In celebration of Women’s History Month, we’re highlighting the work of four local women who are dedicated to women’s issues in Northwest Arkansas. By advocating on behalf of women and bringing visibility to local issues, these activists are deeply impacting the community and paying it forward for the next generation of women in the area.

Stephannie Lane Baker

Local Chapter Membership Lead, Arkansas Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America
She, her

How do you advocate for women through the work that you do?

Gun violence is a women’s issue, as gun violence disproportionately affects women. Domestic violence poses a huge threat to American women, and the presence of firearms makes it much more likely that a domestic violence situation will turn deadly, increasing the risk of homicide by 500%. Research also shows that domestic violence is inextricably linked to mass shootings. As a supporter of Moms Demand Action, I advocate for stronger gun legislation around domestic abuse convictions. In Moms Demand Action, we also seek to inspire local women to raise their voices, advocate for causes they believe in, and feel empowered to educate their peers. While we are not mom-exclusive and welcome all people into our membership and leadership, we are mom-centric, and seek to propel women into leadership and advocacy in their communities.

Is there a woman, past or present, who inspires you?

There are so many women, past and present, I admire: Marie Curie, Rosalind Franklin, Eleanor Roosevelt, Rosa Parks, Audrey Hepburn, Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama, Audre Lorde, Malala Yousafzi and so many more. These women showed strong leadership, bravery, boldness, softness, empathy, and modeled true leadership. I’m also inspired by a quote from my favorite actress as child, Judy Garland. “Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of someone else.”

What legacy do you hope to leave behind for women of the future?

I hope to leave the world a little better than I found it. I hope my daughter won’t be fighting these battles when she’s an adult. I’m certainly grateful for the generations of revolutionary women whose blood, sweat, tears, and hard work afford me the privileges I experience. I hope to build on their tireless work to create an equitable future for everyone’s daughters. When it comes to my work with Moms Demand Action, I’m trying to build a better future for all our children. A future in which intruder drills are not commonplace in our schools; folks are able to go to school, church, movies, and concerts without fearing gun violence; and common sense, research-backed gun legislation is not partisan or controversial, but is the norm.

Catherine Snyder

Local Chapter Membership Lead, Arkansas Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America
She, her

How do you advocate for women through the work that you do?

Moms Demand Action advocates for common sense gun legislation to keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers and other people with dangerous histories.  On average, every month 52 women are shot to death nationally by an intimate partner. There are nearly 1 million women alive in our country today that have been shot or shot at by an intimate partner. Black women are twice as likely to be fatally shot by an intimate partner compared to white women. We know that gun violence is a women’s issue.

Is there a woman, past or present, who inspires you?

I have a long list of women that inspire me. In the gun-violence-prevention movement, I am especially inspired by Lucy McBath. Her son, Jordan, was shot and killed in 2012. After Jordan’s death, Lucy became a Moms Demand Action national spokeswoman. This past November, she ran for the US House of Representatives in Georgia. She won her race and is now fighting for common sense gun legislation in Congress.

What legacy do you hope to leave behind for women of the future?

I hope to leave a legacy that inspires others to fight for the liberation of all women.  I love the quote by Lilla Watson, “If you have come here to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.”

Melisa Laelan

Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Arkansas Coalition of Marshallese
She, her

How do you advocate for women through the work that you do?

I am from a culture that fosters a matrilineal society where our lands are “lands of mothers” and head of the clan. Rights to inheritance are passed down through the mothers. Women play a big role in the family’s lives; Marshallese women are multi-skilled—wives, caregivers, providers, and leaders. They are “Iep Jaltok,” a proverb our ancestors used to speak to the level of bond that a mother has to her child, or vise versa. The word expresses the position of a basket facing inward—inward defines the degree of the relationship.  

ACOM’s vision is to enhance the quality of lives, with a mission to aspire for growth through leadership, education, health, cultural integrity and commitment to community. Women feel comfortable coming to us for many reasons—because our staff speak fluent Marshallese and the types of services we provide. We make sure any program we develop matters to the community, while we ensure that we have these priorities: large scale and social change. We believe in the following values: RESPECT (Responsibilities, Ethics, Service, Partnership, Efficient, Commitment, Tradition). We provide services that have direct impacts on families: Newcomer Orientation Program, Diabetes Prevention Program, ARKIDS enrollment, Healthcare plan enrolment through the Marketplace, Youth Program, Financial Education, Driver’s License & Safety course, Parenting class, Translation, Pathway to U.S. Citizenship, Child Investment Asset program like the Child Savings Account, Policy work at the National and State level, focusing on equal access to programs, Cultural projects, installing car seats, Back-to-School events). We have had special events like Women’s Health Conference that focused on health education and have hosted community town halls with local city leaders.    

