YWCA Racial Justice Awards

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                      

CONTACT:    
Laura Harwin
YWCA Greater Pittsburgh
412-255-1279

YWCA Announces the 2013 Racial Justice Award Recipients
Awards presented on Wednesday, November 13

PITTSBURGH, PA (November 7, 2013):  The YWCA Greater Pittsburgh is pleased to announce the 2013 Racial Justice Award recipients.  The seven awardees will be recognized at the 22nd Annual Racial Justice Awards Dinner on Wednesday, November 13.   Award recipients include:

• ARTS: janera solomon, Executive Director, Kelly Strayhorn Theater
• COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: Melanie R. Brown, Education Program Officer, The Heinz Endowments
• EDUCATION: Marcus Rediker, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor of Atlantic History, University of Pittsburgh
• GOVERNMENT: The Pennsylvania Interbranch Commission for Gender, Racial and Ethnic Fairness
• FAITH: East Liberty Presbyterian Church
• LEGAL: Education Law Center, Western Pennsylvania Office
• YOUTH ACHIEVEMENT: Alexis K. Marie Payne, Writer/Literary Arts Student, Pittsburgh CAPA Class of 2015

“We are delighted to present the YWCA Racial Justice Award to these recipients in recognition of their efforts to promote equality and justice,” said Magdeline E. Jensen, Chief Executive Officer, YWCA Greater Pittsburgh.  “Their outstanding initiative, dedication to eliminating racism, and the impact they’ve had on the community clearly stood out for the 2013 award.”

The 22nd Annual Racial Justice Awards Dinner takes place on Wednesday, November 13, at the Westin Hotel, 1000 Penn Avenue, downtown Pittsburgh. The reception begins at 5:30 p.m., and the dinner and award program follow at 6:30 p.m. Robert Hill is this year’s Honorary Chair, and WPXI-TV’s Vince Sims will serve as the Master of Ceremonies. To attend the 2013 Racial Justice Awards Dinner, call 412-255-1261 or go to www.ywcapgh.org.

The annual Racial Justice Awards is a signature event of the YWCA Center for Race and Gender Equity. Through its Racial Justice Awards, the Center seeks to promote a society in which all people receive equal treatment and have equal access in the workplace, public services, justice system, classroom, and throughout the Greater Pittsburgh community. Over the past two decades, the YWCA has recognized more than 100 community leaders that have made a substantial commitment to racial equality.

The YWCA Greater Pittsburgh strengthens our community by creating and advancing opportunities for all women to seek equality and self-sufficiency.  For more information about the YWCA’s programs and services, visit www.ywcapgh.org or call 412-391-5100. To learn about the YWCA Center for Race and Gender Equity, call 412-255-1270.

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Laura Harwin
Director of Development and Marketing
YWCA Greater Pittsburgh
305 Wood Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
412-255-1279 (phone)
412-391-5109 (fax)

lharwin@ywcapgh.org
www.ywcapgh.org

Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Partners in Life, Partners in Community Commitment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Contact: Melissa Allen
412.969.2530
maa@judith-kelly.com

Ranny and Jay Ferguson Recognized as December

Dignity and Respect Champions

Husband and Wife Partner in Commitment to Give Back to Community

Ranny and Jay Ferguson

(PITTSBURGH, PA) – Both strong advocates for the community, Ranny and Jay Ferguson work tirelessly to spread the notion that everyone deserves dignity and respect. They believe that an individual must value themselves, in order to value others.

“If we don’t give value, dignity, and respect to children across all sorts of ethnicities, races, or economical background, and if they don’t feel they have that kind of respect among their peers and among others, that is where things begin to break down. It is about commitment. If commitments aren’t made, or aren’t kept, there can be devastating effects. Accountability is as much a large part of inclusion as treating each other with dignity and respect,” Jay said.

Nominated by chief inclusion and diversity officer, UPMC,Candi Castleberry-Singleton, Ranny and Jay have been selected as the December Dignity and Respect Champions for their dedication to giving back to the community.

“Ranny and Jay Ferguson are not only leaders, they are community citizens. Jay is authentically interested and involved in the initiatives his organization – Fifth Third Bank – supports. Jay’s wife, Ranny, is his partner in their commitment to the community.They show up, whether it’s a neighborhood event or a corporate reception. They walk the talk and write the checks,”Candi said.

In November, Jay became chairman of Fifth Third Bank of western Pennsylvania, where for eight years he served as president of the western Pennsylvania market. In addition, Jay currently serves on the boards of directors of the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children and UPMC St. Margaret Memorial Hospital, where he is vice chairman and treasurer of the Hospital’s foundation.

Ranny retired after teaching at the University of Pittsburgh and The Ellis School, and is now a full-time community advocate.She volunteers with many organizations such as the Race for the Cure, The Children’s Home of Pittsburgh, and Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, among others.

“I truly believe that supporting people and being involved with people in our community only strengthens the ties we have all among us, and it also strengthens Pittsburgh. I often feel that when I volunteer, I am the one who benefits. You give some of yourself, but you get so much back,” Ranny said.

Jay and Ranny are modest about receiving the award, and credit their parents for teaching them about important values.

“We’re honored and proud. Jay and I are both native Pittsburghers who were raised by professional parents, but ones who felt strongly about giving back to the community. They taught us about the value of each individual person. ” Ranny said.

Jay adds, “Respect and inclusion are one of Fifth Third’s four core values. It is something that we instill in each of our employees and our recruits that come on board. This is something very important individually and as a corporation or organization. I think unless you manifest those kinds of values as a corporation, you may not do so as an individual.”

The Dignity and Respect Campaign is an awareness initiativedesigned to join individuals, community leaders, community organizations, educational institutions, businesses, and corporations under the common notion that everyone deserves dignity and respect.

For more information and to take the Dignity and Respect Pledge, visit http://www.dignityandrespect.org/

Posted on behalf of Joanne Quinn-Smith by Joyce Kane.  Joyce is the Owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh