Women’s History Month 2025: Javacia Harris Bowser Takes Editorial Helm

Scrolling through Instagram recently, I came across a trend where creators imagine having lunch with their younger selves. That idea stuck with me. I even made a Reel about it, but it kept echoing in my mind—especially because I’ve just been named guest editor for The Birmingham Times’ 2025 Women’s History Month edition. My very first byline appeared in this very paper 25 years ago, at just 19 years old. When Executive Editor Barnett Wright invited me to take on this role, I cried. This moment feels like a full-circle gift to my past self. While we may never actually share a meal with our younger selves, we sometimes meet someone who reflects who we once were or who we might become. The women in the Momentum Works leadership program, featured in this issue, are experiencing just that—seeing their future selves in others, and learning to stand tall in who they are now.