Douglas County honors six community leaders at Women’s History Month program

Douglas County officials gathered at the Douglas County Conference Center to celebrate Women’s History Month and honor six local leaders. Yvette Jones, the county’s chief communications officer, opened the program and introduced Commission Chair Dr. Ramona Jackson Jones and other elected officials. Commissioner Whitney Kenner Jones delivered the keynote, and U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath sent a prerecorded message of congratulations.

The keynote by Commissioner Whitney Kenner Jones, District 2 commissioner, centered on what she called "invisible labor"—the unpaid and unrecognized caregiving, organizing and emotional work that she said sustains families and the economy. "Studies estimate that invisible labor of women actually accounts for up to 39% of the U.S. GDP," Kenner Jones said, and she added, "I believe the last estimate was approximately $2,000,000,000,000." Kenner Jones urged attendees to "make the invisible visible," to share responsibilities, and to recognize county employees and neighbors whose daily work goes unseen.

The program opened with an invocation by Dot Padgett, who asked attendees to remember and preserve women’s stories and said "women's footprints will be very deep in the sands of time." Poet laureate Gwen Parker performed a spoken-word piece reflecting on women's history and resilience. New Manchester High School’s dance team and jazz artist Larry Wilson provided musical performances.

Yvette Jones and Chair Dr. Ramona Jackson Jones introduced the evening’s six honorees and summarized their community work: Karen Campbell, founder of Women of Douglasville and host on KTC 92.3; Tracy Crooks, a biomedical national partnership manager with the American Red Cross and longtime local civic volunteer; Pastor Cassandra Crum, founder of New Light Church and Victoria's Kids Academy; Kathy Smith Curry, director of the Office of Reentry Services at the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice and board chair of Share House of Douglas County; Marjorie Stansell, master gardener and environmental advocate who helped develop local conservation projects; and Veronica Toscano de Lager, government liaison and cofounder of Casa Guanajuato, Georgia.

U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath (Ga.-6) sent a prerecorded greeting congratulating the honorees and noting their contributions to the district. Chair Dr. Ramona Jackson Jones closed by thanking participants, staff, and volunteers and inviting another round of applause for the honorees; she noted the presence of a 98-year-old guest as a living link to history.

The event was celebratory and ceremonial; no formal actions, votes, or policy decisions were taken. The program concluded after closing remarks and performances.