Sonya Padgett | #Communication
As a little girl in Alabama, Sonya Padgett grew up wanting to be three things: an Air Force pilot, a therapist and a writer. After graduating basic training in 1990, she was stationed at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, where she worked first as an electrician in the 820th RED HORSE, then as a flight operations administrator for the F-4G Wild Weasels.
For a while, it seemed as though Sonya would finish her bachelor’s degree, get commissioned and train to become a pilot. But “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” got in the way. After coming out as a lesbian, Sonya separated from the Air Force after finishing her enlistment.
She stayed in Las Vegas and, after graduating from UNLV with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, she promptly set out to become a writer. Sonya then became a newspaper reporter and now is a national award-winning writer with nearly 20 years of experience in journalism and public relations, having written as a staff reporter and freelancer for a number of publications including Smithsonian Magazine, Newsday, the Las Vegas Sun, and the Las Vegas Review-Journal. But the universe had other things in store for Sonya, so she left journalism to find out what they were. She’s still writing - fiction and nonfiction - and working full time in corporate communications. She’s also pursuing her master’s degree in social work at Arizona State University. When she graduates next year, she’ll be one step closer to finally becoming a therapist.
In her free time, Sonya writes stories and advocates on behalf of women and LGBTQ veterans. In 2015, she started the Nevada Veterans Storytelling Project, a monthly effort to bring together women veterans from all branches and eras of service to amplify their voices and support them through their creative endeavors.
From the first time I met Sonya in Las Vegas, I was a new mother and a new resident of the city. I’m usually a bit skittish about having to connect with journalists for fear of being misunderstood, but Sonya immediately removed that doubt. Seeing her passion and commitment in bringing truth to light and amplifying marginalized voices has been a wonderful journey to watch. Her strength in communication has also meant others have felt safe to use their voice around her which is truly a gift.
Before leaving Las Vegas, I got to see her women veterans writing group in action at the Black Mountain Institute at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. In a conference room lined with women veterans whose voices were often stifled, silenced, or otherwise marginalized, Sonya brought the ways and means for everyone to communicate in a space where they felt safe, included, and appreciated. There aren’t many people who have this knack for making these events happen, but Sonya is certainly talented in this arena.
On Day 19, I chose Sonya and the word “Communication” as she exemplifies the word quite well. From seeking the truth in her journalism to creating safe and equitable spaces for others to share, Sonya highlights why communication matters so much for our community. May we all be like Sonya in speaking our truth as well as helping others find their voice.
15 сен 2024
