Uncrowned Community Builders

Gwendolyn Jarvis was born in 1953, raised and educated in Cleveland Ohio, and is the daughter of James Thomas and Mattie Elizabeth (Warren) Jarvis. She is a graduate with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration and a minor in Accounting. She is pursuing a Master of Science Degree in Strategic Leadership and has completed other trainings. After her divorce, Gwen, along with her only two daughters, ventured to Cleveland to the neighborhood that she spent many adolescent years. This furtherance gave her daughters the opportunity to attend the same schools as Gwen and they became legacies at her alma maters. The three of them became active members of the neighborhood church, Second Calvary Missionary Baptist Church.

Her journey through life is a testament to her unlimited talent, skills and service. She was able to follow through on her aspirations as a banker, educator and an entrepreneur. She enjoys her four granddaughters, traveling extensively, reading, crafts, belly dancing, yoga and life.

Gwen is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc, Eta Phi Beta Sorority Inc, National Council of Negro Women Inc, NAACP, African-American Women Awareness, Black Political Action and Rotary International and Toastmasters International and more. Being an active member of her organizations allows her to be of service to all mankind.

As a youth, she had a passion for history, which was closely monitored by her mother and stepfather due to their religious practices. Gwen, strategically, found a way to satisfy her desire to study historical events. With her older brother having a newspaper route after school, they would take turns going to the library while the other one would deliver the papers to various households nearby.

When she married and moved to Huntsville Alabama, it was "a whole new world". It was an honor to be married into a family with a rich history and beliefs in the accomplishments of blacks throughout the south and of those within the family.

When she became an Alpha Kappa Alpha Lady, she was asked to recite "Life Very Voice and Sing". Gwen was stunned. She had never heard of the song, therefore, the graduate advisor, did not embarrass her. She very sisterly gave her the words and encouraged her to learn it and to be prepared to recite the words. During the intake process, she learned extensive history of many skilled black women of the sorority and more. This led her to seek out opportunities to research historical events and accomplishments of blacks and women, which has became the enjoyment of her life. She enjoys sharing her findings with her children, granddaughters and those with an ear to hear.

The National Council of Negro, Inc. has given Gwen tasks to perform which call for networking and research which will magnify her talent and skill. As a member of the National Council of Negro Women, she is also a member of the North Ohio Life Members Guild. The guild's purpose is to present the funds raised at the conference for national projects. The national conference is held in Washington DC during odd years, such as 2005 and 2009. The North Ohio Life Members Guild opts to have their fundraiser the same year as the conference. A few years back, the guild was brainstorming ideas on ways to raise funds for national projects. Many ideas were put on the table. Gwen recommended having high tea, as a result of attending high tea overseas. The only other person who had experienced high tea was the state convenor, Gloria Chapmon. After educating the guild members as to what a high tea is, with its simplicity, elegance and femininity with women adorned with hats and gloves to complete their attire, it was well accepted and has been a success.

In preparation for the 2009 high tea, the discussion of location was being addressed at a guild meeting. Gloria Chapmon, mentioned Phillis Wheatley Association because it had just been refurnished. Gwen knew that many churches, groups and organizations, churches donate to Phillis Wheatley Association and she had a personal relationship with the place as a child, leading her older and younger brothers there to play, so it delighted her to plan the fundraiser there. She knew it was going to be a mission because of the location. Many had forgot where they came from. For Gwen, "if you do not know where you come how can you move forward and leave no child behind." Once again, the members had to be educated about the history of Phillis Wheatley, Jane Edna Hunter, the Phillis Wheatley Association, and its relationship with the National Council Women and other organizations at weekly planning meetings in order to make the event a success.

Hosting the high tea at Phillis Wheatley Association is giving back to the venue which has so richly been the gateway for women migrating from the south, youth camps, bridge ways for churches, Job Corps, civic, community, social events and more in the black community. After several planning meetings, some members were still reluctant. There were concerns about the location and modern conveniences such as air conditioning, the restroom facilities and handicap accessibility. However, many of the members took it upon themselves to go and inquire about the facility.

Sleeping on ideas and thoughts plays a major part in Gwen's life when it comes to preparing for events and facing challenges. Many times she felt like her mother was instructing her not to go to Phillis Wheatley Association because it was for bad girls, so she became even more insistent about this fundraising location. She wanted to locate those women who lived at Phillis Wheatley Association, those "bad girls" according to my mother. At an Eta Phi Beta Sorority meeting, she asked one of fellow sorors about her idea, a sister who is also in the guild and was unknowingly to Gwen a former resident of Phillis Wheatley Association (Charlotte Taylor-WVa). She thought that would be a good idea, then mentioned a couple others in the sorority who also lived there. The sorors were Ella Doss (Tx) and Anna Patton (WVa-guild member). The three were ecstatic and began to provide Gwen with names of other women who had lived there.

Gwen made a presentation to the members attending the planning meeting about honoring the "dears of Phillis Wheatley Association" at the event. The sounds in the place were women of little faith but this did not deter her. Instead, she contacted the local newspapers, churches, civic community and other organizations seeking the former residents to be honored by the National Council of Negro Women- North Ohio Life Members Guild. With the names given to her by the three Eta Phi Beta and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorors, a total of 33 "dears" of the Historical Phillis Wheatley Association were announced.

The "dears" of Phillis Wheatley Association received 8 proclamations including all levels of the government. They also received a PWA pen and a purple petunia, favorite flower of Jane Edna Hunter from the Phillis Wheatley Association. The life members wore yellow which was Jane Edna Hunter's favorite color. Job Corps, Peter Claver and Gwen's granddaughters served as hostesses.

This project has really sparked Gwen's interest in furthering her knowledge about more accomplishments and tireless effort of women and men of color.