ONLINE: Women of Distinction

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Jenie Gao

A detail from "Restoration," by Jenie Gao, featured art for the 2021 YWCA Madison Women of Distinction Leadership Awards. A percentage of print sales at jenie.studio/collections/community-ecosystems benefits YWCA Madison.

The theme of this annual YWCA Madison event is “Reimagining Community,” and as CEO Vanessa McDowell says in the promotional materials for the event, “We can now have our community extend wider because we will be virtual.” Join the event on YWCA Madison's Facebook page and learn more about the work of Jannet Arenas Pineda, Dr. Roxie Hentz, Jacquelyn Hunt, Adrian Jones, Jenny Pressman and Nasra Wehelie, community leaders making Madison a better place to live for all. Donations can be made here.

press release: YWCA Madison invites you to the 46th Annual Women of Distinction Awards Celebration. Friday, May 21, - starting at 7:00 PM on Facebook Live.

We are pleased to announce that this year’s honorees are Jannet Arenas Pineda, Dr. Roxie Hentz, Jacquelyn Hunt, Adrian Jones, Jenny Pressman, and Nasra Wehelie.

"We are excited to resume our 46th annual Women of Distinction Awards this year. We will be honoring phenomenal women within our community that are doing amazing work. Our theme this year is Reimagining Community. It came as a result of the pause that the COVID-19 pandemic made us all take. It has given us the opportunity to not just go back to things as normal, but reimagine everything including what community looks like. We can now have our community extend wider because we will be virtual. Please join us in community," says Vanessa McDowell, YWCA Madison, CEO.

YWCA Madison established the Women of Distinction Leadership Awards in 1974 to increase community awareness and appreciation of the diverse contributions of women in the workforce and in the community. Since its inception, Women of Distinction has honored 239 women whose achievements have aligned with the historic mission and values of YWCA Madison. YWCA Madison invites you to join us in “Reimagining Community” by celebrating the achievements of this year’s honorees.

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courtesy YWCA Madison

JANNET ARENAS PINEDA - Jannet Arenas Pineda is described as one of the people in our community who go above and beyond in their efforts to make our world a better place, often, without seeking the spotlight or any recognition. As a social worker at Midvale Elementary, Jannet has worked extremely hard to ensure that her students and families feel safe and welcome, especially families of color. Jannet is someone who does so much behind the scenes whether its organizing for immigrant rights or supporting a better education system for Madison students, Jannet is always there directing the plan. Her leadership has been felt across many community organizations in the Madison area.

DR. ROXIE HENTZ - Dr. Roxie Hentz has been a force for the empowerment of women and girls as well as a strong advocate for change with regards to racism in every position she has held throughout her career. While employed at the WI Department of Public Instruction, working on racial disparity issues, she played a big role in "Closing the Racial Gap.” Dr. Hentz worked with priority schools which were the lowest achieving schools in the state. Before DPI she taught in public school and loved that work so she decided to return to teaching to impact kids of color using her gifts and talents to change and influence the world.

JACQUELYN HUNT - Jackie's work always followed a path of supporting folks in overcoming the challenges of involvement in the criminal justice system, addiction, homelessness, poverty and racism. She worked as an AODA Community Outreach Specialist with Nehemiah Center (1996-2000 and 2006-present), Clinical Substance Abuse Counselor at Journey Mental Health (2000-2016), AODA Prevention Specialist at Genesis Development Corporation (1999-present) and others. Her focus has been to provide culturally specific interventions and trauma informed services especially to African American men and women. She often sat on committees and in meetings where it was at times difficult, but stayed, in an effort to affect change for those served.

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courtesy YWCA Madison

ADRIAN JONES - Adrian has developed her professional and personal commitments to honor and lift up those in her community who have experienced racism and sexism. Driven by a passion to ameliorate the injustices

experienced by herself and loved ones in the healthcare system, Adrian dedicates her vast expertise in

women’s health to better our community. Within the Office of Population Health at UW Health, Adrian

leads the implementation of strategies to improve the vast disparity in birth outcomes experienced by

women of color in Dane County. She guides the work of the Maternal and Child Health Steering Group

and the newly formed Maternal and Child Health Community Advisory Committee, lifting up voice and

solutions from those most impacted by systemic racism in health care systems.

JENNY PRESSMAN - Jenny Pressman has devoted her life to championing racial, economic, and social justice, especially for women. As the daughter of Holocaust survivors, a decades-long champion of women’s and LGBTQ rights, the past Director of Development for the Goodman Community Center, and the current Director of Community Partnerships for the life-changing UW Odyssey Project, Jenny has fought to break cycles of generational poverty and to end racism, sexism, classism, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia, antisemitism, Islamophobia, and other forms of oppression.

NASRA WEHELIE - Nasra is an immigrant from Somalia who has become a force to be reckoned with in the Madison community. Throughout her life, she has committed herself to the empowerment of women of all ages and eliminating racism. In her professional and personal life, Nasra has always fought for equality and uplifted the voices of the most marginalized. Her development and fundraising work at Madison area-Urban Ministry (MUM) allowed for more projects like the Just Bakery program to receive funding. Additionally, Nasra has worked globally to uplift the voices of women and worked with young girls in Somalia on gender empowerment and community building. Currently, Nasra is an alder for Madison’s Common Counsel, District 7.

On behalf of the women and families we serve, we salute our sponsors and partners with heartfelt thanks. Our incredible sponsors provide critical financial support for YWCA programs and initiatives. Thank you for learning more about the Sponsorship Opportunities that are available. If you have questions about sponsorship, please reach out to Jill W. Pfeiffer, YWCA Development and Marketing Director at jpfeiffer@ywcamadison.org or 608-395-2174.