Hello and welcome to the 66th annual Women of Achievement Awards.

I'm Carol Daniel, co-host of the new show St. Louis Talks on KMOX and your host for tonight's event.

As you may know, the Women of Achievement hold a luncheon each year where 10 extraordinary St. Louis area women are honored for their impactful leadership and volunteerism.

Of course last year, our luncheon had to be replaced with a beautiful televised program as we partnered with Nine PBS.

So we are grateful and excited to do so again this and tonight we will continue a 66 year tradition as we hear the stories of 10 ama Women of Achievement To open our celebration this evening, I'm happy President of Women of Achievement.

Hello.

I am Marian Nunn, the president of Women of Achievement.

Welcome to our 66th celebration event.

Each year we honor 10 incredibly impressive women who have accomplished amazing things and have unselfishly given back so much to our community.

The St. Louis Women of Achievement Award is the longest lasting, ongoing program in the area whose sole mission is to honor and recognize the volunteer service and volunteer leadership of women.

Our region has benefited immensely from the efforts of these extraordinary women who positively impact our community for years to come Gandhi said something so meaningful when he said, "In a gentle way, you can change the world.

You must be the change you wish to see."

These women are that change.

Enjoy the program.

This evening, you will hear the stories of 10 women who are living, examples of how you can make an impact and touch the lives of others.

Our first honoree is Lourdes Treviño Bailon, honored for Community Welfare.

As the pandemic started hitting our back doors, stay-at-home orders began to come out.

They were all in English.

They were all in a language that perhaps not everybody would understand, maybe they would understand part of it, but not everything.

So there was a big community that was being left behind.

Other organizations were maybe kind of pivoting and trying to figure out where to go or what to do.

It was crucial to get it quickly.

You know, waiting could mean a life.

Waiting could mean my loved ones life.

And we just found a way, you know, we found a way throug Facebook, we just decided we've got to do something.

You know, let's go ahead and start translating that stay at home order, which is what we did.

And it hit a lot, I think it was close to 8000 within a week.

The fact that people can access the page was just essentially STL Juntos, which is essentially Lourdes, at any time, day or night, has really allowed her to build trust and relationships in the community.

Our first thought was always like thinking about our parents, you know, what about when I was young, when I was a child and my parents didn't have what this would have happened then they wouldn't have the access.

What would they have done?

The fact that she cares so much and she empathizes when people and with their situation, I think also has allowed STL Juntos to be a beacon of hope in the community, because people know that regardless of what they ask for we're going to try to find a resource for them.

She's going to make a phone call or give them a call back.

We have three distributions going right now.

We've had up to six.

A lady came out, just parked her car and came up to me and she wanted to talk to me.

And and I asked her, are you here for distribution?

She said, no, I'm not here for I'm not here to pick up.

But I want you to know that last year I had a newborn baby.

My husband had no job.

I didn't know how I was going to feed these children.

And thanks to you, I was able to feed them.

Had I not had the access to what you gave us, it would have been very difficult.

So I just want to thank you.

And that meant a lot.

Our main thing is like, I need to see us.

I need you to see us.

I need you to hear us.

I need you to know that we're here.

And I feel like this pandemic has opened people's minds to understand that we are all in this together.

And a lot of organizations, including government agencies, are now in Spanish, and I feel like it's more accessibl and that was our goal.

Our goal was to help people and organizations understand that we are here.

We also need the same resources and information that everybody else has because it matters.

And when there is a pandemic, we all matter.

Our next honoree is Rebeccah L. Bennett, honored for Equitable Leadership.

I would say I exist to help organizations, individuals, institutions act upon the highest and best within themselves and create communities and societies that sustain the best in us all.

The things that I'm most interested in are issues, policy issues, social issues that are too big for any single institutional actor to engender change around by themselves.

Superheroes can't fix it.

Right?

It really requires a change in our consciousness, in our choices, in our behavior, and it requires that among a variety of institutions and individuals.

