GRAHAM CELEBRATE WOMEN’S “HERSTORY” AT BOROUGH HALL INDUCTION CEREMONY AND RECEPTION
Annual event, held in conjunction with Women’s History Month, honors contributions of Brooklyn women to the arts, sciences and business
On Thursday, March 18, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz and Deputy Borough President Yvonne Graham hosted the annual Women’s Herstory Induction Ceremony and Reception at Brooklyn Borough Hall. The event honors women in Brooklyn who have excelled in the arts, sciences, business and public service.
This year’s honorees:
The Lucy Burns Activist Award (named for the Brooklynite who helped spearhead the suffrage movement) went to Barbara Winslow, Ph.D., an associate professor at Brooklyn College’s School of Education and Women’s Studies program. A scholar whose research focuses on the history of women in social protest movements, Winslow is the founder and project director of the Shirley Chisholm Project of Brooklyn Women’s Activism 1945 to the Present.
Elwanda Young, the chief operating officer for United Way of New York City, received the Shirley Chisholm Leadership Award, named for the Brooklynite who was the first black woman to win a seat in Congress and run for President of the United States.
The Emily Roebling Stewardship Award, named for the woman who served as one of the chief engineers for the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge, was awarded to Betty Kahn, who sits on the boards of the Brooklyn Public Library and Reel Works.
Brenda M. Greene, Ph.D., an English professor at Medgar Evers College and the executive director of the College’s Center for Black Literature, received the Betty Smith Arts Award, named for the author of the classic novel A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.
The Lady Deborah Moody Founders Award, named for the woman who founded Gravesend and became the only woman to found a permanent settlement in early colonial America, went to Elizabeth Streb, founder of STREB S.L.A.M. (Lab for Action Mechanics).
Iris Jimenez-Hernandez, senior vice president of the North Brooklyn Healthcare Network, was honored with the Dr. Susan Smith McKinney Humanitarian Award, named for the first black woman to be licensed as a doctor in the state of New York.
The Junior League of Brooklyn Centennial Award, which commemorates a century of the pioneering organization, was presented to Tracie Williams, the League’s president.
Photo by Kathryn Kirk
In photo (left to right): Elizabeth Streb; Brenda M. Greene, Pd.D.; Tracie Williams; Deputy BP Graham; Betty Kahn; Elwanda Young; Barbara Winslow; Iris Jimenez-Hernandez; BP Markowitz; Yolande Matthew, vice president and manager, Citi.
