Memphis and Shelby County, Tennessee
WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT 2016 INITIATIVE for a woman who seized the opportunity to use her talents and created her own future: Bennetta Nelson West In 1982, Bennetta Nelson West used her education in business management, her long-standing interest and participation in the arts, and her passion and understanding of the local African American art community …
WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT 2016 STEADFASTNESS for a woman with a lifetime of achievement: Dorothy Orgill Kirsch Dorothy Orgill Kirsch has a simple rule about her wide-ranging volunteer work: it should be fun. In more than 60 years of community service, Dorothy has become a model for how to fully engage in support of arts, animals, …
WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT 2016 HEROISM for a woman whose heroic spirit was tested and shown as a model to all in Shelby County and beyond: Leah Walton At birth, she was given the name Dylan, a name befitting the handsome little boy she was. Today she is Leah. Dylan always felt different. As a child …
WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT 2017 HEROISM for a woman whose heroic spirit was tested and shown as a model to all in Shelby County and beyond: Rebecca Terrell As the executive director of CHOICES: Memphis Center for Reproductive Health, Rebecca Terrell daily faces the ever-present danger that accompanies leadership of an agency that, in addition to …
WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT 2017 VISION for a woman whose sensitivity to women’s needs led her to tremendous achievements for women: Ruby O’Gray and Karen Moore Did you know that 63% of theatre audiences are women or that Broadway shows written by women are 18% more profitable than shows written by men? Yet only 20% of …
WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT 2017 STEADFASTNESS for a woman with a lifetime of achievement: Joyce Springfield-Collins Joyce Springfield-Collins won her first award for community service 40 years ago – and she just keeps going. Growing up in Midtown, she saw her grandparents and parents always helping people. Her father often housed people in the back room …
WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT 2017 DETERMINATION for a woman who solved a glaring problem despite widespread inertia, apathy or ignorance around her: Ines Negrette Ines Negrette immigrated to the United States from Venezuela in 1999 and settled in Memphis in 2000 with her husband and two sons. An attorney with experience in Venezuela as a public …
Women of Achievement 2012 COURAGE for a woman who, facing active opposition, backed an unpopular cause in which she deeply believed: Vanessa Luellen Vanessa Luellen’s neighborhood was being taken over by drug dealers, vandals and prostitutes. Vanessa experienced that and knew someone had to do something about it. Vanessa knows the troubles on the streets …
Women of Achievement 2009 COURAGE for a woman who, facing active opposition, backed an unpopular cause in which she deeply believed: Africa Gonzalez As director of Immigrant Women’s Services for the Memphis YWCA, Africa Gonzalez can find herself in tense and difficult situations, facing angry husbands or clerics, neighbors or community members intent on their …
Women of Achievement 2008 COURAGE for a woman who, facing active opposition, backed an unpopular cause in which she deeply believed: Corinne Derenburger In 1994, Corinne and Todd Derenburger’s third child, Ryan, was born. His birth was difficult. His umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck. From the first, his mother knew something was wrong. …