March is drawing to a close, but the work it represents — the honoring of women’s resilience, sacrifice, and service — does not close with it. Women’s History Month is not simply a season of reflection. It is a call. And in the Baltimore-Washington region, one organization has been answering that call intentionally, consistently, and powerfully for over a decade.
We Empower Women is the kind of organization that does not wait for a spotlight. It builds, connects, and serves — across Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Prince George’s County, and Philadelphia — often without fanfare and always with purpose. Its founder, LaTara Harris, describes the work simply: “We are just ongoing. Relentless about serving.”
That spirit was very much on display at the organization’s annual Women’s History Month brunch, which brought together a powerhouse gathering of women committed to community, advocacy, and legacy. The event marked a significant transition as well: Harris, stepping into a new professional role, announced an interim leader to carry the organization forward—a passing of the torch that embodies We Empower Women’s core belief in leaving doors open for those who come behind us.
“If we are allowing the flow of information to stop with us,” Harris told me, “then we believe that we have failed.”
The brunch was not a celebration removed from the weight of current realities. It was deeply rooted in them. Among its legislative priorities: maternal health — specifically the alarming and well-documented pattern of Black women being discharged from care too soon, their pain undertreated, their concerns minimized. Economic stability is a concern for women who have lost jobs at an alarming rate. And voting rights, which Harris named plainly as being “under attack.” On-site voter registration resources were made available at both the state and county levels, because for We Empower Women, information without access is incomplete.
The panel conversation was hosted by Jawauna Greene, Assistant Secretary of Transportation for the Maryland Department of Transportation, and featured an exceptional lineup of women whose work spans advocacy, economic development, and civic power. Necole Parker, Founder and CEO of The ELOCEN Group, brought her expertise in business development and entrepreneurship. Alice M. Williams, Director of the Purchasing Office of Procurement for Prince George’s County, represented the critical intersection of government service and economic equity. And Nykidra Robinson, Founder and CEO of Black Girls Vote, grounded the conversation in the urgent, unapologetic work of protecting and expanding civic participation for Black women. Together, they embodied exactly what We Empower Women stands for: collective power, practical action, and an unshakeable commitment to community.
The brunch also honored County Executive Prince George’s County Aisha Braveboy with the organization’s 2026 Visionary Leader Award, a recognition that speaks to both the scope of Braveboy’s work and We Empower Women’s commitment to uplifting Black women who are shaping policy and justice. The 2025 Matriarch Award was presented to Virginia Ali — the beloved co-founder of Ben’s Chili Bowl and a Washington institution in her own right — while the 2025 Patriarch Award honored David Wilmot, recognizing that the work of empowering women is strengthened when men show up as committed allies.
Baltimore Times publisher Joy Bramble — herself a past recipient of We Empower Women’s Matriarch Award — has long recognized the significance of this work. It is a full-circle relationship: Harris recalls sitting with Bramble some thirteen years ago, volunteering time to help elevate the Baltimore Times. That same spirit of mutual investment is woven into everything We Empower Women does.
What is most striking about LaTara Harris and the network she has cultivated is the refusal to be paralyzed by the moment. At a time when many organizations are contracting, We Empower Women is expanding its legislative footprint, deepening its community partnerships — including work with Crittenton Services of Greater Washington supporting young and teen mothers — and leaning in. “This is not the time to close the door,” Harris said. “This is really the time to speak up.”
As Women’s History Month concludes, we do well to remember that history is not only what has been done. It is also what we choose to do next. The women — and men — of We Empower Women have made their choice clear.
To learn more, visit weEmpowerWomen.org.
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Michelle Petties is a TEDx speaker, Food Story coach, and the award-winning memoirist of Leaving Large: The Stories of a Food Addict. After gaining and losing 700 pounds, Michelle discovered the secret to overcoming stress and emotional overeating. Her free workbook, Mind Over Meals, reveals her core principles for losing weight and keeping it off.