Sue Berkowitz has made life better for thousands; now she's a USA TODAY Women of the Year

Sue Berkowitz is one of USA TODAY's Women of the Year, a recognition of women who have made a significant impact in their communities and across the country. The program launched in  2022  as a continuation of  Women of the Century , which commemorated the 100th anniversary of women gaining the right to vote. Meet this year's honorees at  womenoftheyear.usatoday.com .

As a young adult, Sue Berkowitz was passionate about social justice. She wanted to pursue a career that would make a difference for individuals in need while promoting the greater good. She attended law school in Massachusetts before settling in South Carolina.

Her career path led her to become the director of the South Carolina Appleseed Legal Justice Center, based in Columbia. She now serves as the organization's policy director.

SC Appleseed works on behalf of low-income South Carolinians through litigation, political lobbying, and other advocacy. "It's so important to have an organization like ours to ensure that low-income folks have the same access to legal and policy support as corporations or businesses," she said.

In 2018, the South Carolina Bar Foundation honored Berkowitz with its DuRant Distinguished Public Service Award. "Most people, upon accomplishing 10 percent of what Sue has accomplished so far in life, would be content to call it a great career in helping others," said George Cauthen, a member of the foundation's board. "She has made life better for thousands of South Carolinians in the areas of foster care, justice reform, consumer protection, transportation, homelessness, and others."

For her ongoing work on behalf of those in need and in favor of social justice broadly, Berkowitz is this year's USA TODAY Women of the Year honoree for South Carolina.

The following interview has been edited for length and clarity:    

Who did the most to help pave the way for you?

I think that clearly my parents absolutely centered in me the desire that there be justice for all folk and helped me to appreciate that not everyone has all the opportunities we'd like everybody to have. That was incredibly important for me.

My faith – I was raised to believe that our obligation to the world is to repair the world and make it a better place. That's why we should all be here.

What is your proudest moment?

I'm proud holistically of the work and reputation of this organization – that we are here to work on behalf of those who are not always given opportunities to have a voice. We help to make sure their voices are heard.

We are an organization with dedicated, competent people who share those values. We're not afraid. Many times, people have said, "You can't do that," and we've said, "Well, get out of our way because we're going to try" – and often, we can succeed. People deserve 150 percent of our effort every single time.

What is your definition of courage?

Putting the needs of others ahead of your individual comfort in order to produce a just and equitable society.

Is there a guiding principle or mantra that you tell yourself? 

What motivates me every day to do this work is the people I've gotten to work with over the past few decades. My colleagues – but also people in the communities we work with. They motivate me. I ask myself, "If I was put in this situation, how would I respond? Would I have the same dignity and clarity that the people I work with have?" It's been great to do this work with these folks.

How do you overcome adversity? 

One, I try not to lose my temper. That can be easier said than done. Sometimes I have to remember that it has nothing to do with me – it's about the people in communities we're trying to help.

When somebody says no to changes that need to happen, that's not an acceptable answer. We have to keep working to make those changes happen.

What advice would you give your younger self? 

To think before I speak out – sometimes count to five and think things through. At the same time, if it feels right, then you have to speak out. You have to live with yourself and feel that what you're doing is just. There will be times when you feel beaten up, and probably that's OK. It means you're fighting the good fight.

I'm lucky to get to do what I love to do.

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: USA TODAY Women of the Year honoree: South Carolina's Sue Berkowitz