Friday, March 21, 2025, at the YWCA of White Plains & Central Westchester, wasn’t just another calendar event for Women’s History Month—it was a full-on download from the divine feminine.
The theme?
“Leading in a Challenging Time.”
The result?
Proof that when women speak the truth, systems shake. When we gather, we don’t just share space—we set it on fire with purpose.
Now you know I’m not new to the game. I came in expecting a solid panel. But what I got? A soul shift. And by the time it ended, I had a new prayer: Let me always be surrounded by women like these.
Let me start with the powerhouse energy in the room.
Javon M. Trottman-Floyd, MPA, Chief Operating Officer of the YWCA, held it down as the anchor of the evening. Not just facilitating—centering. Her presence made it clear: leadership rooted in care is not soft. It’s steel wrapped in softness. It’s “I got you” energy paired with executive-level excellence.
And then came the panelists, each one pulling back the curtain on what it really means to lead right now—in a world that often refuses to see us, hear us, or value our labor.
Kate Permut, Chair of the Westchester Women’s Agenda, rolled in with the receipts. No fluff. Just facts, frameworks, and fierce advocacy. She painted a picture of equity that was rooted in action, not just aspiration. You know the type—quiet storm, but when she speaks, everything stills so you don’t miss a word.
Eileen O’Connor, cofounder of NYCD16 Indivisible, reminded us that political activism isn’t reserved for podiums and press releases. It lives in town halls, living rooms, and inboxes at 2 a.m. when justice can’t wait. Eileen brought the heat—strategic, smart, and unapologetically people-first.
Then Jirandy Martinez, Executive Director of the Community Resource Center, stood in her power and reminded us that proximity to pain creates a deeper kind of purpose. She leads with love and boundaries—serving immigrant communities with clarity, cultural fluency, and unshakable conviction.
And let me tell you about Maritza Fasack, educator and founder of Women United of Westchester Social Club. When she spoke? I swear time paused. Her message was about joy as resistance, about the importance of gathering not just to organize—but to remember we’re human. She reminded us that spaces of sisterhood aren’t luxuries. They’re lifelines.
And the queens who made it all possible?
Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Senator Shelley B. Mayer. Whew.
Let’s start with Andrea. Her presence alone teaches. The first Black woman to lead a legislative conference in New York State—and still as real as your favorite auntie who taught you how to read a room and read a bill. She moves with legacy on her shoulders and liberation in her bones.
And Shelley? She walks the walk. A fierce advocate for public education, women’s rights, and the communities often pushed to the margins. She didn’t just host—she listened. She uplifted. She showed up in a way that felt genuine and grounded.
Now, let me be clear: there was no buffet, no catering, no passed appetizers. But baby—we were fed. On vision. On truth. On vulnerability and unapologetic strength. We were reminded that being a woman in leadership doesn’t mean fitting into broken systems—it means rebuilding them from the inside out.
So if you ask me what I took away?
It’s this:
We lead from love.
We organize from experience.
We rise from fire.
And when we do it together?
There’s nothing more powerful.
With all the love for the women who lead and the sisters who stand behind the scenes holding us down,
Larnez Kinsey
Amazing article!
Thank you
Simply Beautiful. Thank you for your Contribution to All Women Of The Worl.
Thank you. Appreciate your kind words.
Beautifully written, and I’m so proud of you my friend.
Thank you Sis
Love you to pieces
Thank you for your writing! You captured the energy and I was so very happy and honored to be part of it!
Eileen
Thank you so much, Eileen! Your presence brought such a beautiful light to that moment—we all felt it. I’m deeply touched that the words reflected the energy you experienced. That connection, that shared spirit, is exactly what inspired this piece. I hope others feel it too… and maybe feel curious enough to step a little closer to what this love letter truly means. Grateful to have crossed paths.
Thank you for your eloquence! I will remember this moving piece for a long time as we fight on.
Thank you
Thank you for your kind words. I’m honored to know this piece spoke to you.
Larnez
Thank you for sharing this article and your passionate support of powerful woman teaching and leading the way. I especially enjoyed your work writing style escorting the reader to their seat at this powerful workshop. Continue this great work and I look forward to the next empowering event that you are a member of.
Great article and women’s advocacy and empowerment. It’s very enlightening and encapsulates power in numbers. Great article.
Thank You
Thank you for capturing not just the essence of the evening, but the soul of it. It was an absolute honor to be among such powerful, purpose-driven women, and your reflection is a reminder of what happens when we gather with intention and truth.
“Steel wrapped in softness”—you saw me, and I felt that. I’m grateful for your presence, your pen, and your ability to echo what so many of us felt in that room. May we continue to lead, rise, and rebuild together.
With gratitude and sisterhood,
Javon
Beloved Javon,
Thank you for your heartfelt words. It was my honor to reflect the powerful, radiant spirit you and so many other phenomenal women brought into that room. I’m grateful we could share such a transformative moment together. May we continue to lead, rise, and rebuild as one.
In sisterhood,
Larnez
Damn!
…Did I miss getting my ticket?! Bravo, Well DONE and Excellent writing and well captured descriptions of everyone on the panels or who were even involved at all! All this makes me want to do after reading this, is dig into my wallet with a question of…how can I support as a Man?…And I pity the Fools that get on the Wrong side Of the Ladies in THIS organization! Wow! I’m thinking of Women that I know that would be perfect to introduce and add to your Ranks. Let’s make the next one with Hor-d’oeuvres, Buffet , Black Tie and Abundant Champagne, Because You Ladies should Be consistently and relentlessly CELEBRATED!!! 
Well…WELL Done @Larnez Kinsey…And Thank You For Putting me IN THE ROOM, With Your Writing! 
Wow, thank you for that incredible burst of enthusiasm! I’m so glad you felt right there in the room with us through my words. Your support as a man is both welcome and needed—there’s nothing like true allyship. Stay connected, because together, we’ll keep empowering women, honoring community, and lifting each other up.
With gratitude,
Larnez
Larnez, the article was a beautiful tribute to the greatness of WOMEN!
We’re always at the forefront of making change in this country, even while taking care of our children, our partners, our bosses at work, just to name a few.
I am familiar with the work of some of the women that you named, like the Senators and Ms. O’Connor, whom I met last year, when my mom & I worked with [Eileen], her partner, and the Robinson sisters sending out Bowman-Wagstaff election postcards.
Most recently, Eileen & my United Yonkers colleagues came together to protest Great Point Studios building multiple soundstages/studios/screening monstrosities, in Ludlow Park. This example further illustrates the never-ending commitment and multi-tasking capabilities of women for the betterment of their communities and beyond.
Aside from you noting these trailblazing ladies, another part of your article stood out for me. To some, this may sound ridiculously minor, but the fact that refreshments were not served did not diminish the purpose of the gathering. I have attended functions where attendees were more interested in the menu and whether the decor was appropriate, rather than appreciaing the wonderful aesthetic of Sisters in Solidarity honoring other Sheroes.
Great writing, Larnez!
Thank you so much for your thoughtful feedback. It warms my heart that you recognized how the essence of sisterhood and solidarity carried the gathering, even without the typical refreshment spread. We women truly do balance a multitude of responsibilities for the sake of our communities—and it’s that same unwavering commitment that I wanted to celebrate in this piece. I appreciate your continued support and activism, and I’m inspired by the work you do as well.
With gratitude,
Larnez