Tracie Ohonme: The Bridge Builder — Women, Partnerships, and the Power of One at UNGA 2025

New York, October 2025 — At the One Court Africa Reception, hosted by the NBPA Foundation, World Shoe, and the Organization of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD), the room was buzzing with NBA players, philanthropists, First Ladies, and global development leaders. Yet one of the most commanding presences that evening wasn’t an athlete or a head of state. It was Tracie Ohonme — Co-Founder of Samaritan’s Feet International and the steady, relentless force behind a movement that has touched more than 12 million lives.

Tracie does not fit the mold of a background partner. She represents the soul of Samaritan’s Feet and the heartbeat of World Shoe. Where her husband, Manny Ohonme, often serves as the visionary firebrand, Tracie is the strategist, the nurturer, and the challenger — ensuring that women and girls are not just included in global conversations but centered in them.

The Woman Who Builds Tables

For Tracie, partnerships are not about symbolism; they are about equity, access, and amplification.

“Aligning with OAFLAD and the First Ladies helps us amplify our collective voice,” she explained. “If we’re not invited to the table, we disrupt those systems. And if we’re still not invited, we create our own tables, our own seats, and our own spaces so that women and girls are heard.”

This philosophy has shaped her leadership for over two decades. Under Tracie’s influence, Samaritan’s Feet evolved from a charitable vision of distributing shoes into a global advocacy platform. Shoes became more than footwear — they became symbols of dignity, education, and empowerment for women and children.

The Feminine Perspective in Leadership

Tracie makes no apologies for leaning into the distinct strengths women bring to leadership.

“As women, we go harder, we go stronger, and we fight deeper because we know what it takes,” she said. “When women come together with education, economic equality, and opportunities for leadership, entire communities and countries change.”

She pointed to Dr. Fatima Maada Bio, First Lady of Sierra Leone and President of OAFLAD, as a model of bold leadership through her Hands Off Our Girls campaign. “She’s not waiting for permission. She is going in, changing laws, and driving access for women and girls. That’s the kind of leadership Africa — and the world — needs.”

The Global Sisterhood

Though her work is rooted in Africa, Tracie frames her vision as part of a universal truth: women everywhere carry unique burdens and unmatched strength.

“This is the collectiveness that is woman,” she reflected. “Whether in Africa, America, or anywhere else, women understand the mental load, the resilience it takes to raise families, work, and still push for change. That’s the globalness of our struggle — and our power.”

Her admiration for African women is especially strong. She describes them as the world’s greatest entrepreneurs — resourceful leaders who find solutions in scarcity, build pathways for communities, and carry nations on their backs.

A Night of Unity and Giving

The One Court Africa Reception wasn’t just symbolic — it delivered tangible impact. Special thanks went to NBA players Ochai Agbaji (Toronto Raptors, Young Agbaji Foundation) and Sion James (Charlotte Hornets, Sion James Foundation) for their generous $30,000 gift. With the NBPA Foundation’s $20,000 contribution and match, the total raised reached $80,000, dedicated to providing World Shoes to youth across Africa through Wash and Wear initiatives in partnership with OAFLAD.

For Tracie, this represented exactly what she has always fought for: partnerships that multiply impact and bring women, youth, athletes, and innovators together around one mission.

The Future She Sees: One Africa

When asked about her vision for the next five years, Tracie painted a sweeping picture of possibility:

“I would love to see One Africa,” she said. “An Africa where diverse thinking is celebrated, where entrepreneurship and education are flourishing, where young people’s talent is matched with opportunity. Africa’s greatest resource isn’t oil or minerals — it’s her people. And it’s time the world saw that.”

For Tracie, World Shoe is not simply about manufacturing antimicrobial, eco-friendly footwear. It is about manufacturing hope. Shoes that allow children to attend school, shoes that prevent disease, shoes made in Africa, by Africans, for the world.

The Power of One

Tracie’s leadership style is deeply personal. She believes in the power of one — that one person, one act, one decision can change the course of history.

“Even if no one stands behind me, I will stand in front,” she declared. “I will lead, and I will bridge the gap. Because that’s what women do.”

It is this resolve that makes Tracie not just Manny’s partner, but a global leader in her own right. At the One Court Africa Reception, as First Ladies, athletes, and philanthropists pledged their support to World Shoe, it was Tracie’s voice that reminded the world of a deeper truth: transformational change begins with courage — and courage often comes from women who refuse to wait.