In our Season 3 premiere, Massachusetts Senator Liz Miranda joins our MJE team for a powerful discussion. From Grief to Grace: Healing Mothers, Changing Systems – Part 1

In our Season 3 premiere, Massachusetts Senator Liz Miranda joins our MJE team for a powerful discussion. From Grief to Grace: Healing Mothers, Changing Systems – Part 1

In our Season 3 premiere, Massachusetts Senator Liz Miranda joins our MJE team for a powerful discussion. From Grief to Grace: Healing Mothers, Changing Systems – Part 1

As we continue Women's History Month, we sat down with Boston City Councilor Ruthzee Louijeune about what it means to practice empowered leadership where grace meets governance. Councilor Louijeune reflects on her upbringing as the daughter of Haitian immigrants in Boston and how her family’s strong sense of community shaped her commitment to public service. The conversation explores how compassion, faith, and humility can guide political leadership, even in a challenging and often unforgiving political environment. She also addresses critical issues facing Boston residents—such as housing affordability, evictions, job loss, and support for immigrant communities—while highlighting both the progress the city has made and the work that still lies ahead. Throughout the discussion, Councilor Louijeune emphasizes resilience, advocacy, and the importance of leading with empathy and purpose to build a more just and equitable community.

We sat down with Boston City Councilor Ruthzee Louijeune about what it means to practice empowered leadership where grace meets governance. Councilor Louijeune reflects on her upbringing as the daughter of Haitian immigrants in Boston and how her family’s strong sense of community shaped her commitment to public service. The conversation explores how compassion, faith, and humility can guide political leadership, even in a challenging and often unforgiving political environment. She also addresses critical issues facing Boston residents—such as housing affordability, evictions, job loss, and support for immigrant communities—while highlighting both the progress the city has made and the work that still lies ahead. Throughout the discussion, Councilor Louijeune emphasizes resilience, advocacy, and the importance of leading with empathy and purpose to build a more just and equitable community.

You may know her from our events such as the Mothers Against Violence National Conference, Mother’s Day Luncheon, and so much more! We sat down with local cultural leader Amanda “Lady Emcee” Merricks for an inspiring conversation about arts, culture & legacy in community spaces. She explores what it means to be a trusted community leader, the importance of cultural events in Boston’s Black communities, and how Black history lives not just in remembrance, but in action. Amanda opens up about balancing creativity, public service, entrepreneurship, and personal joy—offering a heartfelt reminder that leadership is rooted in service and love.

We welcome back Renée Ọmọladé as she shares a powerful reflection on balancing motherhood, faith, and leadership while raising three Black sons in Boston and advancing educational equity across Massachusetts. Grounded in her Christian faith, Renée describes motherhood as both a gift and a radical act—intentionally affirming her sons’ identities, teaching them to love their brown skin, preparing them for societal realities, and building strong community ties through their schools and family networks. She speaks candidly about the emotional weight Black mothers carry in preparing their sons for a world that can misjudge them, referencing the broader national conversations sparked by tragedies like Trayvon Martin and George Floyd. Through mentorship, asset-mapping, and what she calls a “championship mentality,” Renée encourages Black women to see themselves as powerful leaders within their families and communities. In the spirit of Black History Month, the conversation celebrates resilience, legacy, and the ongoing responsibility to build a stronger, more just future for the next generation.

Our salute to Black History Month continues with Renée Ọmọladé—educator, activist, mother, and board chair—for an inspiring discussion on leadership, identity, and community impact. A South End native and Dorchester resident, Renée shares her journey from navigating educational inequities to organizing major racial justice efforts in Boston, bringing Michelle Obama to Dorchester through her work with Black Girls Rock, and advancing educational equity in her role at United Way of Massachusetts Bay. Grounded in faith and a belief that “when you make an observation, you have an obligation,” Renée reflects on code-switching, mentorship, and what it truly means to lead with courage, authenticity, and purpose.