Video: Conference Uplifts, Inspires And Empowers Women

TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – Melony Armstrong likes to share her story of perseverance whenever she can.

“God planted a seed in my heart to braid hair,” she said.

Armstrong is owner of “Naturally Speaking Hair Care and Braiding Salon.” She spent years on a crusade to free hair braiders in Mississippi from bureaucratic regulations and has trained more than 100 women who now earn a living as natural hair braiders.

She was one of the speakers for the annual conference of “New Expectations for Women In Mississippi” or NEWMS.

The theme of the meeting was “Visions of Success.”

Armstrong said there are specific steps on the road to any dream or vision.

“What I did is I set a goal to become a professional hair braider. Then realize many times you will have barriers to your goals, or barriers to success, that’s normal, the key though is to persist until you succeed,” Armstrong said.

Bev Crossen is co owner of “Farmhouse,” a popular boutique in downtown Tupelo. She talked about entrepreneurial success.

Farmhouse opened in 2012 and Crossen said the journey has involved a lot of hard work. She says New Expectations for Women In Mississippi has been an important resource on her roadmap to success.

“I love this organization because it’s women empowering other women. You have mentors, you have new people just moving into town and together we can accomplish the things we want to accomplish,” Crossen said.

NEWMS focuses on four main areas; health, education, leadership and philanthropy.

NEWMS also hosts a ten week “Success Skills Class” early next year. For more information, go to www.newms.us