Friday we went to the fifth annual YWCA Women of Distinction Awards Gala at the Capitol Hilton. Here, Charlene Carruthers and YWCA USA Interim CEO Casey Harden flank gala host Melissa Harris Perry, who was a recipient of the Women of Distinction Award in 2015 and serves as the Maya Angelou Presidential Chair at Wake Forest University, executive director of the Pro Humanitate Institute and founding director of the Anna Julia Cooper Center.

Carruthers was honored at the gala with the Dorothy I. Height Racial Justice Award for her work as national director of the Black Youth Project 100, an activist member-led organization of black 18- to 35-year-olds dedicated to creating justice and freedom for all black people.

The gala, part of the 2017 YWCA Conference, celebrated the achievements of leaders who served as role models and provided opportunities and support for women and girls. The awards recognize success in the areas of advocacy, corporate partnership, women’s empowerment and racial justice. This year’s honorees are the National Domestic Workers Alliance, Nordstrom, the New York City Council’s Young Women’s Initiative and Charlene Carruthers.

Here, YWCA Richmond CEO Linda Tissiere and YWCA Southeastern Wisconsin President and CEO Paula Penebaker.

Nordstrom was honored with the corporate partnership award for its donation of 2.5% of net sales to the YWCA. The donation supported YWCA’s TechGYRLS program, which helps young girls learn about and develop confidence and self-efficacy in science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM). Here, Nordstrom Product Group President Jen Jackson with YWCA Vice President of Development Tycely Williams.

The YWCA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. Here, YWCA board chair and Eden Hall Foundation Executive Director Sylvia Fields with YWCA board member Vicky Dinges of Allstate, which sponsored the YWCA USA’s Bold Mission Bright Future Conference.