11.19.2025
Kuumba Library
Our Transformative Power: Training for Bold and Effective Advocacy
YW Boston invites you to a workshop specifically catered to empowering women of color to advocate in Massachusetts. This mini-conference is a chance to network with likeminded folks interested in becoming more civically engaged and active in public policy impacting Greater Boston. The sessions will focus on the basics of advocacy, grassroots lobbying, navigating the MA State House, and local civic engagement. Our speakers come with years of experience both personally and professionally advocating for the rights of women, especially women of color in Boston and Massachusetts.
*Participants of all genders, ethnicities, and experience levels are welcome though the content of the workshop will be specifically designed with those who identify as women of color with little to no advocacy experience in mind.
Date & Time:
November 19, 2025
8:30 AM – 12:00 PM EDT
Location:
Kuumba Library, 140 Clarendon Street, Boston
Featured Speakers
Senator Liz Miranda
Massachusetts State Senator Liz Miranda is serving within her second term as the Senator of the Second Suffolk District, representing nine neighborhoods in the city of Boston, Massachusetts. Prior to her time in the Massachusetts Senate, Miranda served as a Massachusetts State Representative, representing the 5th Suffolk District from 2019-2022.
Councilor Julia Mejia
Boston City Councilor, At-Large, Councilor Julia Mejia is a trailblazer and a dedicated community advocate serving as the Chair of the Committee on Government Accountability, Transparency, and Accessibility in the Boston City Council. She also serves as the vice chair on the committees for Education, Housing & Development, and Labor, Workforce, & Economic Development.
Diana Hwang
Diana (she/her) is the Founder/Executive Director of AAWPI. In 2023, Diana was named by POLITICO as “one of the 40 most powerful people shaping race, culture, policy and politics,” alongside Supreme Court Justice Kentanji Brown Jackson and Vice President Kamala Harris; POLITICO called her “nothing short of a change agent.” She has also been a featured speaker at the Center for American Progress in Washington, D.C. and at several colleges, including Salem State University where she gave the annual convocation address.
Shaquera Robinson
Shaquera Robinson is a mother of three, a first-generation college graduate, and a transformational leader in education, public health, and domestic violence advocacy. With over 20 years of experience in early childhood education, she has earned recognition for her leadership, community partnerships, and motivational impact across both academic and public sectors.
As the CEO and Founder of Shaquera’s Story Domestic Violence Consulting & Coaching Inc., she is a fierce advocate for survivors and a disruptor of generational trauma. Her personal journey — from surviving childhood abuse to breaking cycles of violence – informs her work as a consultant, speaker, author, and community change-maker.
Celia Johnston Blue
Celia Johnston Blue is a seasoned executive leader with over 30 years of leadership experience in the private, public and nonprofit sectors. In 2015, Celia collaborated with 12 women of color from across Massachusetts and led the development and public launch of the Massachusetts Women of Color Coalition (MAWOCC) Inc. In her current role as President and CEO, she is leading the organization to realize its vision and mission, while strongly advocating for the voices of women of color to be heard.
Ruthzee Louijeune
Ruthzee Louijeune, serving her second term as City Councilor At-Large and unanimously elected as Boston City Council President, is a grounded, thoughtful, and inclusive leader. A dedicated public servant, Ruthzee is committed to fostering shared prosperity in Boston with a focus on justice and equity. Born and raised in Mattapan and Hyde Park to working-class Haitian immigrants, Ruthzee’s journey is deeply rooted in the fabric of Boston.
Anouska Bhattacharyya, Ph.D.
Anouska is a powerhouse for change management, strategy, and equity work. She joined YW Boston in 2020 after working almost 2 decades in higher education. She is currently the Vice President for Programs.
Anouska describes her role at YW as an orchestra conductor: connecting each program team into the melody of the organization’s mission. She engages a wide audience through speaking engagements (and fantastic fashion), as well as thought leadership on the modern workforce, technology, intersectionality, and crafting a narrative. She has a Ph.D. from Harvard’s History of Science department, and an M.Phil and B.A. (Hons) from Cambridge University in the UK.
