Women’s History Month is a time to honor the women who have shaped communities, broken barriers, and created opportunities for the next generation. For public relations professional and community advocate Marie Driven, this year’s celebration carries a deeply personal meaning. On March 1, she stepped into her new role as Chair of Housing and Block Association for Community Board 17, marking the start of a chapter rooted in service, leadership, and a commitment to uplifting her community.
For Driven, beginning this role during Women’s History Month symbolizes more than a professional milestone. It reflects the legacy of the women who helped shape her character and the values that guide her leadership today.
She credits much of her strength and determination to her mother, Marie Victoria Theodore, whose guidance instilled the courage to stand firm in the face of challenges. The lessons she learned at home laid the foundation for how she approaches leadership today. Integrity, fearlessness, and standing up for what is right remain central to how she navigates both her career and her service to the community.
Driven’s professional background in public relations also plays a key role in how she plans to lead. With years of experience focused on communication, branding, and relationship building, she understands how powerful clear and thoughtful messaging can be when working to solve problems and connect people. Those skills now position her to bridge gaps between residents and local leadership while ensuring that community concerns are heard and addressed.
Her journey into public relations began in an unexpected place. Early in her career, she worked in sales within the fashion industry. While she enjoyed the environment, she eventually realized her passion went beyond selling products. She discovered a deeper interest in helping individuals build and elevate their personal brands.
In many ways, she became her own first client. By learning how to position herself, build meaningful relationships, and tell her own story effectively, Driven discovered a new calling. That experience eventually led her to help others shape their narratives and create opportunities through strategic communication.
Over time, she began to see the deeper connection between public relations and community empowerment. Communication, she realized, was not just about visibility. It was about helping people understand their voice and recognize their power to advocate for themselves.
Today, those same skills are at the center of her work in community leadership. Driven believes effective leadership begins with listening. Her approach focuses on hearing the concerns of residents, understanding the challenges they face, and ensuring their voices are represented in spaces where decisions are made.
As Chair of Housing and Block Association, her vision centers on strengthening the community through connection and opportunity. She hopes to develop programs that support both young people and adults by creating pathways for education, growth, and engagement.
For youth, she envisions initiatives that build confidence, encourage leadership, and provide guidance for navigating everyday life. For adults, she wants to create access to resources, educational programs, and events that help residents stay informed and involved in the future of their neighborhoods.
Driven also believes that thriving communities are built on strong relationships. One of her goals is to organize events that bring neighbors together, creating spaces where people can connect, support one another, and develop a shared sense of responsibility for their community.
She often describes her vision as building a strong “Connect Four” within the neighborhood. In her view, lasting change happens when residents, families, community leaders, and local organizations work together toward common goals. By strengthening these connections, she believes communities can become more resilient and empowered.
Throughout her career, Driven has also faced challenges that many women encounter in professional spaces. One of the most common obstacles she has navigated is being underestimated.
There were moments when people judged her before fully understanding her abilities or the value she brings to the table. Instead of allowing those experiences to discourage her, she used them as motivation to grow stronger, work smarter, and continue proving that her leadership and ideas matter.
Those experiences have ultimately shaped the way she leads today. She approaches every opportunity with preparation, confidence, and a strong belief that determination and purpose can open doors that once seemed closed. At the same time, she remains committed to creating opportunities for others who may feel overlooked or unheard.
As the owner of a public relations firm, Driven continues to refine her ability to use communication as a tool for change. She believes the most powerful stories are often the ones that go untold, particularly those from women and underserved communities.
Her goal is to ensure those voices are amplified. By listening closely to residents who feel that systems have failed them and bringing their experiences into meaningful conversations, she hopes to help create solutions that lead to real progress.
Collaboration will also play a central role in her work. Driven plans to work alongside community leaders, organizations, and advocates who share the same commitment to strengthening neighborhoods and expanding opportunities for those who need them most.
For young women who aspire to enter the fields of public relations or community advocacy, Driven offers simple but powerful advice. She encourages them to stay focused on their goals and remain intentional about what they want to accomplish.
Understanding the work, paying attention to opportunities, and learning from the people around you can help build the foundation for long term success. She also emphasizes the importance of building a strong and supportive team.
The people who surround you, she says, play a critical role in shaping your growth. When individuals work together, challenge each other to improve, and remain committed to a shared purpose, they can create influence that extends far beyond personal success.
As Marie Driven steps into this new leadership role, her mission is clear. She hopes to build stronger connections within her community, empower residents to advocate for themselves, and create programs that uplift the next generation.
During a month dedicated to honoring women’s contributions throughout history, her leadership stands as a reminder that the legacy of Women’s History Month is not only about reflection. It is also about action, service, and the continued work of building stronger communities for the future.
Images Courtesy of Marie Driven
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