Dateline Washington – State Sen. Holly Mitchell (D-Culver City/Crenshaw District) today was announced as a scholarship winner by the Governing Institute and the State Legislative Leaders Foundation.
She is the first of 25 eventual Lois M. DeBerry scholarship winners.
Governing Institute’s Women in Government Leadership Program highlights the contributions of women currently in public office, provides leadership development and critical job skills during three summits. It creates a network to pay it forward by mentoring the next generation of women leaders to run for office.
Ms. DeBerry served in the Tennessee House of Representatives for 41 years, 1972 until her death, July 28, 2013.
She was the longest-serving member of the state House, the second black woman to serve, and the first woman to be speaker pro tem of the Tennessee House.
Sen. Mitchell has served in the state legislature since 2011. She belongs to the Senate’s official leadership, chairing the Budget Subcommittee on Health and Human Services and serving on the Rules, Health, Insurance, and Labor committees.
She founded the Senate Select Committee on Women and Inequality. All 49 of the bills Senator Mitchell has delivered to the Gov. Brown’s desk during her five years in the legislature have been signed into law.
Most focus on expanding human services, women’s reproductive rights, environmental justice, fighting the trafficking of minors and the undocumented and, above all, reducing the numbers of children growing up in poverty.
“Having worked with Lois DeBerry through her leadership in the National Black Caucus of State Legislators and as a founding member of the National Organization of Black Elected Legislative Women, I observed firsthand the care and commitment that made her a trailblazer among women of color,” said Sen. Mitchell.
“I continue to draw inspiration from her relentless compassion.”
“Holly has devoted her career to fighting for the rights of our nation’s most vulnerable citizens (and those who would one day hope to be citizens),” said Stephen G. Lakis, President/CEO of the State Legislative Leaders Foundation
The Governing Institute advances better government by improving performance and outcomes through research, decision support, and executive education to help public sector leaders govern more effectively.
Governing is a division of e.Republic, the nation’s only media and research company focused exclusively on state and local government and education.
Ms. Burrows may be contacted at jburrows@governing.com