She wants communities to be stronger.

And so she studied she engages directly from what I call grass tops to grass roots.

She instills hope that change is possible and that if we work together, if we collaborate, if we commit we can achieve our goals and things will be better.

Whether it's education, or its violence, or it's housing and community development, or it's environment, or older adults and aging, right, or it's poverty elimination and remediation, or it's adoption and foster care, or it's women and girls empowerment, you name it.

I've had a chance to lean in and not because I'm an expert in the issues.

But because I'm a good listener and a good connector.

If there is something good going on in St. Louis, something transformative happening in St. Louis, I can pretty much guarantee that Rebeccah has had something to do with it Like during the Ferguson Commission, I was in the newspaper and on TV with some frequency.

And a gentleman came up to me in the barbershop and he said, "Aren't you that lady I've seen on TV?

You're with that commission aren't you?"

And I said, "I get to work with the commission.

Yes, sir."

And he said, "Do you even think that's going to make a difference?

I don't think that's going to make a difference."

And I said, "You know what?

I hear you.

I hear you.

I hear your fears.

I hear your concerns.

And I have to tell you that I share some of your fears that without real action, these recommendations aren't going to bring about a major change."

I said, "But I'll tell you what the difference is.

I hope beyond my fears, and then I work beyond my hopes."

Rebeccah's long standing commitment to St. Louis and her work from the Professional Organization of Women, founding that is this place for women to be developed and thrive in the corporate space, to Generate Health, looking at maternity outcomes for women of color, to Forward through Ferguson and putting forth a plan for our region to achieve racial equity.

Her impact in this community has been outstanding.

And for her to choose to stay here because she really could thrive anywhere.

But she chooses St. Louis because she believes in St. Louis.

And I'm very thankful that she not only has her famil here, but commits to leading in a way that makes our community stronger.

Women of Achievement have been impacting St. Louis for many, many years.

Each woman has their own unique story of volunteering and leadership.

But it takes something to inspire them to act.

Let's hear from some of our previous honorees about what inspires them to get involved.

There is a concept in Judaism called tikkun olam, and it means to repair the world, that each of us has an obligation to make things better while we're here.

I always think back to my father that it was an important part of his life.

It gave him a lot of satisfaction for serving the community.

And that's really what inspired me.

What inspires me to volunteer is knowing that some people don't have a voice or they do have that voice, but afraid to use the voice.

And I have overcome that.

And so that has inspired me to volunteer and help those and being that advocate.

I started doing this volunteer work when I was 15, and they on Saturday mornings, the Jewish newspaper was delivered to the hospital and they needed people who were young and you could walk around.

So I delivered the news, the Jewish newspaper.

What inspires me to a great extent is to help make a difference in this community.

And this community has so much to offer and it keeps downgrading itself And people don't realize what a wonderful community it is.

So I figured that at least in some areas I might help bring some of that to light.

I think someone who really wants to make a difference can find an area that is of concern to them, whether it's children's literacy, whether it's feeding the hungry, find that niche and find your reward in it, and the world becomes a better place for you.

I think all of us who've been a Woman of Achievement hopes that we're going to inspire other people.

There is a huge need not only in our small community, but with the area as a whole.

We've got disparities in health care.

We've got homeless.

We've got people who are hungry.

We have schools that are struggling to meet the needs of all children.

And I think that we feel if we can show what we've done, this will inspire someone else to do what they can.

Do it!

Our next honoree is Susan Colangelo, honored as a Social Justice Artist.

I see something that I think is wrong, and I'm not the type to be quiet and sit down.

I want to change it.

My tool that I know how to use is art.

And through time, that's a very powerful tool.

You drive down Martin Luther King Boulevard and you see, you know, buildings that are falling apart, sex trafficking, drug addicts, you know, you see a lot of pain and then you see a young man standing on the road waiting for the metro.

And what do I see when I look at him?

Then I see a lot of potential.

