How She Learned to Sponsor Other Women

I advocate for women because too often, bias is presented as protection, and women are praised for accepting boundaries that limit their potential. To me, sponsorship means using our credibility to open doors to education, health, digital literacy and economic empowerment including equal pay and I value the men who stand alongside us in that work.

I advocate for other women because sometimes the most powerful thing you can give someone is a third-party endorsement in a room they are not in yet. When I can say, "She is the real deal, and you should be talking to her," it carries weight differently than when she has to say it for herself, and I believe women who have earned credibility should use it to open doors for other women doing the work.

I chose to advocate for her because I know what it feels like to be stretched thin, burned by expectations, and done with people-pleasing. When I finally redirected that energy into myself, I recognized the strength in women who are simply trying to survive with peace and tenderness. Supporting her was an act of returning that kindness, a way of opening a door for another woman walking the same path toward wholeness.

May the mind remain curious, the soul remain tender, and the spirit forever green; rooted in wisdom, renewed by experience, and untouched by the passing seasons of life.

In 2016, God gave me a vision to support women. At the time, I thought that meant holding women's meetings, showing up, and being there for them. Having experienced domestic violence and being in and out of shelters with my son, I knew how much that support mattered. Starting Strength & Grace has helped me see that the vision was bigger than I first understood. I'm still discovering what God has planned, but I trust that He has a purpose for Strength & Grace, and I'm taking it one step at a time.