Sheila Huff and the late Sadelle Berger
to receive Stepping Up Awards
for Leadership and legacy
Sheila Huff and the late Sadelle Berger will receive Annual Women Stepping Up Awards Wednesday August 28 at the Women’s Equality Day Luncheon.
Huff will be honored as an Inspirational Leader. She is a longtime Bosse High School Principal, teacher and Director of Strategic Engagements for the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation, and community leader.
Berger will be honored as a Women Stepping Up Legacy Leader. Before her death at the age of 65 in 1984, Berger spent most of her life helping others and was the first woman president of Temple Adath B’nai Israel in Evansville. She fought through obstacles to help others including when she and her husband Sydney shunned when they and members of a local labor union were accused of being communists during the “red scare” in 1948.
YWCA Evansville will host the luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. August 28 at the Old National Events Plaza.
The luncheon will feature speaker Dr. Karsonya (Kaye) Whitehead, the founding director of The Karson Institute for Race, Peace & Social Justice and teaches Communication and African and African American Studies at Loyola University Maryland. Tickets (Friend for $75, Donor for $100, reserved table for eight for $1,000) are available https://womensequalityday.swell.gives. Sponsorships are also available. Stepping Up celebrates women in the Tri-State of every race, class and ethnic background who have made historic contributions to the growth and strength of our community in countless recorded and unrecorded ways. The role of local women in history has been consistently overlooked and undervalued. Women Stepping Up is resolved to join nationwide efforts to celebrate women and join national efforts and write women back into history. To learn more, see http://SteppingupEvv.com.Sheila Huff and the late Sadelle Berger will receive Annual Women Stepping Up Awards Wednesday August 28 at the Women’s Equality Day Luncheon.
Huff will be honored as an Inspirational Leader. She is a longtime Bosse High School Principal, teacher and Director of Strategic Engagements for the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation, and community leader.
Berger will be honored as a Women Stepping Up Legacy Leader. Before her death at the age of 65 in 1984, Berger spent most of her life helping others and was the first woman president of Temple Adath B’nai Israel in Evansville. She fought through obstacles to help others including when she and her husband Sydney shunned when they and members of a local labor union were accused of being communists during the “red scare” in 1948.
YWCA Evansville will host the luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. August 28 at the Old National Events Plaza. The luncheon will feature speaker Dr. Karsonya (Kaye) Whitehead, the founding director of The Karson Institute for Race, Peace & Social Justice and teaches Communication and African and African American Studies at Loyola University Maryland. Tickets (Friend for $75, Donor for $100, reserved table for eight for $1,000) are available https://womensequalityday.swell.gives. Sponsorships are also available.
Stepping Up celebrates women in the Tri-State of every race, class and ethnic background who have made historic contributions to the growth and strength of our community in countless recorded and unrecorded ways. The role of local women in history has been consistently overlooked and undervalued. Women Stepping Up is resolved to join nationwide efforts to celebrate women and join national efforts and write women back into history. To learn more, see http://SteppingupEvv.com.
2024 Women's Equality Day Luncheon
Acts of Courage: Small Steps to Freedom
Acts of Courage: Small Steps to Freedom
Noted peace activist, educator and author Dr. Karsonya (Kaye) Wise Whitehead will speak Evansville’s 20th-Annual Women’s Equality Day Luncheon on Wednesday, August 28, 2024.
YWCA Evansville will host the luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Old National Events Plaza.
Whitehead will speak on “Acts of Courage: Small Steps to Freedom.” Founding executive director of The Karson Institute for Race, Peace & Social Justice, Whitehead teaches Communication and African and African-American Studies at Loyola University Maryland. An Emmy-nominated filmmaker and award-winning broadcaster, she hosts the radio talk show “Today with Dr. Kaye” in Baltimore, Md.
While in Evansville, Dr. Whitehead will also speak with students from are colleges and universities.
“The late John Lewis said that the vote ‘is the most powerful non-violent tool we have in a democracy.’” Erika Taylor, YWCA Evansville CEO, said.
“For over 20 years, our community has celebrated Women’s Equality Day to commemorate the hard-won right for all women to vote, and remind us that women still face systemic inequities across America. We look forward to hearing Dr. Whitehead share how acts of courage bring us all closer to freedom.”
Women’s Equality Day commemorates the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution, celebrates women’s achievements, and recognizes the continued fight for equal rights.
YWCA Evansville is presenting the celebration in conjunction with Stepping Up Evansville, which will bestow awards for outstanding contributions to our region by two distinguished women leaders. Stepping Up Evansville will announce the award recipients prior to the event.
To purchase tickets to the Luncheon ($75.00 Friend, $100 Donor), reserve a table, or secure an event sponsorship, visit https://womensequalityday.swell.gives prior to August 14, 2024.
Our Story
Stepping Up celebrates women in the Tri-State of every race, class and ethnic background who have made historic contributions to the growth and strength of our community in countless recorded and unrecorded ways. They worked, and continue to work, not only to secure their own rights of suffrage and equal opportunity, but also in the abolitionist movement, the emancipation movement, the industrial labor movement, the civil rights movement, and others, especially the peace movement, which worked to create a more fair and just society for all.
Despite these contributions, the role of local women in history has been consistently overlooked and undervalued. Women Stepping Up is resolved to join nationwide efforts to celebrate women and join national efforts and write women back into history.
Our Mission
Stepping Up exists to encourage, support and offer training for women interested in running for office and serving on boards. Our goal is to increase participation by women in the public arena.
The non-partisan, non-profit effort celebrates TriState Women through:
- We volunteer and support the YWCA Evansville to host the annual Women’s Equality Day Luncheon each August
- Her Story performances which highlight the accomplishments of area women
- Video Project, which preserves the stories of area women in their own voices
- Training sessions so women can share their experiences with others who want to Step Up
Equality Day Luncheon
Each August the Women’s Equality Day Luncheon celebrates the passage of the 19th amendment granting women the right to vote. Stepping Up supports the YWCA Evansville in hosting this luncheon.
Her Story
“Her Story: Evansville Women in the 20th Century” is a performance commemorating the accomplishments and impact of historic Evansville women from the 19th and 20th century.
Training
Area women who have lead universities, hospitals, non-profit organizations and have served in government are offered their time to share their experiences and offer advice about how to help you Step Up.