Welcome to the Wake Up Everybody Virtual Community!
Â
Where We Choose to Awaken, Transform and Ascend
Â
Click Here to RegisterChoose to Awaken with the WUE Nation!
On March 29, 2020, Spirit of A Woman, LLC, launched the Wake Up Everybody (WUE) Virtual series in partnership with community healers, thought leaders, coaches, medical and mental health professionals, educators and artists from across the nation. WUE was created to provide community members, from across the country and abroad, with an opportunity to keep their mental, emotional, physical and spiritual well beings balanced and whole as they navigated the impact of the devastating impact of the COVID-19 global health crisis.Â
WUE was originally designed as a 30 day offering that would provide “temporary” covering and support for participants until the quarantine period ended, however, the producers and community members quickly realized that the WUE journey would last much longer than they originally anticipated.Â
The series was created by Shawnee Benton Gibson, CEO, of Spirit of A Woman (SOW) Leadership Development Institute, who was inspired by the lyrics of the song “Wake Up Everybody” by Teddy Pendergrass, Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes. The song, which was popular in the 70s, speaks of issues that we are still glaringly relevant today; (racism, war, poverty, sickness, political strife, corruption, etc). The WUE Virtual series was designed to “WAKE UP” the masses by providing empowering messaging, holistic healing tools, guidance for daily living and strategies for addressing the injustices, pain and imbalance that exists in the world.Â
All of the “Wake Up Everybody” sessions take place 5 days a week (every Sunday, Tuesday, & Thursday from 7:00am - 8:30am EST and every Monday and Wednesday from 7:00am -7:30am EST.) over Zoom and Facebook Live. Every session is facilitated by powerful and prolific presenters from various backgrounds and areas of discipline. Each facilitator guides participants through an interactive experience that fosters education, conversation, new insights, empowerment and expansion.Â
The WUE Family invites you to join our phenomenal community so that you can share, heal and grow as part of the collective. You are free to join as a community participant, as a session facilitator and/or a member of the admin team to support the magic that happens behind the scenes. We hope to hear from you.Â
Â
Â
Â
Â
Show WUE Some LOVE!
Â
Â
The Wake Up Everybody community space was created for us, by us — rooted in love, cultural wisdom, collective liberation, and healing. Our volunteer team and facilitators work diligently, leading from the kindness of their hearts. They share their gifts, talents, lived experiences, expertise, and — most importantly — their time for the healing and upliftment of our community.
We invite our community to pour back into this exchange of energy through love offerings and donations that help sustain and further enhance the Wake Up Everybody experience for all. We recognize that time is currency, and our volunteers and facilitators generously offer their time, energy, and wisdom to bring each session to life in service of collective healing.
Love offerings are not payments for a service. They are sacred contributions toward sustaining the ecosystem we call Wake Up Everybody (WUE) — an ongoing exchange rooted in reciprocity, care, and community.
We believe that money is energy — as our host, Shawnee Benton Gibson, reminds us:
M.O.N.E.Y. — My Own Energy Yields.
What we give circulates.
What we invest grows.
When we give from a place of gratitude and reciprocity, we are not simply transferring dollars. We are honoring labor. We are valuing time. We are choosing to sustain what sustains us.
Your offering helps us:
-
Honor the time, preparation, and emotional labor of our facilitators
-
Maintain the platforms that allow us to gather live
-
Cover the costs of text messaging systems, email communications, and community updates
-
Invest in new tools and advancements that help us grow
-
Ensure this space remains accessible and community-centered
When you give, you are not just supporting a session. You are strengthening a movement. You are helping us maintain integrity, independence, and sustainability without relying solely on external funding or institutions.
Wake Up exists because we choose to sustain it together.
This is reciprocity.
This is community economics.
This is love in action. đź’›
Â
Upcoming Facilitators
Â
Sunday, September 27th
"From Crisis to Calling"
 Facilitated By: Crystina Hughes
Join maternal health advocate, nurse, and certified birth doula Crystina Hughes for an inspiring session that explores how life’s most challenging moments can spark powerful advocacy and lasting change. Drawing from her own lived experience with maternal health complications, Crystina shares her personal journey from crisis to purpose, a path that led her to found Diamonds for Doulas and help reshape maternal care across Alabama. With over 15 years of combined healthcare experience as an EMT, licensed practical nurse, and Medicaid advisory leader, she brings a vital, multi-faceted perspective on reproductive justice and community support. Whether you are a healthcare professional, birthing person, or advocate, this session offers a profound reflection on turning adversity into meaningful impact.
Â
 Monday, September 28th
"1st Brooklyn Brides' March"
 Facilitated By: Chris Peña
Join activist Chris Peña for a reflective look at organizing and participating in the historic inaugural Brooklyn edition of the annual September 26 march against domestic violence. Born at 27 weeks gestation in Harlem in 1989 and raised by three distinct generations of Dominican elders, the Lost, Traditional, and Silent Generations, Peña bridges deep family legacy with community organizing to honor the memory of Gladys Ricart, raise awareness around gender-based violence, and highlight the power of grassroots advocacy.
Tuesday, September 29th
"The Comfort of Coaching: Creating the Conditions for People to Grow"
 Facilitated By: Tirza Barnes & Mahdi Davenport
Join Tirza and Mahdi for an inspiring workshop that redefines leadership. What if people don’t need more pressure to grow, but a safer place to grow? Discover how to move beyond basic correction to true human development by building psychological safety, establishing clear boundaries, and leading conversations where team members feel seen, heard, valued, and empowered to take ownership of their success.
Wednesday, September 30th
"Retirement Series"
 Facilitated By: Valerie Lyons
Join author and leadership coach Valerie J. Lyons for Part 3 of our Retirement Series as we dive deep into actionable strategies for reshaping our relationship with life’s major transitions. Together, we will examine practical tools for navigating personal and professional shifts with curiosity, courage, and self-compassion, cultivating environments where individuals can move beyond survival to actively thrive, lead, and shape their next chapter with purpose.
Â
Thursday, October 1st
"The Comfort of Coaching: Creating the Conditions for People to Grow Part 2"
 Facilitated By: Tirza Barnes and Mahdi Davenport
Join executive coach Tirza Barnes and leadership consultant Mahdi Davenport for Part 2 of The Comfort of Coaching, a powerful session on reshaping how we navigate authority, workplace dynamics, and interpersonal connection. You don’t need an official title to lead. If people look to you, depend on you, or are influenced by you, how you show up matters. Drawing on decades of combined expertise across the nonprofit, corporate, and social justice sectors, Tirza and Mahdi create a candid space to unpack the difference between pleasing and caring, address the unspoken expectations holding teams back, and share actionable strategies to help you lead with clarity, courage, and truth.