Image courtesy of El Gray
Nearly one thousand professional women and their guests filled the historic Union Station Hotel Grand Ballroom to recognize an amazing group of honorees at the YWCA Metro St. Louis Leadership Luncheon, held on December 7, 2023.
The annual event awarded nine women as “Leaders of Distinction”, inducting them into the YMCA’s 43rd class of “The Academy Of Leaders” and also recognized over 100 women, nominated by their peers, as “Leaders in the Workplace”.
The day also offered a bazaar filled with retail vendors & live musical entertainment, an auction full of extraordinary prizes, and served as a shining testament to remind us all of the life-changing impacts the YWCA Metro St. Louis has made in the community over the past year. A year spent serving more than 10,000 families through its programs & services such as its Head Start program, economic education classes, and crisis intervention services.
The attendees were greeted with a pop-up bazaar bursting with energy as they shopped and explored the many women-owned business vendors featuring a variety of self-love & wellness products. Plush Home-made scarves, elegant candles, luxurious body scrubs, exotic jewelry, etc, tickled their senses as they browsed each table. One of the vendor teams made up of Mom Sonya & Daughter Kyera presented a scrumptious full line of handmade spa products and candles called Skin & Wicks, and they were grateful for the opportunity to market their goods to the large luncheon audience as they made the move from showing at small trunk shows to selling at two established boutiques.
Courtesy of El Gray
Our Mistress of Ceremonies Jade Harrell began the evening by asking everyone to “Be present, Be in the moment, look around the room, and breathe in all this excellence! This is what Leadership looks like.”
Each of the nominees marched into the room to theme songs chosen to represent their winning spirits. The audience clapped, took to their feet, and beamed with pride as the awards were handed out and the air was filled with the inspirational sounds of songs like I’m Every Woman and I Break Chains.
Dr. Cheryl Watkins, MBA, President & Chief Executive Officer YWCA Metro STL, shared that the event was one of her favorites of the year, because not only did we have an opportunity to recognize the achievements of the awardees, but it was also a chance to remind everyone of their mission: to eliminate racism and empower women through the many services that the YWCA Metro StL has to offer.
Watkins went on to say; “Every woman has a story, and many women’s stories are written by circumstance, events like this one give us a chance to highlight (our stories) and share.” An impactful moment that I am sure touched the hearts and minds of everyone there was when Dr. Watkins pointed out that the orange tablecloths that were peppered around the room like spices in a sea of white tables represented the sobering statistic that 1 in every 4 women had been a victim of domestic abuse, mentally, physically, financially or some combination of the three.
Lisa Marruci, Chief Marketing Director for YWCA Metro St. Louis, shared that she hoped everyone walked away understanding that the YWCA services were designed to meet women where they were, whatever the situation and help them move forward.
Jacqueline Dyer, an attendee who proudly served as a volunteer and member of the YWCA for over 50 years said she encourages people to check out what the YWCA has to offer.
For a complete list of awardees inducted into the Academy of Leaders #43 or to nominate someone for Leader Lunch 44 to be held Friday, December 13, 2024, visit the YWCA website.
https://www.ywcastl.org/events/leader-lunch/
