Meet Mica Whitfield | Mom, Advocate, Nonprofit Leader

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mica Whitfield and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mica, how does your business help the community?
The work I do at 9to5, National Association of Working Women, helps win justice for working women. There are so many women that are either sole or co-bread winners in their home and rely on their wages to make ends meet for themselves and their children. It is increasingly difficult to earn and thrive when you’re struggling with childcare or trying to make a livable wage, and for others dealing with workplace harassment and discrimination. The work I do at 9to5 is an important advocacy voice for these women and the issues they encounter every day. Our economy is fueled by working women and I want to make sure they prosper both in the workplace and in their communities.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a women’s advocate with more than a decade of experience in building strong policy and programmatic solutions for women and families. I currently serve as the Georgia Director for 9to5, National Association of Working Women, where I work on economic justice for working women, overseeing every aspect of the Georgia chapter’s work on key issues like Paid Leave, Workplace Harassment & Discrimination, and Pay Equity. In my previous position, I served as the Director of Programs for Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Georgia (HMHBGA). There I managed several programs, grants, advocacy initiatives, and policy-level workgroups for the organization. In addition, I am the former Vice President and Advocacy Chair for Postpartum Support International- Georgia Chapter. In this role, I coordinated advocacy efforts to enshrine Maternal Mental Health Day in the Georgia Code and help secured 1.05 million in appropriations to establish the State’s first Maternal Mental Health Telepsychiatry Line. Throughout my career, I have focused on creating pathways for health and economic well-being for women and families. I believe that women’s lives are intersectional and need solutions that are grounded in racial, gender, and economic justice.

My career path was not linear there were a few years after I gave birth to the children I did not work full-time because childcare was just too expensive. to work full-time and bring home a decent wage. Like so many other mothers, I weathered that storm until the children were a bit older and I was able to rejoin the workforce full-time. I was finally able to adequately provide for my family and I was determined to continue to do work that mattered to women like myself, with similar life experiences and challenges.

Along the way, I’ve learned that it’s important to do the work that’s important to you, even when it’s challenging. The issues I fight for in my career are not easily won and it can fill disheartening to continue to advocate in this climate. I know the feelings of despair and disdain that grow with the continuous attacks on women’s livelihood, but I take time to retreat, talk to other leaders in this space, and refuel to continue the work. Community holds me up to help me keep pushing.

My two children, Justice and Joy, names were chosen to express my hope for our larger community to have both justice and joy.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Dekalb Farmers Market- lots to discover here, love the spice selection and just about everything else! Desta- Definitely want to stop here for lunch 🙂
Rocksteady- great spot for drinks and dinner, DJ is always on point too!
Silver Comet trail- love to bike here!
Little Five Points- for some eclectic shopping finds

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Shoutout to all the amazing women leaders that I work with every day that do this movement work day in and day out. Your tireless efforts are not overlooked. Leaders like Leng Leng Chancey, Dr. Natalie Hernandez, Jemea Dorsey, Dr. Danielle Dickens, and Elise Blasingame. I also want to uplift my children, Justice & Joy, they keep me grounded in love and gratitude.

Website: https://9to5.org/staff/mica-whitfield/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/micawhitfieldlmsw