I see.

Wow.

I wonder what he's thinking.

I wonder where he's going.

Wonder what he just came from.

I wonder what's going to happen to him tonight?

I wonder what he would tell me and what his story is and how he would affect Story Stitchers, if he walked through our door.

Come, stop and take a trip down on my block when you see hidden potential young minds... Story Stitchers is a nonprofit organization, and we provide a platform for youth and young adults, age 16 to 24 to continue to harness and work on their craft and talents.

And we focus very heavily on the arts, but we use it to help promote anti-gun violence most of the time.

Our youth vision is that they will solve the gun violence problem, not only here, but in America.

And they think the way to do that is to expand programs like St. Louis Story Stitchers that use their language, which is music.

(Singing starts) Yeah here I go.

I just hope they understanding me.

They racking and stacking the odds and I'm still, chilling on top like a canopy.

Got my sites on the enemy.

Tell oppressors they damaging.

They like “Oh you offending me ”.

I'm like, “Oh the humanity ”.

Line them up like assemblies, then assemble these similes, metaphors and imagery to of what's scarring me mentally.

What be scarring me mentally, be what's scarring them physically.

What be scarring them physically, be what's all in the history.

I just had an epiphany.

I notice the pattern.

Know when when we say that we matter, it doesn't ters.

Know that we matter.

Know when the bar is too high, we the type that will go get the ladder.

And if we fall off as we climb we'll come back and we'll try again after, if we can move forward with this.

You for or against?

Rise and we shine and just when you think you can forget then the queen sings the chorus again.

(end music) That's how we make change, like all these grants, I work in a lot of grants and they always want like big numbers, you know?

And I don't think it's about that.

I think it's about one.

Because what if you have a son who isn't shot because that boy that was going to pick up that gun came to Story Stitchers instead and made music that night?

That ripple effect from one kid who could find a different way is huge.

It's huge.

And my feeling is we need to turn the money towards the youth, investing in the youth programs investing in their education, helping them lift themselves up It's amazing what she's done.

And to be a volunteer, like that's how, you know, her heart is in it, you know, because I don't know anybody any like you know, especially like an older adult that would put this much time and effort into organization, into a group of kids.

And just having people like her around is very beneficial to the future of this community Our next honoree is Retired Judge Anette A. Eckert, honored as a Teen Advocate.

I practiced law for 15 years.

I was a judge for 20 years.

During all of those 20 years, I heard criminal cases.

But the last six years, I heard only felony criminal cases.

So I had seen people involved in the criminal justice system for some time.

When I retired from the bench, I taught criminal justice at a local university, and it was one of my students who brought Teen Court to my attention.

Teen Court is an alternate method where youth are judged by their peer jurors and essentially peer jurors, we work together to come up with remedies.

And these remedies take the form of acts of volunteering that these youth can complete in order to have potential convictions wiped off their record permanently.

And what I like to tell people is it's a second chance.

I had seen people at the end.

I had the job to sentence them.

And I would hear the same thing over and over again.

Somebody had something that occurred, a trauma they had difficulty in school, and they put one toe in the criminal justice system and then leg would go in and then they'd be in front of me with their entire body.

So this was an opportunity to have an early intervention to keep that toe out of the criminal justice system, because we don't need any more people in our criminal justice system.

And we need all of our teens to have a second chance because they're our future.

She has given teens hope.

During my time on the court, she really emphasized the power of second chances.

And this early on in the teens life that can really make a difference.

In five years., we're in our sixth year, we've had 200 teens come to Teen Court and graduate And the wonderful thing is when they complete, the charge, that has never been filed.

And when they complete it, it's torn up and they can still put on that application, I've never been charged with an offense.

It's one thing to kind of make a difference, but it's another to actually see your difference unfold right before your eyes.

And she has planted seeds for generations to come.

She's given the community members something to not only advocate for, but to pour their lives into.

When I walk down the street, I see a number of people I know who are teens or young adults.

