Women in Leadership and Philanthropy (WIPL) for Coastal Carolina University is hosting a free virtual lunch featuring author Nina Sossamon-Pogue on May 8 at noon. The topic of the lunch is "Resilience during the COVID-19 Pandemic." It is free to attend, and registration reached the maximum limit more than a week before the event.

Sossamon-Pogue is the author of "This Is Not the End: Strategies to Get You through the Worst Chapters of Your Life." She was a guest presenter at the 10th annual Women's Leadership Conference held in February in Myrtle Beach.

"Nina Sossamon-Pogue was one of our most popular breakout sessions at the conference this year, and we are thrilled she is going to present this workshop to our audience," said Hatton Gravely, director of WIPL. "WIPL hosts Inspiring Women's Luncheons throughout the year, which offers community members an opportunity to learn and connect. We set up our first online event to be similar, offering members a chance to learn from a relevant speaker and connect with each other."

Sossamon-Pogue's book was scheduled for an August release, but was rush-released in April due to its timely message amid the global pandemic. It provides a framework for anyone in a major life event who feels that life will never be the same.

"While this book was not written with COVID-19 in mind, it addresses emotions that so many people are struggling with now," said Sossomon-Pogue. "It empowers people to take control in uncertain times, job loss, trauma, failure, uncertainty. … Major events move your story in a new direction. You are still the author of your life story. Failure, loss or adversity often comes before achievement and fulfillment. This is a plot-twist. You get to determine what happens next; THIS is not 'the end.'"

WIPL was created to transform the lives of students at Coastal Carolina University and to make a difference in the greater community by leveraging the impact of women and their donations of time, talent and resources. Since its inception, WIPL has awarded 286 scholarships to Coastal Carolina students, 47 of whom have received WIPL scholarships totaling $52,550 for the 2019-2020 academic year. Visit coastal.edu/wipl for more information.

Additional information:

Twitter: @CCU_WIPL

Facebook: facebook.com/wplccu

Watch: Highlights from Women's Leadership Conference 2020