The Fayetteville Ladies Power Lunch is a quarterly event that brings local women together to inspire, educate and empower one another. Thursday, Aug. 9, don’t miss the third power lunch of the year, featuring keynote speaker Fayetteville Police Chief Gina Hawkins.

Like many women, Hawkins is intentional in her quest for a balanced life. “Maintaining balance is definitely the most difficult objective when you are living on purpose,” she said. “I believe people who are living on purpose have a passion for what they do and can get so focused they can begin to neglect themselves or taking care of what is truly important to their health – physically, emotionally and socially.”

Staying true to the spirit of the event, Hawkins will talk about the theme of the empowerment lunch – inspiring, educating, empowering and celebrating the lionesses of the community. “I will do my best to provide examples of each within my life experience and (will also talk about) the importance of relationships,” she said.

Hawkins took the helm of the Fayetteville Police Department in August 2017 after serving on the Atlanta, Georgia, police force for almost three decades. She received the We Are Clayton Magazine 2016 Living Legend Award and was awarded a place on Georgia’s 100 Most Powerful and Influential Award by Women Looking Ahead News in 2014.

She is a Peace Officer Standards Training-certified instructor and speaks Spanish as her second language. Hawkins is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police, the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives, the Hispanic  American Police Command Officers Association, Atlanta Metropol, Senior Management Institute for Police, the Police Executive Research Forum and the FBI National Academy Associates Georgia.

Hawkins considers her greatest accomplishments to be her service to God, her devotion to her family and friends, and her two daughters, Italia Danita-Hawkins Hines and Trinity Aminah-Kariamu Yabuku.

The power lunch starts at 10 a.m. with a shopportunity, which includes vendors as well as a wine bar and tasting. The luncheon and Hawkins’ talk follows from noon to 2 p.m. After the meal, attendees are invited to stay and shop until 3 p.m.

Vendors at this luncheon include Kids Peace; It Works; Rodan & Fields; Inspired Mache; Randall’s Engraving; Back 2 Eden; Jewels by Park Lane; Mary Kay Cosmetics; ShoMore  Photography; Paparazzi Jewelry; Picture of Health Thermography; Cookie Crafts 4 Crisis; LREEZ Decadent Desserts; Pure Romance with Dee; SeneGence; Christi Lowe Productions, LLC; The Next 56 Days; Girl Scouts of the Coastal Pines; Together As One Bridal Boutique; Trost Therapeutic Massage; Ja Le’Artworks; and Hand and Stone Massage and Facial Spa.

The luncheon takes place at the Ramada Plaza at Bordeaux. Visit www.fayettevilleladiespowerlunch.com or call 910-273-2820 to make your reservation. Tickets cost $35. A portion of the proceeds from the event will be donated to the Kidsville News Literacy and Education Foundation.