Building in the Right Rooms: Erica Thomas Adeyemi and a New Era of Black Women’s Leadership
During Congressional Black Caucus Weekend, Washington became more than the nation’s capital. For hundreds of Black leaders, entrepreneurs, professionals, advocates and changemakers, it became a place to connect, celebrate, exchange ideas and think about what comes next.
At the center of that spirit was former Georgia State Representative Erica Thomas Adeyemi, whose journey from foster care to elected office, advocacy, consulting, authorship and now community building represents a story about resilience—and, increasingly, about creating pathways for other people to enter the rooms where decisions are made.
Thomas served in the Georgia House of Representatives representing District 39 from 2015 through 2023. Before entering elected office, she gained experience in the Georgia General Assembly as a legislative aide. She went on to become one of the youngest women to serve in the legislature and built a public profile around youth leadership, foster-care advocacy, economic development and community engagement.
But her story did not begin at the Capitol.
From Foster Care to Public Service
Thomas has openly spoken about growing up in the foster-care system and aging out of foster care. Her personal experience became a significant part of her public-service mission.
She founded Speak Out Loud, an organization focused on giving foster children a voice and advocating for young people whose circumstances can make it difficult for them to be heard. Her work in this area has included leadership development, advocacy and efforts to bring greater attention to the experiences of children in foster care. (Mableton Improvement Coalition)
That history makes her evolution particularly significant. Thomas didn't simply enter politics; she brought the perspective of someone who had experienced systems of government and social services from a very different vantage point.
Her message to young people has also been straightforward: public office is not reserved for people who have spent their entire lives inside political institutions. Her own path included winning her first election in her twenties, and she has publicly encouraged young people to consider taking that same leap into public service.
Helping Establish the City of Mableton
One of the most consequential pieces of Thomas' legislative record was her role in the effort to establish Mableton as a city.
As a Georgia state representative, Thomas authored House Bill 839, legislation that authorized a local referendum on creating the City of Mableton. The Georgia General Assembly's official legislative materials identify Thomas as the bill's sponsor and describe the legislation as establishing the framework for the referendum and the future municipal government.
The Georgia House passed the measure 134-2, while the Senate later passed it unanimously, 55-0. The legislation ultimately placed the question of cityhood before residents.
At the time, Thomas described the movement as a resident-led effort and said she was proud to carry the legislation on behalf of the community.
That chapter of her career illustrates something important about political leadership: legislation is often about translating community conversations into structures that can permanently change how a community governs itself.
From Politician to Educator
Today, Thomas Adeyemi is operating beyond the traditional boundaries of elected office.
As an author, speaker, political consultant and strategist, she is now turning her experience into education for people who want to understand the mechanics of leadership and public service.
Her new book is part of that next chapter, designed around educating people on what it takes to run for office and navigate the political process. Rather than simply telling people that they should pursue public leadership, Thomas is using her own experience to help explain how to prepare for it.
That shift—from holding a political seat to teaching others how to pursue one—is part of a broader evolution in her work.
The lesson is bigger than simply run for office.
It is about understanding the rooms, relationships, strategy, preparation and community connections that make leadership possible.
100 Women of Excellence Comes to Capitol Hill
That philosophy came to life during the 2026 100 Women of Excellence celebration in Washington, D.C.
Held during Congressional Black Caucus Weekend, the September 18 ceremony at the U.S. Capitol brought together women from across politics, business, healthcare, entertainment, entrepreneurship, media, education and community leadership.
The event recognized 100 women for leadership, professional achievement, community service and impact. The official 100 Women Society site identifies the Capitol ceremony as the launch point for its broader membership community.
For Media Girls Network, being part of that moment was particularly meaningful.
Media Girls was proud to serve as a sponsor and help honor more than 100 extraordinary women. What made the experience memorable was not simply the location or the guest list. It was the intention behind the gathering: women recognizing women, creating relationships and intentionally making room for one another.
And then came a surprise.
