Women Of Purpose: Building Strength Through Service

In every community, there are leaders who rise with compassion, dedication and vision. Women of Purpose is an organization that has been serving the campus of Langston for over 10 years. Their mission is to embrace and celebrate the individuality and diversity of strong, successful and educated women. They have been a major pillar in the Langston community and have been helping people in the entire state of Oklahoma.

To gain a deeper perspective, I asked members of the organization why they chose to join the organization and what the mission means to them personally. Each response reflected a deep commitment to service, whether inspired by personal experience, the desire to help others, or a passion for uplifting the committee.

I also spoke with a new initiate, asking why she chose to join the organization and what the experience meant to her. In her own words, she described why she wanted to join the organization and help her community. Together, these voices revealed an organization of strength, the bible of seasoned leaders, and the passion of its newest members.

First, I spoke with second vice president ZaCaaron Williams, a junior elementary education major from McAlaster, Oklahoma. She said, “I was inspired to join WOP because I wanted to surround myself with like-minded people who are focused on leadership, service, and personal growth, and I’ve valued spaces that can uplift and mentor one another.”

Williams also said, “Women of Purpose is about creating a supportive and inclusive space where every woman feels valued for who she is.”

I asked her what her favorite experience was since joining Women of Purpose, and she said, “Pie a WOP event. It was such a fun way to engage with students on campus while also fundraising for our org.”

I also spoke with the third vice President, Miah Dansbery, a senior psychology major from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Dansberry said she wanted to join Women of Purpose because “I wanted to become a more well-rounded woman, and I wanted to gain a lot of skills.”

When describing the mission of Women of Purpose, she said, “it is to nurture women who want to serve the community, want to become leaders, who want to be a good sister, friend, or mothers. I would say the mission is to serve the community and providing things for the community and the organization members.”

Dansbury reflected on the legacy she wants Women of Purpose to leave when she graduates, stating, “I hope that it leaves what we’ve been pushing for, just being a representation of strong women who come together and provide things for the community that are significant.”

As third vice president, I asked Dansbery what I should say to anyone interested in joining, she said “I would tell them to come to the informational, I would ask them first what they like, what they’re interested in, and tell them that there’s a place for everyone in Woman of Purpose. You don’t have to be this outgoing people person and be very talkative and have a lot of friends to be in Women of Purpose. There’s a lot of girls who do things behind the scenes that we provide for our community, so I always tells girl that there’s room for everyone.”

Lastly, I spoke with Desiree Monks, a new initiate who is a nursing major from Norman, Oklahoma. She shared her thoughts on why she wanted to join the group:

“I joined Women of Purpose for the long-lasting sisterhood connection. I wanted to be involved in campus organizations and step out of my comfort zone.”

Monks highlighted the mission of Women of Purpose, saying that “they’re very community oriented, they are very based on supporting each other and women as far as communities in general…I’m interested in the community service work that they have planned, with giving back to food pantries and everything.”

When asked what drew her into wanting to be a woman of purpose, Monks said, “I was excited for their big sister little sister program because I don’t have any siblings, and being able to connect with their community service, I am excited to be a part of.”

The testimonies shared by the executive committee and the new initiative show that Women of Purpose is more than just a service organization. It is a family united by a shared mission. Through leadership, active membership, and a willingness to lend a hand, each member strengthens the organization and its community. Their work serves as a reminder that true purpose is not just found in what we achieve, but in how we uplift others.