Black Women's History Month with Southwest Key

As Black Women’s History Month concludes, we want to spotlight a few exemplary women who are a part of our Familia. We value diversity and leadership, and we are always glad to bring attention to our inspirational employees. For Black Women’s History Month, we are highlighting Rebecca King, LCSW , Constance Stuckey , Georlen Arzu , and Tamisha Piper MPAS, PA-C , who have shared their stories.

Each of them has been impacted by the representation, support, and examples of other Black women throughout their lives. When our Youth and Family Services Regional Executive Director, Rebecca King, LCSW , was in college, she met a Black woman named Liz Murphy who later became her supervisor. Rebecca says, “She was amazing, and she gave me a chance." Through the experience, Rebecca learned about leadership. She recalls, “It propelled me to desire more than I ever thought was possible for myself.”

After graduating from her master’s degree program, Rebecca met Nicole Jordan, the former regional director for her Family Functional Therapy program. Rebecca recounts, “She really believed in me. She saw something in me that I didn't know existed. I thought I would only be a therapist in my life, and that was the glass ceiling. She inspired me and believed in me.”

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These two experiences changed the course of her professional trajectory, eventually bringing her to where she is today. Rebecca reflects, “It's important to build each other up. We can be each other's biggest cheerleaders. We can be impactful.”

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Representation is a common theme that ties each of their stories together. Our Contract Administration Manager, Constance Stuckey , remembers being inspired as a little girl who loved track and field, looking up to the fastest woman ever recorded, Florence Griffith Joyner. Constance says, “She broke down many barriers for African American women, especially in track and field. She was one of the very first people that I ever looked up to, making me think, ‘I could be a star.'”

She also recalls the pivotal influence of her mom who worked as a nurse. She says, “My mother played a vital role, instilling in me the value of compassion and empathy for others. She was always ready to lend a hand to anyone in need, and her actions taught me to care for people unconditionally.” Constance’s commitment to public service and servant leadership is a result of her upbringing. She shares, “My professional and personal life revolves around serving others, whether through my job, church, or community.”

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Through both her personal and professional life, she is motivated to leave a lasting impression on those she encounters. She seeks to inspire others, explaining, “My desire is for young African American women to know that they are strong, beautiful, and capable of achieving their goals. I encourage them to pursue their passions, embrace their mistakes as opportunities for growth, and always seek to help others.”

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Unaccompanied Children’s Executive Assistant Georlen Arzu also sees great value in her everyday efforts to create a brighter tomorrow as a mother. She shares, “There's still a lot of work to do in achieving progress towards equality. I can put my little seed in there to try to create equality as a parent. It starts with us."

Georlen has often come to the aid of children who she had never seen before, taking on the responsibility to provide a sense of safety for them while traveling. She explains, “I never saw them before, but I was their comfort in that moment. I had to let them know and tell them everything's going to be OK. You're going to reach your destination.”

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Describing her grandmother and her parents as strong, persevering people, she strives to embody them. Georlen tells young Black women, "You don't let whatever life experience become an excuse. Take your situation as an experience, because then you can be the light at the end of the tunnel for somebody else. You become more empathetic.”

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Our National Director of Medical Services, Tamisha Piper MPAS, PA-C , similarly wants to establish a legacy of compassion and generosity. She says, “I always hear everyone say you must put yourself first. But I think that prior to your needs, you need to be an advocate in the community. I want to be a strong and compassionate leader, and a God-fearing woman.” Tamisha cites 2 Corinthians 9:7 which reads: “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”

The grace she has experienced is also reflected in her professional philosophy. Partially influenced by Michelle Obama’s iconic line, ‘When they go low, we go high,’ Tamisha aims to reject negativity by embracing integrity. She elaborates, “It doesn't matter what others around you might be saying - even if it's negative, always remain the higher person, the positive person. I think about that a lot of times like when I'm in complicated situations. I'm like, OK, let's think, they're going low, but you know you must remain high.”

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Tamisha describes her sister, the late Tina Hawkins, as a key inspiration in her life. She continues to influence her as a leader and an innovator. Tamisha reflects, “She was very creative, very knowledgeable, never took no for an answer, and she was also an amazing leader. She would lead initiatives and come up with so many innovative ideas.”

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Grateful for a month that celebrates the lives and legacies of Black women throughout history, Tamisha says, “Black Women's History Month is a good month for women in general, because I think that it shows great leaders and great women. It’s a good message to all women, whether you're Black, white, Hispanic... It's also important for ethnic women. It proves that women can do anything and be excellent."

Thank you to Rebecca King, Constance Stuckey, Georlen Arzu, and Tamisha Piper for contributing their voices and sharing their experiences! Southwest Key is grateful to highlight diversity and celebrate well-deserving members of our Familia.