Photographed by P. Robert Broeren Jr.

JUANITA BRENT, OHIO STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 12

Her place of special meaning: My place of special meaning is definitely the floor of the Ohio House, and the reason why it is so special to me is because it lets me know where I belong, and that’s representing all 135,000 people that live in my district.

Greatest barrier for women to healthcare: Not being heard. I talk to so many women who have had complications, particularly with maternal morbidity, and that means you have problems within a year of having a baby. People were not being heard when they said they had a pain, or they experienced certain things, people did not take them seriously. You have to trust women, you have to trust Black women, to their bodies, if they have concerns.