Miss Sierra Leone USA Gives Back on National Day of Service

Hello world!!!

Hope all is well with you and yours. The past week has been very cold for me, but I am doing great overall, thanks to the Almighty. This past weekend was full of many events and festivities for those of us living in the U.S., and of course a celebration worldwide, one memorable event being the inauguration of President Barack Obama for his second term. My personal platform as Miss Sierra Leone USA is advocating for SHERO, and the "S" stands for Service. This past Saturday, I spent my morning putting together care packages and writing encouraging "thank you" cards for U.S. service members deployed overseas at the National Guard Armory in Washington, DC.

Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson
Waiting in the "volunteer" line for check-in

Other volunteers waiting in line to check-in; it was a VERY cold morning

Fact: President Obama called for a National Day of Service to kick off the inauguration ceremonies and honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by giving back to local communities and urging people nationwide to find local volunteer projects. The First and Second family rolled up their sleeves as well, President Obama stated "that's because inaugurations are about more than just celebrating. They are about coming together to make our country a better place." The MLK Day of Service is a part of United We Serve, the President's national call to service initiative. It calls for Americans from all walks of life to work together to provide solutions to our most pressing national problems. Dr. King once said, "Life's most persistent and urgent question is: 'What are you doing for others?'"

Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013 Ruby B. Johnson with Sandra Bears, Ms. Senior DC 2005

Miss Sierra Leone USA with Idriss and Zara

One of the coolest moments for me at this event was running into Idriss and Zara (pictured above). While I was waiting in line to check-in with fellow volunteers, my "Salone radar" kicked in and I heard krio! Initially I thought I was thinking out loud, and I quickly realized that the people behind me were really speaking krio. I turned around and asked them if they were Sierra Leoneans and they happily said "YES!" We were all just so excited to meet each other, and after that encounter we stuck together throughout the event. I truly enjoy moments like this doing what I love to do with my fellow Sierra Leoneans and making a difference. They're a wonderful couple and I really enjoyed my time with them, and will keep in touch.

Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson

Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013 with the women of Swing Phi Swing 

The ladies expressed to me that after meeting me they'll like to visit Sierra Leone for their next vacation. Swing Phi Swing is a non-profit social fellowship, as opposed to a traditional Greek lettered sorority, that performs service to communities of color.

Event band 

MC Lyte was the event DJ

Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013 with members of the US Army ROTC, who served as volunteers

It was a GREAT turnout, there were thousands of volunteers

2nd Lady Dr. Jill Biden speaking on the importance of the work of the
women and men who serve our country abroad and at home

2nd Lady Dr. Jill Biden and Vice President Joe Biden with their grandson

The 2nd Family

2nd Lady Dr. Jill Biden, Vice President Joe Biden and family

Tawny, a beautiful woman I met at the event

Reggie, man in red, one of the event organizers/volunteers

While volunteering, Reggie read my sash and shared with me that he was born in Freetown (another Sierra Leone connection at the event). I was very excited to meet him, and told him that I was also born and raised in Freetown, and that I represented the city of Freetown at the Miss Sierra Leone USA Pageant as Miss Freetown USA.

Miss Sierra Leone USA putting together care packages for our troops abroad

Putting together care packages for our troops abroad

Putting together care packages for our troops abroad

Miss Sierra Leone USA Ruby B. Johnson with MC Lyte, lyricist and iconic hip-hop pioneer

MC Lyte is a rapper who first gained fame in the late-1980s becoming the first solo woman rapper to release a full album with 1988's critically acclaimed "Lyte as a Rock." In addition to acting, MC Lyte founded Hip-Hop Sisters Network which includes Hip-Hop Sisters Artistry; it provides a platform for women artists to showcase their talents in an environment of encouragement and respect, as well as Hip-Hop Sisters Foundation, which is a non-profit charity that promotes positive images of women of ethnic diversity by bringing together leaders from the world of hip hop, the entertainment industry, and the corporate world. HHS provides national and international support to women and youth around the globe on the topics of cultural issues, financial empowerment, health and wellness, mentorship, and educational opportunities.

Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson

With my Salone sista, Zara

A beautiful young lady from the US Virgin Islands that shared with me that
she's a former Miss High School Virgin Islands

Miss Sierra Leone USA Ruby B. Johnson with members of the US Army

I am pictured here with some of the women and men that courageously serve our country, which I am very grateful for. So here's my third Salone connection encounter: The woman wearing the green hat to my right is a Sierra Leonean-American, named Koroma, and we were both very excited to meet each other at the event. After my shift was over and while heading out of the DC Armory, I came across these service members. After reading my sash, they expressed with excitement that their comrade was from Sierra Leone; Koroma at that moment was doing something else. After getting her attention, she and her friends took a lot of pictures of me and said they would show the pictures to other Sierra Leoneans they know who serve in the U.S. Army.

Overall, I had a wonderful time at this event and I think it's a wonderful initiative for us all to give back. Volunteerism is something very dear to me, and I couldn't be happier spending my very cold Saturday morning with thousands of other people, with my fellow Sierra Leoneans, and living out my platform as Miss Sierra Leone USA.

Ruby B. Johnson,
Your Miss Sierra Leone USA.

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