On the 30th of January 2024, Women of Achievement welcomed and introduced our newest group of honorees.
The Meet and Greet was so fun! There was a great spread of wine and snacks, and I counted 20 of us in the room as Judy Card introduced herself and the Memphis Area Women’s Council, Women of Achievement and our 2024 honorees. She named our nominees, and read the definitions of each one of the categories after sharing the history of Women of Achievement. The 3 books were there on the table and Judy mentioned how it is important to document and share these stories. We were able to meet (and hear a brief hello from) honorees Phyllis Lewis, Amy Moses and Sara Lynn Johnson Fultz, and Ellen Rolfes. We all introduced ourselves and everyone shared how they found WA. Everyone mentioned how inspiring, encouraging, uplifting, the awards ceremony is, and I think everyone felt excited about the upcoming ceremony in March!
The Women of Achievement honorees for 2024 are:
Courage: Vanessa Rodley and Jennifer Murry-Rodley, Mid-South Pride leaders
Determination: Phillis Lewis, founder and CEO, Love Doesn’t Hurt
Heritage: Madame Florence Cole Tolbert McCleave, barrier-breaking opera singer and educator
Initiative: Ellen Rolfes, philanthropy strategist and innovator
Steadfastness: Joy Brown Weiner, concert violinist, teacher, 40-year Memphis Symphony Orchestra concertmaster
Vision: Amy Moses and Sara Lynn Johnson Fultz, co-founders MOJO Pelvic Health
Edit: On March 3, 2024, Pat Mitchell Worley, CEO of the Soulsville Foundation, hosted the awards ceremony in the spacious sanctuary of First Congregational Church in Memphis. The ceremony was a great success! Featuring performances by Handorf Company Artists from Opera Memphis, Kayla Oderah and Marquita Richardson, the ceremony was inspiring and exciting! Celebrating these women, sharing their stories, and documenting their achievements is important!