A special Sisters Soulful Celebration of Women’s History will feature Dr. Tamika D. Mallory in conversation with Senator Ruth Hassell-Thompson, on Saturday, March 29 · 2 – 4 pm at First Baptist Church, located at 407 New Rochelle Road in Bronxville.
You can purchase tickets by clicking on this link. If you cannot make it in person, you can still purchase this powerful book here. #SupportBlackAuthors
I Lived to Tell the Story: Love, Legacy, and Resilience
“I Lived to Tell the Story: Love, Legacy, and Resilience by Dr. Mallory is a raw, heartfelt memoir of perseverance, redemption, and triumph from Tamika D. Mallory, a trailblazing social justice leader, activist, and co-founder of the Women’s March. It takes readers beyond the headlines and podiums, offering an unfiltered look at the moments that shaped her—not just as an activist but as a woman navigating love, loss, and self-discovery. From her early days as the daughter of civil rights organizers in Harlem to her battles with the personal pain that many never imagined—the trauma of sexual assault, the pressures of motherhood, the fallout of public scrutiny, and the fight to reclaim her peace—this is Tamika as the world has never seen her before. A follow-up to her “masterful” (Marc Lamont Hill) debut, State of Emergency, which features a foreword by Angela Davis, confronted the murders of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd; this memoir ventures deeper into her journey. Tamika shares untold stories of resilience, courage, and internal struggles while waging war against injustice in America. At its core, I Lived to Tell the Story is not just about activism; it’s about what happens after the smoke clears. It’s about healing, survival, and the power of truth to bring us closer to ourselves and one another. This isn’t the story you think you know—it’s the one you’ve been waiting for.
Ruth Hassell-Thompson
Ruth Hassell-Thompson, appointed in 2016 as Special Advisor for Policy and Community Affairs for New York State Homes and Community Renewal, was first elected to the New York State Senate in 2000, where she brought years of public service and community involvement to her post as the Senator of the 36th Senatorial District, representing parts of the Bronx and Westchester Counties during her more than 15-year tenure. Ms. Hassell-Thompson has served on the New York State Cannabis Advisory Board and is currently the Chair of the Diversity Board for the School Construction Authority for the City of New York. During her tenure in the Senate, Ms. Hassell-Thompson served on the following standing committees: Judiciary (Ranking); Crime, Crime Victims, and Corrections (Chair and Ranking); Commerce, Economic Development & Small Business; Alcohol and Substance Abuse; Health; Finance; Rules; Chairwoman, Conference of Black Senators; Chairwoman, Taskforce on Domestic Violence; Taskforce on MWBE. Ms. Hassell-Thompson also chaired the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic, and Asian Caucus.
Ms. Hassell-Thompson is the recipient of three Honorary Doctorate degrees: College of New Rochelle, Doctor of Humane Letters; Mercy College, Doctor of Humane Letters; and Eastern Theological Consortium, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Christ Theological Seminary, Doctor of Humanities. She is an alumna of Bronx Community College. In May 2023, Ms. Hassell-Thompson founded Third Act Development Consultants LLC, a consulting firm specializing in strategic planning, resource optimization, and policy formulation, that provides tailored solutions to meet the client’s unique needs. In December 2023, Ms. Hassell-Thompson retired as Special Advisor for Policy and Community Affairs at the Governor’s office and NYS Homes and Community Renewal. Ms. Hassell-Thompson is the proud mother of two daughters, the doting grandmother of two grandchildren, and a devoted great-grandmother of one great-grandson.
The Collaborators of Sisters Soulful Converstation, Celebration, Book-Talk- Experience, in formation: Greater Hudson Valley (NY) Chapter The Links, Incorporated and Westchester County (NY) Chapter The Links, Incorporated & Friends: Felita Granby, Honorable Nichelle A. Johnson, Dawn Hankin, Pamela Wheeler, Esq., NAACP, New Rochelle. Food for the soul will be catered by SuggarPlums Restaurant of New Rochelle.
