While International Women’s Day is on March 8, Americans recognize the entire month of March as Women’s History Month. So, with women making up over half of Mayor Jim Kenney’s leadership team, we asked which female leaders serve as inspirations to them.

Deputy Mayor for Public Engagement Nina Ahmad, Director of the Office of Sustainability Christine Knapp, Director of Pre-K Anne Gemmell, Director of Community Schools Susan Gobreski, and Director LGBT Affairs Nellie Fitzpatrick shared their historical inspirations last week.

This week, five more local leaders answered our call to share which women serve as visions of hope to them. Here are their answers.

Miriam Enriquez, Director of the Office of Immigrant Affairs, points to Eva Peron as an inspiration.

“Here it is, my sisters, summarized in a short letter of cramped handwriting, one long history of struggles, setbacks, and hopes!” – Eva Peron Announcing Women’s Suffrage in Argentina

“Eva Peron, also known as Evita, has a personal story of perseverance, leadership, and strength.  Born poor in Argentina, she rose to prominent political power, and she used her position as first lady of Argentina to fight for causes she believed in,” Miriam explains. “She exerted a great deal of influence at a time when women, especially first ladies, were supposed to be seen and not heard, — let alone be involved in politics!  Along with unofficially running ministries in her husband’s government, she took the lead on something Argentine women had been asking for a long time — the right to vote.  Evita’s role was decisive, and women not only got the right to vote but also the right to be voted for and elected to office. And, since her death, Argentina has had two female presidents.”

City Representative Sheila Hess says Mother Teresa gives her hope.

“Mother Teresa’s lessons of love and spirituality, and her encouraging words, inspire me” Sheila says. “Her genuine and heartwarming passion, spirit, and volunteerism helping the most vulnerable populations is truly remarkable! I’ve long admired her for her many charitable works, and I’ve been blessed to have a special place in my heart for public service. Mother Teresa teaches us a powerful idea: that volunteering can make a true difference in someone’s life! And, it was just announced that she will be come a saint on September 4, 2016.”

Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Human Resources and Talent Jackie Linton thinks Michelle Obama is an inspiration.

“I never [cut class]. I loved getting A’s. I liked being smart. I loved being on time. I loved getting my work done. I thought being smart was cooler than anything in the world.” – Michelle Obama

“Michelle Obama inspires me because of the active way she came into The White House,” Jackie explains. “She gave the role of first lady her own look and feel — even though that was different than the way people had seen the role in the past. Though she was criticized in the beginning of President Obama’s first term, she was her own woman regardless. Now, she’s an icon across the world. I really admire her style in that regard.”

Debbie Mahler, Deputy Mayor for Intergovernmental Affairs, says Eleanor Roosevelt inspires her.

“We have to face the fact that either all of us are going to die together or we are going to learn to live together and if we are to live together we have to talk.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

“I remember reading a biography of Eleanor Roosevelt when I was in high school, and she still stands out in my mind as an inspiration,” Debbie says. “Roosevelt was able to accomplish so much in her lifetime: She was a teacher, a volunteer, an activist, and a political leader. She dramatically changed the role of first lady, and during President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal, she was passionate about issues relating to child welfare, housing reform, and equal rights for women and minorities.”

Special Assistant to the Mayor Mikecia Witherspoon thinks of poet Phillis Wheatley.

“Phillis Wheatley was a slave in the 1700s and later became the first published African-American female poet,” Mikecia explains. “Despite being a slave, she became one of the best known poets in America before the 19th century. Because of her talent, she became a poster child for the abolitionist argument that black people could be artistic and intellectual. As a little girl, I was really into poetry, and while I don’t write nearly as often today as I did then, I still think of Phillis Wheatly as a daily inspiration for me. I know that if she could accomplish such an amazing feat in spite of the horrific circumstances around her, there really are no limits to what I can do.”