President’s Corner March 2025

Honoring Her Legacy: A Call to Action This Women’s Leadership Month

March is Women’s Leadership Month—a time to celebrate, reflect, and most importantly, act. At the Urban Leadership Foundation of Colorado (ULFC), we proudly honor women, recognizing their unwavering strength, profound sacrifices, and monumental contributions. We give special acknowledgment to Black women, whose relentless resilience and powerful influence have shaped our society, culture, and history.

Black women have always stood at the forefront—critical in politics, steadfast as keepers of our families, and courageous during times of conflict, stepping into industries and roles while men served in war. They didn’t simply hold the line; they redefined it. Despite our country’s historical and systemic racism, discrimination, and barriers intentionally set before them, Black women rose—just as the poet Maya Angelou beautifully declared, “And still I rise.”

In the political arena, Black women’s contributions have been both transformative and inspiring. What do I mean by this well, glad you asked! Leaders like Mary McLeod Bethune, who founded the National Council of Negro Women in 1935, played pivotal roles in advocating for African American women’s rights and education. Similarly, Mary Church Terrell, a founding member of the NAACP, was instrumental in the fight for suffrage and civil rights, challenging both gender and racial discrimination. In mire recent times, figures such as our very own Wilma Webb championed and accomplished the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday and marade in Colorado. Stacey Abrams demonstrated the power of Black women’s leadership; her efforts in voter registration and mobilization were crucial in the 2020 elections, leading to significant political shifts. Moreover, Vice President Kamala Harris’s historic election as the first Black woman to h old the office underscores the strides made and the importance of representation at the highest levels of government. I could do this all day: Harriet Tubman, CJ Walker, Gloria Tanner, Fawn Weaver, Wanda James, Lauren Casteel, Michelle Obama, Beyonce, my mother, your mother…I think you get it!
Today, the legacy of their struggle and triumph demands more from us. Women deserve equity—not simply equality. It means being intentional about ensuring fairness in pay, opportunity, and recognition. It’s about dismantling stereotypes that penalize women for motherhood and instead creating environments that support, celebrate, and uplift women who balance work and family.

Consider this: According to the National Partnership for Women & Families, Black women earn only 67 cents for every dollar paid to white, non-Hispanic men, regardless of education or experience. Black women are also among the fastest-growing groups of entrepreneurs in the United States, yet they face significant barriers in access to capital and resources. These statistics aren’t just numbers—they are stories of inequity, lost potential, and opportunities denied.

At ULFC, we know addressing these disparities is not just a moral imperative; it’s a leadership issue, a justice issue, and a responsibility we must face intentionally and decisively. We believe that empowering women—especially Black women—means empowering entire communities and generations.
But acknowledging the issue isn’t enough. We must all step up. Leaders must advocate for equitable policies, demand transparency in hiring and salary practices, and actively work to dismantle biases within their organizations. Every one of us must commit to challenging inequities, speaking out against injustice, and supporting the women around us.

What can you do? Start by recognizing and amplifying women’s contributions, examining biases within your own circles, and advocating actively for change in your spheres of influence. Support women-owned businesses, examine and adjust hiring practices, conduct gender-based salary evaluations, and implement actionable plans to close existing gaps. Let’s ensure that when women rise, they rise whole, supported, and celebrated—not despite their identity or motherhood—but because of the immense value they bring.

Let’s commit to Being Great on Purpose,