And I'm most proud of seeing them and seeing what they've become.

And the teens who go through teen court, they want to come back and be peer jurors because they want to help the next guy who makes a bad choice So that makes me feel really good that they want to now help It plants a seed.

Every Woman of Achievement has an impact.

The ways in which they impact the community vary as much as their passions and inspirations.

But St. Louis as a whole is so much better for their involvement, whether or not they realize their impact at the time, the legacy of their work lives on and continues in ripples for the future.

Let's hear from some of our prior honorees about the impact that women of achievement have on the St. Louis community.

There's obviously a role for volunteers.

It's a crying need in many places, including St. Louis.

An idea can make a large impact.

It takes a team.

I don't think any of us feel that we make a huge difference by ourselves.

It's gathering a group of like minded people.

And magnifying the effect.

In our communities helping change some things is just, you know, power.

That's power.

That's like plugging that light up and making the light come on.

You know, and if that volunteer wasn't there then it would be no electric.

And I think that if you have a point or a perspective that is important, you need to find a way to get it out.

You're committed to find a way to get it out.

And I think it's not good for a community if you don't.

And so I just keep telling them, never give up.

Find somebody who will work with you and you can make it work.

And it makes a huge difference.

I think people who achieve, achieve because they're passionate If you believe something is good, if you believe something is right, you'll keep at it.

When, I'll take the art fair as an example, you started with a small art fair and people said, you can't do that.

You know, we've had one.

And so slowly we began bringing people along.

And the next thing you know, people got really enthusiastic.

What I saw was the need was not just in our community, but it was nationwide.

And my first proposal was to establish Oasis in four cities and then replicate them.

And St Louis was the exemplar.

And fortunately, St. Louis was successful and we were able to spread it nationwide.

So I think that it's a mistake to think that an idea has to be small.

Maybe you have to start small, but you must think big.

I know I'm unique and I know I'm bringing a uniqueness to the table.

And so I want to be there.

I want to bring mine.

And that's what that person needs to do, bring their A-game And, you know, put it out there.

I think we're finding more things are getting done.

People seem excited about the possibility of really doing something and how important it can be and as you encourage them, I think, and somebody supports them, then, I think they're very responsive Volunteering for me is my passion.

And it has no dollar amount, it's a priceless gift.

And you know, before when I came out of prison, it was all about I need job, I need a job to find it.

But when I began to volunteer, being on this committee, taking part on this board and taking my time.

But it wasn't like my time was being stolen from me.

It was like I was a treasure, you know, and this treasure is being found and I'm sitting here being able to speak for the many people that is behind me that don't want to get at the table and speak, but got something to say.

Our next honoree is Dr. Lannis E. Hall, honored for her work in Health Advocacy.

Well, I'm a radiation oncologist, and I learned early that it was equally important to talk about early detection and prevention of cancers and not just on the other end of treating cancer.

And so when I completed my residency, I committed a significant amount of my time to going out into the community.

She has dedicated her life not just to caring for patients in her day job, but volunteering nights and weekends.

And we went around to various churches, and on Sunday morning during the announcements, I would give a five minute health and wellness, early detection and prevention of cancers message.

I realized that those were a lot of one-and-dones, and many, many women needed to understand why they should change behavior And they had to have a pathway to get screenings.

So this led to some of my wonderful colleagues and myself cofounding an organization called the Prostate Cancer Coalition.

African-American men have double the mortality of any other ethnic and racial group.

And screening has literally been a lifesaver.

And we've seen this dramatic increase in the number of African-American men who are now being screened for prostate cancer.

Three of my four grandparents died from cancer.

Those three cancers were preventable malignancies through screenings and healthy lifestyle adoption.

And I just knew then that I was very comfortable with the field of oncology.

But I specifically knew I was going to spend a good portion of my time trying to educate the community around how do you prevent cancers that may occur later in life.

