Hero’s name: Serena Owen
Home city: Elsmere, Kentucky
Organization affiliation: Kentuckians For The Commonwealth
How does the person’s work advance social justice? What is the person’s vision for an equitable world?
“Serena Owen is the Community Liaison for the Greater Cincinnati Central Labor Council and the Greater Cincinnati United Way.
In addition, she has been a tireless advocate for her community through involvement with the First Baptist Church of Elsmere, the Northern Kentucky unit of the NAACP and the Northern Kentucky Chapter of Kentuckians For The Commonwealth.
Trained as an educator, she is passionate about making sure that her community understands the importance of local elections and details about issues.
She has been a spokesperson for KFTC around the need for more people of color and women to run for public office.
She also has spearheaded an individual effort to bring better public transportation to her community in Elsmere, been a spokesperson for the need for progressive tax reform in Kentucky and worked to promote expanded health care, especially for students with disabilities.
She has served in various leadership positions with KFTC around economic justice, voter empowerment and racial justice.
She envisions an inclusive community that celebrates our differences, promotes frank discussions about issues that are important to maligned communities, and elevates equal opportunities for all, regardless of their background.”
Honored by: Jessie Skaggs of Kentuckians For The Commonwealth