“Women are the real architects of society.”

– Harriet Beecher Stowe, author and abolitionist

For Women’s History Month, we want to share our [s]heroes, icons, motivators, and cheerleaders who keep us inspired, encouraged, and empowered to tackle this challenging, but critical work of advocating and policy-making on behalf of Virginia’s young people and their families. We know that change is not a one [wo]man show, but we also recognize that sometimes…it is. Read on, as we name- drop the women behind the women of Voices.  

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Cat Atkinson, Policy Analyst:

Tricia Hersey is a poet, activist, daydreamer, and rest minister. Her work on Rest being Resistance for Black and Brown women, changed my life as a serial over worker, perfectionist, and systems changemaker. Author of Rest is Resistance, Tricia offers a guide to liberation through simply sitting down, world-building through daydreaming, and healing through the resistance of grind culture, capitalism, and white supremacy. Every day I sit with this meditation by Tricia: “Imagine what it would feel like, taste like, and smell like to believe you don’t have to prove who you are by your accomplishments and labor.” Rest is not something we have to earn or deserve; it is a divine right because of our inherent beingness.  

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Rachael Deane, CEO:

Marian Wright Edelman is a civil rights attorney, founder and president emerita of Children’s Defense Fund, and a Presidential Medal of Freedom winner. After a childhood in the segregated South, Mrs. Edelman attended Spelman College and Yale Law School, then became the first Black woman admitted to the Mississippi bar. During “Freedom Summer” of 1964, she was part of the front line of attorneys working with the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, where she fought for the rights of Black children in Mississippi, and later served as legal counsel to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “Poor People’s Campaign.” In 1973, Mrs. Edelman founded Children’s Defense Fund, a leading voice in improving children’s lives through public policy across the United States. 

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Chiereme Fortune, Director of Communications:

The woman who keeps me going is my mom. She’s a two-time breast cancer survivor, middle school teacher, mother of three, and amazing writer. Having homeschooled my brothers and I through the eighth grade, my mother always encouraged my brothers and I, to lean into life-long learning, building our character, and serving others.  She continues to carry a baton of faith, family, and fun into all of her relationships, into the classrooms, and all of her spheres of influence. I’m grateful for the living legacy she shares with our family and community.

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Allison Gilbreath, Sr. Director of Policy & Programs:

Charlie Billingsley and Von Ross, the visionary co-creators of the Museum for Black Girls, are my Sheroes because they have created a sanctuary of Black girl joy. When I visited their Denver exhibit in December, I stumbled upon something truly magical—an immersive space that radiated pride, resilience, and beauty. For an hour, I couldn’t stop smiling. Their work is more than an art installation; it’s a movement that uplifts, affirms, and celebrates Black women and girls in a world that often overlooks them. Through their traveling exhibitions, they’ve ensured that this joy reaches far beyond Denver, touching lives across the country and inspiring countless others, including me. 

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Megan Mbagwu, Director of Operations:

Jennifer Case is my sister and my shero. She is not only a fierce advocate for those close to her, but for women, children, and families throughout Richmond and around the world. She is an amazing mom to a crew of four vibrant and unique children, one of which happens to have Down Syndrome. When she is not out in the community serving families, she can likely be found in a school setting advocating for the needs of her own children. She has helped to ensure that her youngest son Brayden has everything he needs to thrive medically, socially, emotionally, and educationally AND she has stepped in to help other parents identify and fight for the same resources for their own children. She also serves as the CEO of Family Lifeline, setting vision, and strategy to help achieve an equitable, resilient community where families and individuals are safe, connected, and living a healthy, meaningful life. In the little free time that she has, she is also an ambassador for Noonday Collection, a social impact business that was created to build a flourishing world where women are empowered, children are cherished, people have jobs, and everyone is connected.  While she stays busy serving others, she is never too busy for a call from her sister for encouragement or thought partnership. I am grateful to be in this work alongside her.  

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Emily Moore, Sr. Policy Analyst:

Dolores Huerta is the woman who I want to give an abundance of flowers to this Women’s History Month. Dolores is an organizer, a liberator, a civil rights activist, a labor movement icon, and the co-founder of United Farm Workers. At 94, she is still a tireless advocate for farm workers’ rights, and she was pivotal in securing improved working conditions and fair wages for agricultural laborers. You may know Dolores from the iconic phrase, “Sí se puede!” I had the pleasure of meeting Dolores in Hollywood this past fall and hearing her share her story and the fights through which she persevered, and it was the most inspiring moment of my entire life.  

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