NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Oct.  29, 2024) ­­­– YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee hosted its 32nd Academy for Women of Achievement (AWA) celebration on Thursday, Oct. 24, at the Music City Center.

The event, attended by more than 450 supporters, including 35 previous AWA honorees, recognized seven extraordinary women and one organization for their commitment to empowering women and improving Nashville and Middle Tennessee.

Proceeds from the evening support YWCA’s programs and services, including the Weaver Domestic Violence Center, Girls Inc., AMEND Together, the Family Learning Center and Dress for Success Nashville.

“We are incredibly proud to celebrate these outstanding leaders, whose legacies of excellence have made a lasting mark on Nashville and Middle Tennessee,” said YWCA President and CEO Sharon K. Roberson. “The Academy for Women of Achievement honors women who are passionate about achieving real change in our community. These strong women embody the spirit of the YWCA’s mission to eliminate racism and empower women even further.”

2024 AWA Individual honorees:

·        Ivanetta Davis Samuels – Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Meharry Medical College

·        Michele Johnson – Executive Director and Co-Founder, Tennessee Justice Center

·        Rita Johnson-Mills – Independent Director and Regional President, CINQCARE

·        Sylvia Rapoport – Founding President of Centennial Park Conservancy, District Attorney’s Office Conviction Review Unit

·        The Honorable Emily J. Reynolds – Vice Chair, Tennessee Board of Regents, former Secretary of the U.S. Senate and Corporate Board Member

·        Amanda Weeks-Geveden – Senior Wealth Advisor and Senior Vice President, 1834, a division of Old National Bank

·        Evette White – CEO/Executive Director, Leadership Nashville

Corporate honoree: Ingram Industries

Since its inception in 1992, the AWA has honored 198 women and 35 organizations for their exceptional contributions. This year’s theme, “It All Starts with a Seed,” emphasized the YWCA’s belief in the power of ideas to inspire transformative change, a principle that has been at the heart of the Academy for over three decades.

­The celebration was led by co-chairs Marlene Eskind Moses, Partner at GSRM Law; Laura Smith, Vice President and General Counsel at Nashville Electric Service; and LoLita Toney, Assistant Vice President of Institutional Advancement at Tennessee State University.

Lelan Statom of NewsChannel 5 served as emcee for the 15th year. Major sponsors for the event included Presenting Sponsor Amazon, Dollar General, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, the Mary Wester Foundation, FirstBank, GSRM Law, 1834, A Division of Old National Bank.

You can check out photos and videos  of the event on our website, Facebook and YouTube pages. 

To learn more about how you can make a difference in the lives of women and families, visit ywcanashville.com.

About YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee
YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. For more than 125 years, YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee has helped women, girls and families in Nashville and Middle Tennessee build safer, more self-sufficient lives. Programs include Domestic Violence Services, Girls Inc., AMEND Together, Dress for Success, Family Learning Center, and Social Justice and Advocacy. For more information, visit ywcanashville.com, follow us on X/Twitter @YWCANashville and Instagram @YWCANashville, and find us on Facebook at facebook.com/YWCANashville.

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