WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH
The Ethel Beck Society
A Celebration of Women of African American Decent

PHYLLIS Y. NICHOLS

Retired President & CEO of the Knoxville Area Urban League

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ETHEL BECK SOCIETY 2025

Saturday. March 29. 2025

10AM | $35

Beck Cultural Exchange Center

YOU ARE WELCOME

PLEASE PLAN TO JOIN US

Register Now

2025 ETHEL BECK SOCIETY BRUNCH

10 AM | $35

Beck Cultural Exchange Center

The Ethel Beck Society  is named in honor of Ethel Benson Beck (1897-1970), the namesake of the Beck Cultural Exchange Center and an influential woman in Knoxville beginning in the 1920s.


The 2025 Ethel Beck Society Woman of the Year is PHYLLIS Y. NICHOLS, retired president and CEO of the Knoxville Area Urban League.  Guests will enjoy brunch, entertainment and a conversation with our special honoree. 


Rukiya Shani will render musical entertainment. Her latest release is "Love Like You."


The brunch will be catered by Allow Me Catering with Karen Hardin and guests can enjoy a refreshing mimosa.


Dress:

The primary color for the women of the Ethel Beck Society is yellow. This color represents warmth, sunshine, and positivity, which align with the society’s values. The women of the Ethel Beck Society exude enlightenment, and yellow is the color of choice. Guests are encouraged to dress in a classy brunch style and to include yellow in their attire.

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Brunch by Allow Me Catering

MENU

_____

Chicken & Waffles

Eggs

Shrimp and Grits 

Breakfast Potatoes

Sausage & Bacon 

Toast & Assorted Danishes

 Fruit 

Orange Juice / Coffee / Hot Tea

Mimosas

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Musical Entertainment

Rukiya Shani

Latest Release - "Love Like You"

Ethel Beck Society Brunch

Last Saturday in March, Annually

A Celebration of Women of African American Descent


The first annual Ethel Beck Society Brunch was held in March 2018. After the 2019 Ethel Beck Society Brunch, the event was halted in 2020 due to COVID-19. In March 2023, the annual Brunch was relaunched. Please mark your calendars and plan to join us for our 5th annual Ethel Beck Society Brunch on Saturday, March 29, 2025.

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EBS Through The Years

ETHEL BECK SOCIETY 2024

Saturday. March 30. 2024

10AM | $30

Beck Cultural Exchange Center

YOU ARE WELCOME

PLEASE PLAN TO JOIN US

2024 ETHEL BECK SOCIETY BRUNCH

10AM-NOON

Beck Cultural Exchange Center

The Ethel Beck Society is named in honor of Ethel Benson Beck (1897-1970), the namesake of the Beck Cultural Exchange Center and an influential woman in Knoxville during the 1920s and 1930s.


The 2024 Ethel Beck Society Honoree is City Councilwoman Gwen McKenzie. Guests will enjoy brunch with a conversation featuring Councilwoman Gwen McKenzie. 


Songtress and musician Julia Ball, along with Julia Battle, Julia Walker, and Sentra Weaver, will provide the music.


The brunch will be catered by Billie Rae’s BBQ Soul Food & Catering. Additionally, guests can enjoy a refreshing mimosa bar provided by Karen Hardin of Allow Me Catering.


Dress:

The primary color for the women of the Ethel Beck Society is yellow. This color represents warmth, sunshine, and positivity, which align with the society’s values. The women of the Ethel Beck Society exude enlightenment, and yellow is the color of choice. Guests are encouraged to dress in a classy brunch style and to include yellow in their attire.

ETHEL BECK SOCIETY 2023

Saturday. March 25. 2023

10AM | $25

Beck Cultural Exchange Center

Dress is classy with a touch of yellow.

2023 ETHEL BECK SOCIETY BRUNCH

Saturday, March 25, 2023

10AM-NOON

Beck Cultural

Exchange Center

The 2023 Ethel Beck Society Honoree is Ms. Paula King Booker. We will celebrate and honor, posthumously, our 2023 EBS Woman of the Year, Ms. Paula King Booker. Ms. Booker's advocacy work was instrumental in the case of Booker v. The Boeing Company, where she successfully challenged the Boeing Company for pay discrimination. This led to a decision by the Tennessee Supreme Court that established fair compensation practices, benefiting people to this day. The daughter of Ms. Booker, Imani Mfalme, an advocate for social justice, will join us. The Paula King Booker legacy lives on.

