From humble beginnings in Jamaica, Pearl Reardon rose to become a multimillionaire through the real estate and management company she established. Her autobiographical account, A Pearl from the House on Queen Street, serves as a metaphor for life and is evocative of her journey from a dusty, dry seaside town in Jamaica to America, the land where dreams are made, and everything is possible. Pearl will speak of the highs and lows of being a Black businesswoman who, while experiencing professional success, was also betrayed and swindled by her husband.  Pearl will share how the act of diverting her attention from self-pity to throwing her efforts into helping others as a volunteer helped to save her.

Pearl Reardon has been active in politics and community affairs for many years.  She has had a varied career that has included founding the third-largest minority-owned real estate and management company in the metropolitan area; was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 2008, the first woman of color to be so elected from West Virginia’s eastern panhandle; became an author and writing instructor; taught a course on the history of African American Humor at Howard University; is an avid international traveller who has been to 118 countries; has written several plays that have been produced by the Source Theater, UDC, and AU; has served as an at-large nominator for the Helen Hayes Awards; has staged plays; has served on several Boards, and more!