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'Believe in Women' honorees discuss their success, goals for the future

The Storm recognized four Black women in Seattle for being changemakers in their communities.

SEATTLE — Every year, the Seattle Storm honors a group of trailblazing women who are change-makers in their communities. 

KING 5's Joyce Taylor sat down with the 2024 "Believe in Women" honorees to discuss the obstacles they've overcome.

Each honoree expressed gratitude for being recognized by the Storm because they said the team’s mission is aligned with their own to support young people through advocacy and access. 

Verla Spencer, co-founder of The Way to Justice: I come from a place where people like me don't succeed. I have a brother that is serving 120 years inside of a facility that probably won't see the daylight, then I have an uncle who is serving 40 years inside of a prison cell. It has led me down a path of doing this work, not because we have to, but because it is necessary. 

Faisa Farole, midwife and owner of Global Perinatal Services: I was born in Somalia, but this is home for me. Hearing that the services that we provide has made their birthing experience that much easier really warms my heart. 

Ollie Garret, business owner and president of Tabor 100I grew up in Mississippi, and I grew up during the Civil Rights Movement. In an environment where blacks were told what you can't do - you need to tell me why, or I'm going to do it.  

Reverend Kiti Ward, founder of the Agape House: We're helping them to develop an economic base. Economics is key to everything. 

Spencer: Joy is us creating our own organizations and making the rules. 

Taylor: How has your identity as a Black woman influenced the work that you do?  

Spencer: We all have experienced the same things in our everyday lives. We have experienced suffering. We've experienced what it means to be able to come from humble beginnings, what it means to be able to have denied access to medical care, 

Garret: But it's clear the same fight, the same struggles, everything is the same. We just have different things that we focus on in organizations. 

Ward: The thing that we have in common is what you see in front of you. We're all. Black women and all of us have been told no. The courage that you see here is a common denominator, the courage and the commitment and the integrity to do what is in us to do and not to take no as an answer. 

Taylor: What kind of pressure do you feel as a Black woman to represent other Black women? 

Farole: Sometimes you need to get some of the black people out of the way in order for you to do the work that the community needs for you to do 

Taylor: Let’s talk about that. What do you mean when you say sometimes you have to get some of the Black people out of the way? 

Farole: Lack of support. Lack of support. What we're trying to do. Sometimes also, if there is a first of a Black person, they also act like a gatekeeper as well, and not wanting for you to come, to come onto that platform with them.  

Ward: You have to ask the question, 'Why do they serve as a gatekeeper?' What are they overseeing? What are they keeping?  

Spencer: And that's just it. There is enough room at the table for all to be able to serve these clients in a way that meets their needs.  

Farole: It’s so meaningful when people that look like you see the work that you're doing, and they tip their hat their head at you, 

Taylor: What do you want our viewers to see about each of you and the work that you?  

Spencer: It's not every day that you will hear somebody say, 'I see you,' right? We see you.  For us, that is something that drives down deep to the core of your soul when you're black and brown. It’s not about ego. It is about compassion and commitment and dedication.  

Ward: We were taught to live, to give you, why you live is to give. You’re going to change the paradigm, and you're going to make the place a better place than when you first arrived 

Farole: I didn't get to my organization to be an organization that is that's earning seven figures right now based on dei. I got it because I had to work my butt off. We are innovators.  

Spencer: We are Black and brown women right here in the state of Washington, doing this work, doing the work that is exhausting, doing the work that must be done with all of the challenges that we are coming up against right now, we must stand.

Taylor: We're in interesting times right now, and I'm wondering, so early into this newest administration how are you feeling right now? 

Farole: It’s been less than a month, but the stuff that has been just coming out of that office, Oval Office - it’s just been scary.

Garret: I feel like back being that little girl in 1965. It’s really disheartening to see us going back and or trying to be taken back. 

Ward: I am a little personally nervous because I'm not sure how awake we are as a people. We have to understand the day we're in. He's not joking. He's not kidding. And the nazi sign that came out was not a mistake. It was done twice intentionally. We as a people, have to wake up. 

Spencer: I think about the slavery. I think about the Jim Crow. I think about the redlining. I think about the food deserts that they dropped us in. I think about the anti-literacy laws. And I think about, you know, the war on drugs. I think about all of these things. Women are changing this world. In fact, this whole entire country was built off of the back of Black women, and we are not going back. We shall overcome. 

Taylor: For young Black women, little Black girls who are watching you, what would you say to them? 

Ward: The next time you look at yourself in the mirror, and what you see is beautiful brown and Black skin. And here that sometimes coils and sometimes it is nappy. Your brown eyes, everything that is about you. I want you to look at yourself in the mirror and say, 'Honey, I love you. You are so pretty.'

Garret: Every time you hear 'No,' you think about it, and you go, you research, and you turn that no into a yes.

Farole: I would say that excellence is in your DNA. You have history full of trailblazers, and when you are in a space, don't feel like that imposter syndrome. Know that you belong. 

Spencer: That all things are possible, no matter what they have told you, no matter what you have seen, all things are possible.  

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