Boston's Most Impactful Black Women in 2021

Commemorating and honoring the many women following in the footsteps of Melnea Cass and Coretta Scott King

Sponsored by TABLE OF CONTENTS

Founder's Message 1

Boston Pioneers 2

Academia 6

Arts, Culture, Media & Sports 8

Business 12

Faith 16

Healthcare & Life Science 18

Law, Politics & Public Sector 22

Philanthropy & Social Justice 26 F O U N D E R ' S M E S S A G E Dear Honorees, Sponsors and Friends,

On behalf of Get Konnected!, Colette Phillips Communications, Inc. and the GK Fund, I am delighted to celebrate Women's History Month by honoring Boston’s Most Impactful Black Women. Black women have always been at the epicenter for change, innovation, and the shaping of policies - from Harriet Tubman’s courage to Boston abolitionist Elizabeth Riley to journalist Ida B. Wells. Let’s also honor Rosa Parks, the mother of the civil-rights movement, and the first female millionaire, Black entrepreneur Madam C.J. Walker. Today that courageous spirit lives on in activist Stacey Abrams, whose fight against voter suppression saved our democracy and saved America. In November 2020, following America’s racial reckoning and awakening against the backdrop of George Floyd’s murder and a global pandemic, our country made history by electing Kamala Harris the first Black-South Asian, female Vice President of the United States. Here in Boston, history was made by Black women who embodied the spirit of civil rights and social-justice advocates like Melnea Cass, Ruth Batson, and Elma Lewis. Boston elected its first Black Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, its first Black District Attorney Rachael Rollins, and is now poised to have its first Black and female Mayor of Boston, the Honorable Kim Janey. Black women have endured centuries of exclusion and no recognition. Get Konnected! hopes to change that by celebrating, documenting, validating and amplifying a historic first of its kind in Boston: a list of more than 150 of the city’s Most Impactful Black Women in 2021. They are barrier breakers across industries and sectors. Black women like Carole Simpson, former ABC weekend anchor and first Black woman to moderate a presidential debate, to Bennie Wiley, the president emerita of The Partnership, to those in healthcare like Dr. Myechia Minter Jordan, Dr. Allison Bryant Mantha, Dr. Thea James and many more. They have all inspired us to be and to do more. I am delighted to also welcome everyone to our thirteenth anniversary of Get Konnected!, a business networking event series I founded in 2008 on the premise of inclusion. Our mission is to curate meaningful business and social connections, enrich professional development, facilitate business and career opportunities and forge positive cross-cultural relationships. Boston is a thriving, vibrant world-class city that is both rich in diversity and history. Black people have played an integral role in the city from the very birth of this country when Crispus Attucks, a Black man, was the first to die in the American Revolution. Today, we have 140 languages spoken in Boston, and Black people are coming from across the full spectrum of the African Diaspora - from Africa to the Caribbean to South and Latin America - we are here to be a part of and contribute to the city. The GK! Boston’s Most Impactful Black Women is a unique opportunity for us to spotlight the significant contributions that Black women have made to this city. Among them are scientists, venture capitalists, corporate executives, cultural icons, educators, innovators, social justice, sports experts, civil-rights advocates, faith leaders, policy and political game changers, and next-door neighbors who work to create meaningful change and progress for their communities and beyond. More than a popularity contest, this list is a tool for corporate and non-profit organizations looking for board members or media outlets looking for experts and thought leaders, as well as those looking to diversify their C-suites. With great admiration, gratitude and respect to all the honorees, Colette Phillips President and CEO, Colette Phillips Communications, Inc. Founder & CEO, Get Konnected!, The GK! Market, GK! Execu-Search and The GK Fund

1 B o s t o n P i o n e e r s

"Sometimes it seems like to tell the truth today is to run the risk of being killed. But if I fall, I'll fall five feet four inches forward in the fight for freedom. I'm not backing off." - Fannie Lou Hamer 2 Priscilla Douglas Founder and Principal Dr. Judyann Bigby PH Douglas & Associates Former Secretary of Health and Human Serivces First Black Woman to serve as Commonwealth of Secretary of Consumer Affairs Massachusetts Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Ruth Ellen Fitch Carmen Fields President Emerita & CEO First TV anchor of color Dimock Community Health GBH/PBS Center Producer and Host of First Black Woman Partner "Higher Ground" Palmer & Dodge WHDH

Charlotte Golar Richie Carol Fulp Distinguished Public Service Founder and CEO Fellow Fulp Diversity Center for Women in Politics Consultants, LLC and Public Policy, UMASS Boston President Emerita Former MA Rep. & First Black The Partnership Woman to run for Mayor of Boston

Marian Heard Anita Hill President and CEO Professor of Social Policy, Oxen Hill Partners Law and Women's Studies Brandeis University President Emerita United Way of Eastern MA

