Category: Women’s History Month 2023

Brittany Martin is a community leader, mama, sister, organizer, activist, and revolutionary.

An engaged and respected Long Beach elder, Miss Evelyn Knight has led a life of engagement in civil and equal rights activism.

When thinking of Andrea Ritchie a string of power words come to mind to describe an ordinary person activated by injustice. Words like unapologetic, commitment, liberation, love, transformation, determination, unwavering, tireless, purpose, abolition and relentless. Compassion, empathy, and humility ring true as well for this Black lesbian, immigrant, and survivor whose body of work defines a frame of transformative love.

Nothing short of divine, Rep. Ilhan Omar is an inspiring and remarkable woman who fully embraces and embodies the struggle of our spirit and resilience. Her journey to becoming the brave, beautiful, and intelligent lioness she is began in Somalia.

In a word, Rev. Dr. Thema Bryant is a healer. She is a gifted poet, storyteller, dancer, scholar, psychologist, author, mother and ordained elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

Georgia Fort is an accomplished journalist and a source of inspiration for many. With her two Emmy nominations and her powerful approach to storytelling, she has proven herself as one of the most influential voices in journalism today.

ollie Bell is straight outta Compton. She is a community legend who has marched for and documented (through her photography) a vast amount of Southern California’s struggle for Black liberation.

Karlene Griffiths Sekou is a Black Lives Matter organizer, intellectual, spiritualist, and mama. She has worked for more than two decades centering Black public health. When masses of Black people took to the streets in Ferguson, Missouri after the murder of #MichaelBrown she was among them and her life pivoted to more deeply commit to direct action which would usher in Black liberation, especially centering spiritual work and tools.

Today we honor Zaynab Mohamed, her remarkable achievements, and invaluable contributions to her community. Her story is a testament to the strength and resilience of Black immigrants and the power of community organizing.

Helen Butler is a force! A voting rights activist and model for Black women’s empowerment, Ms. Butler is Executive Director of the Georgia Coalition for the People’s Agenda. She also serves as the Convener of the Black Women’s Roundtable of Georgia. promoting health and wellness, economic security, education and global empowerment of Black women. Ms. Butler is widely credited for helping to turn the political tide in Georgia by mobilizing hundreds-of-thousands of Black folks to vote and by guarding against voter intimidation.