Sharing ideas and bringing black women together were the focuses of the First Annual Women’s NAACP Brunch.

The brunch, which was titled “Sisters Saving Sisters,” was held Saturday at 10 a.m. in the Pioneer Room of the Memorial Union. About 25 women were in attendance.

The brunch participants included students, professors, businesswomen and Ames residents.

Lynette Heggins, organizer of the brunch, said the gathering of women with different experiences was an important goal of the event.

“We wanted to bring together people from Iowa State University, Ames High School and Ames,” said Heggins, doctoral student in the College of Education. “We strengthened the ties between women in the Ames community.”

Each table of women discussed one or two topics important to black women. Topics ranged from the “glass ceiling” to youth and responsibility.

Each group also made a pledge related to its topic.

“We hope it will motivate people to live up to the pledge,” said Valerie Holmes, organizer of the brunch and graduate student in educational leadership and policy studies. “We hope it helps to make them successful as individuals and as a community.”

Organizers said the brunch was held for many reasons, one of which was that the men of the Ames chapter of the NAACP have a breakfast every fall.

Holmes said the black female community saw a need for a similar event.

“We have issues that pertain to us that we need to discuss,” she said.

Some of the participants agreed that the brunch was a success.

“We’ve laid the groundwork for being a support network for each other,” said Sharon Holmes, doctoral student in higher education administration.

Speakers for the event and Ames NAACP President George Jackson also enjoyed the brunch.

“We hope this is part of a long and productive relationship,” he said.