Our Story
“We literally started in Jasmin’s basement, planning a conference that we practically knew nothing about. It was a total leap of faith, but I just knew we were destined for greatness. And wouldn’t you know it, 80 women showed up to our conference. It was totally a God thing.”
-La-Kita Gilmore
Founder & CEO on Women of Purpose’s beginning in 2018
Our History
Since that time, Women of Purpose has hosted seven annual conferences, countless gatherings, and led five graduating classes of the Pursuing Purpose Mentoring Program. Women have experienced breakthroughs in their faith-walk, careers, and families.
The mission of Women of Purpose is to shape communities by activating women to lead and serve. The catalyst for this mission is a vision of helping women gain confidence to live without limitations!
Our 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization provides resources women need to discover their purpose. Whether opening a new business or speaking from the pulpit, boardroom, or classroom, women are empowered to fully develop their God-given gifts and abilities. Our approach drives strategic leadership skills, encouraging women to lead and serve in their communities.
Our values: Live Authentically, Honor One Another, Walk in Integrity, Advocate for Communities.
Board of Directors
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La-Kita Gilmore is a dynamic speaker, teacher, mentor, trailblazer, and community advocate who leads with passion. She is passionate about her faith in God. As a servant leader, La-Kita equips the church and faith-based leaders through practical teaching and mentoring for ministry and community service. She has led in the following capacities over the last 16 years: elder, ordained pastor, ministry leader, teacher, faith-based strategist, and most recently serves as the Operations Director at her local church, Mount Calvary Church of God in Christ. Due to her passion for teaching practical applications of biblical truths and principles, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies. She is enrolled in Seminary to earn a Master’s in Biblical Ministries with a concentration in Leadership from Lancaster Bible College – Capital Seminary & Graduate School.
One of La-Kita’s earliest memories includes organizing her toys for their weekly teaching sessions. Unbeknownst to her, this innocent activity revealed that she was born to teach and lead others. However, she struggled in her youth, often being told, “You’re talking too much” and referred to as “too bossy.” Ultimately, hearing those words impacted her self-esteem and caused her to grow quiet and play down her abilities. She became comfortable in her skin when she was given high school and church leadership roles. Those roles helped cultivate the gifts that were purposed in her, the same gifts she was once criticized for. She lives life to the fullest, building and motivating leaders and teams to achieve their desired goals through her passion for teaching, counseling, coaching, and mentoring.
As a community advocate, she previously served as Board Chair for the Shalom House, creating initiatives to empower and transform lives. Once a Board of Trustee Member for Junior Achievement in South Central PA, she advocated for student excellence by focusing on financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship. She also served on the Board of the Christian School Association of Greater Harrisburg (CSAGH), preparing students to impact their world for Christ by partnering with families to provide Christ-centered education that sharpens minds, deepens faith, and develops gifts.
With over 25 years of senior project management and leadership experience, she managed and led strategic initiatives and client solutions. This resulted in an innovative and effortless customer experience and leadership development that would drive employee performance and corporate citizenship for a Global Fortune 100 company. La-Kita is also a John Maxwell Team Member, coaching and mentoring leaders with the necessary strategies and skills to overcome obstacles and to lead with integrity, passion, and purpose.
La-Kita is the founder and CEO of Women of Purpose. This movement was born out of divine inspiration to create a movement to see every person she knows walk in their God-given purpose.
She has partnered with a powerful, like-minded team that intentionally prepares women to discover, develop, and activate their purpose. She describes this as one of her most outstanding achievements. She derives great fulfillment as a servant leader, marketplace leader, and community advocate.
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Kimberly A. Helton is an engaged, inclusive, and emotionally intelligent leader, mentor, and woman of faith. She lives by the quote, “The time is always right to do what is right.” She has a deep love for God and people and takes time to listen to their stories and glean from their life experiences. She is committed to living a life of meaning and purpose and is intentional about encouraging others to do the same. She is an incredible example of one who does not shrink back from the challenges of life but allows them to become fuel to assist her in reaching her purpose.
Despite facing many obstacles and challenges, she remained focused and excelled in school and soon after began her career with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Kimberly never lost sight of her dream to return to school and twenty years later earned a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Behavior and Applied Psychology from Albright College.
After an impressive career of nearly 36 years of public service working in a variety of progressively responsible management positions, she retired in a senior human resources (HR) leadership position as the Director of Talent Development in the Governor’s Office of Administration. While employed, she received a Governor’s award for improving state government operations; an HR award for extraordinary HR leadership; and four national HR awards for administering leadership development, mentoring, and equal employment opportunity programs.
With God’s blessings, Kimberly has experienced a beautiful life with her high school sweetheart and is a joyful mother and grandmother. She currently serves as President of the Women of Purpose Board of Directors and is committed to impacting future generations of women to identify and live out their purpose.
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Lesley Williams is courageous, resilient, charismatic, and intentional. She is known to light up any room by simply walking in. She is a passionate encourager and example of how to live and walk with God. She considers it her joy and assignment to equip the next generation of leaders. Lesley is an exceptional Woman of Purpose.
Vocationally, she previously worked as a training manager at a large telecommunications company for 21 years. Her people skills are unparalleled. She loves to teach and help develop life skills in young people and instill the importance of confidence in young women.
Although she always wears a warm and inviting smile, Lesley has a powerful story of overcoming intense obstacles. These obstacles, however, have only been fuel and inspiration to keep going, keep serving and keep impacting those around her.
