Founder of Women of Excellence honored at Girl Talk meeting

UPPER MARLBORO, MD.

Carolyn Bell Murphy, founder and CEO of Women of Excellence, Not Without A Struggle, Inc., was honored April 29 at the annual event Girl Talk hosted at Marwood Community Center in Upper Marlboro, Md.

Murphy survived domestic violence for years before she founded the organization in Youngstown with the goal of eradicating domestic abuse. She began recruiting women to discuss, educate and support them financially to help them escape living situations and end the cycle of abuse.

The first outreach project retreat took place at the Holiday Inn, Boardman, in 1998. Since then, the organization has helped women from various cultural, educational and religious backgrounds. Its youngest members are middle-school students.

The organization strives to empower women spiritually, educationally, economically and socially through workshops, retreats, mentorships, referrals, counseling and scholarships.

Murphy has traveled to various areas to recruit organization members, including Las Vegas, Florida and Portugal. She resides in Upper Marlboro and has four children, eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

For information about the organization, visit www.womenofexcellencenwas.org.