Reviewed by: Cindy Hatcher
Do you know the “Golden Girls” shaping Birmingham?
Reading time: 5 minutes
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Every day across Birmingham, women are boldly shaping their communities—uplifting neighbors, mentoring the next generation and leading with resilience.
During Women’s History Month, the City of Birmingham is shining a spotlight on these changemakers through its annual #StrongHer initiative, a campaign dedicated to celebrating women who live, work and serve in the city.
This year’s theme is especially meaningful: StrongHer 2026 honors women age 60 and older, affectionately dubbed the “Golden Girls” edition.
The goal? To remind Birmingham that impact doesn’t have an age limit.
A campaign born from a simple idea
StrongHer began in 2019 after Birmingham Mayor Randall L. Woodfin approached Chanda Temple, Senior Project Manager for the City of Birmingham, with a vision to highlight women whose stories often go unnoticed.
Since then, the campaign has grown into a powerful storytelling platform.
“As the sun rises each day over the streets of Birmingham, a golden glow is cast, and strong women rise alongside it. These women start their day poised to uplift, comfort and grow others. They end their days the same way, in possession of a boundless commitment to help transform Birmingham.”
Chanda Temple, Senior Project Manager, City of Birmingham
Today, the StrongHer project includes more than 200 stories of women across the city. You can find a collection of stories in StrongHer: Women Breaking Barriers and Building Bridges in Birmingham, Temple’s award-winning book sold at the downtown Birmingham Library’s Friends Bookstore. (Want a copy? They’re open Monday-Friday 10AM-2PM.)
Many honorees, Temple says, don’t seek recognition.
“Some do it as a calling. Others do it just because. But no matter what, they do it because they care. They also do the work with no expectation of recognition or applause. But at the City of Birmingham, we think it is important to highlight the exceptional achievements of remarkable women.”
Chanda Temple, Senior Project Manager, City of Birmingham
Why the “Golden Girls” theme?
For 2026, Temple and the StrongHer selection committee wanted to do something a little different. They decided to focus on women 60 and older, celebrating the lifetime of experience, leadership and resilience many of them bring to Birmingham’s communities.
“I want people to see that age does not matter. These women are still out there doing amazing things.”
Chanda Temple, Senior Project Manager, City of Birmingham
Nominees had to check these boxes:
- Be 60 years or older by Jan. 1, 2026
- Live, work or volunteer in Birmingham
- Demonstrate a lifetime of service, resilience + leadership
After nominations are submitted, a committee selects the honorees, and Temple interviews each woman to tell her story.
Each March, the city publishes daily profiles on its website and social media channels featuring women who have helped shape neighborhoods, schools, churches, nonprofits and businesses throughout Birmingham.
Stories that define the spirit of StrongHer
(L-R) Kathy Mezrano, Jerri Haslem, Wilhelmina Thomas + Kathie Hiers.
Each woman featured represents strength in a different way—here’s a glance at four of their stories.
At 82, Kathy Mezrano—founder of Kathy G. & Company—embodies determination. After a devastating car accident in December 2025 left her with crushed legs, broken ribs and multiple surgeries, she continued helping launch a new café at the Birmingham Museum of Art from her hospital bed.
For Jerri Haslem, strength looks like movement. The 62-year-old Birmingham native is a health educator, fitness trainer and founder of Black People Run, Bike and Swim, encouraging healthier lifestyles through community races and fitness classes.
For Wilhelmina Thomas, resilience means reinvention. After losing her banking job to artificial intelligence in 2023, the 63-year-old turned even more toward community service, volunteering with Bib & Tucker Sew-Op to help students create upcycled designs for the annual Recycled Runway show.
For Kathie Hiers, now 71, advocacy has been a lifelong mission. After losing a close friend to AIDS in the 1990s, she founded a nonprofit in Mobile before moving to Birmingham in 2002 to lead AIDS Alabama. She later helped launch the Southern AIDS Coalition, which successfully pushed for changes to the Ryan White CARE Act—bringing millions in funding to Alabama and eliminating a long waiting list for life-saving medications.
Celebrating women who build Birmingham
Through StrongHer, Temple hopes these stories inspire others across the city.
Over the years, the campaign has highlighted women mentoring youth, volunteering after career setbacks and pursuing lifelong passions later in life.
Their journeys show that leadership takes many forms—and that Birmingham’s future continues to be shaped by women who show up for their communities every day.
As Temple says, within every woman lies the power to help transform a city. StrongHer makes sure Birmingham sees it.
To learn more about StrongHer 2026 and read this year’s honoree stories, visit the City of Birmingham’s website and follow along on social media throughout Women’s History Month.
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