Marla Barthen is a proud supporter of the Equal Rights Amendment and functions as the Congressional District 7 Leader for the ERA-NC Alliance Action Network. Her advocacy efforts center around equity for all people. She is also the current Co-President of the League of Women Voters of the Lower Cape Fear. She is active on our state league action groups in healthcare, ERA, and DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion). She continues to serve our community here in the Lower Cape Fear on the Community Advisory Committee for Adult Care Homes in New Hanover County, the Resiliency Task Force subcommittees in Healthcare and Equity/Inclusion, the Help Hub at the Harrelson Center, and the New Hanover County NAACP. Marla encourages civic engagement in the University of North Carolina Wilmington students as their field instructor. Her professional background is in healthcare for almost 30 years. She is a Registered Nurse and Board Certified Patient Advocate, focused on community and elder population healthcare. She lives in Wilmington, but originally hails from Columbus, Ohio.