“It means strength. It means power. There is hope for women who look like me as well as women in general in the country by her being able to be in that position,” said Denise Williams, the president of the Springfield unit of the NAACP.
Williams said that the historical event will also inspire a new generation of women leaders as they work towards bigger and greater things.
“It sends a message to young women that they have a place at the table. That there is a chair for them. By (Harris) being at the head, it can give women in leadership the courage, the strength and the confidence to continue to move forward,” Williams added.
Kerry Pedraza, the executive director of the local United Way, said that by Harris becoming Vice President, it represents and honors the past accomplishments of women in the country who have paved the way for future generations.
“It shows us that progress is being made. But there is still more that needs to be done,” Pedraza said, noting that it is important for not just young women, but young men as well to see more women in important leadership roles.
“It is important to show that women have an equal claim at the table and have as much right and influence to be there,” she added, noting that positive successes of women in the community have a lasting impact.
Credit: Jeff Guerini
Credit: Jeff Guerini
Springfield City Commissioner and Assistant Mayor Joyce Chilton said it presents a great teaching moment for the country. She said Harris’s success is built upon the previous accomplishments as well as the struggles of important women figures in the country.
Chilton added that those women have all paved the road, opening up barriers for future generations of women. She said that Harris becoming Vice Presidentshows that great things can be accomplished through hard work and perseverance.
Chilton said that having more women in positions of power allows for more voices to be heard especially around issues such as equal pay and maternity leave.
Credit: Contributed photo
Credit: Contributed photo
Cheryl DeGroat Dover, the Minority Business Development Coordinator for the City of Springfield, said that representation is important. When certain accomplishments are made, it can serve as an example to others.
“It gives me a spark of hope in a time when it seems like the world is crushing in,” Dover said.
“Though she opened up the door. It is still going to be hard for little girls growing up to become the Vice President. But it is attainable,” Dover added.
Samina Ahmed, who advocates on behalf of the local Muslim community, said that diverse candidates, such as Harris, represent many different voices in the community.
She said that type of representation is important in promoting unity and building bridges with different communities within the country. Ahmed said that sentiment is important in her work as she seeks to educate Clark County residents about Islam and the Muslims that live in the community.
In doing so, the goal is to foster more relationships between people of different backgrounds. She said seeing people like Harris becoming Vice President can motivate others from different backgrounds to become more active in the community or in politics.
Ahmed said it is important as well that women have been accepted in a number of different positions of power throughout the decades in the country, including being able to run for president.
Maureen Sheehan Massaro, the executive director of the Wilson Sheehan Foundation and the Board President for Second Harvest Food Bank, said a diversity of experience and perspective leads to deeper conversations and decisions, which makes for better outcomes.
She said by Harris becoming Vice President it allows for the representation of certain communities that may have not been represented before at that level of leadership.
Credit: CONTRIBUTED
Credit: CONTRIBUTED
“Female role models are important for women of all ages and for the younger generation, role models represent what is possible and inspires women to be more ambitious and perhaps aim higher,” Massaro said.
“I think having a female Vice President will change some of the conversations that happen around the dinner table and therefore impact younger generations,” she added.
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