Dear Friend,
I’m reaching out to you as an honored member of the Ruth’s List Board and as a Black woman who has dedicated the past 53 years to public service in Florida.
I was one of the first Black women in the state to be admitted to the Florida Bar, the first Black woman to practice law in Hillsborough County, and the first Black person to practice law in Polk County. I’m the longest practicing Black woman attorney in Florida history. I served 16 years in the state legislature, first as a member of the Florida House and then in the Florida Senate, where I became the first Black woman to become the Senate Minority Leader.
I recognize these are historic firsts and I’m humbled to be called a trailblazer. But it’s time we do more to ensure Black women have opportunities to lead. We need more Black women in positions of leadership — in corporations, in politics, and certainly in elected office. Florida’s legislature continues to be overrepresented by white men. There are currently only 3 Black women serving in the state senate and 14 in the house.
I’m proud of the work Ruth’s List does to recruit and elect Black women. Last cycle, over half of our endorsed candidates for state and local office were Black women. Since 2008, the organization has raised more than $7.5 million, trained nearly 2,500 candidates and staff, and helped women win nearly 250 elections, including 72 women of color.
In honor of Black History Month, will you join me in making a contribution to Ruth’s List to help recruit, train, and elect more Black women to public office?
