Weightless in Mind, Body & Spirit - Episode 2 Season 6: Stepping into Autumn -Letting Go of What Needs to Be Let Go!

Weightless with Dr. Carol Penn

Featured Guest:

Reverend Zemoria Brandon is the administrator/social worker for the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Philadelphia/Delaware Valley Chapter (SCDAA/PDVC), a community-based organization, established in 1982 to provide supportive and referral services across the lifespan to meet the needs of children, adolescents, adults and families living with sickle cell disease and sickle cell trait. She was married for twenty-five years to the late Rev. Walter E. Brandon, Co-Founder, SCDAA/PDVC who passed away from complications of sickle cell disease in April, 1998 at the age of 59 years old.

Rev. Brandon received a Bachelor in Social Work (BSW) degree from Temple University, School of Social Administration in 2001. In 2002, she was inducted into the Temple University, Alumni Gallery of Success and into the School of Social Administration’s Gallery of Success in 2008. In 2011, she was ordained as an Interfaith Minister from the New Seminary for Interfaith Studies in New York.

Since 2019, Rev. Brandon has served as Chair/Co-Chair of the “Shine the Light on Sickle Cell” initiative in recognition of World Sickle Cell Awareness Day on June 19, through SiNERGe (Sickle Cell improvement across the Northeast Region), a project under the umbrella of the Sickle Cell Treatment Demonstration Program (TDP).

She is also a member of the Pennsylvania Sickle Cell Providers Network, (PASCPN) a statewide collaborative comprised of community- based organizations and sickle cell healthcare providers. In addition, she is a certified single gene Hemoglobinopathy Counselor/ Educator through the University of Southern Alabama and the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America Chapter in Mobile, Alabama.

Rev. Brandon currently serves as Chair, Board of Directors and Co-Chair, Legal and Immigration Committee for AFRICOM- Philly, an organization providing supportive services to the African and Caribbean immigrant communities. In addition, she is a member of the City of Philadelphia, Mayor’s Commission on African and Caribbean Immigrant Affairs and former Co-Chair, Legal and Immigration Committee.

Because of Rev. Brandon’s community involvement and long-term commitment to the African and Caribbean community, in 2011 she was enstooled as a Development Queen into the Asere` Royal Family of the Ga State which is located in Accra, Ghana. Nii Amarkai, lll, Kingmaker presided as officiant over the enstoolment ceremony. Rev. Brandon was assigned to the village of Adjenkotoku and received the name of Naa Dede Ota l, which means Mother Earth, one who nurtures and takes care of others.

Ms. Brandon is a member of the First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia and a former trustee. She currently serves on the worship arts ministry team and with First Church Voices Intergenerational Choir. She is the proud mother of 2 children, ages 53 and 37 years old and 4 grandchildren, ages 19, 71/2, 7 and 4 years old.

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