Dear Family,
In what is seen as a historic glass shattering event, the election of a woman to vice president, I found myself wondering: “Hasn’t that glass been shattered before?” Maybe not as loudly, but I am sure it has. I remember learning about the late Bishop Leontine Kelly, a Virginian, who in 1984 was elected to the episcopacy by the Western Jurisdictional Conference of the United Methodist Church. Bishop Kelly would be only the second woman, and the first Black woman, to become a bishop in any major Christian denomination in the world. This was certainly a glass shattering event. I then began thinking about many of the amazing women in my life and their accomplishments, so I went to Facebook and asked the question, “Who are the women you know in the Roanoke and New River Valleys who have shattered the glass ceiling or are the first in their profession to do it.” The response put simply — AMAZING! This month we celebrate Women’s History Month. Our accomplishments are great and there are no limits to what we can do.
This month, ColorsVA explores the decriminalization and legalization of marijuana as our cover story. Virginia is poised to pass legislation that will be a game changer to our criminal justice system and economic development. We also look at the efforts in our region on COVID-19 vaccinations. March also happens to be Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and New Horizons Healthcare shares vitally important information. I cannot wait for you to read this month’s scholar, an amazing young woman whose star cannot be dimmed. And in honor of Women’s History Month, we reshare a few stories highlighting extraordinary women we have featured throughout the years.
To be a woman means to be innovative, creative, strong, caring, loving and hard working. And to quote Maya Angelou, “I am grateful to be a woman. I must have done something great in another life.”
Have a great one!
Karen E. Jones
Editor in Chief
Tags: Editor's Letter
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