On today’s blog, two Peru Odyssey 2016 alum, Tanessa Noll and Wanda Lucas, interview each other, to discover why they stay engaged as A Fresh Chapter Ambassadors. They also chat about their lives outside of AFC. Here is Part 1, Wanda’s story.

Meet Wanda

Wanda and I met in 2015, through our involvement in breast cancer advocacy. She was a seasoned pro, while I was a newcomer. I had no idea we would cross paths again, not only travelling to Peru together but serving at the same volunteer placement. We worked with exploited girls in Lima, an experience that will bond us for life.

What was the biggest change you experienced from the Peru Odyssey?

“The feeling it is OK to focus on me…I was relieved of the feeling I had to save the world.” Before AFC, Wanda focused on high-level positions that come with a great deal of stress. She is now dedicated to working in positions where she will be at peace, serve others and have joy. Her new job as Career Advisor for business students at American University, allows her to coach students in their career strategies. Watching their growth and celebrating their successes brings her a great deal of joy.  

She has let go of certain things, such as some of her “cancer work,” which had taken over her life. At the beginning of the Peru Odyssey, Wanda’s word was purpose. At the end, she declares her word would have been joy. Reflecting on her work with girls in Lima, Wanda says, “They changed our lives more than we changed theirs.”

What hats do you wear at AFC? What is your reason for being an ambassador?

Wanda started out as a Selection Ambassador and is now the Fundraising and Scholarship Lead. She reviews fundraising plans of new applicants, provides coaching, conducts interviews and arranges calls with Paul Carroll, father of Melissa Carroll. In the calls, they surprise recipients with the good news of being awarded scholarships. When Wanda went to South Africa, to support the Odyssey in 2017, she and Paul were in the tribe with one of  the recipients. Her gratitude brought them to tears. “I love Paul Carroll,” Wanda said. He raises money with a “cheerful heart.” Since she sees the hard work he puts into raising funds, Wanda is protective of the money and seeks to make scholarships competitive, as well as honorable. She encourages applicants to put thought into their applications, if they want to receive scholarship funding.

Wanda supports the Fellows Program. Fellows are well-known or experienced advocates, awarded scholarships to AFC programs. They are natural leaders who share their experience and participate in the process of selecting future Fellows, along with mentoring them. In time, Wanda says, the program should run itself. For now, she initiates the selection process. Once selected, Wanda trains them and continues correspondence with them.

Fellows commit to a year of service with AFC. “I’m hoping they can step up to the plate.” As Fellows take over, Wanda sees herself applying her experience in diversity programs to helping AFC/Terri [Wingham, AFC founder] expand into under resourced areas.

How is your writing going? What do you want to create?

In Peru, Wanda shared with me her aspirations to write more. I encouraged her to make the time to tell her stories. She already had a blog, a passion for photography and a unique voice but needed the confidence to keep putting her work out in the world. In our recent chat, Wanda shared some of her inspirations and ideas.

After returning from Peru, Wanda joined a writers group, which meets twice a month. The group has taught her about the craft of writing. She has also contributed to a neighborhood blog. Wanda likes to take photos of bikes, people and architecture in DC. She discussed the idea of creating a children’s book with Rose, a teacher and AFC Fellow, who lives in Nairobi. The idea is based on Rose’s experience with cancer, a time when her daughter thought she would die. The story would help parents know what to say and be presented in English and Swahili. Wanda also imagines herself writing about the drum circle in Malcom X Park, a 41-year tradition in her community. “It’s like a feast,” she said.

Wanda participates in meet ups in DC with other AFC participants. She likes how tribes, even from different programs, get together and bond over their experiences.

Wanda Lucas, a native Washingtonian, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006. After learning about the  cancer disparities affecting the African American community, she decided she wanted to help. She joined the Cancer Control & Prevention Group at Georgetown University, the following year. In 2010, she attended her first Advocate’s Summit with National Breast Cancer Coalition (NBCC), where everything changed. She credits NBCC for making her the advocate that she is today, because they taught her the science of breast cancer and showed her how to use her voice on Capitol Hill. She has served many roles for NBCC and is the current Vice President of the Board of Directors. Then, in 2016 she was introduced to Terri Wingham, who challenged her to stop and think of her own healing, which she had never done. She was a member of the 2016 Peru tribe, and her life changed, as a result of the experience of being there with her amazing tribe. Now, she finds joy in supporting AFC with their programming because she wants others to have the life-shifting experience she had. She is a graduate of the University of Illinois (BS) and American University (MBA).