Rochester, NY- Rochester Women's Network has selected the finalists for this year’s prestigious "W" Award. Given annually, this award honors a local woman who works tirelessly on behalf of women. The winner goes above and beyond to support the personal and professional growth of women; she empowers and influences women to learn, grow, advance and succeed by her example, inspires women through her courage, initiative and creative energy, and exemplifies a high standard of integrity and respect for others. Past "W" Award recipients include: Congresswoman Louise H. Slaughter, Carol Love, Dr. Cynthia McGill, Elaine Gallina Spaull, Germaine Knapp, Kitty Van Bortel and others.
The 2010 “W” Award recipient was announced during the 5th annual Splash! Event on May 19, at Nazareth College. For more information about RWN, including membership, visit www.rwn.org or call (585) 271-4182.
The 2010 finalists are:
Dr. Twyla Cummings. As the Paul and Louise Miller Distinguished Professor at Rochester Institute of Rochester, Twyla has helped the graphic communications industry better understand women through her research and publications relative to women press operators in the printing industry and highlighting the importance of mentoring for women in the industry. She has explored several mentoring models for women & she developed an undergraduate course, Women in Graphic Media and Publishing. As an educational and industry leader, Twyla has broken gender boundaries and provided leadership in professional and personal areas. Twyla’s community involve includes the YWCA, Rochester Women’s Network, Rochester Area Business Ethics Foundation, mentoring sessions for students of Jefferson Middle School, and was Keynote speaker at the 2008 STAR (Sisters Together Achieving Results) Debutante Ball. Twyla is an inspiration simply by the zest and enthusiasm she brings to every challenge, dilemma and issue. She models the ability to solve complex problems with ease and demonstrates common sense under pressure.
Dr. Naomi Erdmann. As the Director of the Graduate Literacy Programs and the Marie Callahan Reading Clinic at Nazareth College she has had many opportunities to nurture and mentor the professional growth of females in the teaching profession. Her work at the clinic has extended over three decades, where she has served the urban, suburban, and rural communities of the greater Rochester Area. Naomi’s research of teacher preparation has developed her philosophy of “what teachers know and can do makes the difference in children”. She has committed herself to producing teachers who know theory and practice of learning, so as to be able to make differences in the lives of children. She is active in many community service organizations for women, churches, the arts, and education, including The Genesee Valley Womens’ Foundation, Memorial Art Gallery, and the Rochester City School District. Naomi has modeled a life where a mother and wife can be proud of her professional success, strive to achieve and still be great at home.
Sandra Frankel. As the Supervisor of the Town of Brighton for 18 years, Sandra Frankel is the first woman to hold the office of elected Executive/CEO in the town’s 177-year history – serving as an inspiration to women throughout Monroe County and New York State. She has provided intern opportunities to young women with an eye toward developing their careers, and has afforded job opportunities to women in positions previously held by men – breaking the glass ceiling for women who strove to work in male-dominated fields. An educator by training, Sandy has focused efforts and resources on giving other women the means to succeed through mentoring, encouragement and advocacy. Some of the many ways Sandy has been involved with her community include past member of Brighton Central School District’s School Board, mentoring women as a Wilson Commencement Park volunteer, supporting the Susan B. Anthony House, providing key guidance in the updating of the City of Rochester’s Comprehensive Plan – Rochester 2010: An Urban Renaissance, the Eleanor Roosevelt Legacy Committee, Emily’s List and Monroe County’s co-chairperson for Hillary Clinton’s US Senate Campaign. Finally, Sandra Frankel is ever mindful of opportunities to give our county & region a voice & presence in statewide referendums. In an era during which citizens’ faith in their elected officials has eroded, Sandy continues to hold her administration to the highest standards of ethics and to demand complete integrity in the work that they do.
Arlette Miller-Smith. When your life teaches, your heart sings and your soul writes……then you have become acquainted with the passions of Arlette Miller Smith. Associate Professor of English, Co-director of African American Studies and faculty member in the Executive Leadership Doctoral Programs and Women & Gender Studies at St. John Fisher College. A well known keynote speaker, dramatist, workshop leader, vocalist and educator, Arlette has inspired women at conferences, college events, and women’s retreats. Dr. Miller Smith is the founder-executive director of AKOMA, Rochester’s African American Women’s Gospel Choir, a musical ministry. The sisters of AKOMA are committed to serving the Rochester Community: volunteer at soup kitchens; support the YWCA; give financially, culturally and spiritually to organizations including Save Our Sisters (SOS), a local young women’s choir. AKOMA’s Nona Patterson Chambers Scholarship has awarded more than $42,000 to young college bound women. In addition, Arlette serves or has served on several local Boards and community initiatives including BOA Editions, the Urban League of Rochester, the Mosaic Partnership Program, the Mayor’s Commission on Race & Ethnicity, Upstate Diversity Agora, Workforce Diversity Network, as well as the New York-Penn Regional Red Cross Services Board.
Sally Ward. As the President of Ward Leadership, Sally has chosen to devote most of her professional time to enhancing women leaders, particularly in the not-for-profit arena. Working with individual leaders, emerging leaders, teams and organizations, Sally has empowered women in places of significant challenge to step forward and lead their teams and organizations to successful outcomes. Sally has worked for over twenty years with women in many parts of our community, and interacts with them all in the same respectful manner. The groups of women that Sally has helped to empower include; young women struggling with literacy, women working for healthy pregnancies and children, underinsured and underemployed women to develop leadership skills and financial self sufficiency, women struggling with addiction and poverty to secure housing, employment and dignity, funding for countless programs enriching women throughout the community via Women’s Fund and Foundation, poor women in need of legal counsel and representation, unemployed women stepping into new positions successfully, women seeking to improve and expand their professional skills and network. Sally has chaired and worked extensively with Boards of Directors and is currently an active Board member and volunteer with several nonprofits. She also mentors inner-city school children and serves on a community wide multi-parish planning team. Her affiliations include Rochester Women’s Network, Women’s Foundation, Main West Attorneys at Law, Career Development Services, YWCA, St. Joseph’s Neighborhood Center, Perinatal Network of Monroe County, School # 36 Literacy Mentor, Rush Henrietta Pastoral Planning Group & International Coach Federation.
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