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Women Who Inspire Us to Be a Force For Good

March 8, 2019

5 Minute Read

We all find a way to get through the tough days, the rough patches, the I’m-not-doing-great-today days. And when we’re taking care of ourselves as we try to build the world we want to live in, we need something to ground us. On International Women’s Day, we’re reflecting as a team about the women who inspire us to keep going, try harder, and push through.

Because that’s what we need in this work — people who inspire us to be better than we are today, people who show us through their actions that not only can we make a difference, but that we can make this world different. It’ll get better if we build it.

My Mom is the first person who showed me what it meant to give the best of yourself to others. Almost to a fault, she would take care of others even before herself. If she wasn’t caring for her patients as a nurse she was writing letters and sending care packages [with pumpkin chocolate chip cookies] to family. She is the reason I believe that one person can make a difference in the life of someone else.

– Kristin Boorse

Emily Vacher left the FBI’s Child Abduction team to help Facebook protect children. She inspires me to find new ways to use technology to save kids. She has spent the last three years implementing FB’s Amber Alert system in 14 countries, and she’s done everything: two masters, law degree, arrested bad guys but always keeps her focus on the most import thing – saving kids.

– Travis Bright

My mother is a force for good. She is a compassionate teacher to her students, a loyal confidante to her friends, and a rock for her family. Her daily doses of kindness, support and humor inspire those around her to follow her lead.

– Emily Cashman

It was a young woman I met in my first year on this job. A survivor of sex trafficking who told me her story and who had overcome years of abuse, years of being trafficked and the feeling of loneliness, of not having a family support network. And, she was filled with hope and filled with potential. I meet young women around the country who have faced the unspeakable and yet stand up and fight to fulfill their dreams. Its their energy that drives me forward to be a force for good.

– Julie Cordua

My longtime friend Priya inspires me every day. She is a world changer, a seeker of justice, and a freedom warrior. Her passion, along with that of the strong women who’ve come before us, continues to push me to make a difference in the world and fight for what I believe in.

– Kelbi Ervin

 

Jacquelline Fuller. She built my confidence that I could do both — be a force for good at my job with Thorn, but also at home as a mom. She helped me realize that if I ever needed to take a step back to take care of my family, that wasn’t a failure. And she encourages me to know my worth and what I bring to the table.

– Sarah Gardner

My mother is a force for good. She authentically cares for those around her, as human beings, considering their needs and struggles. She lives her life true to her convictions, and she is an inspiration to me as I seek to be a force for good myself!

– Jacob

Having been raised by my grandmother, she taught me values from her generation. Acting with honor and integrity, working hard and sacrificing for the people and endeavors that you believe in, and always striving to do the right thing—especially when it is difficult or uncomfortable to do so. She has consistently prioritized others before herself, and makes great effort to be welcoming and inclusive of others even if she doesn’t agree with or understand their viewpoint, using those differences as conversation topics to get to know them better. These values and lessons have had a great impact on my general approach to life, in both personal and professional relationships.

– Douglas Graves

My inspiration comes from my friends and peers who have bravely shared their stories during the #MeToo movement. They’ve given a voice and a sense of hope to other women who have had similar experiences. As a collective, they’re helping to shift our culture and how we treat women from “just a harmless comment” to what is sexual harassment and abuse.

– Bria King

 

The women on the Thorn team inspire me daily. Not only is the passion on this team infectious, and the drive almost endless, but the heart that pushes them forward personally and professionally can be felt in everything that they do. They are an unstoppable force. Thank you for inspiring me, for working to make the world a better place, and for fighting for kids every day.

– Kristy Kosak

 

Susan Sontag was the first woman who made me realize that words could change the world. Her words inspire me to think more deeply, purposefully, and powerfully. When I think about being a force, I think about turning all of myself — heart, mind, and body — toward a problem and overcoming it. Sontag keeps me balanced. She inspires me to push the limits.

– Sarah Potts

 

I know it’s cliché, but the woman who inspires me is my mom. The older I get the more amazing I realize she is. She built a home where I was loved, where many, many people also felt loved, and she built in me a desire to bring that love to the rest of the world. A big part of who I am is because of her, and she inspires me everyday.

– Chase Ricketts

 

The women in my family inspire me every day. My sisters are brilliant and have hearts filled with passion that can move mountains. My mom created a home where love was endless and showed me what it means to fight for what you believe in. My wife is my beacon, she helps me stay present in the moment and to live as if tomorrow may not come.

– Kyle Galbraith


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