by Kellie Pardi

Empowering Flint: DeAndra Larkin & the YWCA of Greater Flint~ Leading with Purpose

When more than three hundred women gathered at St. Michael’s Conference Center for the Flint & Genesee Chamber’s Women’s Equality Day Luncheon, the room was abuzz with energy. It was both inspiring and humbling to be among so many incredible women, each with their own story of strength, determination and hope, which we need as we head into the future. It’s been 105 years since Susan B. Anthony and the suffragists won our right to vote and there is still work to be done. This year’s theme - “Empowered to Make a Difference”— couldn’t have been embodied more fully than by keynote speaker DeAndra Larkin, CEO of the YWCA of Greater Flint.

Larkin’s leadership journey is steeped in resilience and vision. As the head of one of the region’s most vital nonprofits, she has made it her mission to ensure that the YWCA is not just a safe haven for women, but also a springboard for empowerment. Under her guidance, the YWCA continues to expand services for survivors of domestic and sexual violence, advocate for racial and gender equity, and provide resources that uplift families throughout Genesee County. If you are not following what the agency is doing, you should be. They are not only providing services to their clients but are creating innovative programming which the general public can take advantage of!

At the luncheon, after a touching acknowledgement of the roll her friend, peer, and fellow speaker Becky Gaskin, CEO of the Red Cross, has played in the community, DeAndra challenged attendees to see empowerment not as an abstract idea, but as a series of intentional choices.

“Every day,” she reminded the audience, “we have the opportunity to open a door, create a seat at the table, or amplify a voice that has too often gone unheard.” Her words carried weight, not only because of her position as CEO, but because the YWCA itself is living proof of what happens when vision meets action.

The YWCA of Greater Flint has a long and courageous history. From offering emergency shelter and crisis intervention to spearheading community conversations on equity and justice, its work touches thousands of lives each year. DeAndra

has continued that legacy with a fresh perspective—one rooted in collaboration. She has built partnerships across sectors, ensuring that the YWCA is not only responding to urgent needs but also shaping a future where women and families thrive free from violence and inequality.

The Women’s Equality Day Luncheon offered more than a celebration of progress; it was a call to action. We at Women 2 Women Michigan applaud the Flint & Genesee Chamber and its Women’s Leadership Committee for organizing this beautiful event and amplifying the truth that equality requires both courage and consistency. Attendees left with inspiration in their hearts, and were reminded that empowerment is contagious when modeled by leaders who are unafraid to act.

For Flint, the message was clear: the YWCA, under Larkin’s leadership, is lighting the way. Their work is proof that change is not only possible, but already in motion. As the applause filled the room that afternoon, it wasn’t just for a the speakers—it was for a movement, carried forward every day by the YWCA and the community it serves