[Archived] Alexandria Commission for Women Recognizes Contributions of Six Women Leaders During "Salute to Women" Awards Banquet; Event Launches Women's History Walk


News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date:	Monday, March 29, 1999
Contact:	Angelita Plemmer, City Manager's Office, (703) 838-4300; Norma Gattsek, Alexandria Office on Women, ; (703) 838-5030

Alexandria Commission for Women Recognizes Contributions of Six Women Leaders During "Salute to Women" Awards Banquet; Event Launches Women's History Walk

ALEXANDRIA, VA: Women leaders --- of Alexandria's past, present and future --- were honored this evening at the annual "Salute to Women" awards banquet of the Alexandria Commission for Women. Six women were recognized for their outstanding contributions to the City. In addition, the Commission announced the creation of a Women's History Walk in Alexandria.

Lynn Jordan, chair of the Commission for Women, welcomed more than 350 people to the gala, noting that this year is the 25th anniversary of the Commission. Susan Lowell Butler was joined by her colleagues on the Commission for Women to introduce a new endeavor, a Women's History Walk, which highlights the efforts of women from Alexandria's founding to present day. The Walk is a part of this year's 250th Anniversary celebration of the City.

Keynote speaker Brigadier General Wilma L. Vaught, USAF (Ret.), president of Women in Military Service for America Memorial Foundation, emphasized the importance of recognizing those who have given of themselves for the betterment of the community and the nation. Alexandria City Council members Redella Pepper and Lois Walker presented the awards to six inspiring Alexandria citizens. They are:

Carter Dudley Flemming received the "Marguerite Payez Leadership Award" for her distinguished volunteer leadership in numerous organizations. Flemming began volunteering at The Campagna Center in the 1970s and today is chair of the Ways and Means Committee of their Board of Directors. Simultaneously, she has been a member of the Board of the Alexandria Chapter of the American Red Cross, currently serving as it Chair. She has been a visionary volunteer, assisting both organizations with their long-range strategic planning. In addition she serves as Vice Chair of the Executive Board of the Alexandria United Way and has served on the Board of Alexandria Business Cares, the foundation arm of the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce, and is a family/youth advocate in the Stop Child Abuse Now program. She has also given her time to St. Stephen and St. Agnes School and the Red Hill Garden Club. This award is named for a prominent Alexandria community leader.

Joan Gaskins received a new award this year, the "Woman to Woman � Making a Difference Award," for establishing Generations Closet, which provides professional clothing for disadvantaged women entering the workforce. Gaskins founded Generations Closet as a nonprofit volunteer program in 1997 in answer to the needs of women participating in welfare to work programs. Since its creation, it has served more than 500 women, distributing more than $40,000 in work fashions to those in need. Gaskins is the owner of Generations fashion boutique on Mount Vernon Avenue.

The Women's Health and Safety Advocate Award was presented to Gerry Doon for her activism on behalf of citizens with addictions and disabilities. Doon began her work as a volunteer at the Recovery Women's Center, a treatment program for women with drug addictions. In the years that followed, she was a treatment counselor for the City of Alexandria Substance Abuse Services and assisted in the development of Stepping Stones, an Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous chapter in the Delray neighborhood. She served as board chair of the Alexandria Community Services Board and has chaired committees for the Fair Share Task Force and the Windsor Avenue Men's Recovery Home Neighborhood Advisory Committee. Most recently, she has been promoting a two-year old organization called SAARA - Substance Abuse and Addiction Recovery Alliance, advocating for those recovering from addiction.

The Cultural Affairs Award was presented to Audrey Faden for her horticultural "living art" projects. As a long-time member of the Del Ray Citizens Association, Faden has designed and managed a number of garden projects in public settings. She chaired the Simpson Park Renovation Committee, resulting in park improvements benefitting families, athletes and gardeners. As a Master Gardener of Northern Virginia, she has given more than 1,000 volunteer hours as a lecturer through the Virginia Cooperative Extension program.

Ella O. Lewis received the Career Development and Education/Training Award for her many years as a volunteer for life skills educational programs. Lewis has been a dedicated volunteer for the Virginia Cooperative Extension Program, Alexandria Office, assisting youths and adults to develop or improve their life skills. She set up the first educational program by the Cooperative Service in Alexandria at Ebenezer Baptist Church, was a member of the Cooperative Service's first advisory council and co-managed the Women's Financial Information Program. She has volunteered for Alexandria 4-H and was a member of the Commission for Women from 1982 to 1988. In addition she is the unofficial historian of Ebenezer Baptist Church maintaining the church's written history.

Fifteen-year-old Maria Montiel received the Youth Community Service Award for her volunteer leadership. She serves as youth representative to the Alexandria Volunteer Bureau and is co-chair of the Youth Service Coalition. In November 1998, she was a panelist for the "Call to Community" kick-off event. She recently became Captain of an Explorers Post focusing on law enforcement and community service. In her sophomore year at T.C. Williams

High School, Montiel volunteers at Inova Alexandria Hospital as part of her Community Service class.

Proceeds from the banquet benefit programs of the Alexandria Office on Women, including 24-hour domestic violence and sexual assault response programs, job search assistance to unemployed and underemployed women, mentoring for young teens and educational programs on women's health and other issues affecting women and their children.