Ms. Francetta McCray-Hairston

1st District NGO Liaison

 Presiding Prelate - Bishop Julius H. McAllister

Episcopal Supervisor - Mrs. Joan McAllister

Episcopal President - Mrs. Patricia Nira Smith

Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Western New York, New England, Philadelphia, and Bermuda

Areas of Focus

During the COVID pandemic the First District WMS was dedicated to embarking on a mission ensuring “no one was left behind” by eradicating poverty, realizing the human rights of all, achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls.

We focused on the 17 Sustainable Developmental Goals (SDG), the heart of a resolution called the  2030 Agenda. In partnership with UN Women, the WMS was dedicated to gender equality (SDG 5). We were involved in activities in observation of the International Day of the Girl 2020. “My voice, our equal future”, specifically spoke to exercising the right to vote in the 2020 elections

Achievements

We advocated for the ending of violence towards women and children, addressing the rise in intimate partner violence and human trafficking.Partnered with Bread for the World, writing letters to congress and lobbing on Capitol Hill raising issues of hunger  and poverty with the goal of building lasting relationships. We worked with other Bread members to persuade Congress to provide over 20 billion dollars to fund the international response of COVID pandemic. We joined the 65th Virtual Session of the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations, March 10 thru March 26, 2021. We participated in three pertinent parallel events:

           a. Violence Against Women in Politics

           b. Violence Against Women in the Public and Private Spheres

             : Measure It to End It

           c. Gender-based Violence in the Online World

Lastly, the First District hosted a Chat & Chew discussion on March 13, 2021, entitled Human Trafficking #StolenPeopleStolenDreams.

Action Items

Moving forward, we will continue to shine the light of God by advocating for human rights and an end to gender based violence. We will show love and concern amid acute heartbreak and pain. We were grateful for the love and support of former Supervisor Rev. Dr. Jessica Kendall Ingram and Bishop Gregory G.M. Ingram. We lovingly welcome Supervisor Mother Joan McAllister and Bishop Julius McAllister to the First District. To God Be the Glory!