As a woman-owned public relations agency, D&A Communications don’t just recognize Women’s History Month, we embrace it. This is a time to uplift and showcase the voices, struggles, and triumphs of women who have changed the course of history. These fearless pioneers challenged norms, shattered barriers, and paved the way for justice, equity, and opportunity. Their legacies remind us that progress comes from those bold enough to demand change, and resilient enough to see it through.
Throughout the month of March, we’ve had the privilege of honoring these visionary women across our social media platforms. We are especially excited to spotlight these women from the Bay Area, which aligns with our company’s strong local roots. As a San Francisco-based organization, D&A is built on equity-driven initiatives in the same communities. Inspired by their leadership and impact, we continue to uphold empowerment, advocacy, and creating space for diverse voices to be heard. This month is a powerful reflection of our core values; equity, representation, and transformation and an opportunity to honor the women who have fought tirelessly for the rights we continue to uphold in our work today.
Fredrika Newton: Frontline Leadership for Black Justice
A woman of strength and purpose, Fredrika Newton was a force within the Black Panther Party, playing a pivotal role in one of the most influential social movements of the 20th century. From advancing community programs like the Free Breakfast Program for school children to leading voter registration efforts, her activism was deeply rooted in empowerment. After the tragic loss of her husband, Huey P. Newton, she founded the Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation to preserve the party’s radical legacy of resistance and resilience. Through her grassroots leadership, Fredrika has ensured that the movement’s message endures, inspiring new generations to continue the fight for justice.
Just as Fredrika Newton has worked to preserve the legacies of those who came before her, Alice Wong is creating an enduring archive of advocacy that ensures disabled voices are heard, recorded, and amplified.
Alice Wong: Amplifying Disability Voices and Visibility
Alice Wong is a revolutionary voice in the disability rights movement, unapologetically challenging ableist systems while uplifting the stories of disabled individuals. Her Disability Visibility Project started as an oral history archive but has since grown into a dynamic storytelling platform that includes podcasts, essays, and books that push for greater representation and accessibility. Through initiatives like #CripTheVote and Access Is Love, Alice has empowered disabled communities to claim their space in politics, media, and society. Her advocacy in systemic change reminds us that inclusion isn’t a privilege — it’s a necessity.
Like Wong, Sylvia Rivera understood the power of visibility, ensuring that those most marginalized in society, particularly transgender individuals, had a voice in movements for justice and equality.
Sylvia Rivera: Fearless Power to Break Transgender Stigma
Sylvia Rivera was a relentless warrior for transgender rights, advocating for the most marginalized within the LGBTQ+ community. A key figure in the Stonewall Riots, she co-founded STAR (Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries) with Marsha P. Johnson, providing shelter and support for unhoused transgender youth. Having faced incarceration, homelessness, and addiction, Sylvia understood firsthand the struggles of those society often forgets and fought for the rights of other marginalized groups beyond the transgender community. She never backed down, fighting for inclusion within the LGBTQ+ movement and demanding recognition for transgender people in policies and protections. Her legacy of intersectional justice endures through the Sylvia Rivera Law Project, which continues to defend and uplift transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals.
Rivera’s unyielding fight for dignity and rights echoes in the work of Dolores Huerta, whose leadership in labor justice ensured that the most vulnerable workers found strength in collective action.
Dolores Huerta: Champion for Immigrant and Workers’ Rights
Few activists have reshaped labor rights like Dolores Huerta. As the co-founder of the United Farm Workers (UFW), she stood beside César Chávez in the fight for fair wages and humane working conditions for farmworkers, many of whom were immigrants. Her iconic words, “Sí, se puede!” (“Yes, we can!”), became a rallying cry far beyond the labor movement, empowering countless individuals to push for change. Arrested, threatened, and even physically attacked, Dolores never wavered in her mission to bring dignity and justice to those too often overlooked. Today, she remains a tireless advocate for immigration reform, women’s rights, and economic equity.
Huerta’s commitment to systemic change exemplifies the same principles that drive D&A Communications’ work: building equity, fostering empowerment, and amplifying diverse voices for meaningful transformation.
Carrying the Torch: D&A’s Ongoing Commitment to Equity
At D&A Communications, equity is more than a value, it’s the foundation of our work. Our mission is to build human connections and empower people to spark transformative change that uplifts entire communities. Women’s History Month is a powerful reminder of the resilience, courage, and leadership that fuel social progress.
Our vision is to create meaningful, lasting change by bridging the needs of diverse communities with the goals of our clients. Through integrated communications, authentic engagement, and public participation programs, we bring voices to the forefront that might otherwise go unheard. We believe that stories have the power to shift perspectives, create movements, and redefine what’s possible.
As we honor the incredible women who have shaped history, we recommit ourselves to the fight for justice and inclusion. Their struggles are not relics of the past. They are blueprints for the future! By amplifying diverse voices, championing equity, and fostering human connection, we continue their work, ensuring that every person has the opportunity to be seen, heard, and empowered. Because real change happens when we listen, learn, and act together.
Sources
Black Panther Party’s Free Breakfast Program (1969-1980) | BlackPast.org
About the Foundation
About – Disability Visibility Project
Sylvia Rivera | National Women’s History Museum
Sylvia Rivera – Speech, Stonewall & Death
Dolores Huerta, renowned American labor leader and civil rights activist who co-founded the United Farm Workers union alongside Cesar Chavez.