Lannis is able to not only impact patients with cancer in her day job, but she has developed this passion for eliminating health disparities.

I wish everyone could see what I see.

And what I do all day long is very different than the volunteer work.

I see people who are diagnosed at late stages.

When I think of Lannis, I obviously recognize her passion, I obviously recognize her expertize, but I really acknowledge that she's made all of us a lot better.

Our next honoree is Rachel Goldmann Miller, honored for her Lifetime Service.

Well, I'm 88 years old.

I don't know how many years that God has for me.

And most of us survivors are passing on.

In schools, only about 40 percent of young people know about the Holocaust.

So if they come to a place, or I go to their place and tell them what happened to me, what happened to my family, what happened to six million Jews, then I have done the job that I'm meant, that is meant for me to do.

As a survivor of the Holocaust, she testifies, shares her testimony with tens of thousands of museum visitors who hear living history from her.

I'm glad that I'm able to tell my history.

I'm glad that I'm able to educate.

I think my family would be proud of me, even though there are times that it's very difficult, like the month of July is a very difficult month for me.

That was the time that they took away my mother, my two brothers and my sister.

And the month of December, that's when they murdered my father in France.

On more than one occasion, she has spoken to a teenager who questioned the Holocaust.

So I told my story and I showed the pictures of my family.

And I was an orphan because of the inhumanity of man.

Their teacher arranged for a visit to the museum and time with her, and they left changed.

They left really having heard, having learned, having absorbed It really made a difference.

So this to me was an accomplishment.

They learned what happened.

And even though it's a small incident, it's a very important one.

By telling me your story, you have inspired me.

You've taught me to value words, to speak what needs to be said, and to stand up for what is important.

You showed me that I can overcome my fears and you've given me someone to look up to, someone who's givin something to the world.

Thank you.

You've given me plenty to think about, and I will never forget you.

Once again, thank you.

Thank you so much.

You are a hero, an inspiration.

We cannot honor these women without partners in the community.

Women of Achievement has enjoyed a wonderful partnership with KMOX Radio for many years.

Please welcome my boss, Becky Damyan.

At KMOX, we are proud to continue our sponsorship and with Women of Achievement.

Volunteerism and giving back is more important than ever before.

And, you know, time is our most valuable asset that we all have.

Right.

And these women wholeheartedly give their time to others.

And if we do that person by person, collectively, we're going to make this a stronger region.

And that impact is just going to be so significant Another incredible partnership for many years in recognizing these women is St. Louis Post-Dispatch and the Ladue News.

Please welcome Andrea Griffith.

It's truly an honor for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and Ladue News to partner each year with Women of Achievement.

We are so proud to share the stories of these remarkable women and the tireless and meaningful work they do to better our community And it's sincerely our privilege to share their stories with St. Louis.

Our next honoree is Carol Splater, honored for Community Betterment.

I have a group of friends that sew and love fabric.

And about 20 years ago, we decided to gather and share fabric with each other.

After a few times of this, we decided to contact a few charities that might like to use fabric.

And remember, this is about 20 years ago, and all we could think of were quilts, walker bags and and some baby items.

We had no idea of the scope that people needed fabric.

And as we grew, people started giving us fabrics that they knew would go somewhere useful.

And we grew and grew and grew.

And then we had a newspaper article in the Post Dispatch.

And after that, we had thousands of yards of fabric show up at my front door.

It just has grown immensely because even by word of mouth, it has just gone on and on and on.

And she is very good about coordinating the fabric to the need.

We had hundreds of requests for fabric from groups we didn't know existed, from military to schools to hospitals to shelters, even drama departments in schools, all these places that need money and can't afford to buy the kind of stuff they want.

We were able to supply fabric to all of them.

On an average week, we put out 50 white kitchen trash bags every week.

Carol is a very, very caring person.

She can see the need that they have and suggest ways to meet that need.

Charity Sharity has benefited people all over the world, and I'm including Africa, third world countries.

