Despite the COVID-19 pandemic for two years, the nationally recognized nonprofit educational humanitarian organization known as Top Ladies of Distinction has persevered with community outreach.
The organization was created in 1964 in Houston, Texas after Mrs. Willie Lee Glass received a luncheon invitation from First Lady Mrs. Lyndon Baines Johnson. Glass was unable to attend so instead sent her friend that was in the US Air Force Major Ozell M. Dean in her place.
Inspired by the luncheon, Glass and Major Dean and Mrs. Franchell Boswell decided to create a national association of Black women who could use their time, talents, energy, and passion to address the social and moral issues confronting the youth of that time. Joined by other founding members a short time after forming the organization were Ina Bolton Brown, Augusta Rivers Cash-Latham, Laverne Madlock, Ruth Payne Smith, and Georgia Bell Presswood Nelson they established the first TLOD. Major Dean is the only living founder and resides in Washington D.C.
The organization has thrived throughout the years within the Black community with support from groups like the National Council of Negro Women, NAACP and the United Negro College Fund and has grown over the years to six regional areas with chapters around the country.
One of those chapters is called Will County Black Diamond chapter of Illinois and was chartered by Karen Dilligard in 2015 the president is Verleaner Lane.
Lane said safety concerns during the pandemic didn’t prevent the ladies from staying on their mission of helping and serving the community. One place that the Diamond Chapter volunteers at is St. James Manor, senior citizen home.
“If we were in person we’d actually do movies with the senior citizens, but since we can’t go into the senior citizen home we’re now packing bags full of candy, information on Glaucoma and different things on Black history,” Lane said.
In addition to their philanthropy with St. James Manor, they also held Pink and Blue Nation Day of Service where they hosted a toiletry drive for a Will County women’s shelter as well as the March of Dimes Initiative, where they donated forty white-noise machines to the neonatal intensive care unit at the University of Chicago hospital.
Members, as everyone around the country have had to adjust to no in-person events that had to streamed on both You Tube and their Facebook page. Discussion topics range from members sharing their experience with domestic violence to having a doctor inform them on how to spot sex trafficking.
Teens from the 8th to 12th grade can join Top Teens of America, which was founded in 1969 and now partners with St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, Teens and Ladies Mentoring program and many more causes.
According to Lane, TTA has college fairs, STEM programs (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) as well as EXCEL (Excellence Through Culture Education and Leadership).
For youth interested in joining Lane said, “They must want to serve and be ready for mentorship.”
“They must not have a criminal background and must have a heart to serve.” info@thetimesweekly.com
