Celebrating Mother’s Day 2023
In every interview, we ask, “Who is an influential woman in your life?” Perhaps predictably, many choose their mothers. In fact, a common addition to that answer is, “I know everyone says their mother,” or, “It’s an obvious answer…” And while “my mom” is an often-heard response, it is one that is still wholly unique to each person. Every story of mothers, grandmothers, sisters, aunts, friends, mentors, caretakers is unique – just as every person has their own shape in our lives.
So despite the common answer, we always love to hear about the influence mothers, confidantes, and nurturers have on people and their journeys.
Priyanka Desirazu
Interview by Kelsey Graham. Photography by Stacy Wegley.
Growing up and even today, my aunt, who is my mother’s sister. In various ways, especially after my mom passed away, she became the person who I looked up to. Just how she handled and continues to handle her life. I look at that and I gain a lot of inspiration from it.
Oftentimes we think of famous people, but I think sometimes we have to look at our closest circle. We have so many people inspiring us right there. And those are the ones who I believe can make a personal difference in your life. I always think that the people closest to you are your best mentors. They know you, and they should be recognized because oftentimes I’m asked, ‘“Who is the one person who you look up to?” and there are many of those.
So my aunt for sure. She continues to always, if anyone is in need, to cook for them, to drop them off at the airport. Little, little things like that make a lot of difference. So if I do anything like that now, it’s because I’ve seen her doing all that. It is a big part of who I am now, whether it is volunteering in different organizations, whether it’s volunteering my time, it is all from her.
Whitney Gaskins
Interview by Melanie Schmid. Photography by Jennave Traoré.
It is not fair for me to name just one woman because there has always been a woman that's had my back to make sure that I was okay since I arrived in Cincinnati. But I'm going to name five because it goes over the span of my life.
This woman I call Mama Joy was a math professor at the University of Cincinnati. She was my calculus teacher, Joy Moore. My youngest’s middle name is Joy for that reason, and she's the godmother to my son. She made sure I had a church home when I moved here. She made sure I had a job when I moved here. She treated me as if I was her daughter because she knew what I needed when I lost so much. When my dad passed, my grandma had passed two months before that. I was just lost. She was there for me, picking up the pieces and making sure I was whole. I just adore her and love her. I know I wouldn't be where I am today if it wasn't for her. She believed in me when I said I wanted to get a Ph.D.
And this next woman, Sandra Parks, used to put extra food in her house because I would have to go over to her house all the time. She would act like, “Oh, I bought too much!” But it was really just for me. She was one of the first women that showed me what sisterhood looks like in our sorority. I don't know if I would have survived without her because she made sure I ate all the time.
Sheila Taylor – she has unfortunately passed. She was my mentor. She was the one that told me I could get married and have kids. She taught me that I could have it all. She made sure I believed it.
And then Delores Hargrove Young, who I affectionately call my “big cousin.” We think we're related in some way; we haven't figured out the tie, but she helped me understand and navigate the city when I moved here and didn’t know anyone. It is a very connected city, and she helped me navigate that.
Karen Bankston, if you didn't know any better, you would think she was my mother. I can call her and share absolutely anything with her, with no filter. I can be myself around her 100% of the time.
Okay, I'll stop because that's a lot of women. But they all poured so much into me to make me who I am. I never do this stuff alone. Everyone always asks, “What's the secret?” Incredible people is the secret. And let people love you! Because I would reject it, and I still do sometimes. Don't – just let people love you!
Ewaniki “Niki” Moore-Hawkins
Interview by Michaela Rawsthorn. Photography by Chelsie Walter.
I've surrounded myself with so many women who inspire me – whether they're mentors or former bosses, friends, or family. Even my girls inspire me. But today, I'm going to say my mom inspires me. I know a lot of people probably say that, but my mother really inspires me.
I watched her do whatever it took to raise three children to become great adults. She always made sure that we had what we needed when we needed it. She provided a great example for us. Now on the other side, she's a great grandma, a supportive grandma, a helpful grandma. Who doesn't love a good grandma? And so, my mom gets the award for being my inspirational woman.
