On the Circuit: Spirit of Wellness Patrons Party

For Agenia Clark, the mission of The New Beginnings Center is personal. Three years after reluctantly taking her doctor’s advice to incorporate strength training into her routine, the Fisk University president stood among friends and fellow supporters at the Spirit of Wellness Patrons Party and described an experience that had become part of her daily life.

“Every day I go in there, it’s a new beginning for me,” she said.

That sense of possibility brought guests to Janet Ayers’ home to celebrate the center, which makes strength-based fitness and nutrition programs accessible to women who otherwise face financial barriers to participating.

As the sun dipped behind the trees, shadows settled over elephant sculptures crafted by Soliga, Bettakurumba, Kattunayakan and Paniya artisans in southern India. Emmy Award-winning journalist Deborah Roberts, the featured speaker for the following day’s luncheon, moved graciously through the crowd, engaging guests in thoughtful conversation.

Welcoming everyone, Janet reflected on the women who had helped her feel at home in Nashville more than two decades ago. Their friendships offered a fitting introduction to an evening devoted to women supporting one another.

“I have developed such great, strong women friendships, and it’s empowering, so I was happy to open my home for this amazing organization,” she said.

Agenia, a longtime friend of Deborah’s, brought both affection and humor to her remarks, acknowledging her occasional complaints during workouts — and her determination to keep showing up. Her appreciation for the center extended beyond her own progress: She spoke about the importance of sharing those opportunities with women who might otherwise lack access.

Cofounder and CEO Tash Weddle placed that work in a larger context, thanking patrons for investing in women’s health, strength and futures.

“When women become stronger, everyone around them benefits: their children, their families, their communities,” she said.

For Deborah, the center’s mission reached well beyond the gym. Its significance lay in the connection between physical strength and a woman’s belief in her ability to shape her own future.

“Because who knew that when a woman becomes stronger, not just physically, she also becomes stronger emotionally and can change her life, and that’s what this is all about.”