Life stories, words of wisdom, and tips of the trade were in abundant supply at the Consortium of Doctors, LTD 2009 Annual Conference in Oakland, California. Members gathered to explore the theme “Restoration, Reconstitution, and Recovery”.

Consortium of Doctors (C.O.D.) founder Dr. Abigail Jordan discusses the African American Family Monument that she led a campaign to erect, while Dr. Barbara Cannon, C.O.D. Director (left), displays an illustration of the monument. C.O.D. is an organization of African-American women including judges, lawyers, medical doctors, educators, psychologists, performing artists, professors, social workers, and professionals from other fields that have completed doctorates from accredited universities throughout the United States.

The 2008-2010 officers of C.O.D. include: Dr. Barbara E.M. Cannon, Director - Oakland, California; Dr. Harriette Bias-Insignares, Co-Director - Nashville, Tennessee; Dr. JoAnne Brabson, Secretary - Atlanta, Georgia; and Dr. Barbara M. Reid Treasurer - Knoxville, Tennessee.

Dr. Harriette Insignaires speaks during the conference One of the featured sessions of the annual conference is the Saturday morning Youth Workshop led by Attorney Carolyn Battle Thomas. As Deputy Guardian of Cook County in Chicago, she takes wards of the state and refocuses them on success despite their circumstances. She said, “I decided to go to law school when my son went off to Morehouse College. I thought I would be a tax lawyer, but I discovered these children and felt I had found my calling.” Thomas' theme for this year's youth session was “Life Stories and Words of Wisdom,” which gave young people the opportunity to hear compelling stories of winning against the odds. These stories were inspiring and impressive to young and old alike. One of the youth attendees, Rolanda Bell, a 2009 graduate of Emery High School in Emeryville, California and president of her class, said, “The words of wisdom I will take away from this experience are first, that we should honor our mother and father as the Bible teaches; second that each of us should learn to love ourselves because that leads to self-confidence and self-esteem so that we can stand up against the persons that try to tear us down; and third, 'If you sell yourself cheap, you go at a cheap price.”

Some members of the Consortium of Doctors Community youth leader and Bay Area Field Office Social Worker, Brian McGhee talked about the importance of returning to his community after he received his education to give back and help others. “I have a passion for working with youth and families. I still go back to my old high school and walk the halls so that kids, who don't have an adult role model, can have someone to identify with,” McGhee said.

C.O.D. treasurer, Dr. Barbara M. Reid of Knoxville, Tennessee, talked about the importance of taking advantage of opportunity and taking initiative to find opportunities. “It was never a matter of whether I passed each test, but how high my score was, because, I knew the only way I was going to be able to go to college was on a scholarship. My dream was to attend Knoxville College.” Psychotherapist Dr. Lenora M. Poe of Berkley, California, told the story of her childhood in Marion, Alabama where her father and other African-American parents pooled their funds to send their children to school.

A native of Trinidad, Dr. Lyra Gillette, an obstetrician/ gynecologist for forty-five years, told her story of poverty in childhood and the barriers she encountered. As a medical missionary, Gillette travels to African countries to set up clinics to improve women's health.

Dr. Vernell A. Lillie, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, shared her story about the value of mentors. Lillie is Founder of Kuntu Theatre at the University of Pittsburgh. Another theatre scholar, Dr. Ethel Pitts Walker, Interim Chair - Dept. of Television, Radio, Film, and Theatre at San Jose State University, is the founding president of the Black Theatre Network. “My mother was a domestic, but I knew that I would go to college because my mother talked about that daily and others enabled me along the way. Education is the key,” she said.

C.O.D. founder Dr. Abigail Jordan, a native of Wilcox County, Georgia and a resident of Savannah, Georgia, told the youth about her family research to know the history of her family. A visit to South Carolina to look up a relative named Boston Jones, revealed that he was a US Senator with an appointment by President Abraham Lincoln. “My mother talked everyday about slavery and education”. Jordan said. She received the Doctorate of Education degree from the University of Georgia. It was her commitment that led Jordan to campaign to erect the first statue recognizing the sacrifices of the slave ancestors: the African- American Family Monument on River Street in Savannah, Georgia.

The finale of the weekend was the Bouquet of Doctors Banquet that featured a poetry reading and book signing by State Poet and Poet Laureate Dr. Harriette Bias-Insignares, who read her historic poem “Catharsis” that captures the world's reaction to the election of President Obama . Keynote speaker, the Reverend Dr. Ramona Tascoe, capped off the event. She spoke on the topic “African American Family Core Values with Holistic Intergenerational and Multigenerational Implications for Family Members, Neighborhoods, and Communities.”