Barbara Poma, CEO and Executive Director, onePULSE Foundation

I met Barbara nearly 10 years ago when I was in advertising sales at Watermark to discuss advertising Pulse in one of the Pride guides we were publishing.

Though she is of small stature, when she walked into the room, in a dress and heels with her long wavy hair, she commanded attention which I soon came to understand was not because of her appearance, rather because of her confidence, sincerity and warmth.

As we discussed advertising, Barbara solicited the opinions and recommendations from her managers. She was attentive to each individual and their suggestions and made a well-informed decision. I was impressed that she wasn’t making important decisions in a vacuum.

In 1991 Barbara’s brother John lost his fight against AIDS. Barbara was determined to ensure that his legacy would not be forgotten. She made the risky decision to open Pulse, to ensure John’s pulse would live on. It was risky in that there were already two major gay nightclubs in Orlando. It was risky in that most gay nightclubs fail. But her business plan was different. It focused on inclusivity, love and compassion. Pulse was community. Pulse was a place where the LGBTQ community could bring their families, their co-workers, their friends. Barbara made sure Pulse was a place of unity.

Fast forward to June 12, 2016. It was the night of the worst attack on the LGBTQ community in U.S. history. The monument that Barbara had created to honor her brother, was suddenly and viciously ripped from her arms. Orlando and the world grieved for 49 lives taken. Barbara grieved for those 49 precious souls and again for her brother John.

Barbara had the opportunity to walk away, pack up and go — but she didn’t.

Barbara looked inward and committed herself to ensuring the legacy of 49 Angels would be honored. She committed herself to ensure that the stories and acts of heroism of the survivors and the first responders would be told. She wanted to help those living with the emotional scars associated with the attack to find hope. As a daughter, mother, sister and educator, Barbara recognized the need to ensure that this act of hate would not be forgotten and to use the tragedy as a cornerstone of education.

The seeds of inclusivity, hope, love, compassion and charity that Barbara planted decades ago require nurturing on a daily basis, still to this day. A garden faces the intrusion of weeds, insects, extreme temperatures, disease; it can sometimes be a very unpleasant job. A gardener must be patient and deliberate to nurture each flowering plant individually so collectively they can become a field of beauty. Barbara is our gardener.

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