Rising Voice of Woman Award

Rising Voice of Woman Begun in 2005, this award:

  • seeks to increase awareness of the work done by women around the world to benefit society and inspire constructive action
  • recognizes the desirability and necessity of including women as partners in decision-making endeavors of humankind
  • helps to increase knowledge of specific opportunities and programs for support and participation of women within and outside IWA

Recipients of the award include:

  • Mary Robinson First woman President of Ireland; former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights; founder, Realizing Rights
  • Kim Barker, Laurie Goering, Liz Sly, Christine Spolar Women foreign correspondents of the Chicago Tribune, reporting from hot spots around the world
  • Molly Melching Founder and Executive Director of Senegal-based Tostan, a non-governmental organization dedicated to community education and empowerment in several African countries. It is perhaps best known for virtually ending female genital cutting and forced child marriage in the area.

Online Reservations for IWA Events

To register for many of our upcoming, exciting events, click HERE to go to the main IWA Event Registration Page.

 


IWA is proud to announce the 2010 Woman Extraordinaire,

Marjorie Craig Benton

The Woman Extraordinaire Award Committee selected Ms. Benton for her special international work with women and children.  A biography of her extensive accomplishments will be included
in the invitation to be sent out in late January.  

The committee was motivated in its selection process by the book, Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide, written by Pulitzer Prize winners Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn.  Their premise is that “it is the brutality inflicted on so many women and girls around the globe” that is the moral challenge of the 21st century.  The committee felt our award recipient should be addressing these vital issues in her work.  Ms. Benton, a Chicagoan as the award requires, has spent her life helping others, and in particular, women and children around the world.  

Click here for more information and to register for the IWA 2010 Woman Extraordinaire program honoring Marjorie Craig Benton.


Nancy Knapp,

Woman Extraordinaire Chair 2010