First Annual WOMA Awards Honors Organizational Leaders and Trailblazers

On June 25, 2010 WOMA , an organization and  movement dedicated to uplifting and supporting women fully engaged in their quest to embody their highest selves held their first annual awards ceremony held at the Josephine Butler Parks Center in Washington DC.

Hazami Barmada, Tracy Chiles McGhee, Councilman Harry Thomas, Maurita K. Coley &  Eleanor Hinton Hoytt

Founder & Executive Director Tracy Chiles McGhee believes that when womanifesting women get fired up, unite, and make a strong commitment to use their gifts to support one another, they are unstoppable. Not even a year old, McGhee proved this very principle coming together with a stellar host committee to bring forth their first awards celebration. ” Tonight’s event was planned in record time because we were eager to introduce ourselves to the community, to honor outstanding women leaders, and to raise much-need funds,” said Tracy.

Melissa Maddox Barnes, WOMA Board of Directors Honors Tracy Chiles McGhee

The  WOMA organization is already making a name for itself literally with the word womanifesting. WOMA is short for womanifesting,  a verb meaning to recognize, celebrate, and share one’s brilliance and to use one’s brilliance to serve, uplift, and inspire. ” At the beginning of the year, WOMA was just an idea ,”said McGhee.  “In just a few short months, we have grown from a handful of women with a vision to more than 1500 individuals.”

The WOMA  inaugural event presented awards to 0rganizational Leaders in Washington, DC. who use their leadership, influence, and outreach to serve, uplift, and inspire others.  Receiving recognition in WOMA’s core issue areas were Eleanor Hinton Hoytt, President & CEO Black Women’s Health Imperative for Health & Wellness, Tyna Gaylor, Executive Director of Suited for Change for Career Development, Maurita K. Coley, Executive Director of CAAB for Financial Literacy, and Hazami Barmada, Cultural and Public Diplomacy Leader for Civic & Cultural Engagement.

Shayna Rudd, the reigning Miss Black USA, served as the mistress of ceremonies, and Melissa Maddox Barnes, Esq., Vice-Chairperson of WOMA’s Board of Directors presided over the awards ceremony. The evening featured light fare and a special tribute to womanifesting legends Carolyn Rodgers, Dorothy Height and Lena Horne.  The event concluded with D.C. Ward 5 Councilmember Harry Thomas presenting the award recipients with a special resolution honoring their leadership and commitment to service in the District of Columbia.

Help support WOMA in three ways: Follow them on twitter @womanifesting, join the movement on facebook or support them with membership

Posted by The Cotillion Online on Jul 5 2010. Filed under Washington, D.C.. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.