Honoring Women who Move Communities Forward: Celebrating Women’s History Month at BBBSTB
Women’s History Month is a celebration of women whose courage and leadership have transformed communities. At Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay, we honor that legacy by lifting up women who continue to shape the future. Women like Chloe Evans Coney, a trailblazer whose life’s work mirrors the very heart of mentorship.
Chloe Coney has spent decades fighting for opportunity in East Tampa advocating for good jobs, affordable housing, safer neighborhoods, and pathways for families to thrive. As the founder of the Corporation to Develop Communities of Tampa (CDC), she’s helped lead more than 890 development projects, trained over 13,000 residents for workforce success and helped more than 3,500 youth graduate from high school. She revitalized 29th Street, built youth and family centers, championed homeownership for single mothers, and became known across Tampa as a connector, a change agent, and the beloved “hat lady” whose style matches her spirit.
Her leadership journey also intersects deeply with the legacy of Judge George Edgecomb, Hillsborough County’s first African American county court judge. Early in her career, Chloe served under Judge Edgecomb as a court service supervisor an experience that shaped her commitment to justice, equity, and community empowerment. Today, that same spirit lives on through the Edgecomb Mentoring Circle, named in his honor and dedicated to uplifting youth in East Tampa and South St. Petersburg.
Chloe Coney’s life reminds us that communities change when people show up for one another. Her work created opportunity where others saw obstacles. Her leadership opened doors for families who simply needed someone to believe in them.
Right now, in East Tampa, 75 young people are waiting for that same belief. They are waiting for mentors who will listen, guide, and help them see their own potential, just as Chloe Coney did for generations. This Women’s History Month, we honor Chloe Coney not only by celebrating her legacy, but by continuing it.
Become a mentor and support the Edgecomb Mentoring Circle. Click the link below for more info.
Be A Big – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay
Help us match every child in East Tampa with the support they deserve. The next great community leader is already here; she just needs someone like you to walk beside her!
