Women Warriors

For the past several weeks, the Guiding Circle of the Fund for Women and Girls chose women from submitted nominations to spotlight. So many impressive nominations were received, and for the tenth spotlight, the Guiding Circle wants to share them all! These honorees are true Women Warriors, sacrificing for their families, their neighbors, and their community during…

Comforting and Protecting Residents During COVID-19 Two women put their efforts into serving others As a visiting Registered Nurse, Kathy Hughes has been on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic. She provides exceptional patient care to the homebound, and during this crisis, Kathy has stepped up to lead in a big way. By calming…

Providing a Safety Net for Students During COVID-19 One woman coordinates resources for students’ families Since 2015, the Taft Promise Neighborhood, now Youngstown Promise Neighborhoods, has provided services and supports to students and families in the neighborhoods surrounding Taft and Wilson Elementary Schools on the southside of Youngstown. When the schools closed because of Safer at…

Supporting Local Students During COVID-19 Two women inspire, educate and support youth  Jalaya Provitt and Renda White have continued to lead their students and staff at Inspiring Minds in Warren as the high school and K8 program coordinators, respectively. When the stay-at-home orders were implemented at the beginning of COVID-19 and schools and other youth service providers…

Fighting to Protect Returning Citizens During COVID-19 One woman provides support and essentials to incarcerated and returning citizens Dionne Dowdy is the executive director of United Returning Citizens, a nonprofit organization serving formerly incarcerated citizens as well as the larger community which has been affected by mass incarceration. She is also the board president for Community…

Connecting to Community Through Food During COVID-19 One woman uses passion for food to expand her impact Susan Payton has taken an active role from the very beginning of the COVID-19 crisis. As an instructor at Youngstown State University, she quickly pivoted to teaching her courses online, including a food lab as part of student coursework.…

A Lifeline for International Students During COVID-19 One woman keeps students connected to basic needs An associate professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at Youngstown State University, Dr. Alicia Prieto Langarica is also closely connected to the University’s community of international students. Shortly after YSU’s campus closed down because of COVID-19, she put out…

A Steady Voice for Residents During COVID-19 One woman keeps city residents informed As the City of Youngstown’s Health Commissioner,Erin Bishop’s leadership and courage have been steadfast from day one of the COVID-19 pandemic. Appearing in press conferences, briefings, public service announcements, online townhalls, and more, Erin quickly became a source of expertise and a voice…

Supporting Local Seniors During COVID-19 One woman spearheads rapid response group Leah Sakacs is the coordinator of Retired Senior Volunteer Program Mahoning and Trumbull Counties (RSVP). In addition to that position, and her work with the League of Women Voters, the Association of Fundraising Professionals, and many other community groups, Leah found time to head up…

Each week, the Guiding Circle of the Fund for Women and Girls selects one Woman Warrior from submitted nominations to spotlight. This week features our very first honoree. Endless Service to Others One woman brings humanitarian aid to hundreds of families Pastor Julia Wike is a retired worker, a dedicated pastor in the Mahoning Valley and the director…