Introducing the Voices of Workers Advocacy Group

April Kimbrough – I began my advocacy work in 2020, when my only child was diagnosed with terminal cancer. My employer gave me a hard time when I needed time away to support my son and setup his chemotherapy.

I don’t believe anyone should have to chose between caring fora loved one or their pay check. So Paid Family Leave is personal for me.

Ashley Bostick (she/her) is a member of 9to5 GA and a native of Savannah, GA. I am the mother of two beautiful daughters. In my downtime I enjoy reading, traveling, and creating different craft projects with my girls. 

Every parent wants to be there for a new child and still be able to earn a living. When my first child was born, I lost my job. And with the second, I had to go back to work too soon, despite complications. I know our nation can do better, and I’m proud to be part of a movement to ensure we do.

Brittany Kemp (she/her), resides in Las Vegas Nevada and is a local entrepreneur, health and wellness coach and reproductive justice advocate.

Brittany has worked with her anchor organization Make It Work Nevada for the past two years as their health and wellness ambassador providing yoga, guided meditation and sound therapy to members, staff and the local community. During the states last legislative session, Brittany was a voice for Las Vegas and Nevada Doulas helping to review AB256, which added doulas to the list of approved Nevada Medicaid state plan providers. Brittany believes in supporting and strengthening families by promoting healthy lifestyles, mental health awareness and health and wellness education.

Kimi Honzaki (she/her/ella) is an artist who is passionate about birth advocacy, inter-generational healing and family. An educator for over 20 years, she has thoroughly enjoyed teaching students aged 0-102. She is a Spanish medical interpreter and doula who also developed Spanish learning curricula for Nurse Practitioner students, and for parents and babies. She served as Latina Outreach Coordinator for Doulas Care, a nonprofit providing birth and postpartum support at no cost to anyone in need. She currently researches post-dates birth and proudly serves as a Voices of Workers (VOW) member where she advocates for paid leave in Arizona, as well as on the federal level. She firmly believes we all deserve a bright future, and that working together we can make our goals and dreams manifest.

Kristopher Garcia is a worker justice and LGBTQ rights advocate. He sits on the national board of directors for 9to5 National Association of Working Women, and is an activist leader with the Voices of Workers (VOW) worker advocacy group, co-convened by Family Values @ Work and Paid Leave For All. As a member of VOW, he’s working to pass a national paid family and medical leave policy. Kristopher has spent the last decade of his life advocating for equitable paid leave policies and worker justice policies with inclusive definitions that recognize the diversity in our families. His advocacy has been instrumental in making Colorado the 10th state to pass a comprehensive paid family and medical leave policy in the nation.

Lili Hernandez (she/ella) is an advocate for working mothers, wives, faith leaders and Arizonans. In her position, Lili organizes other women of color in the community to understand the issues working people of faith face in the workplace to help pass Economic Dignity policy. Before being an advocate, Lili was a stay at home wife taking care of her children. Last year, her husband had to leave his job due to medical reasons and there was no support for him nor her to take any time to care. Lili’s daughter of 10 years old, began to worry how her parents were going to afford a living. They fell behind with their bills and were forced to move in with Lili’s parents. Lili’s heart breaks because Arizona children like her daughter, should not have to worry about bills but deserve to simply be kids. She is currently working and while the pay does not provide all the economic dignity and support they need, it gives them an opportunity to try to rebuild while living with her parents. Not everyone is able to live with family members. As an active advocate in her community  she demands for working faith people to be provided with the opportunity of fair wages, better benefit programs, health benefits, and most of all, to live with dignity.

Nija is a grassroots activist living in Milford, Connecticut with her husband. Matthew, their daughter Alexandria, and her mother-in-law Karla. She is experienced in community organizing, volunteering, and political engagement for local, state, and national advocacy groups..

Before moving to Connecticut seven years ago, she was active in the Purdue University Black Caucus of Faculty and Staff, the Purdue chapter of the National Organization of Gay Lesbian Science and Technical Professionals, and the Purdue LGBTQ Student Alliance. While living in Bridgeport, Connecticut she co-founded Fairfield Standing United, an Indivisible group.

Since then, she has run for local office and been Field Director, Communications Director, and Deputy Treasurer for the Ellen Russell Beatty 2018 State Representative campaign. She has partnered with organizations including Planned Parenthood of Southern New England, Connecticut Women’s Education and Legal Fund, The Connecticut Campaign for Paid Family Leave, Family Values at Work, All In For Milford, Connecticut Black Women, and Women’s March Connecticut. She serves as a member of the Milford Transit Committee, Vice Chair of the Milford Government Access Television Committee, Milford Juneteenth 2, Celebration Planning Committee Lead, and after four years as Chair of the First District in the Milford Democratic Town Committee she is now the Vice Chair of the Milford Democratic Town Committee. Nija has been an Office Manager (until COVID began) and Test Proctor at First Choice College Placement for three years. Nija is known as an effective communicator, relationship-builder, and leader. She champions equality, equity, and justice by supporting legislation centering around: care such as paid medical leave, reproductive freedom, and healthcare reform; economic security such as rights to affordable housing, equal pay, and workers rights; and societal betterment such as criminal justice reform, gun violence prevention, and environmental preservation. She is inspired by Planned Parenthood, forming alliances and striving to empower underserved communities through her continued volunteer work.

