SWSG Pittsburgh's Strong Awards Celebration

SWSG Pittsburgh’s 2024 Strong Awards Celebration

Tuesday, August 6, 5:30pm

The Westin Pittsburgh

SWSG Strong Awards is an annual celebration of the women around us who are making a difference in their communities. In addition to celebrating community and recognizing achievements, this event also raises funds to support SWSG programming that empowers women and girls throughout our city.

This year we celebrated SWSG’s 20th Anniversary and 10 years of Pittsburgh’s Strong Awards with lots of good friends, delicious food and drinks, and live music and entertainment, including musical performance by Anqwenique Kinsel and Band and Kulture Dance Academy.

Celebrate our Strong Awards winners!

Latrice Rose-Moore headshot.

Professional Woman: Latrice Rose-Moore, Melanin Mommies PGH

Latrice Rose-Moore is the visionary founder of Melanin Mommies Pgh Inc, a groundbreaking organization she established in 2014 to create a supportive and nurturing online community for expecting and new African American mothers.

Latrice has propelled Melanin Mommies into a multifaceted organization with a dedicated focus on enhancing Black mothers’ mental health. She has spearheaded the development of comprehensive programming, curated resources, and engaging activities that holistically nurture Black mothers and children. Additionally, the groundbreaking work of H.E.A.L. Together™, a trauma-informed therapy program under Melanin Mommies, has significantly impacted the mental wellness landscape for Black mothers and children affected by gun violence.

Latrice’s educational journey includes earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from Edinboro University with pursued advanced studies at Carlow University. And she is soon to embark on her clinical Ph.D. journey at Point Park University. She holds certifications as a Mental Health First Aid Instructor and Postpartum International Maternal Mental Health specialist and is a certified Life Coach, a successful Mompreneur, and a compelling inspirational speaker.

College Student: Breeanna Stephenson, Point Park University

In Spring 2024, Breeanna Stephenson graduated from Point Park University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Forensic Psychology, and will start working on a Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling. She is currently working as a registered behavior technician, using applied behavior analysis to teach children with behavioral disorders/disabilities independency skills and coping techniques.

She is focused on becoming a forensic psychologist and advocating for better mental health care in prisons and other underserved communities. This passion was born from her practicum work with the Abolitionist Law Center, where she researched data on injustices within the courtroom.

Discovering SWSG was a defining part of her college experience and personal growth, and increased her self-confidence to move into community action work. From serving as a chairperson with the Confluence Psychology Alliance to being a student leader on the Coordinated Community Response Team for sexual assault and violence awareness, Breeanna has discovered that her favorite part of community work is creating a safe and positive relationship with those around me and who she serves to support.

SWSG Youth: Shyonna Blakemore

Shyonna Blakemore has been part of SWSG’s programming for three years, and will be going into 6th grade in the fall. She has five siblings and likes to draw, sing, and cook with her dad. She is creative, kind-hearted, and loves to help friends and others.

Organization: When She Thrives

The vision for When She Thrives began in 2008 when founder Tiffany Huff received a “divine download” to create a community of sisterhood and self-care for women (specifically single mothers) after having the traumatic experience of being shot by the father of her children.

Through her personal experience, Tiffany realized that she and so many other moms in the region needed to uplift themselves and their families through personal and professional development, features lacking in many community service programs. When She Thrives took the unique approach to promote multigenerational learning, growth, and development, which has served to strengthen both familial and community relationships.

Over the last decade, When She Thrives has advanced beyond individual empowerment by fostering a supportive network that strengthens bonds and amplifies opportunities for women. By creating safe spaces for women to connect, learn, and grow together, the When She Thrives community has been a source of inspiration, mutual encouragement, and collaboration.

When She Thrives has embarked on a powerful path of expansion and growth: serving upwards of 100 women and children annually; nearly 100 single mothers become published authors and entrepreneurs; nearly 30 women develop and launch community-based solutions; over 100 women and girls heal through writing and creative expression; as well as preventing hunger, homelessness, and unemployment for hundreds of families in the Greater Pittsburgh region.