THREE (EXTRA)ORDINARY WOMEN

Born in poverty and raised in the projects,  Pearlette's home environment was riddled with alcoholism, mental illness and domestic violence. Due to the trauma, Pearlette fled her parents’ home when she was 15 years old and moved in with an older brother. Within twelve months she was pregnant, married and a high school dropout. Tragically, after living four short months Pearlette’s baby girl, ChaviElle, died of acute bronchial pneumonia. Devastated by her daughter’s death, she channeled her heartbreak into studying. First obtaining her GED, she applied and was accepted into college, then law school – becoming the first in her family to graduate from both.

During her 20s, Pearlette was a single mom who worked three jobs at a time just to make ends meet. The opportunities in these roles –serving as a rape crisis counselor and supporting women and their children in various domestic violence shelters — allowed her the opportunity to uplift women. These early career choices motivated Pearlette to go to law school. As a law student, she had the privilege of advocating for women as an intern with the ACLU’s Women’s Rights Project which was founded by US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Graduating in 1995, she dreamt of changing the laws and systems that disproportionately impacted women.

After practicing law for 11 years, Pearlette went back to school and obtained a doctorate degree in psychology. She has raised two daughters, ages 27 and 36, while globetrotting around the world—having visited the seven continents and more than 70 countries. 

Tammy’s potential for conquering Kilimanjaro was forged early in life through tragedy.  At the tender age of 6, Tammy witnessed the murder of her beloved mother by a stalker. After losing her mother and receiving no mental health support, Tammy was left to find ways to cope with her trauma. 

Further exacerbating her childhood distress, Tammy and her two sisters were bounced from one family member to the next. Eventually they were sent to live with their father and stepmother. At the age 16, Tammy and her siblings were uprooted again. This time, the family moved across country from Youngstown, Ohio to San Diego, California.

Through her childhood trauma, Tammy developed true grit and learned how to turn life challenges into life affirming opportunities for growth and learning. She put herself through college and set her aims even higher. 

Tammy earned a Master’s of Science degree in Business Administration (MBA)/Marketing. During the next 20 years she would help Fortune 500 companies develop their brands. The fierce courage and determination Tammy developed as a child has helped transform her into a fierce community activist and avid scuba diver who travels the world studying and advocating for the natural world.

Terry was born in Ramallah (Palestine) just north of Jerusalem where she and her family lived under the Israeli occupation.  At a young age Terry found her voice and spoke out against the inhumanity she witnessed. 

Because of her outspoken nature on social justice issues, Terry’s parents feared for her young life, and at the age of 14 sent her to live with relatives in America. Coerced by family into quitting school in the 10th grade, Terry returned when she was 18 and graduated with a high school diploma at the age of 21. She worked three jobs for 12 years to support herself and her family while she attended college at night. Eventually, Terry graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelors of Arts degree in Public Administration.

Committed to making a difference in her community, Terry went on to become an Assistant County Executive for Wayne, County, Michigan, Vice President of Development at the Detroit Medical Center and President of the American Federation of Ramallah-Palestine. Currently, she helps nonprofit organizations with business development and strategic planning. 

This 66-year-old woman walks 10 miles per day when she’s not contributing to her community or traveling the world. She has been married for more than twenty years to Bob Morris, who is of Jewish descent. Currently, Terry is barred from entering Israel—but travels the world extensively.