About the Series

Strong Men & Women - Excellence in Leadership Series

Tom FarrellFor the past 22 years, the Strong Men & Women: Excellence in Leadership series has highlighted the inspiring life stories of some 250 outstanding African-American men and women. These dynamic individuals have served as superb role models for our children, providing real-life examples of what character, leadership and perseverance can achieve.

Partnering with the educational community, Dominion has distributed more than 500,000 Strong Men & Women curriculum sets to about 5,000 schools in five states since the program began in 1990. In 1996, we added a writing contest that has allowed students to engage more fully with the subject matter by submitting an essay about the accomplishments of a leading African American. The winners have been recognized annually at Dominion-sponsored events held in conjunction with Black History Month.

The growth and success of the Strong Men & Women initiative has exceeded our expectations by leaps and bounds. So after 22 years, we have decided to move in a different direction. Beginning in 2013, Dominion will partner with the Library of Virginia on a new venture that will continue to recognize noteworthy African-American leaders and their accomplishments.

It is with mixed feelings that in 2012 we bring to a close our signature educational program. But even though we no longer will produce the Strong Men & Women resource materials, Dominion’s commitment to diversity and educational excellence will remain as strong as ever. And we will continue to look for new and innovative ways to demonstrate this commitment in the communities we serve.

In the meantime, please enjoy the Strong Men & Women information featured on this website.  It has been a rewarding and remarkable run.

Tom Farrell
Chairman, President & CEO