Black History Month Women’s Celebration

Making History for Tomorrow

The second annual Columbus Urban League Black History Month Women’s Celebration was held virtually on Saturday, Feb. 27.

Our goal: To host an intimate, candid soul-searching and confidence-boosting event that highlights and celebrates some of our community’s most outstanding African American women.

This year, we honored five true sheros – women who choose not just to live a legacy, but to leave one. Read their profiles in the column on the right side of this page.

Empowered women empower women!

 

Get Your Celebration Shirts Today!

Short sleeve shirts are $21. Long sleeve are $24.

Order now at topofmindtees.com

 

Thanks to our event partners!

The 2021 Women’s Celebration is proud to work with & support these great local businesses…

The African Accent, LLC – 614-403-5069

Battiste LaFleur Galleria – 614-253-8000

Exquisite Wine & Cigars – 614-378-0845

Young Scholars Enrichment Center – 614-275-1850

Meet Our Honorees

Congresswoman Joyce Beatty has proudly represented Ohio’s Third Congressional District since 2013. Congresswoman Beatty is Chair of the powerful Congressional Black Caucus, sits on the House Committee on Financial Services and serves on two Subcommittees: Chair of Diversity and Inclusion, and Housing, Community Development and Insurance.

Kimberly Brazwell is Chief Executive Officer, Founder & Mad Scientist at KiMISTRY, which coaches organizations on how to let their people be the best possible versions of themselves. A leader in social justice advocacy Kimberly also serves as the executive director for the newly formed King Lincoln Family Services Corporation in Columbus and is the author of Browning Pleasantville.

Donna James is the managing director of Lardon & Associates, LLC, serves on several public boards, and retired after 25 years as President of Nationwide Strategic Investments prior to starting her own business. In her community, Ms. James is the co‐founder and former board chair of the Center for Healthy Families, a non‐profit focused on transforming the lives of pregnant and parenting teens and their children and Co‐Executive Director for the African American Leadership Academy.

Gale King is Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) for Nationwide. In this role, Gale is responsible for providing strategic and operational leadership for the company’s Human Resources, Diversity and Inclusion, Corporate Real Estate, Corporate Security and Aviation operations. Under Gale’s leadership, the company has been recognized for its leading Human Resources practices and as an employer of choice for its strong culture, performance orientation, engaging work environment and commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Dr. Mysheika W. Roberts, MD, MPH, serves as Health Commissioner for the City of Columbus, a role she has held since 2017. She proudly leads the organization and a team of more than 500 public health professionals who are focused on neighborhood-based approaches that address the social determinants of health from safe, affordable housing and education to jobs and violent crime in order to decrease the health disparities that exist. Dr. Roberts joined Columbus Public Health in 2006.

Meet Our Emcee: Ciara Lucas

Ciara Lucas of ABC 6/FOX 28, served as the emcee for our second annual Women’s Celebration. Ciara joined the ABC 6/FOX 28 News team as a reporter in March of 2020. Her reports are regularly featured on “Good Day Columbus” on weekday mornings. Read her full bio here.