On February 11, 2008 W.E.A.N. Executive Director Janice Jackson was one of five women winning a casting call by Ebony Magazine who was hosting a contest for Queen Latifah’s new line of CoverGirl make-up for African American women entitled “Every Woman Is A Queen.” Queen Latifah wanted to use ordinary women who have overcome major challenges.

Janice had to submit an essay and answer the question “Why do I think I was a Queen?”  She told of how at the age of 24 she was hit by a car and left a wheelchair user and how the medical doctors told her that the only thing that she would be able to do is move her shoulders. Janice further spoke of how some twenty-three years later, she is not only moving physically, but is also moving mountains of negative stereotypes.

She has changed the face of disABILITY. One that says she is beautiful, strong, and successful. She also shared that she is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Baltimore and the Founder and Executive Director of a non-profit mentoring program entitled Women Embracing Abilities Now (W.E.A.N.). W.E.A.N. empowers women with dis-ABILITIES and help them realize that they are women first and that their disABILITIES are just a part of who they are.

Out of 4800 entries from around the country Queen Latifah and a team of judges embraced Janice's story and selected her as a CoverGirl contest winner. This selection is history making. Since its introduction in 1961, CoverGirl has never used a woman with disABILITY to represent their product. She will appear in the June 2008 issue of Ebony magazine. Janice will be featured on Lifetime TV starting May 2008 and will run through July 2008.

Media:



Women Embracing
Abilities Now
     W.E.A.N.'s  2010 "Queen For The Day" Huge Success!

W.E.A.N.'s 4th annual Queen For A Day event "pampered" over 25 women in wheelchairs as well as some women with other disABILITY who were attending the 2009 Women's Expo at the Community College of Baltimore - Catonsville campus. In attendance were many volunteers from the community who did the pampering as well as family and friends of W.E.A.N. members.  Services rendered were hair styling, make-up, nails, and even massages.

The W.E.A.N. Queens had an opportunity to show case their inner and outter beauty as they were crowned and sashed.

A special thanks go out to all of the volunteers, board members, mentors, and Catonsville Community College for making "The Queen For A Day" event a hugh success. Love, Janice.




Photo Highlights
    W.E.A.N. QUEENS
     QUEEN KEYONNA
                QUEEN SHARON
    QUEEN CATHY
                            QUEEN KELSEY
                            QUEEN WANDA
               QUEEN ALEXANDER
    QUEEN SHELIA
                             QUEEN DEBRA
QUEEN HAYLEY     
MS. WHEELCHAIR MARYLAND 2009

     QUEEN KATINA
            QUEEN TWIGGY
                                       QUEEN
Click here to add text.
"EVERY WOMAN IS A QUEEN"
                    2010
QUEEN FOR A DAY EVENT