Courtesy of Coca-Cola®
At the ESSENCE Festival of Culture presented by Coca-Cola®, Dr. Virginia W. Harris, National President of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, reflected on how the organization’s decades-long commitment to advocacy has transformed sisterhood into a powerful leadership model. From influencing public policy to mentoring the next generation of leaders, Harris emphasized that meaningful change begins in local communities and grows through collective purpose.
For more than four decades, the National Coalition of 100 Black Women has demonstrated that sisterhood is far more than a shared identity. It is an intentional strategy for creating measurable change.
That mission made the organization a natural partner for Coca-Cola® at this year’s ESSENCE Festival of Culture, where the brand continues to invest in organizations and initiatives that strengthen Black communities through connection, leadership, and opportunity. During a conversation on the Authors Stage, Dr. Virginia W. Harris, National President of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, reflected on the organization’s 45-year legacy of advocacy and the principles that continue to guide its mission.
With 66 chapters across 24 states and the District of Columbia, the National Coalition of 100 Black Women advocates on behalf of Black women and girls through four pillars: health, education, economic empowerment, and public policy.
Economic empowerment is one of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women’s four pillars and a driving force behind its work in communities across the country. Recognizing the organization’s decades-long commitment to expanding economic opportunity for Black women and girls, Coca-Cola® partnered with the National Coalition of 100 Black Women during this year’s ESSENCE Festival of Culture to help spotlight its impact.
Through the partnership, the organization highlighted Sisternomic$, its signature economic empowerment initiative designed to equip Black women with resources for entrepreneurship, financial literacy, wealth building, and business development. Together, Coca-Cola® and the National Coalition of 100 Black Women underscored the importance of investing in programs that create pathways to long-term economic mobility while strengthening families, communities, and future generations of leaders.
While Harris serves as the organization’s national leader in her fourth presidential term, she was quick to shift the spotlight to the women leading at the local level.
“The work truly happens at the chapter level,” she shared. “National serves as the umbrella organization, but our chapters are led by extraordinary women who continually strive to strengthen their leadership and their communities.”
That community-first approach has become the organization’s greatest strength. Rather than waiting for challenges to emerge, Harris explained that the Coalition invests in building leadership infrastructure before a crisis ever occurs. Through leadership development, community partnerships, and advocacy, members are equipped to meet communities where they are and create lasting solutions.
“We believe in being proactive before crises occur,” Harris said. “Rather than multiplying problems, we want to multiply impact.”
For Harris, sisterhood has never simply been about connection. It is a leadership framework that empowers women to organize, collaborate, and advocate collectively. That philosophy has helped Coalition chapters earn seats at policy tables, influence legislation, secure public and private funding, and become trusted voices within their respective communities.
Whether collaborating with elected officials or partnering with organizations that share similar missions, local chapters continue to expand opportunities for Black women and girls through education initiatives, health advocacy, economic empowerment, and civic engagement.
One of the conversation’s most memorable moments came when Harris was asked what separates a coalition from a networking group.
Her answer was immediate.
“It takes humility.”
She explained that while disagreement is inevitable among accomplished leaders, the Coalition’s shared mission always comes first. Respect, grace, and a commitment to collective purpose allow members to navigate differing opinions while remaining united around the work that matters most.
“The work has to remain the priority,” Harris said. “When we stay focused on that mission, it’s much easier to disagree respectfully and then come back together around our shared purpose.”
That same spirit extends into membership. Prospective members are typically invited by an existing chapter member, who sponsors and mentors them throughout the onboarding process. The intentional approach ensures every new member understands not only the Coalition’s mission but also the responsibility that comes with serving future generations.
Mentorship remains central to that mission.
The organization continues investing in young women and girls through leadership development and educational programming, including an upcoming partnership with Apple that will introduce young girls to robotics beginning this fall. Harris described the initiative as another example of what becomes possible when young people are equipped with encouragement, opportunity, and the right support systems.
Looking toward the future, Harris shared that one of her greatest priorities is strengthening relationships between the Coalition’s senior leaders and its younger members. She hopes to create even more space for emerging leaders to contribute their ideas while learning from those who have helped build the organization over the last 45 years.
“They are the future of this organization,” she said. “Rather than simply preserving what we’ve built, we should leave it better for the next generation.”
When asked what lesson she hopes future advocates carry forward, Harris offered advice that resonated far beyond nonprofit leadership.
“Don’t focus on visibility. Focus on impact.”
For Harris, success isn’t measured by recognition but by the lives changed, the policies influenced, and the communities strengthened through intentional, collective action.
That emphasis on collective progress mirrors the values behind Coca-Cola®’s continued investment in organizations that empower Black communities through leadership, mentorship, and economic opportunity. By partnering with the National Coalition of 100 Black Women and helping amplify programs like Sisternomic$, Coca-Cola® is supporting conversations and initiatives that extend beyond the festival and into communities across the country.
As the conversation concluded, Harris expressed her appreciation to Coca-Cola® for selecting the National Coalition of 100 Black Women as its nonprofit partner during this year’s ESSENCE Festival of Culture.
In a moment where conversations about community often begin and end with networking, Dr. Harris offered a timely reminder that true sisterhood requires something deeper. It demands humility, shared purpose, and a willingness to build something that will outlast any one individual. Together, Coca-Cola® and the National Coalition of 100 Black Women demonstrated how meaningful partnerships can help amplify that work, ensuring Black women and girls have the resources, relationships, and advocacy needed to thrive for generations to come.
