25 Women for 2024: Carrie Boyd is passionate about empowering women
Carrie Boyd is on a mission to change lives and family trees, and she might be looking at you.
A relative newcomer of five years in Tallahassee, Carrie’s steadfast work as an advocate for women and girls makes our community very lucky indeed. Whether she is in the role of attorney, lobbyist, elected official, business leader, or mentor, her focus on leveling the playing field for all makes her one of Tallahassee’s 25 Women You Need to Know.
Her professional career has spanned from directing campaigns for local, senate, and gubernatorial races, as well as leading regional efforts for presidential races, to her roles as the Director of Policy for a statewide domestic violence coalition, appointee to the Criminal Justice Information Authority, state director and lobbyist for a regional anti-violence and human rights organization, and as Executive Director of The Tallahassee Legal Aid Foundation.
In each chapter of her career, she has been a strong voice for the Equal Pay Act, the Equal Rights Amendments, and the Trust Act. Her efforts have been recognized as the Advocate of the Year for sexual assault survivors in 2014, and nominations for a 2023 Women Who Mean Business Award.
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“I really just love working and volunteering for causes in which I deeply believe, including those focused on housing issues, domestic and sexual violence prevention, and the rights of women,” she shares about her vision of helping women strengthen their families and put down roots.
Carrie was selected as the Chair of the Tallahassee-Leon County Commission on the Status of Women & Girls, serving as Vice Chair and Violence & Safety Committee Chair prior to serving as Chair during the COVID-19 pandemic. These roles come naturally to her.
“I have been working to improve the lives of women and girls my entire life through advocacy, policy reforms, and direct service in the legal, real estate, and nonprofit industries,” Boyd said.
Carrie’s commitment to this work began during childhood when she observed abuses of migrant workers by farming operations near her hometown.
“I grew up on the land, and my love for it runs deep. In my early years, we moved quite a bit when farming was tough and my father battled cancer, so I know firsthand the value of a stable home life,” Boyd said. "Home is at the core of many women's ideal lifestyle, and affordable housing consistently ranks as the number one issue for women throughout Florida and much of the country.”
To help women deepen the roots of their family trees, Carrie is proud to serve as a Board Member for the Survive & Thrive Advocacy Center and as a Board Member for Big Bend Habitat for Humanity, and is a regular contributor to Tallahassee Woman Magazine where she writes articles about women's empowerment in real estate investing & business.
This passion led to Carrie founding The Network of Real Estate Investing Women, which works to change women's lives by helping them build their financial foundation in real estate investing.
“We help women learn how to make sense of this market and create cash flow through various investing options while also being mindful of affordable housing issues and needs, green design and renovation, and much more,” Boyd said. “Long story long, I do this because I can. It is my legacy, and I feel a moral duty now that I'm in mid-life and have decades of experience under my belt.”
You may see Carrie on CNN and Fox News shows discussing political and human rights issues or read about her in Bloomberg News, Business Insider, Yahoo Finance, and other news outlets. And, you can spot her around town with her husband, two children, and Weimaraner, Stella, hiking and dining their way through Tallahassee. “The people are what make Tallahassee so wonderful. It is the biggest small town, and I love it!”
It’s easy to see why Carrie’s roots run deep as her mission to change lives and family trees is carried out. And, she has her eye on you, if you’re ready. “I'm continually inspired by the women with whom we work and partner as they are on a mission to improve themselves, their families, and their communities.”
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: 25 Women for 2024: Carrie Boyd focuses on leveling the playing field
