by Sydney Williams
For our first edition of The Jolt this year, we’re spotlighting the seismic shockwaves that a particularly influential sister and social activist has been sending through our greater California community. Born in San Francisco and raised in Riverside, this woman is a powerhouse in the realm of ethical event planning, fundraising, social networking and serving as the Vice President of Kingdom Day Parade for eight years. The Kingdom Day Parade is the largest Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration in the country. This annual event brings flocks of activists and commemorators to the streets of LA once a year. This year was the first in a 37 year long tradition in which the live event was held virtually. Despite challenges that she and her team had to overcome in 2020, the celebration continued. Meet our Shockwaves spotlight of the month, Sabra Diogioes-Waddy.
Photo of Sabra Diogioes-Waddy by Kerry James.
How did you first get involved with the Kingdom Day Parade?
My daughter Wendy Gladney-Williams is to thank for my participation in the Kingdom Day Parade. A few years after coming in to assist her as COO of her event production company, Wendy decided it was time she moved into the consulting field; something she had long wanted to do. I then made the pivot and opened Splendid Affairs, Inc. Event Mgmt. and began servicing some of my former clientele, while developing business under my own company. Wendy was asked by Dr. Adrian Dove, President and CEO of the Kingdom Day Parade, to return to the Event Management business to oversee the production of the 2012 Kingdom Day Parade. I joined her and we began working together again, this was my first year involved with the project. The following year, in order to return to her Consulting calendar, Wendy kindly recommended that I move to be her replacement as she left the parade planning committee. Dr. Dove, now my dear friend and colleague, approved my addition to the Kingdom Day Parade team. We then hit the ground running.
Tell us about the KDP 2021 theme: Healing America. What was the inspiration behind it?
The “Healing America” theme came from the sharp mind of the one and only, Dr. Adrian Dove. We as a nation have experienced so much pain, sickness, death of loved ones, loss of jobs, and isolation in the last year. On top of all that pain and suffering, we endure systemic racial inequality and injustice issues resurfaced by protests in response to the death of George Floyd and so many others. The division it caused across the nation left us fighting amongst ourselves. So, we asked, “What would Dr. King do in this situation?” He would encourage peaceful protest, which is really what this parade is all about. Peacefully celebrating a great life while addressing social justice issues within our community. When voices are heard, problems are acknowledged and addressed, then we can begin the process of healing.
2018 Annual Kingdom Day Parade. Photo by Kristina Dixon & Sabir Majeed.
We all have a role in activism. What space do you occupy with your activism?
I believe that my role in activism is to use my talents, abilities and resources to speak up and assist wherever possible. A lesson from the late John Lewis (in simple terms), if you see something that isn’t right, speak up and do something to help bring about change.
I am blessed to be active and able to voice my feelings on certain social justice issues through projects in and around my company, Splendid Affairs, Inc. A great percentage of my clients are nonprofit organizations which focus their efforts on improving the lives of those in their communities through their advocacy and awareness programs. In my position, I get to be involved with assisting these organizations in developing and enhancing their mission, goals, and visions.
Another of my daughters, Sarah R. Harris and I work together, as she creates the beautiful images and graphics attached to my events. She is Publisher of Suite Life SoCal, a concierge magazine for socially and culturally engaged Southern Californians. My other daughter works for the Nike Corp as their Talent Relations Manager and is heavily involved in marketing. We have a great time collaborating when we can and meeting the challenges of events, but also knowing that we are doing good for the community. It’s a beautiful thing…The boys (my sons) get in the mix as well...but this one’s for the girls.
Sabra Diogioes-Waddy and daughters. Photo by Kerry James.
What was your inspiration for entrepreneurship?
My mother has always been my inspiration. She was an entrepreneur, but also sometimes held down a full-time job to make ends meet, which meant my sister and I would run our family restaurant or cafe. She was tough on us growing up, but I truly respect the powerhouse of a black woman she was. She was someone that everybody loved, and the few people that didn’t certainly respected her. I learned patience and how to be a hard driver and worker from my mother and feel blessed to have learned these lessons so early in life. I believe that if she were here to see what I have made of myself today that she would be proud of my activism and professional growth, among other things.