IGNITE's Blog

Letitia “Tish” James, the first woman elected as New York’s Attorney General and the first woman of color to serve a statewide NY office, is a passionate public servant presently paving the way for future generations of women leaders.

At twenty years old, Deja Foxx is not afraid to advocate for reproductive health, educational reform, and protecting Title X. She’s making herstory today as a young woman trailblazer who is not afraid to use her voice and fight for her rights.

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. 

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. 

These young activists are using their voice to make a difference. Learn more about their work and discover how you can get involved in activism.

At just twenty-three years old, Nadya Okamoto has already made waves in combating the stigma of periods for fellow menstruators. The former IGNITE Boston Fellow fought against the Tampon Tax, which taxes these items as luxury goods, and has used her position to lift stereotypes against people with periods. 

This Women’s History Month at IGNITE, we’ll be spotlighting several powerful women in our community. Kicking us off is Cecilia Silva, a passionate and seasoned IGNITE alum who currently works for ReflectUS to increase representation in politics. 

March 1, 2021, marks the 35th Women’s History Month. This annual month-long commemoration of honoring the profound contributions of women dates back to 1987. While Women’s History Month is centered on paying tribute to our extraordinary foremothers who fought for our right to vote, it tends to overlook the herstory makers of today. This year, IGNITE will be featuring several ambitious, strong, and inspiring women who are currently writing herstory with their work.