Prayer Jackson (She/Her) has over 10 years of experience in healthcare with her Bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Administration. As a health care worker, she understands the needs of her community in healthcare and she is very passionate about protecting the rights of black women. She began a fellowship with Mothering Justice in 2022 where she attended weekly meetings which opened the door for her to continue gaining more organizing skills with the VOW organization. She is currently in graduate school pursuing her Masters Degree in Healthcare Management so that she can ultimately be a voice for women of color in healthcare.

Permelia Toney-Boss, Roselle, NJ: An active participant in the community, 2 Labor Unions (35 Years), Advisory Boards, Staff Council and Senate, NJCA, Outstanding Labor Leader award 2016, A proud Mother of 7, Grandmother of 19 and Great Grand of 2 ½. An advocate of PL4All since 2009.  Testified at hearings in Trenton, NJ and Washington, DC.  Lobbied in Trenton and DC. Member of VOW.  Spoken at various public events over the years to further the fight for everyone in this country to have Paid Family Leave. There is nothing like  having someone that loves you, knows you and all your peculiarities take care of you.

Sky is a mamma advocate who has been advocating for family policy legislation for six years in community-based grassroots movements. Identifying most with her identity as a mother, Sky has spent years studying solutions to the economic injustices resulting from the devaluing of mothers and other caregivers in the US.

Throughout her life, Sky has been an avid advocate. With a history as a

lifelong change-maker, Sky advanced gender justice as a youth and equitable policy solutions as an adult. Sky has lived experience living in poverty that was directly correlated with the link of sexism and caregiving, subsisting well below the Federal Poverty Line for over six years as a single mother and for much of her childhood being raised by a single mother.  

Sky works as a social worker serving multicultural communities.  This service continues to teacher her to center impacted communities, practice self-reflection, and ask for personal and systemic accountability as a daily practice. After serving alongside Native American families for one year and refugee communities for another, Sky advocates for inclusion of diverse worldviews, promotion of cultural strengths, the irreplaceable nourishment of community-based resilience factors, and reallocation of resources to communities who experience oppression.  It is an honor to contribute to the Mothering Justice movement.

Tameka Henry (she/her/ella) is a loving wife and mother of four, born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada. Tameka is a communitarian and well known advocate for women, children and their families. She has spent her career fighting for Nevada’s working, underserved, and most vulnerable residents.

Tameka is an Ambassador with Make it Work Nevada where she advocates for paid family medical leave, affordable childcare, and equal pay for equal work for women. This lead her to become a member of VOW (Voices of Workers) with Family Values @ Work. Tameka was thrust into this work when she became the caretaker for her husband when he became disabled. Tameka Henry is also a Parent Advisor for Ascend at The Aspen Institute. Tameka is the Executive Director for The Obodo Collective. Obodo’s mission is to provide long term solutions and support to eliminate multi-generational poverty in our communities. This work includes eviction court observations to keep families housed, supporting families with referrals for resources including free child care and mutual aid, and combating food insecurity.

  Tameka Henry self-sacrifices and generously gives her time to promote the welfare and education of our Nation’s children and their families. She hopes to not only inspire but to empower families to be their child’s first teacher and strongest advocate.

Tessie Johnson is a volunteer with Make It Work Nevada (MIWN). In this role, Tessie works with women to help them find their voice so they can advocate for themselves and those they care about. In addition volunteering with MIWN, Tessie also volunteers with LOSS Community Services. Outside of her family, Tessie’s passion is spreading joy, even if it’s one grain at a time.

Mi nombre es Virginia Badillo Naci en Guanajuato méxico, emigre a los Estados Unidos en 2006, tengo un hijo de 12 años que es mi tesoro. He participado  por más de 15 años en Proyecto Defensa Laboral, luchando por una reforma migratoria, y derechos laborales en Texas, actualmente apoyó la campaña de días de enfermedad pagados a nivel nacional, soy  una madre comprometida con la educación de mi hijo, su seguridad, salud y bienestar. Creo  que todos tenemos derecho a estar sanos y saludables. 

My name is Virginia Badillo. I was born in Guanajuato, Mexico and immigrated to the United States in 2006. I have a 12-year old son who is my treasure. I’ve participated for over 15 years at Workers Defense Project, fighting for immigration reform and for workers’ rights in Texas. Currently, I am supporting the paid sick days campaign at the national level. I’m a mother who is committed to my son’s education,  safety, health, and well-being. I believe we all have the right to be healthy and safe.