Thought Leaders: How The Women Of Color Initiative Began

Through a competitive process during the initiative’s inception, 15 women were chosen to shape the vision, and mission and lead the work of the Women of Color (WOC) Initiative. These women are called THOUGHT LEADERS because they are the informed opinion leaders and the go-to people in their social justice field. As WoCI has progressed through the years, we continue to find new Thought Leaders that are trusted women who move and inspire people with innovative ideas; turn ideas into reality, and care deeply about their community and our state. 

CLICK HERE to learn about the inaugural Thought Leaders.

2022 Thought Leaders

COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS

VIVIAN CHING is a Chinese/Malaysian/Korean public health worker who serves the Asian American, immigrant, and refugee communities as a Health Programs Specialist at the Center for Pan Asian Community Services (CPACS). At CPACS, Vivian has provided free HIV testing to community members and helped to educate communities about COVID-19 and tuberculosis. During her time at the University of Georgia, receiving her Master of Public Health degree, Vivian’s interest in sexual health education and reproductive health increased, so her goal is to improve comprehensive sexual health education in schools and to advocate for the health of all women and girls in Georgia.

ESSAH COZETT DIAZ is a Liberian-American poet, podcaster, and Ph.D. candidate specializing in Literature and Language of the English-speaking Caribbean at the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras. Her work is rooted in storytelling, migration, and African traditional healing practices. She founded Hermans del Agua, the Puerto Rican chapter of the SisterCARE Alliance, to create a safe space for women and non-binary people to practice strategic self-care. She believes it is essential that we have equal educational opportunities that provide us with resources to succeed in society.

AYANA GUNN is a multifaceted serial entrepreneur with the capability of amplifying the visions of others. Born in Atlanta, GA, and raised in Savannah, GA, Ayana knew early on that her path would include educating people on how to succeed. Ayana is a graduate of Clark Atlanta, where she studied Mass Media Arts and majored in Radio, Television & Film. Today, Ayana is the owner and Lead Esthetician of Sunflower Skin Bar, a local day spa in Savannah, GA, along with Savannah Wellness Lounge, which houses multiple wellness businesses under one roof.

PATT GUNN is the Dawta' of Susie Golden Gilliard, the Granddawta' of Ada Shellman Golden, and the Great-Great Granddawta' of a Freed Slave, Princess Shellman from McIntosh County, Georgia. She tells Master Gullah' Geechee stories of the African Americans’ journey from slavery to freedom to create 21st-century victories in social justice issues. Patt is the CEO of Underground Tours of Sav'h, LLC., the Savannah Gallery on Slavery and Healing, and a nonprofit grassroots public policy agency on the Savannah Coast, The Center for Jubilee, Reconciliation, and Healing. In 2020, her Center launched a citywide campaign to request that the City of Savannah 'Rename Calhoun Square' to a brand new square in honor of Susie King Taylor.

ALNORY GUTLAY has been serving the Asian American, immigrant, and refugee communities with her work as a Programs Director for HIV Prevention Program and the Domestic Violence Program. CPACS mission, aligning with her own goals, has helped her transform passion into actionable programs and changes in the community to promote self-sufficiency and equity. Alnory has helped to expand the capacity of the HIV program at CPACS, which has gained recognition for being one of the very few organizations in Georgia that provides HIV prevention and education for the immigrant communities. In these roles, Alnory helps expand services and accessibility to services to the underserved immigrant communities in the south. As a first-generation immigrant, she has a heart for serving the community.

CHALANA “CHAY” McFARLAND is a 2021 Presidential Executive Clemency Recipient, being freed after serving nearly 16 years in federal prison as a non-violent, first-time justice impacted person. Prior to her incarceration, she practiced law in Atlanta, GA, after graduating from John Marshall Law School. She is an honor graduate of Florida A&M University, where she earned a B.S. in Journalism. Since her release, Chalana has been a vocal advocate for criminal justice and prison reform. She is a sought-after keynote speaker and author of the upcoming book Collateral Consequences. She currently volunteers for several organizations and serves on the advisory boards for Fighting4Freedom, the Atlanta Incarcerated Art Project, and Atlanta Women on the Rise. She is the proud mother of a college senior.

DANIELA RODRIGUEZ is an undocumented activist, community organizer, and philanthropist. In 2013, during her first year of college, she became a founding member of Savannah Undocumented Youth Alliance, a grassroots organization that advocated for the rights of undocumented college students in Georgia. For three consecutive years, 2019, 2020, and 2021, she was selected as one of the 50 most influential Latinas in the state of Georgia. In 2021, she started a nonprofit - Migrant Equity SouthEast, a Latinx and immigrant-led 501(c)(3) organization based in South Georgia. Daniela is the youngest member of the city of Savannah’s Hispanic Outreach, Leadership and Advocacy (HOLA) Savannah Taskforce and the Savannah Racial Equity and Leadership (REAL) Taskforce.