CVH Exec Dir. Named Power Woman of Manhattan + City & State’s Women Power 100!

CVH Exec Dir. Named Power Woman of Manhattan + City & State’s Women Power 100!

Read at Black Westchester

Congratulations to Community Voices Heard’s Executive Director, Juanita O. Lewis, who has been named to both Schneps Media’s Power Women of Manhattan and City & State’s 2025 Women Power 100.

Schneps Media Power Women of Manhattan will honor fearless females who make Manhattan the thriving and vibrant place it is to work, live, and do business. When women support women, amazing things happen on Wednesday, December 3rd. One of the honorees is Juanita O. Lewis. Juanita is a seasoned community and electoral organizing professional with over 20 years of experience advancing social and economic justice. Since joining Community Voices Heard (CVH) in 2009, she has risen to become Executive Director, leading efforts to empower low-income communities through advocacy and grassroots organizing. A native of Saint Paul, Minnesota, Juanita holds degrees in History, Political Science, and Advocacy from the University of Minnesota. She also serves as a national trainer for VoteRunLead, inspiring women to pursue public office, and holds leadership roles with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., People’s Action, and Planned Parenthood of Greater New York Action Fund.

On Monday, November 17th, City & State’s Women Power 100 put a spotlight on influential women in the world of New York politics and policy. This year’s edition adds dozens of new names, including the incoming mayors of Syracuse and Albany, the leader of one of the state’s most powerful labor unions, and key advisers to New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani. This ranked list also features top government appointees, business executives, nonprofit heads, advocates, experts, and many other movers and shakers.

One of these amazing women, Juanita Lewis, has led Community Voices Heard, a social justice organization, since she was elevated to the role of executive director in 2021. Lewis, who first joined the organization in 2009 as its Yonkers organizer, has decried recent federal funding cuts for public housing and testified in Albany this year in favor of higher taxes on the wealthy. She’s also the board chair of People’s Action, a national coalition of social welfare action organizations, and serves on the boards of African Communities Together and the Planned Parenthood of Greater New York Action Fund.

“This is a reflection of the leadership CVH builds every day through our Follow Black Women campaign. From organizer to Executive Director, Juanita has spent 15+ years building power with low-income Black and Latinx communities across New York. Her journey embodies what we believe: when we invest in Black women’s leadership, communities thrive. We also know that our communities are under attack now more than ever. We’re building the resources to defend our communities and fight back when threats emerge. We invite you to stand with Juanita and the movement she leads – make a contribution to our Rapid Response Fund today,” wrote in their statement celebrating Juanita Lewis.

Black Westchester celebrates and congratulates our sister, Juanita Lewis, a true Black Westchester Legend!