We know of missions in Haiti, for example, that are teaching the women to sew marketable products.

Such a unique organization.

We're the only one in the United States that we know of who does recycle fabric.

If it wasn't for charity sharity, where would this go?

I hate to see it just go into the dumpster or the landfill.

And now it's just repurposed for so many good organizations.

I mean, women that are making quilts for wounded military, you know, how touching is that?

And women who are making little bears for kids in shelters.

It's not just for me.

I couldn't have done it without all of my volunteers and all of the women, and men too, that are sewing for the better of others.

And I'm just thrilled to be able to exhibit it.

I'm really just thrilled to be the representative for all of them.

Our next honoree is Grace Elizabeth Strobel, honored for Youth Outreach.

Hello, I'm Grace Strobel.

I'm so glad to be here to be honored today.

So sometimes our biggest efforts become our greatest achievements.

About four years ago, I was in a lunchroom and kids started making fun of me and they laughed at me that day, felt alone and hated.

But I cried so hard.

But I cannot stop.

She was done with high school and she was transitioning into So Grace's job was to circulate around the tables and help kindergartners through third graders, open up milk cartons and bags and get them ketchup and what not.

I noticed several tables continuing to call her over and I said, hey, guys, could I help also?

And they said, no, we want her to help us.

And I was like, Oh, why?

And they said, Because we know she can't do it.

And then they busted out laughing.

That is when I decided I wanted to make a difference and I wanted to share for students what it's like to have struggles.

The Grace Effect is a presentation I give to schools that teaches the kids about having struggles, kindness, respect and belonging I have never seen Grace work so hard on a project or anything my whole life.

She put her full heart and soul into this because she really wanted to make a difference.

My favorite part is the role-playing, because it teaches the kids about having struggles.

I do like joking around with students like I say, when a shirt goes on and I say, "Hurry up, you're going to be late for school," or, "Kinda hard, isn't it?"

By the end of her presentation the kids will start to see Grace for Grace, and they the fears come down.

The barriers come down.

And by the end, and when she's all done, they all want to line up.

They're lining up.

They want to touch her in some physical way.

They're high-fiving her.

They're hugging her.

They want to come talk to her.

They want to look at her fingernails.

So she moved beyond the girl with Down Syndrome to you know, I'm just like you.

My mom told me that we fear what we don't understand.

I became a speaker to help people see the value in others.

You know, I, a lot of times have to hold back tear because that takes courage, you know, and that takes courag to stand up for others who might not be able to speak for themselves.

So I think her perseverance in her courage are inspiring to me as a parent.

No matter who you are, we want all the same things: to be valued, to be respected, and to feel good about ourselves.

The end.

These women do not do the volunteer work they do for a reward or for accolades.

Our organization exists to give recognition to their behind the scenes work.

Often the rewards come in the relationships, the camaraderie and seeing the outcomes and changes.

Let's hear from past honorees about what returns they have experienced.

I think the way that we live on is not only in our children, but what we have done in our lives.

And it's often said, you know, it makes no difference how many toys you have when you go.

What have you done?

How has your life had meaning?

That's what's important.

I would tell you to find something that you like to do, because that's the important thing.

You can't stick with something unless you like doing it and you're happy doing it, and it's satisfying to you.

It gives you huge satisfaction.

I became part of the symphony because they were like my famil and they replaced something.

My daughters were grown up and moved away.

They replaced something that was missing in my life.

Not only did they make beautiful music, but I really cared about them.

Even though I did go down a dark road.

And live in despair and hopelessness and helplessness, for a while.

But coming out of it now, I look back and taken a hold of the volunteer things that I have done, you know, sitting in the halls of Queen of Peace and volunteering and supporting women who might want to leave treatment.

You know, I don't know if I ever may have saved somebody's life.

You never know what that nugget is that you're trying to reach out there for but be that be there, volunteer be that star, be their bright, be the light.

You get a lot of joy of volunteering because everybody seems to be grateful for what you're doing.

