Mayor Bowser today honored seven community leaders at the Washington Women of Excellence Awards, an annual event hosted by the Mayor’s Office on Women’s Policy and Initiatives. The seven honorees have all advanced opportunities for women and girls in Washington, DC and beyond.
“This year’s honorees have all helped us build a stronger, more inclusive Washington, DC,” said Mayor Bowser. “Through their unwavering commitment to our community, these tremendous women continue to expand opportunity and empower Washingtonians, and we are proud to honor and uplift their stories.”
This year’s honorees are:
Rosibel Arbaiza – Owner of Golden Scissors and VP of Mi Barrio Latin Market and dedicated leader and trailblazer for Washington, DC’s Hispanic community
Reverend Ginger Gaines-Cirelli – Senior Pastor at Foundry United Methodist Church and founder of the Sanctuary DMV movement, a solidarity group that pledges to resist policy proposals that hurt undocumented immigrants
Dr. Elaine A. Crider – President and Founder of The Crider Group and sits on the University of the District of Columbia Board of Trustees
Regine Elie – Connects vulnerable pregnant women and families to health care, social services, and educational opportunities as the Executive Director of Healthy Babies Project, Inc.
Lesli Foster – Award-winning journalist and mainstay of Washington news as a weeknight anchor for WUSA9 evening broadcasts
Amanda Nguyen – Author of a dozen civil rights laws for sexual assault survivors and founder of Rise
Deborah Ratner Salzberg – Developed DC’s Anacostia waterfront project and helped create jobs for District residents
All honorees were nominated by members of the DC Commission on Women, the Director of the Mayor’s Office on Women’s Policy and Initiatives, and Mayor Bowser’s senior staff. Final selections were made by Mayor Bowser.