Michelle Johnson Jackie Jenkins-Scott Professor of the Practice President and Founder Boston University School JJS Advising of Journalism

President Emerita Former Staff Editor Wheelock College Boston Globe 3 Sara Lawrence Sandra King Lightfoot Sociologist and Professor of Pioneer in Higher Education Education Founder, Director Harvard University GSE STKing Associates, LLC First African American Woman to have an endowed professorship in her honor at Harvard University

Jean McGuire Diane Patrick Executive Director Emerita & First Black Women Partner Co-Founder Ropes & Gray The Metropolitan Council for Educational Vice Chair Board of Trustees Opportunity (METCO) Mass General Hospital

Mary Reed Sarah-Ann Shaw Pioneer in entrepreneurship, First Black Female Television child welfare and education Journalist and Community Tartt''s Day Care Center & Advocate Bessie Tartt Wilson Initiative WBZ-TV For Children

Carole Simpson Sylvia Simmons, Ph.D. First Woman of Color Pioneer in Higher Education Network Anchor to moderate a Presidential Debate ABC News

Dorothy Terrell Marie St. Fleur President Emerita First Haitian American elected Initiative Competitive Inner to MA State Legislature City President St. Fleur Communications President Emerita SunExpress 4 Rev. Liz Walker Joan Wallace First Black TV Anchor WBZ Benjamin (CBS) Boston President Emerita Pastor Home for Little Roxbury Presbyterian Wanderers Church

Rev. Gloria White Linda Whitlock Hammond, MD Principal Co-Pastor The Whitlock Group Bethel AME Church

President Emerita Swartz Resident Practitioner in Boys & Girls Club of Ministry Studies Boston Harvard Divinity School

Bennie Wiley Dianne Wilkerson Principal Community Activist The Wiley Group First Black Woman in President Emerita elected to MA State The Partnership Senate

Beth Williams President and CEO Emerita Roxbury Technology

5 A c a d e m i a

We have a powerful potential in our youth, and we must have the courage to change old ideas and practices so that we may direct their power toward good ends" - Mary McLeod Bethune 6 Brenda Cassellius Aisha Francis, Superintendent Ph.D. Boston Public Schools Chief Executive Officer Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology

Deborah Jackson Paula Johnson President President Cambridge College Wellesley College

Valerie Roberson Lynn Perry Wooten President President Roxbury Community Simmons College College

7 A r t , C u l t u r e , M e d i a & S p o r t s

"When you stop having dreams and ideals - well, you might as well stop altogether." - Marian Anderson 8 Paris Alston Callie Crossley Producer for Radio Boston and Host of Under the Radar Consider This GBH WBUR Boston

LaToyia Edwards Delores Edwards Anchor Executive Producer of NBC10 Boston & NECN Basic Black GBH

Allison Feaster Nneka Faison Vice President of Player Chronicle Executive Producer Development & Organizational WCVB Growth Boston Celtics

Joyce Ferriabough L'Merchie Frazier Bolling Director of Education Reporter Museum of African American Boston Herald History

Cameo George Renee Graham Producer of American Associate Editor and Experience Columnist GBH Boston Globe

9 Ekua Holmes Claudia Henderson Founder and Director Chief People Officer and EVP Great Black Art for Strategic Communications Collection Boston Globe

Karen Holmes Ward Dr. Yndia Lorick- Director of Public Affairs & Community Services Wilmot Executive Producer & Host of Digital Creator CityLine, Journeys of Belonging 2 WCVB Blackness

Makeeba McCreary Mallika Marshall, MD Chief of Learning and Health Reporter Community Engagement WBZ Boston Museum of Fine Art

Charlayne Murrell- Catherine Morris Smith Founder Vice President External Boston, Arts & Music Soul Relations Festival (BAMS Fest) Boston Children's Museum

Porsha Olaylwola Jenee Osterheldt Writer, Performer, Curator, Associate Editor and Columnist Poet and Educator Boston Globe City of Boston

10 Lisa Simmons Candelaria Silva-Collins Founder Culture and Arts Roxbury International Film Consultant Festival

Bianca Smith Theo Tyson First Black Female MLB Curator and Avant-Garde Coach Academic Boston Red Sox

Amaka Ubaka Wanda Whitmore Co-Founder and Principal Anchor and Journalist Legacy, Inc. WHDH

Melissa Younger Executive Producer of Late Evening Newscasts NBC10 Boston & NECN

11 B u s i n e s s

“I am a woman who came from the cotton fields of the South. From there I got promoted to the washtub. From there I was promoted to the cook kitchen. And from there I promoted myself into the business of manufacturing hair goods and preparations. I have built my own factory on my own ground.” - Madam CJ Walker 12 Hilina Ajakaiye Dianne Austin Executive Vice President Co-Founder Greater Boston Coils to Locs Convention and Visitors Bureau