Is there a woman, past or present, who inspires you?

My sisters because they are great mothers to their children and also mine. They braved any language barrier to ensure that their children always have the same access to school programs, sports, housing, transportation. Their homes are always full of love, fun and good food that they take time to prepare for their families.  

Anne Shelley

Executive Director of the NWA Center for Sexual Assault
She, her, hers

How do you advocate for women through the work that you do?

I first advocated for women in 6th grade when my teacher, Mrs. Holden, allowed me to convene a class meeting regarding gender inequity on the kickball field. Inspired by her “yes!” I have spent most of my life giving voice to issues that affect those who do not always have the safety to speak openly about their lived experiences. This includes my work at the Center. The majority of rape survivors feel isolated and often voiceless in the wake of their assault—our team advocates daily and provides safety and support to ALL adult survivors, the majority of whom (though not all) identify as women.

Is there a woman, past or present, who inspires you?

Besides Mrs. Holden, Audre Lorde and Barbara Jordan are women from whom I continue to draw wisdom and guidance on my life’s journey in practicing inclusion and working to create equitable and diverse workplaces and programs that value all voices.

What legacy do you hope to leave behind for women of the future?

I aspire to leave a humble legacy, in that I don’t need awards or titles…but if somewhere along the line someone says looking back, “Anne listened to me and helped me to find the safety, support and courage I needed to inspire me to make a meaningful difference in the world,” then I know I will have made Mrs. Holden proud. I know I will have had a life well lived.

Photo by Meredith Mashburn

Robin Atkinson

CEO and Creative Director of NWA Fashion Week
She/her

How do you advocate for women through the work that you do?

Through my work with NWA Fashion Week, and our non-profit counterpart the Arkansas Arts & Fashion Forum, I get to create opportunities for women to push themselves professionally, to expand their creative practice, and to create images that elevate women and celebrate their individuality. We focus on nurturing creativity and entrepreneurial skills across mediums, whether it’s designer, model, makeup artist, photographer, hair stylist—whatever the practice we work to push those limits and highlight their talent.

Is there a woman, past or present, who inspires you?

I had a mentor in my childhood, she is still a great friend today, named Kathy Thompson, who was a huge part of my development into the creative field that I’m in. Kathy is a visual artist and an extraordinarily independent woman. Learning in her art classes, then working next to her as an assistant, and then becoming close friends as I became an adult truly—it all truly shaped who I am today. She always pushed me to think of myself as more than just this or more than just that. I didn’t have to become just a mother, I didn’t have to become just a wife, or just a curator. I could be all those things at the same time and more. Women get to be complicated, and that’s pretty glorious if you lean into it.

But the truth of it is, I am inspired by so many women every day. The thing that keeps me getting up and doing the work we do is truly the women we are doing it for. I know very few women that I’m not totally awed by. The amount that we can accomplish. The multitude of ways that we serve in our everyday lives, serve our families, serve at our jobs, serve the public in off time—it’s overwhelming when you zoom out. But we do it, often without recognition, and that’s incredible. The models that walk on the runway who have full time jobs and have kids at home but still find the time to put themselves out there, the hair stylists that grind all day at work and then show up to make art for us at the shows, the designers that sew their fingers off getting collections together… It’s amazing.

What legacy do you hope to leave behind for women of the future?

I’m hopeful that I have a life trajectory that someone can look at and be inspired by, or see hope in. Something that is extremely important to me is my sobriety, after all it was pretty hard won. I want to be a woman in the community that other women can look at and know that addiction isn’t shameful, it doesn’t have to be life ruining, it doesn’t have to take over the essence of who you are—though it certainly can. And it’s ok, because it also doesn’t have to last forever. Everyone has a moment in their life that is nothing but struggle, we all go there. But we don’t have to stay there, we seldom do. And amazing, incredible things can happen when you dedicate yourself to change. It’s taboo to talk about, but I feel a responsibility to share the story because I know that someone out there needs to hear it.

The vision of AIGA Northwest Arkansas is an inclusive, design-driven Northwest Arkansas. This content was compiled by the chapter’s Inclusion Committee, a new initiative dedicated to equity, diversity and inclusion in Northwest Arkansas.