black history month: sophia strother

Sophia A. Strother is the Founder of Empowerment Driven by Knowledge Coalition (EDKC). EDKC manages a statewide awareness campaign on sexual abuse and domestic violence titled #GETLOUDGETOUT and “Creating a SAFE ZONE within the Church.” Her tireless efforts to raise awareness around domestic violence and sexual abuse led to being commissioned a “Yellow Rose of Texas Award," which is given through the Office of the Governor to recognize women for their significant contributions to Texas.
 
Sophia also enthusiastically exhibits her passion by aiding different organizations’ fundraising efforts. Over the years, she has helped raise over $3.5 million dollars, benefitting social, education, and economic issues. Along with her work as an advocate and inspirational speaker, Sophia is a writer, authoring both “Sophia I’m Back” and a 9-week study guide detailing her own journey of survival and service to others called “Taking My Life Back.” She also recently published “African American survivors invisible in plain sight,” an article highlighting the disproportional number of African American victims of abuse, in The Texas Tribune.
 
Sophia is one of my personal heroes. Her kindness and strength despite challenging circumstances is admirable and inspiring.  I cannot wait to see the impact she continues to make in the lives of others, the state of Texas, and around the world.

-Katie Watson, NAACP Website Manager

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