individuals feeling empowered after they have heard the stories of others. Make sure to check out Stories to Tell My Daughter on Sunday March 17th. Doors open at 4:00p.m. at Grandview University. Tickets can be purchased on Eventbrite for $20. March is a special month for many different reasons. Students and teachers would tell you they are excited for Spring Break. If you are Dr. Suess fan, there is the celebration of his birthday with Read Across America. I love the month of March because it’s Women’s History Month! I don’t believe we celebrate women as we should. Women wear many hats such as wife, sister, aunt, cousin, girlfriend, co-worker just to names a few. This month I wanted the front cover to show woman who are making a difference, and I believe will go down in history in Iowa as one of the greats. Here is a little about each of the women on the front cover. Emily Lang teaches Urban Leadership for Des Moines Public Schools and is the Urban Arts Coordinator. She is cofounder of RunDSM and makes an impact on young people each day as she encourages them to use their voice to speak up for all to hear. Teresa Zilk has phenomenally put on Stories to Tell My Daughter. She creates an environment that leaves Mary Campos is an icon and activist in our community, she is the first Latina co-chair of the Iowa Brown-Black Presidential Forum, a member of the Iowa Women’s Hall of Fame, and one of the founders of the Iowa Democratic Hispanic Caucus. Ying Sa is the founder and Principal Certified Public Accountant at Community CPA. Ying works tirelessly and selflessly in her community and shares her expertise with her clients. Ying has been honored with many awards in volunteerism, entrepreneurial, and community spirit. Deborah Berry is a former State Representative who served district 62, and is currently the Executive Director of the radio station KBBG. She has made an impact in her community and according an article recently written in the Waterloo Courier, Berry wants to continue to build KBBS into the powerful media center that will teach youth the importance of having a voice (community learning center) and empower all listeners in communities to be active and participate in making the community “one.” Catherine Williams who is known as a trailblazer and is over 104 years young was a deputy commissioner of the Iowa Shekinah Young is the Executive Director of the Back 2 School Iowa and was this years Influencer of the Year Finalist. She is a driven leader who is currently in the Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute class of 2019. Shekinah has a passion for this community and continues to be a change agent. All these women have made their mark in the communities they serve. They are true servants and give of themselves without expecting anything in return. I’m excited to watch them in 2019 and the years to come! Take the time this month to give a shout of to women who have impacted your life. Happy Women’s History Month to you all! -Dwana Bradley Department of Social Services, and the highest-ranking African American official in Iowa state government when she retired in 1981. She held the first statewide training program for foster parents of special needs children and wrote the department’s first foster care study. Elaine Estes was the first African American Executive Director of the Des Moines Library and the first woman to hold the position in 50 years. She was recognized by DSM Magazine’s Sages Over 70. She has served and been a champion in the African American Community for years.
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