In late 2020, Carolyn Glenn Ethridge Harrington began working with a group of Chesterfield County women looking to establish a resource to help address the needs of area schools, families and youths.

The result of their efforts was the official chartering on Jan. 15 of the Chesterfield Metro Area Section of the National Council of Negro Women with 37 women.

“Our goals are to grow and thrive, reaching out and assisting with the needs of our communities,” says Ms. Harrington, who was elected president of the Chesterfield section for a two-year term.

The Chesterfield group is the latest addition to a venerable organization founded in 1935 by noted educator and activist Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune to lead, empower and advocate for women of African descent, their families and communities.

The late Richmond native Dorothy I. Height served as president of the organization for 40 years, working for racial and gender equality.

Since 2018 and the election of Dr. Johnnetta B. Cole as national chair, the NCNW has had a four-pronged focus promoting education; entrepreneurship, financial literacy and economic stability; health; and public policy and social justice.

“I believe that Black women in Virginia are strong, determined, highly motivated and influential,” Ms. Harrington says, “although we sometimes sell ourselves short and do not realize our own strength.”

Ms. Harrington says her top goal as president is to “establish programs and projects that will offer our youths and women the opportunities they need to be successful in life.”

The organization’s reach is broad, with the Chesterfield Metro Area Section encompassing not only Chesterfield County, but also Hopewell and Amelia, Powhatan, Charles City and New Kent counties.

The section is preparing to hold a membership drive Saturday, April 2. For women who are interested, and men, who can become non-voting associate members, Ms. Harrington says, “feel free to contact me or send an email” to chesterfieldmetroareancnw1@gmail.com.

Meet the president of one of the newest community service organizations and this week’s Personality, Carolyn Glenn Ethridge Harrington:

No. 1 volunteer position: President of the National Council of Negro Women’s Chesterfield Metro Area Section.

Occupation: Clinical social worker. I work as a clinical social work supervisor and maintain a private practice in mental health counseling.

Date and place of birth: May 14 in Fort Bragg, N.C.

Where I live now: Midlothian.

Education: Master’s in social work.

Family: Two adult children, Dr. Christina Harrington and Brandon Harrington; a lovely, loving granddaughter; and a very supportive mother.

The National Council of Negro Women is: An “organization of organizations,” comprised of 300 campus and community-based sections and 32 national women’s organizations, that enlightens, inspires and connects more than 2 million women and men. The NCNW was founded in 1935 by Mary McLeod Bethune, an influential educator and activist, and for 40 years, the iconic Dorothy I. Height served as president. Dr. Johnnetta B. Cole was elected chair of the NCNW in 2018, ushering in a new era of social activism and continued progress and growth. Today, NCNW’s programs are grounded on a foundation of critical concerns known as “Four for the Future.” NCNW promotes education with a special focus on science, technology, engineering and math; encourages entrepreneurship, financial literacy and economic stability; educates women about good health and HIV/AIDS; promotes civic engagement and advocates for sound public policy and social justice.

NCNW’s mission: To lead, empower and advocate for women of African descent, their families and communities.

Location of national headquarters: Washington, D.C.

When and why NCNW Chesterfield MetroArea Section was founded: We started the process of chartering the Chesterfield Metro Area Section in December 2020 and were granted our charter in September 2021 and actually chartered with officers installed on Jan. 15, 2022. We were chartered with 37 women. The section charter covers Chesterfield, Amelia, Moseley, Powhatan, Charles City, New Kent and Hopewell. These are rural areas that have a great need for programs and assistance. There are so many schools, families and youths that are in need of services. The Chesterfield Metro Area Section was founded to assist in addressing these needs.

Chesterfield Metro Area Section founders: Linda Banks, Carolyn Harrington, Jane Harris and Angela Porter.

Membership requirements: Women may be members of the section without regard for race, color, creed, national origin or economic status. All section members must be financial with the national office and pay local section dues. Men also may join the section as associate members, however, they may not vote and cannot hold office.

When elected president of NCNW’s Chesterfield Metro Area Section: September 2021.

Length of term: Two years.

Why I am enthusiastic about this organization: It is based and founded on Christian principles and it allows me to give back to my community and to be able to work with the “best” two organizations, NCNW and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.

No. 1 goal or project as president: To establish programs and projects that will offer our youths and women the opportunities they need to be successful in life.

Strategy for achieving goals: Unity, working together to address the needs of our communities, assessing the needs of our communities and developing programs to meet those needs while we work with NCNW affiliates to implement communitywide programs.

No. 1 challenge: The section being developed in the midst of a pandemic has made it challenging to implement programs within our communities. What would Mary McLeod Bethune and Dorothy I. Height say about the plight of Black women locally and nationally today: That we have a lot of work to continue to do to make sure Black women are heard, seen and supported. I think they would be saddened to see how Black women are treated and ignored, and saddened to see how Black women missing in our society get very little media time. They would rally and roll up their sleeves and challenge society to go to work even more.

Upcoming events: We are hosting a membership drive Saturday, April 2, and a Juneteenth celebration on Saturday, June 11.

Perfect day for me: Any day can be perfect for me as long as I remember that God is with me. Keeping that at the forefront makes for a peaceful, productive day.

What I am learning about myself during the pandemic: That I rely on my faith, am resilient and stay the course.

Black women in Virginia are: I believe that Black women in Virginia are strong, determined, highly motivated and influential, although we sometimes sell ourselves short and do not realize our own strength.

Something I love to do that most people would never imagine: Cross stitch. My favorite piece that I created is The Lord’s Prayer.

Quote that inspires me: “There is no limit to what we as women can accomplish.” — Michelle Obama.

Friends describe me as: Loyal, giving and supportive.

At the top of my “to-do” list: Travel with my daughter.

Best late-night snack: Popcorn.

Person who influenced me the most: My mom. She has always been my role model.

Book that influenced me the most: “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” by Maya Angelou.

What I’m reading now: “The Obama Portraits” by Taína Caragol, Dorothy Moss, Richard J. Powell and Kim Sajet.

Next goal: I would like to obtain training as a Christian counselor to continue to give back and help with the mental health crisis among our race.