Women Who Move the Work Forward

Here at Voices, we know that much of the heavy lifting of policy change happens within small but mighty teams who do what they can with what they have.

“Each time a woman stands up for herself, she stands up for all women.” – Maya Angelou

Real systems change is often driven by leaders who are strategic, persistent, and unafraid to challenge the status quo. That is why we are uplifting a few of those rabble-rousers for change through our Women Who Move the Work Forward series.

Throughout March, in honor of Women’s History Month, we are highlighting women leaders from our partner organizations who are shaping policy, strengthening systems, and prioritizing the well-being of young people across Virginia. These leaders are advancing research, guiding legislative strategy, building coalitions, and ensuring that lived experience remains at the center of decision-making.

Their work reminds us that progress does not happen by accident. It happens because people show up consistently, ask hard questions, and stay committed to building a commonwealth where every young person and family can thrive.

We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to help make prioritizing the well-being of young people not just part of today’s policy agenda, but part of Virginia’s history.

Follow along on our website, social media platforms, and in our newsletters throughout March as we celebrate the women who keep change in motion.

Women of the Movement:

Ashley Kenneth, President and CEO at The Commonwealth Institute 

Ashley C. Kenneth is President and CEO at The Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis (TCI).  Ashley’s work and passion to advance racial and economic justice stems from her role as a mother, her deep community involvement, and her lineage as a direct descendant of resilient people who were once enslaved in Virginia. Throughout her career, Ashley has championed the importance of centering racial equity in policy making, and her expertise has moved the needle on progressive policy issues from increasing access to healthcare to raising the minimum wage in Virginia. In 2021, Ashley was appointed by Governor Ralph Northam to the Commission to Examine Racial and Economic Inequity in Virginia Law. She is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and a graduate of Leadership Metro Richmond, the Minority Political Leadership Institute at VCU, and the inaugural cohort of the national Fannie Lou Hamer Fellowship program. Ashley has a B.A. from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Her master’s degree in social policy was received from the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy and Practice, where she has been inducted into the Alumni Hall of Fame. 

From the Voices Staff:

Ashley’s visionary and grounded leadership is an inspiration. She always ensures that racial justice and community-led advocacy are front and center, and she radiates kindness. 

Learn more about Ashley’s work and TCI here: https://thecommonwealthinstitute.org/tci_profiles/ashley-kenneth/

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Mary Dunne Stewart, President and CEO at Greater Richmond Fit4Kids 

As the founding CEO of Greater Richmond Fit4Kids, Mary leads program development and evaluation, fundraising, and strategic management. Under her leadership, Fit4Kids partners with schools and community organizations to ensure that children in Greater Richmond have opportunities to be physically active, build lifelong healthy habits, and learn through hands-on experiences like school gardens and nutrition education. Mary has helped guide the organization’s growth from a small startup to a trusted regional nonprofit reaching thousands of children at 72 schools each year through programs that promote physical activity, healthy eating, and youth leadership.

She has a long history of improving children’s futures through policy research and advocacy. Previously, she served as Policy Director at Voices for Virginia’s Children and as Associate Director of the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy. Mary is the mother of two college-aged sons, partner to John, who has dedicated his career to improving employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities, and proud parent of a tripawd pup, Annie.

From the Voices Staff:

Mary always shows up with creativity and persistence, ensuring that her organization is constantly adapting to new opportunities and finding new ways to improve the wellness of our youth. 

Learn more about Mary and Greater Richmond Fit4Kids here: https://grfit4kids.org/our-team/

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Tomashia Cornitcher, Coordinator of Family Connections for Kids’ First Years/VPP Advocate

Tomashia Cornitcher serves as the Coordinator of Family Connections for Kids’ First Years, the coordinating body and collective voice of Alexandria City’s early care and education system. A proud mother of three talented children, Tomashia credits them with inspiring her to be courageous and persistent when navigating life’s challenges. Tomashia has been an active leader and advocate for families. She served as Chair of the Virginia Promise Partnership Parent Advisory Board for two years and currently holds the position of Secretary. In her role as a parent representative, she has participated in several conference events, trainings, and professional development activities in Richmond, including those sponsored by the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation, Virginia Promise Partnership, and other coalition partner organizations, where she has highlighted Alexandria City’s early childhood initiatives.

Tomashia is deeply passionate about supporting children and families and believes every child deserves the opportunity to thrive. She takes pride in using her lived experiences to help create meaningful and lasting change within her community. She remains committed to the work of Virginia Promise Partnership and Kids’ First Years, grounded in the belief that “early success for every child” can happen when we work together. Through collaboration and advocacy, she works to reach the VPP Bold Gold that by year 2030 every Virginia family will have access to high-quality, affordable childcare.

Tomashia once promised that, if given the opportunity to serve, she would step forward in gratitude for the support she received throughout her own parenting journey—and she continues to honor that promise through her dedication and leadership.

From the Voices Staff:

Tomashia exemplifies leadership rooted in community voice and care, with the ability to seamlessly inspire others to work toward expanded early childhood care and education access.

Learn more about connect with Tomashia here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomashia-cornitcher-28b10b219/

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Sarah Steely, Director of No Kid Hungry Virginia 

Sarah Steely is the Director of No Kid Hungry Virginia, where she leads campaign planning, implementation, and evaluation. She guides No Kid Hungry Virginia’s government relations and grant-making portfolios, executing comprehensive public policy strategies and connecting Virginia partners with more than $8 million in grant funding over the last eight years. She collaborates closely with a diverse portfolio of stakeholders, including elected officials, state agencies, education leaders, school nutrition professionals, and food security advocates, to ensure that all kids and families have the resources they need to thrive.

Sarah is passionate about supporting people and the planet by implementing creative programs that achieve regulatory compliance while driving meaningful change. She previously served as an analyst for Marstel-Day, where she provided sustainability and stakeholder engagement services to clients across the country, including the United States Marine Corps and United States Navy. She holds degrees from Virginia Tech and the University of Virginia and lives in Charlottesville with her 50 houseplants and rescue pup, Penny.

From the Voices Staff:

Sarah works tirelessly to advocate to end hunger and despite the heaviness of this topic, manages to remain hopeful and warm.  

Learn more about No Kid Hungry Virginia and Sarah’s work here: https://state.nokidhungry.org/virginia/our-team/

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Valerie L’Herrou, Esq. – Deputy Director, Center for Family Advocacy VPLC 

Valerie L’Herrou, Deputy Director of the Center for Family Advocacy at VPLC, focuses on family law and child welfare policy advocacy. She has worked to defend the rights of low-income Virginians her entire legal career. She advocates for improvements in laws and policies in Virginia’s child dependency system, which heavily favors agencies over families, and seeks to establish the holistic model of practice in Virginia, so families receive active advocacy and community support – not mere “due process” – to preserve families. Her passion is advancing racial equity and economic justice to ensure all families can thrive.  She serves on various boards and committees related to children, families, violence prevention, and access to justice, and has presented to attorneys, advocates, and community groups on a range of topics, including family law, child welfare, interpersonal violence, access to justice, and racial equity.

From the Voices Staff:

Valerie’s deep commitment to family preservation shines through everything she does, from her landmark leadership on Virginia’s multidisciplinary parent legal representation pilot to her tireless work changing how Virginia treats low-income families involved in the child welfare system.  

Learn more about VPLC and Valerie’s work here: https://www.vplc.org/people/valerie-lherrou-esq/

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Although we are spotlighting a few leaders this month, we recognize that meaningful change is powered by many. To the women across our partner network who show up daily to prioritize the well-being of young people, we see you, and we are grateful. Together, you are shaping Virginia’s future.

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