This past week, we lost Cecile Richards, a fierce advocate for women’s rights and healthcare access. Her passing is a tremendous loss for all of us who were inspired by her courage and vision. Cecile was a role model for so many, including me. Her book, Make Trouble, was the subject of my first blog post, and inspired many parts of my own book, Marching Toward Coverage. Her book is a powerful and practical guide for anyone who wants to step up and create change. I remember attending her book signing and feeling electrified by her words, which reignited my own activism and strengthened my resolve to fight for justice.

Cecile had a remarkable ability to bring people together, to show us that change is possible, and to remind us that we all have a role to play. As I reflect on her impact, I feel an even greater sense of responsibility to carry her work forward. As she said so often over the past year, “It’s not hard to imagine future generations one day asking: ‘When there was so much at stake for our country, what did you do?’ The only acceptable answer is: ‘Everything we could.’”

The best way we can honor Cecile is by continuing the fight she led with such passion—ensuring access to healthcare, protecting women’s rights, and building a more just and equitable future. Her book is more than a call to action; it’s a reminder of the power we have when we come together and stand up for what we believe in. While she is no longer with us, her spirit and her legacy will live on in all of us who were moved by her words and her work. Let’s take what she taught us and push forward with hope, determination, and belief in what’s possible.

Rest in power, Cecile. You will always be a guiding light.