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I would like my legacy to be not so much what I did, but what I helped other people accomplish.

Edna Parker began her career with a clear goal in mind: becoming a medical technologist. After a sixth grade field trip to the FBI crime lab in Washington, D.C., she resolved to work as hard as necessary to reach her goal. Though she excelled in the historically male-dominated field, Edna soon encountered challenges in the workplace with her male coworkers.

One day, Edna presented an idea she had to improve the company, but it was quickly dismissed by the leaders of the organization. Not even two months later, a man introduced the very same idea, and it was implemented without hesitation. A mentor told Edna to “just be happy that it got implemented,” but Edna stood firm in her sense of justice, deciding to advocate for herself and encourage other women to do the same.

Edna is often reminded of the saying of Shirley Chisholm, “If you’re not invited to the table, bring your own folding chair.” Edna’s story encourages those who find themselves left out of important conversations to bring their own folding chairs and fight for their voices to be heard. Edna adds on to this powerful mantra as she urges, “If you get at that table, make sure you have a worthy contribution.”