Named in honor of the first self-made female entrepreneur, Madam C.J. Walker, Cofield said her creation is designed to inspire women to walk into their professional passion and purpose.
Based in Washington, DC, Cofield says the organization has touched thousands of women through its interactive in-person and on-line educational programs. Chapters are currently located in Georgia, Ohio and Texas with plans to expand to California, Florida, Louisiana and New York.
“I am enthusiastic about the mission of Walker’s Legacy and the network it attempts to create,” pointed out Jamila Taylor the Pennsylvania State chair which chapter recently kicked off in Pittsburgh. Her plans are for the organization to host four programs and possibly others working with community partners to engage women from all walks of life on the path to their purpose and passion.
“My goal is also to engage the full spectrum of women-of-color represented here in Pennsylvania, and I’m very excited about the prospect of working with organizations like ALPHA a Network of Indian Professionals.”
Like Cofield, Taylor, Trade Specialist with BNY Mellon found it difficult to find mentors or even a woman to emulate. “Particularly within my family and immediate circle,” she says. “I feel this played an enormous role in my life. It’s one thing to watch and admire someone, like Oprah, who can be so unattainable. But, it’s another thing to have someone tangibly in front of you, showing you the ropes. I was the first in my immediately family to graduate from college and it took me 15 years. It was something that meant so much to me so I pushed forward for as long as it took. Now I’m working on my MBA at Indiana University of PA.”
She said along the way she has found that there are some incredible women and men who have nudged me in the right direction and given me ideas for how to open doors for myself and inspire others. My true passion is inspiring others to take life into their own hands and it’s why I believe and participate in mentoring programs and believe in the Walker’s Legacy.
Taylor, a North Carolina native in Pittsburgh by way of Washington, D.C. serves as a networking and “People Do Matter” committee member for Pittsburgh’s Human Resource Association, writes periodically for the couch session.com and participates in various youth mentoring programs helping teens and young mothers discover their passion and achieve their personal and professional goals.
Taylor encourages interested women to visit the website at https://www.walkerlegacy.com.
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