Ophelia Bakon JocCol "JC" Burton Owner Founder and CEO Nouveau Fashion Maven Construction

Teri Williams Cohee President and COO Kelley Chunn One United Bank Principal Kelley Chunn & Co-Founder Associates Black Economic Council of MA

Carole Copeland Roxann Cooke Managing Director -Regional Thomas Director of Banking Speaker, Trainer, Global JP Morgan Chase Thought Leader, and Business Owner

Kem Danner Stacy Cowan Head of Human Founder and CEO Resources and Senior SLC Advisory Services, LLC Vice President State Street 13 Pam Everhart Head of Regional Public Affairs and Community Anna Foster Relations Founder Fidelity A Maven World, Maven Women's Conference Co-Founder New Commonwealth Fund

Linda Dorcena Forry Donna Gittens, Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion MBA Suffolk Construction Co-Founder and CEO MORE Advertising Co-Founder New Commonwealth Fund

Jacqueline Glenn Kathy Kountze Founder and CEO Senior Vice President & Glenn Diversity Inclusion CIO & HR Solutions Eversource Energy

Michelle Taylor Jones Ivy Lawson Vice President Global Founder and CEO Diversity, Equity & Logwood Company Inclusion Manulife Financial

Valerie Mosley Juliette Mayers Founder Valmo Ventures Founder and Principal

Inspiration Zone, LLC Co-Founder New Commonweatlh Fund 14 Darla Pires DeGrace Kristen Ransom Executive Director, Head of CEO and Founder Diversity Talent Acquisition IncluDe Innovation Morgan Stanley

Jody Rose Colleen Richards President Powell New England Venture Chief Diversity, Equity & Capital Association Inclusion Officer Founder American Tower Hack Diversity

Edie M. Stringfellow AJ Williams Senior Director of Founder & Creative Director Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Creative Events MassBio

15 Faith

"Women, if the soul of the nation is to be saved, I believe that you must become its soul." - Coretta Scott King 16 Rev. Irene Monroe Public Theologian, Minister, Columnist 'GBH, Boston Public Radio Huffington Post

Rev. Mariama White Hammond Advocate for Ecological and Social Justice Founding Pastor New Roots AME Church

17 Healthcare & Life Science

Mary Eliza Mahoney first African American licensed nurse

Boston, Massachusetts 18 Soukaina Adolphe, Gaurdia Banister, MD Ph.D. Professor Pediatrics Executive Director Boston Medical Center MGH Insitute of Patient Care

Heidi Brooks Stephanie Browne COO Vice President of Talent National Institute for Acquisition and Chief Children's Health Quality Diversity Blue Cross Blue Shield

Allison Bryant Dr. Sherri-Ann Mantha, MD Burnett Bowie, MD Vice Chair of Quality, Equity Director & Safety Mass General Hospital Obstetrics & Center for Diversity and Gynecology at MGH Inclusion

Christy Egun Sandra Cottrell Senior Director of Boston Partnerships, Equity and CEO Inclusion Codman Square Health Center for Community Center Health Improvement at MGH

Trinidad Grange- Kyner Yvonne Greenstreet Vice President, Technology President and CEO Delivery and Business Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Partnerships Tufts Health Plan

19 Yalonda Howze Thea James, MD Executive Vice President, Chief Associate Professor of Legal Officer Emergency Medicine Kodiak BioSciences Boston Medical Center

Melissa Jocelyn, RN, Lisa Kelly-Croswell BSN, MSN Senior Vice President and A Nursing Director Chief Human Resources Mass General Brigham Officer Boston Medical Center

Stephanie Lovell Executive Vice President, Phillomin "Philly" Medicare, and Chief Legal Laptiste Officer Executive Director Blue Cross Blue Shield Bowdoin St. Health Center Co-Founder New Commonwealth Fund

Dr. Myechia Minter Jordan, MD, MBA Dr. Karen McAlmon President and CEO Neonatal Specialist DentaQuest Partnership for Beth Israel Lahey Health Oral Health System of Neonatology Co-Founder New Commonwealth Fund

Dr. Nancy Norman, Dani Monroe SVP Chief Diversity, Equity MD, MPH and Inclusion Officer Medical Director of Integration Mass General Brigham Massachusetts Behavioral Health Partnership 20 Desiree Ralls- Shea Sherrod Morrison Asfaw, MHSA Senior Vice President Chief of Staff of the Boston Scientific President

Mass General Hospital Co-Founder New Commonwealth Fund

Jovita Thomas- Frederica Williams Williams President & CEO Senior Vice President of Whittier Street Health Human Resources Center Mass General Hospital

