Grace, Legacy, and Quiet Power: Mary Hopkins Navies and Imani Ford Shine at the CBC Phoenix Awards
At this year’s Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Phoenix Awards, held during the Annual Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C., the room was filled with luminaries—Vice President Kamala Harris among them—but few moments captured the spirit of legacy and quiet power like the presence of Mary Hopkins Navies and her daughter, Imani Ford.
Draped in a stunning red ensemble, Imani stood beside her mother with elegance and pride, embodying the generational strength that the Phoenix Awards were designed to honor. The event, chaired by Senator Angela Harris, celebrated those who rise from challenge and build enduring impact. Mary Hopkins Navies is precisely that kind of figure.
Her story, though not widely known, is legendary in its own right. According to community sources decades ago, when Mayor Marion Barry was in conversation with McDonald’s executives about the lack of Black franchise ownership in the District, he was asked to name someone who could break the mold. He named Mary. At the time, she was a housewife—no corporate pedigree, no political clout. But she had grit, grace, and the kind of community-rooted wisdom that can’t be taught. McDonald’s vetted her, and she got her first franchise. The rest is entrepreneurial history. Is it true? I have no idea but it sure does make a great story
Today, Mary owns 7 McDonald’s location and her daughter Imani now owns one herself. It’s not just a business legacy; it’s a testament to what happens when institutions listen to communities and when women of color are given the chance to lead.
Politically, the moment is delicate. Imani’s husband is running against Senator Joanne C. Benson, the longest-serving member of Maryland’s Democratic Senate delegation. I’ve made clear my support for Senator Benson, whose decades of service deserve continuity. But that support is no reflection on the Ford-Navies family. Quite the opposite: I admire them deeply.
The best of Civic Grace
Mary and Imani represent the best of civic grace—women who build, uplift, and inspire without demanding the spotlight. Their presence at the Phoenix Awards was a reminder that legacy isn’t just about titles or tenure. It’s about showing up, lifting others, and passing the torch with dignity.
To Mary and Imani: thank you for your example. You are the kind of leaders our communities need—whether in business, family, or public life.