Some people inspire you through the depth of their journey and how the challenges they've faced have been turned into something meaningful. Dawn Rowe is one of those people for me. Her story isn’t just about resilience; it’s about showing up with purpose, even when the odds are stacked against you. What struck me most about Dawn is how she moves through the world with authenticity. She knows what it feels like to be unseen, unheard, and weighed down by traumas that don’t fade with time. And yet, instead of being swallowed by those experiences, she chose to create spaces where others could feel seen—spaces she never had. Since 2015, through Girl Vow she has been doing the kind of work that doesn’t make headlines but changes lives. She created Girl Vow out of a deep understanding of what it feels like to navigate life without guidance, support, or a sense of belonging. Having faced her own struggles as a young person, she wanted to build an organization that could be the lifeline she never had—a space where young girls and LGBTQ+ youth, especially those impacted by foster care, juvenile justice, and poverty, could find hope and direction. Girl Vow offers a range of critical services, including mentorship programs, life coaching, aftercare support, court advocacy, and therapeutic services. It’s not just about mentorship programs or workshops—it’s about standing beside someone when they feel like the world has turned its back. That kind of presence matters more than any statistic. She wrote legislation to address the invisible issues of missing and murdered women and girls of color. She didn’t do it for recognition; she did it because she couldn’t bear the silence surrounding their cases. Turning that silence into action, into law, is more than an achievement. It's proof that even in the face of systems built to overlook, one determined voice can demand to be heard. Dawn inspires me because she reminds me that resilience isn’t about being invincible. It’s about choosing to care when it would be easier not to. It’s about using your own hurt as a bridge to help someone else find solid ground. She doesn’t lead from a place of having all the answers; she leads from a place of having survived and wanting to make sure others do, too. That’s what sticks with me. That’s what inspires me.

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