YWCA Greater Pittsburgh Equity Awards

The YWCA Greater Pittsburgh Equity Awards seek to honor leaders, especially women of color, who advocate for and advance our mission of eliminating racism and empowering women. Awardees will be announced in early fall 2024. We will recognize awardees on November 1, 2024 during the Equity Awards Luncheon at the Westin Pittsburgh from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM. You can learn more about sponsorship opportunities for the 2024 Equity Awards here. Sponsorship questions can be directed to Elizabeth Surgil.

2024 Awardees

Award Categories:

Selection Committee

Past Awardees

Ally Award – Recognizes an individual or a group of any gender who has taken on the role of ally, advocate, and champion to women of color by contributing to the long-term engagement and emotional attachment needed to bring equity to Greater Pittsburgh.

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.

Yazmin Bennett-Kelly

Damon Bethea

Brittany Boyd

Rosamaria Cristello

Rev. Patrice Fowler-Searcy

Mia Merideth

Ayisha Morgan-Lee, EdD, MAM, BFA

Christine Probert

Monica Ruiz, MSW

Juel L. Smith, EdD, MS

Leigh Solomon Pugliano

Madelyn Toliver

Adrienne Woodard

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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 2023 Keynote

2024 Equity Awards Sponsors ↘

Presenting Sponsor

Equality Sponsors

Freedom Sponsors

Justice Sponsors

Media Sponsors and Production Sponsor

Interested in sponsoring the 2024 Equity Awards? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities:

Contact Elizabeth Surgil with questions.

YWCA Greater Pittsburgh kindly requests that all 2024 Equity Awards sponsor materials are sent to Elizabeth Surgil by Friday, October 11, 2024.