By Deidre Montague, Northend Agent’s
We are in a world where many women, especially Black women and Women of Color feel unsafe, as the current political and social climate seeks to make us feel small, insignificant, but we know that’s not true.
Yet, we know that when women rule, especially Black women and women of color rule – things change in our communities – for the better.
Whether it’s on the local or national stage, we always up the ante and raise the bar that others struggle to reach.
In politics, we shatter glass ceilings – such as Carrie Saxon Perry, the first African American woman to be elected mayor of a major New England city – Hartford, CT.
Her legacy birthed Suzette DeBeatham-Brown, who became Bloomfield’s first Black, female mayor in 2017, Mayor Danielle Wong, the second Black mayor in Bloomfield in 2022, Toni Harp, the first woman and the second African American to serve as Mayor of New Haven, CT in 2014, and Nuchette Black-Burke, the first Black and Carribean female mayor of Windsor, Connecticut in 2023, and Stephanie Thomas, the first Black person to be elected Secretary of the State of Connecticut in 2023.
As activists, we speak up and out to break down barriers that impede positive social change for ourselves, our loved ones, and others who are often pushed in the margins – as we understand that dignity, respect, and freedom is for all – not just the elite few.
Such as Joan Gibson, who was a prominent local civil rights leader, who worked in the NAACP for over 50 years, serving as their Hartford Branch president, first vice president of the State Conference, and National Resolutions Committee member.
Her passion and commitment to giving community members a voice continues to ignite in the activism of Keren Prescott, who has always been on the front lines demanding racial justice, equity, and equality for Black people, people of color, the LGBTQ + community and other important causes, of Kamora Herrington who works to create safe spaces to learn how to use our strengths through a Black Queer and Afrocentric perspective to help people build positive community connections, through her organization, Kamora’s Cultural Center, of Bridgitte Prince, Cynthia Jennings, Sharon Lewis, and the other women who spoke up to elected officials to help them with funding for the flooding issues many faced in their neighborhoods, and of Diane Lewis, who championed the state law that allows free phone calls and emails from prisons and other local issues for community members.
As community leaders, we seek to serve our members of our village by organizing and working together.
Such as Pamela Selders, who founded the grassroot community-based organization, CT Black Women, which calls in Black women leaders to support one another and build power through organizing, activism, advocacy, education and creativity, along with co-founding Moral Monday CT, the CT-based racial and social justice coalition of people of faith and conscience.
Her heart for service to the community extends in the work of Jendayi Scott-Miller, a certified chef who saw a need to feed the elderly and has extended into feeding many more community members as the founder of Angel of Edgewood, of Corrinna Martin, who is honoring the lives and legacies of her daughters through her non-profit, Mothers’ of Victim’s Equality, that works to support victims and survivors of domestic violence and their families, and of Luz Holmes-Padgett, who works to transform her community through her leadership, as the founder/senior consultant of THE LIGHT Consulting LLC, administrative office manager for Rehoboth Church, as the visionary of the North Hartford Cultural District, along with other acts of service.
As women, we work to make sure our communities are safe and secure for all members.
Such as Ella Brown, who was the first female Black officer in the state of Connecticut, who joined the Hartford Police department in 1943, and had a 26-year career in law enforcement.
Her commitment to making sure the community was safe was passed on to Deborah Callis, who served for 27 years at the Hartford Police Department, and became the Department’s first Black detective, and to Shelly Carter, who became New England’s first Black female fire chief, was the first Black woman to be promoted to captain in the state’s history, is the assistant fire chief in Hamden and the first woman to hold an office position in the department’s history, and is training up the next generation of young girls through her Girls Future Firefighter Camp, giving them the opportunity to explore careers in public safety and as a firefighter.
While this is only a small list of the impact that women have when they rule and lead, it shows that women rule and things get done.
When women rule, we work to change laws that are not beneficial to our community.
When women rule, we cause “good trouble,” just like John Lewis, Fannie Lou Hamer, Constance Baker Motley, Shirley Chisholm, Maxine Waters, and countless others.
When women rule, we help our communities come together, as we realize that we are stronger together.
When women rule, we help to train and equip the next generation with the love and knowledge they need to thrive in this difficult world- in spite of those who may try to thwart their progress and personal success.
When women rule, it is with strength, wisdom, love, and fearlessness.
When women rule, they have a vision for a better tomorrow and world for everyone.
When women rule, we move mountains and barriers that keep us and our loved ones from living their best lives.
When women rule, we cause good trouble, just like John Lewis, Fannie Lou Hamer, Constance Baker Motley, and countless other ancestors.
When women rule, we love hard, we pray fiercely, and call our community to reach its highest potential.
When women rule, our neighborhoods become stronger.
When women rule, no one gets left behind – as we recognize everyone’s humanity and fight for freedom, justice, love, and liberation for all.
