5th Annual YWCA Greater Pittsburgh Equity Awards
YWCA Greater Pittsburgh’s Equity Awards honor local leaders, especially women of color, who have furthered our mission of eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.
Join us on November 14, 2025 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at The Westin Pittsburgh for a celebratory luncheon honoring the 2025 awardees. Kindly contact Elizabeth Surgil to discuss sponsorship opportunities for the 5th Annual Equity Awards.
We welcome your Equity Awards nominations now through July 15!
Nomination Tips
We’ve compiled a list of tips to help you write a winning nomination!
Award Categories
Ally Award – Honors an individual or group that has taken on the role of ally, advocate, and champion to women of color. We especially welcome nominations of those who do not identify as women of color for this award.
Bridge Builder Award – Recognizes an individual or group that identifies as a woman or women whose work or organization remains true to their ethnic heritage and roots as they champion strategic initiatives so that the Greater Pittsburgh of our future centers and engages women of color.
Creativity and Innovation Award –– Recognizes the creativity of an individual or group that identifies as a woman or women involved in the arts or social media initiatives that bring public attention to the empowerment of women, especially women of color, and empower an audience through awareness, education, and inspiration.
Emerging Leader Award – Recognizes those who identify as a young woman, age 24 or younger, whose voice and actions interrupt the status quo to make a difference in their community by serving as a leader in any way to ensure that equity stays in the forefront.
Heroine Award – Recognizes those who identify as women and exhibits innovation in ensuring vital products or services reach those in need. They have exhibited courageous achievements while serving their community and are doing work that may be underpaid and undervalued by many.
2025 Selection Committee
Damon Bethea
Brittany Boyd
Rosamaria Cristello
Adrienne Dupaix
The Rev. Dr. Patrice Fowler-Searcy, M.Div., D.Min.
Zuly E. Inirio, DMA, LSW
Wendy Koch
Mia Meredith
Dr. Angelica Perez-Johnston
Christine Probert
Juel L. Smith EdD, MS
Leigh Solomon Pugliano
Monica Ruiz, MSW
Past Awardees
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Amiera Blankenship - Emerging Leader Award
Zuly Inirio - Creativity and Innovation Award
Wendy Koch - Ally Award
Angelica Perez-Johnston - Bridge Builder Award
Dena Stanley - Heroine Award
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Carter, Kaila — Emerging Leader Award
Cunningham, Indira — Emerging Leader Award
Diaz, Rebekah — Creativity and Innovation Award
Merideth, Mia — Heroine Award
Tripp MD, MPH, Rickquel — Bridge Builder Award
Yow-chyi Liu, Sabrina — Ally Award
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Doerge, Rebecca, Ph.D. — Ally Award
Morgan-Lee, EdD, Ayisha A — Creativity and Innovation Award
Plaza, Luna — Emerging Leader Award
Pugliano, Leigh Solomon — Bridge Builder Award
Vidal-Phelan, Johanna, MD, MBA, FAAP, CHIE — Heroine Award
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Black Women for a Better Education (BW4BE) — Ally Award
Boyd, Brittany — Creativity and Innovation Award
Fowler-Searcy, Rev. Patrice L. — Bridge Builder Award
Mui, Abbey — Emerging Leader
Williams, Marisa C. — Heroine Award

Equity Awards 2024 Keynote
2024 Equity Awards Sponsors ↘
Presenting Sponsor
Equality Sponsors
Freedom Sponsors