The Women Who Move Us: The Mosaic Team’s Picks 

The bold and remarkable work of women fills our history books and provides present day inspiration for people across the globe. From Maya Angelou to Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Jane Goodall to Simone Biles, Taylor Swift to our own grandmothers — the women who inspire our very own team at Mosaic Georgia span in spirit from quiet determination to roaring fearlessness. We invite you to read as our team members share what women move them and why.  

Maya Angelou 
Maya was a deep well full of wisdom. She gave life and meaning to words like no one else. I admire that despite all that she endured, she had the ability to hold space for unimaginable pain without becoming hardened by it.

Maya Angelou was a celebrated American poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist best known for her powerful autobiographical work I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. 

My Mom Lanie George
She inspires me with her strength and undying selflessness for others. She loves people in ways that they don’t know, and I in turn try my best to make sure she is loved in ways she doesn’t know. She shows up for people in ways they don’t expect. For example someone might simply express a disliking of a flavor or drink that we have in the office, with no expectation. My mom would make it a point to find out their preferred or favorite drink and go buy it herself so that they feel taken care of. She is very intentional to not leave anyone behind. 

Lanie is the Executive Administrator at Mosaic Georgia. She is a human trafficking survivor, advocate, and founder of the former North Carolina nonprofit Redeeming Joy, a rescue and rehabilitation home for victims of sex trafficking. Her daughter Adrianna is the Client Experience Specialist at Mosaic.  

Dr. Edith Eva Eger
I am inspired by Dr. Edith Eva Eger because she didn’t let evil win. She chose healing and pursued a career to help others. She is a testament to the strength of the human spirit. Dr. Edith Eva Eger is a Holocaust survivor turned renowned psychologist and author who transformed her experiences in Auschwitz into a life’s work helping others heal from trauma. 

Dolores Huerta
Dolores Huerta inspires me because of her unwavering commitment to justice and her lifelong fight for the dignity of workers and marginalized communities. As a co-founder of the United Farm Workers, she organized, advocated, and gave voice to people who were often unseen and unheard. Her famous phrase, “Sí, se puede” (“Yes, we can”), became a powerful reminder that change is possible when people come together with courage and determination. Her legacy continues to inspire those who work to protect and uplift vulnerable communities. 

Taylor Swift 
Is a name that pretty much everyone knows; however, when I hear it, I think of resilience, strength, grit, kindness, and fearlessness. She is vulnerable enough to share her life, experiences, and emotions in her music, yet strong enough to continuously fight for the rights of women and the LGBTQIA+ community. Taylor was sexually assaulted by a radio DJ during a meet and greet. She spoke up about what happened to her, and he sued her for defamation. She countersued him for $1 on behalf of everyone who has experienced sexual violence and has been afraid to speak up. Her assault happened to be caught on camera, but it was still a long and aggravating fight. In court, she said, “I’m not going to allow you or your client to say I am to blame.” She won the case saying, “I acknowledge the privilege that I benefit from in life, in society and in my ability to shoulder the enormous cost of defending myself in a trial like this. My hope is to help those whose voices should also be heard.” Taylor helped pave the way for survivors to speak out against their abusers. She will always be one of my biggest heroes. 
 
Taylor Swift is a record-breaking American singer-songwriter who began her career in country music and evolved into a global pop icon known for her deeply personal storytelling, business savvy, and fiercely loyal fanbase. 

Jane Goodall
We need more Jane Goodall’s in this world. Her fight for compassion towards animals and the ethical treatment of the Earth is inspiring. She always encouraged people to take action against climate change. She brought so much empathy, kindness, care, and love to a world that is lacking a lot of it. Her research will forever change the fields of Primatology and Anthropology. 

Jane Goodall is a world-renowned British primatologist and conservationist whose groundbreaking decades-long study of chimpanzees in Tanzania revolutionized our understanding of animal behavior and sparked a lifelong commitment to environmental advocacy. 

