. Our ideas, writing, and actions are all equity-driven and liberation-focused. We will continue to draw from the powerful women who continue to do this work to shift paradigms radically and revolutionize the educational system. The parallels between these women and the ones here at OTO is there is no other way of being - the vision we hold for equity and justice will be actualized. We will make sure of it.

OTO and the Women Who Run It

Keyasha Petty: President 

Hailing from the OC, Keyasha is a new addition to Only Thoughts of Ownership as our company President. As President, she oversees the strategies and objectives of the company while managing the daily operations and expansion of the programming.  Keyasha intends to deliver on OTO's vision and goals using strategic and tactical reasoning. Prior to OTO, Keyasha was the V.P. of Mission Advancement, Marketing & Tech at her previous organization, supported by 15+ years of experience in management, fundraising, and nonprofit expansion. 

As for her personal life and interests, she is the middle child of seven siblings and attended Liberty University. Keyasha presently serves in ministry at her church in San Marcos and enjoys traveling and creating experiences with her three children.  

Tahirih Vinson: Project Director

Tahirih is a Moreno Valley native, reared by her mother and grandmother, and an active member of Restoration Jubilee Center for 15 years. In 2018, while in full pursuit of her acting and poetry career, she began her journey at OTO as an unpaid volunteer for the It’s Okay to Dream Tour, under her personal philosophical revelation: if Black men had the support they needed to build their legacy and generate wealth to be economically consistent with that of other race and ethnic groups, then it would create the resources and capacity for them to provide for and love on their Black women. This placed in her heart an unswerving commitment and determination to provide support and assistance to Black Men in Business. Intuitively-led to meet with Oliver, as she witnessed the work he was doing in education, he heard and supported Tahirih’s vision by providing the space for her to pursue her mission within OTO leading her to become the first female team member. Whether you met Tahirih as the volunteer, Executive Assistant, or Project Director, overseeing socioemotional programming and organizational relationships, she has intrinsically provided support with implementing systems, processes, establishing culture, advising with strategic approaches to organizational expansion, new business endeavors, relationship management, and executing a host of other projects. Involved at every level of OTO over the years working very closely with Oliver and Ronnie, she assisted and supported with bringing on 18 employees and a number of interns. Tahirih is proud to see her personal philosophical revelation unfold within OTO as she experiences a high level of gratitude working alongside 3 other well-paid women using their gifts daily, and 2 of those women joining her in leadership. Understand that while Tahirih is a woman about business, completing her Master's in Business Administration, her work at OTO is spiritual in its nature and intuitively-led with a passion to see the underserved, served and inequities rectified. 

Nicole Swearingen: Director of Education

 Raised in MoVal, by way of P-town (Pomona, CA), Nicole has transitioned from an Optimal Health Educator with OTO to the Director of Education in the past two years. Having over ten years in education, she has worked her way up to understanding the many layers within the education system. Her evolution from tutor to substitute teacher, curriculum consulting, English and Careers Teacher, and Director of Education - she has left no stone unturned. At OTO, she focuses on curriculum development, research and data, blog writing (it’s me y’all), and editorial support. Her purpose within education has always been to liberate through the processes of self-awareness and healing. Once she realized how expansive the task was, she knew traditional education alone could not be the answer. The human experience we know today requires the healing of self and the collective, which means reforming institutions, social constructs, and relationships with ourselves and others. 

Nicole holds two master's degrees, one in Single Subject English Instruction and the other in Organizational Leadership. She finds joy in watching DC animated movies and Marvel live-action movies, reading, and cooking for her family and friends. 

Women of OTO’s leadership team. Image was taken March 1, 2022

As the leadership team at OTO, we would like to thank Oliver for entrusting us to run this organization. Women are history makers, barrier breakers, and amplifiers; he has acknowledged it in each of us and has allowed us to steer his vision. He lives the "trend" of justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion because it is who he is. So just know when you book him, mean it. Because he really is about that life. 

”A woman is a woman, love the creation. It all came from God, then you was my confirmation” - K. Dot

References:

Dixon, J. (2019).  The Rank and File of the Black Panther Party and their Powerful Influence. Retrieved on March 2, 2022. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/rank-and-file-women-black-panther-party-their-powerful-influence-180971591/

United States Census Bureau. (2022). Women’s History Month: March 2022. Retrieved on March 1, 2022 https://www.census.gov/newsroom/facts-for-features/2022/womens-history-month.html