Yellow, the color for the Ethel Beck Society, serves as a symbol of the bright light still shining for the great women in our history, and the bright light that continues to shine for the great women of our future.

Women’s History Month is observed during the month of March as a celebration of women’s contributions to history, culture and society. The Ethel Beck Society is named in honor of Ethel Benson Beck, the Center’s namesake. The Ethel Beck Society is a brunch devoted to honoring the rich heritage and legacy of African American Women. All women are welcome - Let's celebrate together!

THE

ETHEL BECK SOCIETY

BRUNCH

IS BACK!

Ethel Beck Society Brunch

Buffet

************

MENU

Bacon, Shrimp, Fried Chicken Wings, Scrambled Eggs, Fried Potatoes & Onions, Grits, Seasonal Fruit, Pastries, Juice & Coffee


COCKTAIL

Bubbly Mimosa


The Ethel Beck Brunch

We are excited to host the return of this wonderful event once again. 

We will celebrate and honor, posthumously, our 2023 EBS Woman of the Year, Ms. Paula King Booker. Ms. Booker's advocacy work was instrumental in the case of Booker v. The Boeing Company, where she successfully challenged the Boeing Company for pay discrimination. This led to a decision by the Tennessee Supreme Court that established fair compensation practices, benefiting people to this day. The daughter of Ms. Booker, Imani Mfalme, an advocate for social justice, will join us. The Paula King Booker legacy lives on. This event will also feature a conversation with Dr. Kim Brooks, obstetrician/ gynecologist, minister and author.

Ethel BeckSociety Brunch 2019

In celebration of Women’s History Month Beck hosted its 2nd Annual Ethel Beck Society Brunch with two extraordinary women with a legacy of greatness,  Dr. Alpha Alexander and Dr. Cynthia Fleming 


DR. ALPHA ALEXANDER 

The second female recipient in history to receive the Olympic Shield Award. Alexander served for more than a decade on the US Olympic Committee Board of Directors.


DR. CYNTHIA FLEMING 

The first Black woman to earn a Ph.D. in history from Duke University. Fleming is one of the first two black women faculty members in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Tennessee.


Book Signing and Guest Authors included : Gloria “Glo” A. Redding, Dr. Carolyn Hodges & Dr. Olga Welch, and Dr. Regina Vincent-Williams.

Additional Special Guests: April Hardin - Turning Heads, Elder Natalia Perry - Fashion Stylist, and Dr. Eboni Winford - Health


Nikitia Thompson with Nikitia Thompson Realty serves as an annual sponsor and vital supporter for the event.  Beck Volunteer, Kristin Lane, is responsible for the beautiful photos.

Ethel Beck Society Brunch 2018

In celebration of Women’s History Month Beck hosted its 2nd Annual Ethel Beck Society Brunch with Lois Jean White.

LOIS JEAN WHITE is first African American President of the National PTA. Lois was inspiring, encouraging and a delight. She shared in an engaging conversation while attendees feasted on the meal and ate from her table of wisdom.

During the brunch, the ladies were thrilled when our own, Knoxville native, NIKKI GIOVANNI made a surprise live appearance on screen to greet the Society. It was a wonderful surprise and a special treat for all present. Nikki also greeted her dear friend, Ethel Morgan Smith, author of “From Whence Cometh My Help, The African American Community At Hollins College,” who traveled from Birmingham, Alabama to be a part of the Ethel Beck Society. Again, it was a special treat for all.

Book Signing and Guest Authors included: Vrondelia Chandler, Shirley Carr Clowney, and Robin Martin.

Nikitia Thompson with Nikitia Thompson Realty serves as an annual sponsor and vital supporter for the event. Beck Volunteer, Kristin Lane, is responsible for the beautiful photos.

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