And so it makes you feel good and makes you want to do more.

And you want to do it not just to feel good, but I think as a volunteer, you are making a difference in this community.

I will go to a party and someone will come up to me and say thank you for making my husband's life better.

He's not just sitting at home.

He's enthusiastic.

He's engaged.

Or a mother will come up and say, I can't tell you how grateful I am that your volunteers helped my child.

It's made the biggest difference in the world.

And this is such a satisfying feeling.

When people recognize the opportunity, take that opportunity, take that step, this step is going to take you somewhere else.

And that's just how it led me.

And yeah, boom.

And I'm like, oh, how did I get here?

You know, but I'm glad to be here.

I really am.

And looking for furtherings like whatever opportunities is coming, I'm going to take a hold of it.

Our next honoree is Cassie A. Strom honored for Veteran's Advocacy.

First, I'm a retired retired out of the military, so I am a veteran.

And from that capacity, I started the Veteran's Advocac Project under Catholic Legal Assistance Ministry and now St. Francis Community Services.

My main focus is really bringing attention to women veterans.

That's my passion.

And I love my women veterans.

And so in 2009, we started a stand up for women veterans, which mirrored what the city government and the county did for veterans.

But that one was so focused on men.

We had massages.

We had beauticians.

We had people giving manicures.

Additionally, many of the women are survivors of military sexual trauma.

So going to events where there are a lot of men, or men are running it can be very challenging for them.

She's a general officer.

And when you think about the military, how many layers of people that are between the leadership and the people who actually do the work.

It is amazing how close she is to where the work is.

She's actually where the rubber meets the road.

And then we march as women veterans in the St. Louis Veteran's Day parade.

And, you know, we dance our way down the street.

We yell out and we just have such a wonderful time because they are really incredible, incredible women.

We had so many women discharged for really the result or the impact of military sexual trauma.

So they were either raped or, you know, mistreated or abused or those sorts of things in the service, you know, as a JAG, and mainly because I can read military records, you know, I can pull all that down and I know what it means, I can put together packages to help them get their discharge upgraded to reflect really the quality of their service.

When she applies her legal skills to get discharges upgraded, help people access their benefits, that's a big part of helping America fulfill its promises to those veterans.

And that's that's who she is.

And if you've served and you're able to not able to get that benefit that you're entitled to, she'll be there to help you get that.

I consider myself to be a veteran's advocate.

And it's an amazing thing to get to do.

And I'm blessed that I can do it because of my retirement pay, because of my medical care and all the different benefits I get from the government, from my service.

I have the time and the freedom to be able to help these people.

So really, you know, it's a gift that was given to me because of the position I'm in.

Our last honoree this evening is Cheryl D. S. Walker, honored for Impactful Leadership.

How I try to live my life and the values that I try to live my life by, come from my parents and my mom in particular, being of deep faith, you know, of whom much is given, much is required.

And so that is certainly one of my guiding posts.

But then the other is from "kuumba," which is it means creativity and Kiswahili.

And it's one of the principles of Kwanzaa.

And it basically, in essence, says that we should do all that we can in every way that we can to leave this world more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.

Her identity as a black woman is central to who she is.

Cheryl has served on so many different roles.

Regional Arts Commission, Regional Health Commission, Tower Grove Park.

I mean, she just leads.

I'm most proud of in my volunteer work would be my work with the Deaconess Foundation.

I joined the Board of Deaconess in 2011 and being a part of the transformation of Deaconess from a social service grant making organization to a collective impact organization that's really doubling down on supporting initiatives that advocate for children and that support organizers.

Part of that is chairing the board when the Deaconess Center was built.

The center is intentionally north of Delmar It is intentionally in a neighborhood that is largely under-resourced.

And it has, in my view, been a wonderful opportunity to be on the ground where the work that you're trying to do is happening so that you can learn from the people in the region and to incorporate that feedback into the manner in which the business of the work of improving the lives and improving the well-being of children and youth is done.

