Alabama State Rep. Rolanda Hollis to Honor WIT Monarchs at Fifth Annual WIT Mother-Daughter Brunch
Updated: Jan 6
Alabama State Rep. Rolanda Hollis, Chairwoman of Women in Training, Inc., has announced the Fifth Annual WIT Mother-Daughter Brunch as Alabama's premier Women's History Month celebration. The event will take place on Saturday, March 7, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel and Spa at the Convention Center.
The event attire is all white.
Rep. Hollis will officially induct the fifth grade Junior Monarchs and sixth through 12th grade Monarchs into the WIT Leadership Development Academy.
Mrs. Sandra Whatley-Washington, Women in Training, Inc. Board Member and Development Chairwoman, is the lead fundraiser for the Brunch which funds the WITKITS Campaign that provides menstrual, dental and hygiene supplies to underserved families, as well as the WIT Leadership Development Academy for middle and high school girls and young women.
The distinguished Chairwomen for the Fifth Annual WIT Mother-Daughter Brunch are Mrs. Washington, along with Mrs. Serena Grant-Jackson; Mimi Johnson, EdD.; Mrs. Sonja Val McCarden; Celeste Reese, MD; Pamela Tuck, MD; Denise Vaughn, PhD; and Mrs. Sandra Whatley-Washington.
Serena Grant-Jackson Dr. Mimi Johnson Sonja Val McCarden Dr. Celeste Reese Dr. Pamela Tuck Dr. Denise Vaughn
The committee is planning an intimate, heartwarming celebration of the unity of women and girls.
"We are celebrating all women and girls as the Mothers and Daughters of Creation," said Oloye Adeyela Bennett, WIT President and CEO.
"Everyone is welcomed to celebrate womanhood, including aunties and nieces, grandmothers and granddaughters, biological sisters, sorority sisters, spiritual sisters, friends, mentors and mentees, godmothers and goddaughters, cousins, and of course mothers and daughters. The men and boys who love and honor us are also welcomed!"Oloye Bennett continued.
The WIT Mother-Daughter Brunch raises funds to support the WITKITS Campaign to help end period poverty, as well as the Monarchs in the WIT Leadership Development Academy.
"One in four girls and young women living in the United States skip school or miss work because they cannot afford sanitary pads or tampons to stay healthy and clean during their period," Oloye Bennett said.
"To alleviate period poverty, Women in Training, Inc. volunteers provide donations of WITKITS — canvas bags full of feminine hygiene products — to at-risk girls and young women. WIT also provides educational information programs about menstruation for girls and publishes the brochure, The WIT Guide to the Menstrual Cycle,” she continued.
The Women in Training, Inc. Board of Directors presented Ms. Whatley-Washington with President Joseph Biden's Presidential Volunteer Service Award at the Fourth Annual WIT Mother-Daughter Brunch in March 2025. Please view Mrs. Washington discussing the award on WAKA-TV.
The WIT Board also presented the following awards at the WIT Mother-Daughter Brunch in 2025:
WIT COUPLE OF EXCELLENCE: The Honorable Monet Gaines and The Honorable Judge J.R. Gaines
WIT WOMAN OF EXCELLENCE IN MEDICINE: Dr. Burnestine Taylor
WIT MAN OF EXCELLENCE IN LAW: The Honorable J.C. Love
WIT PARTNERS IN FAITH: First United Methodist Church
WIT PARTNERS IN FAITH: Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church
WIT IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIRWOMAN: Dr. LaToya Clark
WIT LEADERSHIP VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR: Dr. Nandini Ramroop
WIT BOARD MEMBER OF THE YEAR: Elizabeth Johnson-Sellers
WIT COUPLE OF EXCELLENCE: The Honorable Monet Gaines and The Honorable Judge J.R. Gaines WIT WOMAN OF EXCELLENCE IN MEDICINE: Dr. Burnestine Taylor WIT MAN OF EXCELLENCE IN LAW: The Honorable J.C. Love WIT PARTNERS IN FAITH: First United Methodist Church WIT PARTNERS IN FAITH: Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church Dr. Crystal Reese accepted the award on behalf of Dr. LaToya Clark. WIT LEADERSHIP VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR: Dr. Nandini Ramroop WIT BOARD MEMBER OF THE YEAR: Elizabeth Johnson-Sellers
CNN Heroes honored WIT's teenage co-founders, Brooke and Breanna Bennett, as CNN Heroes Young Wonders in 2024 in recognition of their menstrual equity work with Women in Training, Inc. Please watch the segment HERE.
The WIT Leadership Development Academy consists of ACT tutoring, sacred menstrual education, experiential learning opportunities and financial literacy training for 5th through 12th grade young leaders, who are affectionately called WIT Monarchs.
Since its founding six years ago in July 2019, Women in Training, Inc. has accomplished the following monumental feats:
Advocated for the unanimous passage of Rep. Hollis' HB 50 law that allocates $400,000 annually to the Alabama Department of Education to provide menstrual supplies for more than 56,000 girls and young women in Title I public schools, from Grades 5 through 12. Initially, in 2022, Rep. Hollis' "Period Poverty Bill" provided $200,000 for the "Feminine Hygiene Grants Program;" however, Rep. Hollis successfully advocated for her legislative colleagues to double the funding in 2024. Alabama became only the seventh state in the nation to provide funding for menstrual supplies in public schools.
Donate WITKITS of menstrual, dental and hygiene supplies to girls and women. WIT continues to distribute WITKITS to organizations that support girls and underserved women. To date, Women in Training, Inc. has donated WITKITS to more than 30,000 families in Alabama; Washington, D.C.; Florida; New Orleans; Maryland; and Rock Sound, Eleuthera, in The Bahamas.
Women in Training, Inc. volunteers facilitate the WIT Menstrual Health Education Program to demystify menstruation for girls and young women, and to help them become knowledgeable about and comfortable in their own bodies. Women in Training, Inc. also publishes The WIT Guide to Menstrual Hygiene educational brochure.
Advocated for the unanimous passage of Rep. Neil Rafferty's HB 152 "Tampon Tax" law that removes the state sales tax on menstrual supplies, as well as baby formula, diapers, breast pumps and maternity clothing.
Manage the Monarchs in the WIT Leadership Development Academy for middle and high school young women. To date, 15 young women of a variety of ethnic backgrounds have graduated from the program and enrolled in university.
To sponsor the Fifth Annual WIT Mother-Daughter Brunch, or purchase a table, individual tickets, or an advertisement for the souvenir magazine, please click the pink button below.
This brunch sounds like such a meaningful event, and the work they do for menstrual equity is truly inspiring. I even used a free ai image generator to make a poster for it.
This is such an inspiring way to celebrate Women’s History Month! Honoring the next generation of leaders while addressing real needs like period poverty is exactly what community empowerment looks like. The all-white attire will make for a beautiful, unified sight. Wishing everyone a memorable brunch — and if you’re designing any flyers or graphics for the event, this gradient generator could add a polished touch.
What a wonderful way to celebrate Women’s History Month! Honoring the next generation of leaders while supporting such an important cause is truly inspiring. This event sounds like a beautiful blend of empowerment and community—wishing everyone a memorable brunch. 🌸 And if you’re looking for another way to pass the time, here’s a fun little distraction: fish eat fish!
This is such a meaningful event—love that they’re celebrating Women’s History Month while addressing period poverty and empowering young leaders. The all-white dress code sounds elegant too. Definitely feels like a brighter side of the internet compared to cursed images.
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