Spring Forward

Lula Comer on being raised by strong women and learning to carry it forward.

Many people might respond with “it’s just in my blood” when asked about their successful careers or athletic achievements, but this is Lula Comer’s response when asked about her desire to do good for oth-ers. Growing up surrounded by strong women, Lula was raised with an understanding of the importance of finding her strength and using it to serve others. Lula is the granddaughter of Jane Comer, the founder of the Birmingham-based nonprofit GirlSpring, a platform that unites teenage girls across diverse backgrounds and empowers them to reach their full potential.

Before I knew Lula, our moms were friends, and Mrs. Comer introduced me to GirlSpring as a way to connect and grow with girls outside my circle in school. As part of the SpringBoarder editorial board, Lula and I helped create content and ideas for the website and volunteered together to help plan programs and serve at community events. We fully embraced Jane Comer’s mission to support other girls in achieving their fullest potential, and we received the same support from one another in return...

Read more

Written by Sherrod Wilbanks | Photographed by Jill Ward