Everything she does is quite intentional.

Every single thing and I appreciate that.

I don't ever have to wonder, you know, did it not get the thought that it deserve when she's doing something.

Whether you're talking about my involvement with the Regional Arts Commission or the Whitaker Foundation, which translates directly to ar and the things that bring us peace and the things that bring us solace in difficult times, as well as in celebratory times Those are direct examples of my trying to live out kuumba in my life.

To leave this place more beautiful and beneficial than I inherited it.

That means the world to me.

And to the extent that I could play a little part in making that happen, that brings me great joy.

Women must be nominated in order to be selected as a Woman of Achievement.

Nominations for next year are now open and will be open through mid-January of 2022.

Submitting a nomination is easy.

You can find the nomination form on our website at woastl.org.

The nomination form allows two pages to document the service of your nominee.

When you submit your nomination include the impact that their service has had on individuals or organizations.

Try to be precise, including the length of time they have served, the number of people they have touched, the number of volunteer hours, and of course, the results that were achieved.

You can also nominate yourself.

One well written nomination does the job.

Multiple nominations for the same person are not necessary.

There are so many deserving women in the St. Louis region.

We want to hear from you.

So please consider the women you know who have made a lasting impact.

Submit your nomination!

Traditionally, this is a luncheon for 800 of these ladies closest friends and family.

The team last year gave us a wonderful roadmap for how this could be done.

They pivoted very quickly to come up with the idea of a broadcast, and Nine PBS would host our broadcast, which was great.

We got a lot more viewership than we could have had at a luncheon.

Our goal, of course, the mission is to highlight what we call our stars, which are the 10 Women of Achievement for 2021 and find the best way to showcase them.

We've made it fun for them, and we wanted to be sure that they feel included.

And it's so much fun to congratulate them.

You know, we've been doing that on all these segments of times that we've been involved with them and giving them the accolades that they so deserve.

It's validation for someone that is a woman of achievement this year that what they've thought about doing and gone out and done and given of their time, energy and sometimes money, other people respect and want to applaud.

Every woman every year who's selected always has the same response.

Why would they choose me?

And when you read their nomination, there's no doubt why they would be chosen.

They have accomplished outstanding, outstanding things in the community and all for no pay.

And usually for very little recognition.

So I think it's wonderful that we can all step back for a minute and take a look at how are things happening in our own community and what impact that party of one with passion is bringing to it.

It is no small undertaking to create a program of this magnitude.

Please welcome the 2021 Women of Achievement Event Chairperson, Ida H. Early.

It has been my honor to chair this recognition event for Women of Achievement, and to stand among these new honorees.

As women, we are powerful and we use the opportunities around us to find solutions and inspire others to act.

This year's Women of Achievement join our diverse group of honorees who have seen a need, had the vision to address that need and have the drive, determination and heart to help transform our community.

It is my honor to present to you again our 2021 honorees.

Lourdes Treviño Bailon, Community Welfare.

Rebeccah L. Bennett, Equitable Leadership.

Susan Colangelo, Social Justice Artist.

Retired Judge Annette A. Eckert, Teen Advocate.

Lannis E. Hall, M.D., Health Advocacy.

Rachel Goldmann Miller, Lifetime Service.

Carole Splater, Community Betterment.

Grace Elizabeth Strobel, Youth Outreach.

Cassie A. Strom, Veterans Advocacy.

Cheryl D. S. Walker, Impactful Leadership.

Congratulations.

I want to thank each of you for joining us this evening.

I hope one or more of the stories you saw tonight sparked something in you.

Perhaps you've been inspired to do something more for those in need or make a change in your community.

We recognize these incredible women in order to say thank you but also to tell you that your ideas and your energy are needed.

And we do hope you join in.

Please remember to nominate a deserving woman for next year's celebration, which will return live and in person in the spring.

On behalf of the Women of Achievement, Good night.