On March 20, 2024, I attended the State of Women Town Hall event hosted by State Senator Sarah Anthony at the Gier Community Center in Lansing, MI. The event promised to delve into crucial topics surrounding women’s business, education, and healthcare, and it certainly delivered an evening of empowerment, enlightenment, and a surprising personal connection.

The highlight of my evening was having the opportunity to network and connect with the panelists, State Senator Sarah Anthony, and other notable women from the Greater Lansing area.

As the event came to a close, my coworkers and I who were in attendance eagerly joined the line to meet the panelists and State Senator Sarah Anthony herself. Naturally, there was already quite a line of people waiting to do the same thing, so we hopped in line together and patiently waited our turn.

While waiting in line, my coworkers and I chit-chatted for a bit about wanting to take a picture with Sarah Anthony and what we might have to do with the donations collected for the Women’s Center. When we got to the front of the line, I was basically standing right next to Sarah Anthony as she was finishing her conversation with another woman. What happened next took me by surprise and left a lasting impression!

After Senator Anthony was done talking to the women she was speaking with, she turned towards me and my coworkers who jumped right into introducing themselves and me as representatives of the Women’s Center. She was excited to be speaking with us! As we each started to give our names, she looked me square in the face and confidently said, “It’s Slaughter, right?”

Her recognition of my name before I was even introduced caught me off guard in the best way possible. Shocked and kind of flattered, I replied, “Yep, that’s me! Desiree’ Slaughter, but I prefer Desi.”

She immediately asked, “Do you know Derrell Slaughter?” As she was asking it, I immediately knew where she was going. I replied, “No, I don’t, but I think we have been running in the same circles for years. I get asked about him often but I’ve never actually met him; He even worked at my last job before me and I got asked the same question when I started there!”

The exchange with Senator Anthony felt like a reintroduction, bridging our shared experiences and professional circles. Her acknowledgment was not only flattering but also a testament to her attention to detail and genuine interest in engaging with her community.

As I left the Gier Community Center that evening, I was filled with both insights and inspiration. I had a real-time example of the power of community engagement and the unexpected connections that can arise in the most meaningful of moments.

The State of Women Town Hall was not just an event—it was a catalyst for change and a celebration of progress, leaving attendees like myself eager to continue the journey towards a more equitable and inclusive future. In addition, I also got to personally connect with State Senator Sarah Anthony; she even accepted my Facebook friend request!

Read more about my experience attending the State of Women Town Hall event in the post below!