Emilia Sykes was first elected to her Akron district in 2014 and became the first Black female lawmaker under the age of 30 to serve in the legislature. Her mother, Barbara Sykes, served in the Ohio House and ran for state auditor, and her father, Vernon Sykes, is a state senator.

We spoke with Emilia Sykes about her path to leadership and the power of Black women's representation in politics and governance for the third installment of Women Leading Locally, a Women’s History Month special focused on highlighting women breaking barriers, holding office, and making change.