Black History Month invites us to honor the women whose courage, brilliance, and leadership have shaped our state and our nation. Their stories are woven into the fabric of North Carolina — stories of resistance, creativity, scholarship, and community care.

This month, we’re celebrating the legacies of Black women whose work continues to inspire our mission.

Pauli Murray (Durham, NC)

A legal scholar, civil rights strategist, priest, and poet, Pauli Murray’s ideas laid the groundwork for landmark gender‑equality cases. Her life reminds us that advocacy is both intellectual and deeply personal — a commitment to justice that spans every part of one’s identity.

Ella Baker (Littleton, NC)

Known as the “Mother of the Civil Rights Movement,” Ella Baker believed in the power of grassroots leadership. She taught that strong communities are built when everyday people are empowered to lead — a truth that echoes in our work Across the Four counties we serve.

Nina Simone (Tryon, NC)

A musician, activist, and truth‑teller, Nina Simone used her voice to challenge injustice and uplift the humanity of Black women. Her artistry reminds us that healing and resistance often live side by side.

Harriet Jacobs (Edenton, NC)

Author of Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Jacobs’ story is one of extraordinary resilience. Her courage to speak the truth — even when it was dangerous — continues to inspire women who are reclaiming their own narratives.

Anna Julia Cooper (Raleigh, NC)

A scholar, educator, and one of the earliest Black feminist voices, Cooper believed that the progress of a community depends on the progress of its women. Her words still ring true today.

These women — and so many others — remind us that Black women have always been at the forefront of movements for justice, dignity, and liberation. Their legacies guide our work as we expand our reach across Catawba, Caldwell, Alexander, and Burke counties.

This month, we honor their brilliance.

We honor their courage.

We honor the communities they built — and the communities we continue to build together.