Lesley’s challenging and unpredictable journey has led her to focus on being a whole and holistic woman who regularly shares the importance of focusing on the mind, body, and soul of a woman. She is vocal and passionate about health and wellness and desires to bring awareness of the necessity to live a healthy lifestyle to those around her.
Lesley currently serves as the secretary on the Woman of Purpose Board of Directors. We will certainly see and hear more from her as she continues to make a powerful impact on the lives of others for the glory of God.
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Annette Colbert Tabraham grew up in the picturesque Trough Creek Valley in Huntingdon, PA, and graduated from Mount Union Area High School. She later earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from York College. With extensive experience as a payroll specialist, Annette spent several years at Walz Group before transitioning to her current role at Willow Valley Retirement Communities.
A faithful member of the United Methodist Church, Annette was a active Girl Scout leader and a proud marching band mom. She is the loving mother of Christina and enjoys reading, camping, attending plays and musicals, and cherishing time spent with family and friends.
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Desovia Agba is a powerful and anointed worship leader, songwriter, teacher, and public speaker. Born in Jamaica, West Indies, she migrated to America with her family in 1991. Her passion for God was evident even at a young age when she made the decision to follow Christ at the age of nine. Her passion is to live the life, speak the words, and sing the songs that bring glory and honor to Jesus. She recorded and released her first album in 2016, which included eight original songs that she wrote.
Desovia has endured and overcome many years of abuse, disappointment, loss, and rejection. Her journey through such difficulties has fueled her desire to see people set free. Free to live the life intended for them, free from self-hatred, free from fear, and free from shame. She is intentional about not allowing the impacts of things in her past to be the loudest voice but that the echoes of the character and faithfulness of God be the loudest voice in her life. She actively encourages all to worship God by surrendering every part of their lives in honor of Him.
Desovia has a bachelor’s degree in Religious Studies and an associate degree in Biblical Studies from National Bible College and Seminary. She currently serves on the Women of Purpose Board of Directors.
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Shana J. Abreu was born and raised in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. She is a graduate of the Central Dauphin East High School, in Harrisburg, and is now enrolled in Southeastern University working on her degree in Ministerial leadership.
She received Jesus Christ as her personal savior as a child, however strayed as a young woman, rededicating her life, and relationship with Him in June of 2011.
That same year she married the Love of her life Micheal C. Abreu, they have five beautiful children, 4 girls, 1 boy, as well as 4 Grandchildren, and 1 child they are fostering.
She accepted the call to ministry to preach and teach the Word of God, first as a young adult’s leader in 2013, on to Youth Minister with her Husband Micheal in 2014, where she served until being appointed Assistant Pastor at River of God Church Capital City Campus from January 2020 until September 2021, at that time she was appointed as co-Pastor where she currently serves alongside her husband. In addition, she is employed by Aetna Health Care where she serves as a Project Manager.
Shana has a heart for serving people. She is the co-founder of Soldiers of God (SOG), a street ministry whose goal is to offer hope by showing God’s love to others and meeting both spiritual and physical needs.
When she is not working her full- time job or serving in the church, Shana enjoys spending time with her family. She also enjoys being on the Dance ministry team at River of God, because of her passion to worship the King of Kings, as well as partnering with Bethany Christian Services, which is a Christian-based organization that demonstrates the love and compassion of Jesus Christ by protecting children, empowering youth, and strengthening families through quality social services. Her and her husband are also currently foster parents through this organization.
Shana also volunteers with Morning Star Pregnancy Services, an organization whose mission is to provide services, options and counseling to women and men to help them make informed decisions about pregnancy and their health, there she has assisted with facilitating their HEART group (Healing the Effects of Abortion Related Trauma) Shana also volunteers her time on the outreach team of Peace Promise, which is an organization whose goal is to build relationships with women who are being exploited in the commercial sex industry, through care and building trust. Offering spiritual, physical and practical needs, which helps give them hope for the future.
Her overall passion is helping young women find their worth and identity in Jesus Christ and be set free to walk in the fullness of God.
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Danielle Guillermo is a dance educator, former professional dancer and choreographer who specializes in brand and web design. Her focus is on helping dancers and dance organizations to develop their brands in order to build sustainable businesses and careers. She is featured in Dance Teacher Magazine as an educator turned brand coach entrepreneur.
Danielle was an Adjunct Instructor of Dance at Messiah University (formerly Messiah College) as well as the creator and director of the Messiah College Summer Dance Intensive. She has been on faculty at Pennsylvania Regional Ballet, Hershey School of Dance, the official school of Dayton Contemporary Dance Co., and a lecturer and guest teacher throughout the US. Her choreography has been shown at Symphony Space (NYC), Messiah University, Regional Dance America, and festivals nationally and abroad. She has been awarded the Monticello Award and Josephine Schwarz Award for choreography and was selected for the inaugural Breaking Glass Emerging Female Choreographer's Project. Danielle created the Ugly Duckling Project, a modern-ballet and residency to address bullying in elementary-age children, set to an original score by the late James Casey; performed and grant-funded through the Pennsylvania Regional Ballet.
Danielle has been a member of Avodah Dance Ensemble, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company II, and was a performer, dance captain, and choreographer at Sight & Sound Theatre.
Danielle provides services, courses, and writes about dance at DanielleGuillermo.com. In 2024, Danielle founded Dance News Daily, a a website and newsletter that aggregates the latest dance articles from 60 sources worldwide.
Danielle holds a BA in Art History from Mansfield University and an Artist in Health Certificate from Penn State University. She resides in Camp Hill, PA with her husband and their two children.