Michelle Mosby is our most Remarkable Woman of 2025

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- 8News is celebrating Remarkable Women who have made invaluable contributions to our community and we're happy to announce that Michelle Mosby is this year's contest winner!

The Richmond native was the first African American woman to serve as Richmond's city council president. She is also the founder of the Help Me Help You Foundation, a small business owner, a realtor and a mom.

She says giving others opportunities is her driving force.

"It started with me opening a business to provide opportunities," she told 8News. "From there, real estate, providing opportunities... Then, the nonprofit was pulling it all together -- providing workforce opportunities, housing opportunities, so that people can be at their best."

Mosby started her nonprofit, the Help Me Help You Foundation, in 2008. The organization helps people re-enter society after being incarcerated.

“We have, what we call 'lived experience experts' -- people who themselves have gone through the justice system," she explained. “We do intakes. We help you to identify three goals that you want to accomplish, and then we help you to work through that to get to them.”

Mosby says the nonprofit has several partners in the Richmond area that help with mental health, substance abuse, transportation, family reunification, workforce, housing and more.

"It's just an amazing moment to watch someone's journey and to believe in themselves," she said. "It's just amazing. I can't even -- I can't even articulate, for real, the feeling that you feel seeing someone who came home thinking, 'Oh my gosh, the odds are against me.'"

Her work in the nonprofit sector led her to run for office. She explains that she called a council representative to ask for help.

"'They're trying to get employment, can we talk?' The answer was 'yes,' and then they never called me, and so, I ran. I had no idea what that was about, really."

Mosby made history. She served as the 9th district representative for the Richmond City Council and was elected to serve as president in 2015.

“I served with some phenomenal women who had been on [the] council doing some great things. So, to be able to be president at that time ... it just was amazing.”

Mosby says her work is far from over, and she hopes to inspire other women.

"Don't let what looks like a loss stop you. Keep helping people because eventually someone sees you, evidently, because here we are," she said. "Do it because it's your 'why.' It's my 'why.' Whether this moment had ever happened. It's the 'why.' It's why I wake up every day."

Mosby was gifted $1,000 to the charity of her choice, and heads to Hollywood later this month to meet Remarkable Women from across the country.