Thomas surprised the room with U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock, adding another powerful dimension to an already historic gathering. The moment reinforced the significance of the environment Thomas was creating—one where accomplished women could be recognized while also being connected to leaders across the political and professional landscape.
From the Capitol to the Brunch Table
The celebration continued with a sold-out brunch at the Royal Sonesta Washington DC, where honorees and guests gathered for food, fellowship, networking and conversation.
The brunch featured Judge Penny Brown Reynolds, whose participation added another layer of leadership, wisdom and inspiration to the weekend. Public materials for the event describe the brunch as an opportunity for honorees and guests to continue the celebration after the Capitol ceremony.
It was the kind of room that demonstrated why representation matters—but also why relationships matter.
A woman can be brilliant in her field and still need access.
She can have a vision and still need a connection.
She can have the credentials and still benefit from someone saying, “Let me introduce you to the person you need to know.”
That is where the significance of events like this extends beyond an award.
The Launch of 100 Women Society
The Capitol celebration also served as the official launch of 100 Women Society, a new community founded by Erica Thomas Adeyemi.
The organization describes itself as a year-long membership community for women entrepreneurs and leaders centered on accountability, exposure and access. Its programming includes strategic goal execution, masterclasses, weekly leadership sessions, peer accountability, community amplification and opportunities for high-level connections. (100 Women Society)
In many ways, the Society represents the next logical step in Thomas' journey.
She has spent years navigating government, advocacy, business and leadership spaces. Now she is building an ecosystem designed to help other women navigate those spaces as well.
The concept is simple but powerful: don't just celebrate women after they accomplish something—build the infrastructure that helps them accomplish more.
Black Women, Power and the Right Rooms
For Black women, the importance of these spaces is particularly meaningful.
Across politics, media, business, law, healthcare, entertainment and entrepreneurship, Black women continue to build careers and institutions while often creating their own networks of support along the way.
The 100 Women of Excellence celebration offered a visual representation of that reality.
There were women who had built companies.
Women who had served communities.
Women working in government.
Women in media.
Women in healthcare.
Women in education.
Women creating organizations.
Women influencing culture.
Women whose names may not yet be nationally known but whose work is changing lives every day.
And they were all brought into the same room.
That is the real power of celebration.
It creates visibility.
Visibility creates connection.
Connection can create opportunity.
And opportunity can create impact.
When Support Is Genuine, Something Happens
For Media Girls Network, the experience was also a reminder of the power of genuine partnership.
Sometimes the most meaningful collaborations are not transactional.
They are built because people believe in the mission.
Media Girls was proud to support Erica Thomas Adeyemi, Brown Girl Brunch and the broader 100 Women of Excellence experience because the work aligned with something larger than a single event: creating opportunities for women to be seen, supported and connected.
When we show up for one another without immediately asking, “What do I get out of this?”, something different happens.
Trust develops.
Relationships deepen.
Communities grow.
And doors begin to open.
That is what building in the right rooms looks like.
The Work Continues
The Washington weekend may have been a celebration, but for Thomas Adeyemi, it appears to be the beginning of another chapter.
From foster care to the Georgia State Capitol.
From championing Mableton's cityhood legislation to consulting and political education.
From elected official to author.
From being a woman navigating powerful rooms to intentionally creating rooms for other women.
Her story is no longer only about the positions she has held.
It is increasingly about the people she can help prepare for the positions they have yet to hold.
And that may be the most important message to come out of CBC Weekend in Washington, D.C.:
We don't just need more women at the table. We need more women building the table, expanding the table and bringing other women with them.
Congratulations to Erica Thomas Adeyemi, Brown Girl Brunch and every woman celebrated through 100 Women of Excellence.
And from Media Girls Network, thank you for allowing us to be part of something so meaningful.
The celebration was powerful.The brunch was unforgettable.The connections were intentional.And the message was clear:
Build in the right rooms. Bring your people with you. And when you get there, make room for somebody else.
For information about the new 100 Women Society and its membership community, visit 100 Women Society.
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