Robin Walker
Interview by Suzanne Wilder. Photography by Chelsie Walter.
My mom. I still hear her words. She passed on in 2014, in the fall, right after our first camp. I had been talking with her about wanting to do this. My mom had a performing arts school for kids. She had been a professional singer. She trained kids – some of them are now on Broadway and other places – to sing, act, dance. She understood the whole thing about kids. She always reached out to kids, to help kids. She understood what I was trying to do. I still hear her words from when I was young: “You can do anything. Find a way or make one.” Things she would say to encourage and inspire me. I did not know how much she knew until I left home. When I was a kid at home, she was just mom. When I came to P&G and I would talk to her about things in the workplace, and she understood and could relate, I was surprised. She had a wealth of experiences in show business that she could understand. The conversations became more meaningful and valuable. She could give me advice. She’s been my hero for a long time.
Cynthia Lockhart
Interview by Sophia Epitropoulos. Photography by Chelsie Walter.
Oh my gosh, my mother – she would be number one. She’s passed now, but she was the most influential person in my life. She was so tough and really advocated tough love – looking back, I appreciate her for doing that.
My mother was everything: everything fashion, everything diva, everything decorator, everything creative. She’d make matching outfits for my sister and me when we were growing up and used her passion for clothes and fashion any chance she got. Her taste level was so huge and just had a wonderful touch in everything she did.
When I moved back to Cincinnati, I took care of her during her last years, and that was incredible – to give back and be there for her. Just incredible.
Kate Hanisian
Interview by Hanna VanKuiken. Photography by Angie Lipscomb.
Everything that I’ve done has been in collaboration with other people. I’m just so humbled by this opportunity and I was thinking about it this morning – power and privilege are funny. So much of the work that I have done has been because of others, with others, and with others and in service of and informed by others. I learned everything that I care about from other people.
There have been so many influential women in my life that it's impossible to name one. Among many things my mom, Lauren, taught me about art, beauty, and telling the truth. My Aunt Joanne taught me about commitment to family and gifts from ancestors. My grandma Ruth taught me about red lipstick and the joy of homemade strawberry jam with too much sugar. My teacher Ms. Pressler taught me about failure and getting back up again. My friend Ebony taught me about resiliency and survival. My colleague Janet taught me about bravery. My counselor Nancy taught me about boundaries. My friend Amy taught me about slowing down. My auntie Jaya taught me about God. There are so many more. You know I'm just humbled by all the lessons to learn and by the many brilliant women there are to share them.
Dr. Hou-mei 后楣 Sung 宋
Interview by Olivia Taylor. Photography by Heather Colley.
Oh, there are many! My mother. When I was young, my mother was so enthusiastic to get me into the arts. We moved from China to Taiwan because of the Communists. We were very poor, but we would play music and sing and draw and send our drawings to the newspaper to see if we could get published in the children's work section. She would sing to us. To be exposed to art at that difficult time, I was very touched.
Of course, there are so many teachers, co-workers in the museum, my friends – I think women tend to share the arts with each other and share what they enjoy with each other.
Emery Lord
Interview by Hailey Semchee. Photography by Heather Colley.
My mom is an extremely loving person, and someone who I look up to in her ability to be generous with her time and her skills in all ways. With her emotions. Something that I think applies to writing is those qualities. When that’s your job, it’s good to have been someone who embodies that.
Dr. Janelle McClain
Interview by Kourtni Gunalvson. Photography by Angie Lipscomb.
My great-grandmother, Martha Pfizer, lived to be 101 years old in deep south Little Rock, Arkansas. Her mother died when she was young, and she was raised by her father and grandmother, a freed slave. When my great-grandmother was nine or ten years old, she became a midwife. That’s just how it was back in the day – you had a purpose, and you got in there. My great-grandmother was pregnant eleven times but had only two live births. This work is in my genes. This is what I'm supposed to do. This is why I'm supposed to care about African American women and children living and surviving. Before we got any grant for B.O.O.B.S., I did it for free. We went out into the community, and I waited on moms and provided them with education. This work is personal to me, and I do it with passion.