Wendy Gladney

Life right now feels uncertain. News headlines can weigh heavily on our hearts. Communities struggle with division. And at times it may seem as though hope itself is fading, but I believe hope simply waits for someone to answer the call. I often reflect on lessons I learned as a little girl growing up in the Baptist Church with my grandmother. The church was more than a building to us. It was a place where we were taught faith, responsibility, and the importance of serving others. The church...

Across California, Black women are leading transformative work, advancing policy, strengthening communities, advocating for equity, and building pathways to opportunity for the next generation. Their leadership is reshaping institutions and expanding possibilities for Black women and girls not just to survive, but to thrive. Yet behind this visible progress lies an often-unspoken reality: many of the women doing this work are operating under sustained pressure, carrying multiple...

My Family At first glance, the title “Give Your Life Away,” may sound unsettling, especially in a culture that often teaches us to protect, preserve, and prioritize self above all else. But when we pause long enough to reflect on Black History Month, we quickly realize that the freedoms and opportunities many of us enjoy today came at a cost. They were paid for by people who quite literally gave their lives away, not always through death, but through sacrifice, courage, service, and...