28th Annual Academy for Women of Achievement Celebrates Trailblazers and Innovators
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Oct. 25, 2019) – YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee hosted its 28th annual Academy for Women of Achievement celebration and induction dinner at the Music City Center in downtown Nashville. Approximately 500 people, including leaders from Nashville’s business, medical, media government, and philanthropic sectors attended this celebration.The 2019 AWA honorees are Gail Carr Williams, Associate Director of Community Relations at Vanderbilt University; Beth Chase, Senior Managing Director at Ankura; Hon. Ana Escobar, Davidson County General Sessions Judge- Division 3; Mendy Mazzo, Corporate Senior Vice President at Skanska; Dr. Consuelo Wilkins, Vice President for Health Equity at Vanderbilt University Medical Center; Vicki Yates, News Anchor/Reporter for WTVF-TV News Channel 5. Bank of America is the 2019 corporate honoree. The 2019 Academy for Women of Achievement was presented by the Nashville Predators.“The recipients of this year’s class represent the YWCA’s mission to a high degree,” said YWCA President and CEO Sharon K. Roberson. “Their brave and fearless purposes are making a difference for women, children, and families in Nashville and Middle Tennessee.Proceeds from the AWA recognition dinner help fund the programs of the YWCA, including the Weaver Domestic Violence Center, the largest emergency domestic violence shelter in Tennessee. For more than 120 years, the YWCA has helped women, girls and families in Nashville and Middle Tennessee build safer, more self-sufficient lives. In addition to its extensive domestic violence services, the YWCA operates a Family Learning Center to help women and men earn their high school equivalency diploma. Nearly 25 percent of all adult education HiSET recipients in Nashville are FLC graduates. Dress for Success Nashville provides professional clothing for women who are entering the workforce. Girls Inc. inspires hundreds of Nashville-area schoolgirls each year to be strong, smart and bold. The AMEND Together program seeks to reduce all violence against women and girls by challenging a culture that supports violence and cultivating healthy masculinity.The YWCA is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. The Academy for Women of Achievement was launched locally in 1992 by YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee. This year’s recipients join 165 other women who hold this distinctive honor.For more information, please contact:Michelle Mowery Johnson, YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee, Michelle.MoweryJohnson@ywcanashville.com | (615) 983-5125 Courtney Scarboro, MP&F Strategic Communications, cscarboro@mpf.com | (615) 259-4000 ###