Monrovia – On Sunday, March 30, 2025, Cllr. Moriah Yeakula-Korkpor, in collaboration with the distinguished ladies of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. – Delta Iota Zeta Chapter, hosted the highly anticipated third annual The Fireside event at the Royal Hotel in Monrovia, Liberia. The Fireside is a powerful platform that brings together women from all walks of life to celebrate their achievements, inspire one another, spark dialogue around the future of women in leadership and honor our unsung sheroes.
The Fireside, a brainchild of its Curator, Cllr. Yeakula-Korpor draws inspiration from the age-old tradition of women in the village gathering around a fire to share wisdom, offer guidance, and support one another. This concept aligns beautifully with Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc.’s mission to uplift, empower, and encourage women to reach their fullest potential for which Cllr. Yeakula-Korpor is a member. The event also served as the closing celebration for International Women’s Day and Finer Womanhood Month, a time to honor the values of Scholarship, Service, Sisterhood, and Finer Womanhood, which are the cornerstones of the sorority’s work .
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. is a community-conscious, action-oriented organization founded on the ideals of excellence and service, with chapters worldwide, including the Delta Iota Zeta chapter in Liberia. This chapter has been impacting Liberia since 1948 and continues to demonstrate its commitment to these ideals, celebrating and promoting the leadership of women across the country.
The Fireside event brought together women from diverse backgrounds to engage in networking, share experiences, transfer knowledge, and uplift one another. The invite-only event was designed as a safe space where women could speak freely about their journeys, challenges, and triumphs. Young women from public and private high schools and universities were invited to attend, creating an opportunity for them to interact with trailblazing leaders and gain inspiration for their own futures.
This year’s event honored several extraordinary women who have exemplified excellence, integrity, and a commitment to serving their communities but are either long forgotten or not given the recognition they deserve.. This year’s Fireside Unsung “Sheroes” honorees included Madam Sombo Izeta Wesley– for her contributions in Sports as the first female President of the Liberia Football Association and the only woman to lead a football association in the world, Hon. Grace Minor– the first female Protempore of the Liberian Senate and a champion in the senate for the establishment of the Ministry of Gender in 1998, and Madam Viola Lavelah Smith – midwife of over three decades for her contributions in Midwifery and Maternal Health, and the brain behind Ma-Vee Maternal Center, providing care to thousands of pregnant women in Liberia.
The Delta Iota Zeta chapter also presented prestigious awards to the following trailblazing women: Mother Susana Lumei – Woman of Excellence Award 2024; Honorable Sara Beysolow Nyanti – Minister of Foreign Affairs, Woman of Excellence Award 2025; Benita Urey – Young Woman Excellence Award 2025; Alphia Kemokai – Young Woman of Excellence Award 2024; and Soror Freda Koomson – Finer Woman of the Year Award 2025. These outstanding women were recognized for their contributions to their fields and their dedication to empowering others.
In addition, the Fireside Chat, the component where women leaders share their stories of challenge and success in their respective professions,had incredible panelists to include : Brenda Brewer Moore (Our Woman in Non-profit Organizations), Lovetta Bailey Sendolo (Woman in Entrepreneurship), and Jodie Seton (Women in Sports Management) along with Zeta’s Women of Excellence Awardees. Their leadership in their respective fields, continues to inspire a new generation of women to embrace their own potential and step into positions of power.
The Fireside event was not just a celebration of women, but a testament to the power of women supporting women. By collaborating with women-owned and women-led businesses, the event highlighted the importance of lifting each other up and creating spaces where women can thrive. When women uplift women, we all shine brighter.
The Fireside intends to remain a well-curated, intimate space of about 50 invitees to ensure that it is a safe space for diverse women of inter-generations. Every year a different group of women and students will be invited to share in this experience.
About Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. Founded in 1920 at Howard University, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. is a community-conscious, action-oriented organization committed to fostering the ideals of Scholarship, Service, Sisterhood, and Finer Womanhood. With chapters across the world, Zeta Phi Beta has been a leader in social action and has been making impactful contributions to society for over a century.
Discussion about this post