Local women celebrated at annual YWCA awards event
By Jazmine Knight
Women of all ages and backgrounds came together at the Civic Arena on Thursday for the 23rd annual Women of Excellence Awards Luncheon.
YWCA CEO Danielle Brown said the event aims to celebrate the accomplishments of women in the community and give back to the women making strides in the workplace.
The YWCA gave out several awards at the event. Loes Hedge received the Lifetime Achievement Award in Volunteerism. Jean Brown earned the Lifetime Achievement Award in the Workplace. LeeAnn Leonard took home the Y Women of Merit award.
Some other award categories included emerging leader, employers of excellence, future leader, woman in volunteerism, woman in entrepreneurship and more.
“It doesn’t take grand things, the little steps together can make big changes and big accomplishments,” Brown said.
She said these women earned their accolades by taking part in the community through volunteering or civic organizations.
Keynote speaker Kelly Evans shared her story of overcoming adversity with the audience.
“I was just coming up from a really low place in my life, and thankfully, I was surrounded by some amazing people who really helped me crawl out of a dark hole,” Evans said.
Evans moved to St. Joseph in 2015. Through community support, she was able to turn her life around. She went from dealing with an alcoholic mother and ex-husband to thriving with her current husband and three — almost four — kids. She now runs her own true crime podcast called Mama Mystery.
“I really hope people leave today with a feeling of empowerment,” Evans said. “You can learn so much and grow from really uncomfortable and discouraging places into something beautiful.”
Evans expressed gratitude to the YWCA for providing a judgment-free outlet for women in the community.
“The YWCA is such an integral part of our community in helping women who find themselves in seemingly impossible situations to crawl out of,” she said.
When asked what piece of advice she would give her younger self, Evans said she would remind herself that it’s not all for nothing.
“Mistakes don’t have to be made in vain. You can learn from them. You can grow from them,” she said. “Nobody is perfect. Nobody’s past is perfect.”
Evans said she believes the YWCA really does save lives and saves individual’s futures. She was honored to be the event’s keynote speaker.
Brown said she is appreciative of everything the community does for the YWCA because it takes a community to make positive change.
