Flanking Anita Light (with flowers) are some of the past Women of Influence, (from left) Susan Barborek, Carolyn Sutterfield, Janet Jaworski, Jennifer Passey, Janice Miller and Kelly O’Brien.
Each year, the Fairfax City Commission for Women presents its Women of Influence Award to one or two outstanding women who live in the City and have made a significant impact on the lives of their fellow residents. This year’s sixth annual award went to Anita Light.
Before her family, friends and colleagues, April 8, in City Council Chambers, she was honored as the 2025 Woman of Influence and received a crystal statuette from Fairfax Mayor Catherine Read. Light has lived in the City since 2001 and has a long history of helping others.
“She’s got years and years as a leader, and we’re really lucky to have her in this area,” said Commission for Women member Brenda Kuhlman. “I’m so happy that we’re able to use and recognize her talents today.”
Presenting Light’s biography, Kuhlman said, “She’s principle and vice president of Light Leadership Group, a consulting group that helps for-profit and nonprofit [organizations]. Before that, she was deputy director of the American Public Human Services Association for 18 years. And before that, she dealt with public child-welfare and juvenile issues.”
Light was also in a leadership role with the American Assn. of University Women, has 12 years’ experience working in human resources and was a volunteer appointed by City Council to its Human Services Committee and Fairfax County’s Long Term Care Committee.
“Currently, she chairs the Fairfax Village in the City Advisory Board and has been there since the beginning,” said Kuhlman. “They help older people be able to stay in their homes and age in place. And before that, she spent four years on the Coordinating Council on Aging and Adults with Disabilities to decrease [this group’s] feelings of isolation.”
Speaking next, Read said, “People who are drawn to human services are built to care for others.” Directly addressing Light, she said, “First, you cared for children and juveniles, and now you’re here working so hard to make sure that those at the other end of their life’s journey are also cared for. You ensure that they’re safe, can stay in their homes and are supported by their community.”
City residents previously named Women of Influence were: 2020, Susan Barborek and Janet Jaworski; 2021, Jennifer Passey; 2022, Hildie Carney and Carolyn Sutterfield; 2023, Janice Miller and Katy Malesky; and 2024, Kelly O’Brien and Lorraine Koury. And Read also acknowledged them and their contributions to the City.
“So often, women expend their time, talent and energy in their communities without recognition,” said Read. “And I applaud the Commission for Women for starting this Women of Influence award to actually call out the women who’ve invested so much into making the City what it is today.
“They don’t do the hard work every day expecting an award. They do it because it needs to be done – and because they care, and they know they can make a difference. That’s what drives these people.” Read noted as well that Light’s supportive husband, Mark, also helps enable her to “take on so much here in the City.”
Read also praised the commitment of those like Light who’ve moved to Fairfax and done all they can to make it even better. For example, “The Village in the City is remarkable, and what Jason [Scadron, Village coordinator], you and the advisory board have done is amazing.” City Council appoints the board members and, said Read, “It says something that our City said, ‘We want to invest in keeping our residents in their homes for as long as possible.’”
So, she concluded, “I want to recognize your efforts and give a nod to all the Women of Influence who’ve been recognized and all those who will be. With every generation, we step into the work done by those before us.”
It was then Light’s turn to speak, and she said how much she appreciated Read’s remarks, plus her selection for this award. “It’s quite a important thing in my life, and I’m grateful,” she said. “But this [honor] isn’t just for me; it’s really recognizing all the work I get to do with the other people around me for the Village and the Human Services Committee.
“When I saw the information about all the past winners, it struck me that this City is very fortunate to have women like that in this community. There’s so much work that’s been done by women here, and we’re a great community because of that. So I’m honored to be part of the Women of Influence club.”
Light said that, when she began her career, she focused on children, families and direct service as a social worker. She then moved to the national level, involved in “policy and practice, which was very rewarding.” Then, as she started getting older and nearing retirement age, she watched her mother navigate her home, health and social life.
Doing so made Light understand that “We need to pay more attention to older folks in our community and to what will help keep them in their homes for as long as they possibly can.” She then volunteered on the Human Services Committee and, said Light, Human Services Director “Lesley Abashian got hold of me and, next thing I know, I’m deployed to the Coordinating Council on Aging and Adults with Disabilities.
“Then I went to other committees, and she said, ‘How about the steering committee for Village?’ and I couldn’t say no to her. Being able to do the work with that advisory board has helped me realize important things about aging in our community.”
Furthermore, said Light, “I also want to give a shout out to Carolyn [Sutterfield] and Janice [Miller]. If it hadn’t been for their vision to begin with – to emphasize the Village and encourage City Council to support developing it – I wouldn’t be here today, nor would the Village or our 120 members and 60 volunteers. And we also had support from a professional staff with Lesley and Jason.”
She noted, as well, the transportation Village volunteers provide to the members – taking them to and from doctors’ appointments, the grocery store, bank, beauty salon, etc. They also do tasks including raking leaves in the fall, shoveling snow in the winter and helping seniors navigate their computers.
“Our members’ appreciation is so powerful,” said Light. “And it’s heartwarming to hear that in their voices when they say thank you. One member said they wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the Village. We’re doing good work and it’s very important.”
Lastly, she praised her husband for supporting her in all her endeavors, being a “listening ear and, for the most part, giving good advice.” She also said her children, Joseph and Meg, their spouses and her four grandchildren influence her every day with their insightful observations about life. Then, before receiving her award, she told her friends, neighbors, colleagues and co-workers, “It’s been an incredible journey – thank you for going on it with me.”