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC)
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is the youngest woman to ever serve in Congress and has become a prominent progressive voice on issues like economic inequality and climate change. She constantly faces harsh criticism, threats, and backlash due to her outspoken views. She never backs down and always fights for what she believes is right. She is truly an inspiration to myself and a lot of women I know to always stand up for what is right no matter who is telling you to stand down.  

Ruth Bader-Ginsberg (RBG)
Trailblazer Ruth Bader-Ginsberg, known as RBG, was the second woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. She faced a lot of gender barriers on her climb to the top. During her time on the Supreme Court, she administered many rulings in favor of gender equality, so other women did not have to fight the same battles she did. Her appeals and dissents were foundational in paving the way for gender equality. She provided, and hopefully continues to provide, inspiration to many women as one of our fiercest advocates. She often quoted Sarah Grimke, “I ask no favor for my sex. All I ask of our brethren is that they take their feet off our necks”. I’m honored to continue the fight as an advocate for anyone whose voice has been taken from them. RGB has become a cultural icon and symbol of perseverance for generations of women. 

My Grammy
My Grammy, Helen Pearson-Smith, will always come to mind when I think of inspiring women. She instilled the seed in me that the rights of women deserve to be fought for. She did a lot of fighting when she was younger and has ceremoniously passed the baton to me. She is spunky, kind-hearted, spirited, humble, wise, empathetic, caring, and compassionate. She is everything I aspire to be. 

Mosaic Georgia’s Counseling Team
I’m inspired by the women who make up our counseling team here – they are deeply kind, intelligent, loving, talented, and empathetic. Our all-female team supports survivors in the depths of their pain with so much compassion, and the genuine camaraderie amongst us is uplifting every day. 

The Mental Health & Wellness team is made up of an incredible team of seven dedicated and talented women – Kendall Clayton, Erica Legons, Larisa Hanger, Maria Oritz, Sarah Marin, Charmaine Hayes, and Brianna Forrester-Jack. 

Harriet Tubman
When I feel afraid to do something of moral or existential consequence, I imagine the incredible strength and courage Harriet Tubman had to pull from during each and every one of her harrowing 19 trips to lead enslaved people to freedom. In the face of unfathomable danger and risk she remained brave. Relying on instinct to guide her through uncharted territory, her sense of purpose overcame her fear. 

Even though she lived in the 1800’s in what seems like a distant era, Harriet Tubman is someone I hold close. For me, she is a powerful reminder of how recent the past truly is, and the responsibility we each carry to stand for equality. 

My own family brings her closer still. 

My grandmother (Yaya) was born in 1885 in Asia Minor (now Turkey) and lived to be 93 years old. Harriet Tubman died in 1913 when my grandmother was 28 years old – a grown woman. 

I (now 51 years old) was born while my grandmother was still alive, and we lived in the same home during my infancy. She held and cared for me as a baby. She also shared 28 years on this earth with Harriet Tubman.  

 And just like that, Harriet’s presence and legacy don’t feel quite so far away. 

Harriet Tubman was an American abolitionist and freedom fighter who escaped slavery and then courageously guided dozens of others to freedom through the Underground Railroad before the Civil War. 

Simone Biles
In 2020 Simone—widely considered the greatest of all time and known for her unprecedented athletic achievements and record Olympic medals—made the radical decision to withdraw from the Tokyo Olympics gymnastcs competition to protect her mental health. A survivor by nature and by circumstance, she did not ask for permission but rather dictated her own narrative in a world where athletes, especially women and people of color, can be seen as commodities and expected to perform through pain and sacrifice themselves in service of the expectations or demands of others. She embraced her full agency, honored what was right for her own body, mind, and wellbeing, and came back to triumph on her own terms while silencing the naysayers.  

 Those expectations, and those who demand them, represent a powerful force in our society. To stand with courage in the face of that dominance was an act of self-sovereignty, showcasing her strength and sense of self-determination.  

 Her honesty, vulnerability and conviction to stay true to herself was, and remains, a source of inspiration.