As we continue to observe Women’s History Month, let me bring you up-to-date on one of our African American women’s organizations, The National Congress of Black Women, Inc. Philadelphia “Flagship” Chapter. It is a 501 (c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization. During a recent meeting, Sherri Darden was elected as the new chairperson. Congratulations Sherri Darden.
The 2024-2026 newly-elected officers include Sherri Darden, chairperson; Sandra Mills, 1st vice chairperson; Minister Maryum Lee, 2nd vice chairperson; Jimia Davis, 3rd vice chairperson; Modjeska Graham, recording secretary; Kittura Dior, corresponding secretary, and Cappy Lane, treasurer.
Board members include Theresa Brunson, Esq., member, Overseer Christine Crosby, Archbishop Mary Floyd Palmer, and Dr. Evelyn Partridge.
Founded in 1984, the National Congress of Black Women (NCBW) continues to be dedicated to the educational, political, economic, and cultural development of African-American women and their families. NCBW also serves as a non-partisan voice and instrument on issues pertaining to the appointment of African-American women at all levels of government and to increase African-American women’s participation in the educational, political, economic, and social arenas. Currently, NCBW provides opportunities for women to pursue leadership and decision-making positions in government, nonprofit organizations, and the private sector.
Its mission is to educate youth on the responsibilities of good citizenship and the importance of engaging in the political process; while also providing opportunities for internships and other learning experiences at the local, state, national, and global levels.
The NCBW’s founder was Dr. C. DeLores Tucker, who was the convening chair at the first convention in 1984, where Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm was the first elected chair. Chisholm was an educator, author, and politician who became the first African-American woman elected to Congress in 1968. In 1972, she became the first African-American woman to make a serious bid to run for president of the United States. Tucker was the first African-American woman to serve as Pennsylvania Secretary of the Commonwealth and the first African-American woman to serve as secretary of a U.S. state government. Other notable NCBW charter members include Dr. Dorothy Height, Coretta Scott King, and Rosa Parks.
The National Congress of Black Women commissioned Artis Lane to create a bronze bust portraying Sojourner Truth, women’s-rights advocate and abolitionist. The bust was unveiled on April 28, 2009, by First Lady Michelle Obama for permanent display in the Emancipation Hall at the Visitor Center of the U.S. Capitol. Acclaimed actress Cicely Tyson performed Truth’s “Ain’t I a Woman?” speech during the unveiling.
The original charter members, along with Dr. Tucker and Congresswoman Chisholm, include Chair Emeritus Rev. Willie Barrow, Lezli Baskerville, Esq., Dr. Mary Berry, the Hon. Cardiss Collins, Dr. Dorothy I. Height, the Hon. Alexis Herman, the Hon. Charlene Drew Jarvis, Coretta Scott King, Rosa Parks, the Hon. Gloria Lawlah, the Hon. Hilda Mason, Jewell Jackson McCabe, the Hon. Eleanor Holmes Norton, Lavonia Perryman Fairfax, the Hon. Wilhelmina J. Rolark, Esq., the Hon. Mary Terrell, Esq., Pat Tyson, the Hon. Shirley Wilcher, and the Hon. Nadine Winter.
In past years, the NCBW has been led by Dr. C. DeLores Tucker, Onah C. Weldon, Tyhia Nyahuma, the Hon. Doris Smith Ribner (ret.), and other women leaders.
Sherri Darden has some big shoes to fill as the new chairperson of the Philadelphia Chapter. However, fill them she will. Challenges are nothing new to Darden. When she took on the ownership of the SCOOP USA Media Newspapers seven years ago, some whispered, “The paper might disappear in a year.”
“When some people think of the SCOOP Newspaper,” Sherri said, “they could only think of one person ever owning the paper which has been published non-stop for over 63 years. A few people actually said to me, ‘The newspaper business is a man’s world.’ However, the man who owned the SCOOP Newspaper for almost 56 years, R. Sonny Driver, was one of my all-time motivators. He taught me how to take over ownership of the paper. He schooled me. He allowed me to shadow him on everything I needed to do to keep his legacy up and operating successfully.”
Sherri Darden, our publisher, has lived a life that is a definite Cinderella story. Darden is a product of the City of Philadelphia, where her family lived in several areas, including Mt. Airy, West and East Oak Lane, Germantown, and North and West Philadelphia. She has survived the trials and tribulations of growing up in a large, urban city. Despite all that she saw while being reared in Philadelphia, she is a success story. She brings the value of life and the knowledge of life’s challenges and triumphs to Scoop each and every day. These things are what prompted her to take on Mr. Driver’s legacy and continue to promote the good aspects of our communities.
Sherri began working with Mr. Driver in 1996 as a typist. Shortly after, the typesetter resigned, leaving Sherri and Mr. Driver to get the paper to press.
In November 2017, Sherri took the helm of Philadelphia’s oldest FREE African-American community newspaper. After working for SCOOP for more than 20 years under the direction of Sonny Driver, Sherri purchased SCOOP and committed to continue the legacy of educating our communities during Mr. Driver’s last days.
In addition to working at SCOOP, Sherri held a full-time position at the Defender Association of Philadelphia for 29 years. She also worked many part-time jobs. While working at the Defender Association and part-time at SCOOP, Sherri majored in accounting at Community College. She started and stopped school several times because she had difficulty juggling parenting, work, and in-person classes. She eventually transferred her credits to an accelerated program at the University of Phoenix–where she eventually completed her studies online. Sherri graduated in 2013 with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management and then enrolled at La Salle University, earning a Master’s degree in Human Capital Management in May 2015. She is currently studying for a Master’s degree in Strategic Communications at LaSalle and expects to complete those courses in 2025.
In closing, Darden stated, “All I know is this: When we are passionate about our work and the organizations we stand for and hold steadfast to the idea of making a positive difference, we can get things done. We can be change-makers. I look forward to representing the NCBW, Philadelphia Chapter, with dignity, honesty, and transparency. I look forward to the work we will do to raise some of the critical causes that concern Black women.”
Darden shared that as chairperson of NCBW, Philadelphia Chapter, she looks forward to bringing in new members and reinvigorating the organization.
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