25 Women for 2023: Cindy Waymon's mentorship helps girls become 'stronger and wiser'
Living a life of service isn’t a choice for Cindy Jackson Waymon, but rather a calling. “Watching girls benefit from being in a sisterhood of support for one another, motivating and encouraging them to be the best version of themselves and embrace who they are, that is how I want to spend my time.”
It’s that kind of commitment to the betterment of others that led her daughter to nominate her as one of Tallahassee's 25 Women We Need to Know. It takes one to know one: her daughter, Amaya Waymon, was named as one of Tallahassee 5 Young Women to Watch in 2022.
Cindy arrived in Tallahassee from the small town of Jasper, Florida, in 1986 to attend Florida A&M University. After earning a Bachelors in Criminal Justice and a Masters in Criminal Justice Administration from Saint Leo University, she made Tallahassee her home.
She built a career in criminal justice as a parole analyst at the Florida Commission on Offender Review for over 25 years, and recently transitioned into a role with the Agency for Persons with Disabilities.
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But when the work day is done, Cindy goes into a different mode. “My greatest passion is working with youth, which is what I usually work on from the time I get off work until time to go to bed,” she says. She is the youth coordinator of Zeta Phi Beta Youth Auxiliaries Alpha Upsilon Zeta Chapter, dedicating her time to three groups of young women: the Pearlettes, Amicettes, and Archonettes. She also lends time to her daughter Amaya, assisting with her community service initiative, The Girl Flo Project.
“When I first became a youth advisor about 10 years ago, there were five girls participating. Now, there are over 60 girls between the three groups,” she says with pride. “My goal is to create a program that girls feel truly belongs to them and, and that their ownership in the program matters. I am inspired when I see the girls becoming stronger and wiser.”
Through Cindy’s mentorship, the youth in the Zeta Phi Beta Youth Auxiliaries have created awareness campaigns on important issues such as mental health, bullying, and resilience. In 2020, Cindy served as the State Youth Coordinator for the sorority. “It is important that we create a diverse program that is impactful for girls to grow into becoming resilient and persistent as they get older.”
She also treasures the opportunity to work with Amaya. “My daughter and I have done lots of community service events together over the years; it has always been a win-win,” she says. “We were able to connect with each other, as well as with others while giving back to the community. I desire to share and give to young girls the many things that I did not have growing up.”
Resources may have been in short supply when Cindy was growing up, but inspiration was not. “My mother has been a positive influence for me throughout my life. She and my father raised 11 children with an 8th grade education,” she shares. “We grew up on a farm and she was a self-made entrepreneur. No matter the storm, she was always positive. She taught me how to make and do more with less, be persistent, and never give up.”
Cindy carries on her legacy in her work today, saying, “Her philosophy was the golden rule, do unto others, and her priority was always family and making sacrifices for others.”
She encourages us to bloom where we are planted, as well. “Tallahassee is a hub of opportunities,” she says with a gentle voice that lends support. “Find your passion and make it blossom and bloom.”
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: 25 Women: Cindy Waymon encourages 'a sisterhood of support'
