More than 150 people attended the annual free community breakfast held Jan. 21 in celebration of the life of Martin Luther King Jr. and in recognition of the role women play in society.

Co-sponsored by the Bethlehem branch of the NAACP and the Bethlehem YWCA, and held at the Cathedral Church of the Nativity, the program included a panel of four women who spoke on the theme of “Reigniting the Dream: The Power of Women.”

In deciding on the theme, NAACP President Esther Lee said, “What intrigued us is that in the world today we forget about women. It is time we give attention to women and what they do.”

Speakers on the panel were retired BASD teacher Judy Lappen, local businesswoman Reacie Springer, B. Braun Medical executive Amanda Sutter, and Bethlehem City Councilwoman Olga Negron.

After commenting on the roadblocks she faced as a woman in the 1950s and 60s, that included lack of employment opportunities, wages, costs and availability of quality health care, child care and housing, Lappen concluded that bank loans, credit and insurance still are more difficult to get and afford for single women than for men.

In regard to sexual harassment and abuse, Lappen noted, “Thankfully, there are opportunities for some brave women to come before the courts with their own stories, including those of sexual harassment and abuse in the workplace, and domestic abuse. As these brave souls continue to break through barriers in our governing bodies, progress will be made.”

Commenting on the greatest single influence on who she is today, Springer said it was her upbringing. “I was brought up by proud, hardworking, land owning, family-oriented African-American parents from South Carolina. Their influence on me taught me that I had to compete, have a sense of self, be educated, have humility, work hard and know my Black history,”

Springer cited raising a family, lack of education and discrimination among the roadblocks that keep women from accomplishing their goals in life.

“Often it is more difficult for women to accomplish their life goals in comparison to men,” according to Sutter, who added, “because women take time out of their careers to have children and raise their families. Many times, they are faced with the choice of self and career or family. They are generally considered the primary caretaker of the family and therefore, get the calls to leave work when their child gets sick or in trouble at school, or their aging/ailing parent needs care.”

Noting what she has sacrificed to pursue her career, Sutter said, “I decided to make myself and my goals the priority, and put the socially acceptable norms of marriage and children on the back burner until I meet my own definition of ‘successful.’ This is not a decision or sacrifice men generally need to make.”