RAISE YOUR OWN ROOF: Women celebrated during Odessa's SheCan
Mar. 8—A crowd of more than 320 gathered to celebrate International Women's Day Wednesday with a message of "we all have something to offer" from both local and national speakers.
The Odessa Chamber of Commerce event attracted a slightly larger crowd than last year at the Second Annual SheCan, which was presented by Sewell Ford at the Odessa Marriott Hotel & Conference Center.
Chamber President and CEO Renee Earls was pleased that the turnout was larger than last year and encouraged attendees to "bring a friend next year and to walk out engaged and inspired" to tackle life to do good in the community.
Emcee Tatum Hubbard carried that theme as she introduced speakers and led panel discussions on serving with heart and sharing your passion.
UTPB President Sandra Woodley started out the conference noting her non-traditional journey to the top spot leading the University of Texas Permian Basin as president for more than six years now. Woodley detailed her formative years in Weaver, Alabama, saying she wasn't a bad high school student but that she also wasn't a great one.
She described being a young working mother who felt the urge in her early 20s to do something about her education and life and how that led her to becoming a better student. She told the crowd "you don't have to be perfect but you have to be diligent and work harder."
She also encouraged the crowd to treat people well and to work on both intellect and work ethic. On working at UTPB, she said she has found her purpose. "This is my life's work. I love this community."
She also said she was encouraged by what she saw in the room. "Remember what you see in this room. Enjoy the journey and treat people well and with respect."
Keynote speaker Cara Brookins spoke about setting goals that are realistic while also aiming high.
Brookins is known for her family story of teamwork and perseverance. She and her four children built a 3,500 square foot home from the ground up just by watching YouTube videos. She is a sought after motivational speaker who shares her story of being a single mother with a messy life who took charge and built a home.
Her often humorous story touched on how she tackled the process of building a home from scratch without any training and only the YouTube videos to guide her and her four young children.
She told the crowd that setting goals and making your own motivation are the keys to success. "Raise your own roof," she told the crowd.
