Central Nova News

Arlington Honors 2023 Women of Vision

The Arlington County Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) will honor three women for their commitment and leadership in the Arlington community at the 2023 Women of Vision Awards on Monday, March 27. Join CSW to celebrate these extraordinary women at 7 p.m. at Arlington Economic Development’s offices (1100 N Glebe Road, Suite 1500). The offices are within walking distance of the Ballston Metro station; paid garage parking is also available. 

Learn about this year’s winners:

● NONPROFIT: Krysta Jones uses her skills as a leader, mentor, and connector, raising and amplifying women’s voices. As an Arlington County employee, she helped launch Women Work (WoW), a mentoring and networking organization for women County employees. Krysta published A Seat at the Table, an interactive guide to help women and minority group members get involved in solving community problems, and founded Vote.Lead.Impact, an organization dedicated to increasing representation of Black people in Congress. She launched and hosts a podcast for The Links, Inc., an organization dedicated to the social, cultural, and civic upliftment of Black women in Arlington and Alexandria. She also produces and hosts a radio show for the Arlington League of Women Voters, and hosted a televison show on Arlington Independent Media. Krysta serves on the board of the National Women's History Alliance. She also led the establishment of the Black Women's History Committee, and her actions every day remind Arlingtonians that history is being made in the present.

● BUSINESS: Karen Rosales, President and CEO of Arlington Community Federal Credit Union, uplifts women through thoughtful lending and financial empowerment of communities in need. While exercising responsible stewardship, she supports and mentors women at the credit union and in the community. She has led the credit union in partnering with organizations such as a local nonprofit that provides workforce development and reentry support to women coming out of incarceration, and led in partnering with a nonprofit STEM education program for girls. Karen serves on the board of Kitchen of Purpose (formerly La Cocina), where she is passionate about workforce development opportunities for women in the food services industry, including numerous small businesses.

● GOVERNMENT: Mariflor Ventura is an Arlington Public Schools employee who has created a significant and transformational new giving community, CASA MARIFLOR, that has assisted hundreds of Arlingtonians with food and necessities. This community of donors and volunteers has aided families in need, particularly Hispanic immigrant families, by donating food, clothing, diapers, household supplies and even furniture. It also has helped people in finding jobs, guiding them to County resources, and hosting events. These actions are organized by Mariflor in her spare time using in person and virtual outreach, a Buckingham mutual aid group that she created, and an Amazon wishlist, among other initiatives.

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