IGNITE's Blog

Georgia, on my mind and in the headlines. Again. Georgia Representative Park Cannon, a Black woman, was arrested on Thursday, March 25, after knocking on the governor's office door during a press conference. Behind closed doors, Kemp was preparing to sign Senate Bill 202 to overhaul elections in the state. Cannon wanted to watch Gov. Brian Kemp sign the bill, a silent protest against the many voter suppression tactics in the bill.

Senator Mazie Hirono was born in Fukushima, Japan. Because she had an unstable father, her mother risked everything to escape to the US for a new life for her children. Once in Hawaii, their lives were challenging as she struggled to learn English and her mother worked two jobs to pay the bills. Despite the barriers, her love of learning flourished with trips to the library and a newly found passion for public service. 

Family Tribute to Norma Stone
From her 3 children and their spouses:
Mike & Betsy Stone, Lisa Stone & Scott Cantor, and Angela Stone & Michael Stehling

Norma Stone is a remarkable person.  From her childhood, she learned not to shy away from challenges or let gender stereotypes and biases stand in her way.  Throughout her life, she has been a dedicated, stubborn, and persistent advocate for the causes and people she believes in.  By her actions, she inspires others to do good and be better.

The number of women who are the breadwinner in their households is increasing tremendously in the United States. At present, women represent over 60% of the workforce in the country. When women become pregnant at some point during their employment, they should have access to a supportive work environment where they do not have to risk between their health and job.

We not only remember our past trailblazers but also celebrate our current HERstorymakers. From science labs to television stations to Congress, women have continued to break barriers in every field. Women win cases, run for public office, close deals, write codes, lead startups, save lives and so on. In this article, we zero in on the profiles of some of the extraordinary HERstorymakers of today and thank them for inspiring women across the country and the globe. 

Do you know exactly what documents you need to register to vote? Or where in your County to send your application? Do you know if you can register to vote online? Most people don’t -- and that’s an issue. 

As one of the youngest members of the Kansas Legislatures and an IGNITE alum, Christina Haswood is currently making strides for Indigenous women across the country. 

IGNITE condemns acts of hate against people of Asian ancestry and extends our sympathy and support for all those harmed directly and indirectly by the recent violence in Atlanta. Hate is a virus and we won't stand for it.

Gretchen Whitmer, the Governor of Michigan, has made strides for American women in politics. Born and raised in Michigan, she has had a long love of politics and public service. She was born to two lawyers and grew up surrounded by the importance of law and public service. Whitmer attended both undergrad and law school in Michigan at Michigan State and the Detroit College of Law, respectively. 

I’m exhausted. The pandemic has exacerbated acts of racism and violence on Asian Americans. And today we wake up  to another incident that will be etched in our history.