Kerry-Ann Williams, MD Medical Director of MA Children's Residential Programming Justice Resource Institute

21 L a w , P o l i t i c s & P u b l i c S e c t o r

"The next time a woman of whatever color, or a dark-skinned person of whatever sex aspires to be president, the way should be a little smoother because I helped pave it." - Shirley Chisholm 22 Kelly Bates Sandra Borders Lawyer Chief Diversity Officer Social Change Commonwealth of Advocate Massachusetts

Agnes Bundy Scanlan Kimberly Budd President The Cambridge Group, LLC Chief Justice

Massachusetts Supreme Former Regional Director Court U.S. Consumer Protection Financial Bureau

Denise Casper Andrea Campbell First African American Councilor Woman Federal Judge Boston City Council U.S. District Court for Massachusetts

Karilyn Crockett, Ph.D. Lecturer of Public Policy and Lydia Edwards Urban Planning Councilor Massachusetts Institute of Boston City Council Technology

April English Stesha Emmanuel Assistant Attorney General, Chief of Development and Litigation Attorney Diversity McCarter & English Office of the Attorney General 23 Annaise H. Foureau Rontear Farmer Director of Scheduling and Grand Jury Director Special Projects Office of the Attorney Office of the Attorney General General

Hon. Kim Janey Chrystal Kornegay Mayor Executive Director City of Boston MassHousing

Liz Miranda Ceferina Murrell MA State Representative Deputy Legislative Director MA House of Office of the Governor Representatives

Brandy Fluker Oakley Karen Charles Peterson MA State Representative Commissioner MA House of Department of Representatives Telecommunications and Cable

Ayanna Pressley Rachael Rollins U.S. Congresswoman District Attorney U.S. House of Suffolk County Representatives Elaine Weddington Tanisha Sullivan Steward Attorney, President Vice President and Senior Club The NAACP Boston Counsel Boston Red Sox

Chynah Tyler MA State Representative MA House of Representatives

Chair MA Black and Latino Legislative Caucus (MBLLC)

25 Philanthropy & Social Justice

"Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world." - Harriet Tubman 26 Chastity Bowick Monica Cannon-Grant Executive Director Founder and CEO Transgender Emergency of Violence In Boston, Inc. MA

Bithiah Carter Beth Chandler President President and CEO New England Blacks in YW Boston Philanthropy

Denella Clarke Cheryl Clyburn President Crawford Boston Arts Academy Exeuctive Director Foundation MassVOTE

Sheena Collier Elsa Gomes Bondlow Founder and President Diversity, Equity and The Collier Connection & Inclusion Specialist Boston While Black Building Impact

Sophia Hall Charmane Higgins, Supervising Attorney MBA Lawyers Committee for Executive Director Civial Rights Trinity Boston Connects

27 Elisabeth Jackson Malia Lazu Lecturer Executive Director Massachusetts Institute of Bridge Over Troubled Water Technology

Co-Founder New Commonwealth Fund

Atyia Martin, Ph.D. Na'Tisha Mills Professor, Founder and Associate Director CEO King Boston All Aces, Inc.

Carla Monteiro Emergency Psychiatric Social Worker Nicole Obi Boston Children's Hospital Director of Strategic Partnerships Founder Black Economic Council of Cape Verdean Social MA Workers Association

Miracle Olatunji Author of "Purpose: How to Lisa Owens Live and Lead with Impact" Executive Director Hyams Foundation Founder OpportuniMe

Jocelyn Sargent Executive Strategic Katrina Shaw Consultant CEO New Commonwealth Fund Freedom House, Inc.

Co-Founder Center for Social Inclusion/Race Forward 28 Klare Shaw Monalisa Smith President and CEO National Director of Programs Mothers for Justice and Liberty Mutual Foundation Equality

Rebekah Splaine Sylvia Stevens Salwasser Edouard Executive Director Boston Red Sox Director of Community Foundation Relations Liberty Mutual Insurance Co-Founder New Commonwealth Fund

Pamela Waterman Director MAAH Stone Book Award

Project Director Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

29 Acknowledgements

A special thank you and shoutout to Saskia Epstein and Jon Bernstein of PNC Bank who have demonstrated a strong commitment to economic equity, diversity and inclusion.

To Chris Wayland and Maggie Baxter and the entire NBC10 Boston team for their dedication to inclusion and diversity, and for continuing to make Boston the city we know it can be.

I am grateful to all of our corporate and institutional partners without whom Get Konnected! and our many social impact endeavors would not be possible.

Lastly, a huge thank you to the entire Get Konnected! team (Mary Helen Gillespie, Noa Vardy, Michael Benezra, Lily Pillsbury, Casey O’Brien, Maria DeSimone and Ariele Lee); who work every day to help sustain and make Get Konnected! and CPC possible.

Presented by 30