8th Annual Women of Color Foundation Leadership Development Institute & Awards Luncheon - Thursday, November 7th at Cleveland State University

Women of Color Foundation to host 8^th Annual Leadership Development and Training Institute

Awards Luncheon to Recognize Three Outstanding Women

The Women of Color Foundation  (WOCF), and its generous presenting sponsors, Cleveland Clinic, American Greetings Corporation and WEWS NewsChannel 5; along with Cleveland State University, Forest City, Fifth Third Bank, Dominion, the Call & Post Newspapers, The Cleveland Women’s Journal, Thacker-Martinsek, LPA, and Max’n Out Entertainment, has announced its 8^th Annual Women of Color Foundation Leadership Development & Training Institute and Awards Luncheon.  The event is being co-hosted by Cleveland State University (CSU), and will take place on Thursday, November 7, from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., at CSU’s beautiful, new, state-of-the art Student Center at 2121 Euclid Avenue, in the 3^rd Floor Ballroom. 75 scholarships are available for college students and women who cannot afford to pay for the event.  Scholarship applications are available on-line.  Registrations are $75 per person, and include the Awards Luncheon, the Networking Reception and all workshops and materials.

The Institute will include an Annual Awards Luncheon, where the Women of Color Foundation recognizes three outstanding women of color.  The recipient of 2013 Professional Woman of the Year (ISIS Award) is Marsha Mockabee, President/CEO, Urban League of Greater Cleveland; and the recipient of the 2013 Young Professional Woman of the Year (STAR Award) is Dr. Ellen Burts-Cooper, Senior Managing Partner, Improve Consulting and Training Group.  Alexandria Johnson Boone Founder and Chairwoman, Women of Color Foundation, and Pamela Marshall Holmes, Senior Director, Community Outreach, Cleveland Clinic will present these two awards.

            The 2013 Stephanie Tubbs Jones Courage Award, given in honor of the late U. S. Congresswoman for the 11^th District of Ohio, will be presented to Charmaine Brown, Director, Diversity & Inclusion at Forest City.  This award is presented annually by Barbara Tubbs Walker, the sister of the late Congresswoman.   Sarah Buduson, News Reporter at WEWS-TV NewsChannel 5, will serve as Mistress of Ceremonies of the Luncheon.

The Institute also includes several informative workshops.  A 2-hour morning workshop, The Estelle Shorter Holmes Lecture: “Rising to the Top:  My  Struggles, Challenges and Successes” will feature a prominent local woman who has risen to the top of her profession and is passionate about helping other women in their career journey to the top.  This annual lecture is part of the 2^nd Annual American Greetings Speaking of Women: A Dialogue Series for Women in Leadership.  This will be one of the highlights of the day, said Alexandria Johnson Boone, chairwoman and founder of the WOCF.

Two afternoon workshops (immediately following the awards luncheon), will include

prominent women from northeast Ohio, who will share their experience, insights and expertise

with Institute participants.  

“Women in the Workplace; Our Rights and Responsibilities!” will be

moderated by Diane E. Citrino, Esq., Partner, Thacker-Martinsek, LPA and 

“Emerging Women Leaders in Politics:  It is Our Time!” will be moderated by Dr. Mittie 

Davis Jones, Chairperson, Department of Urban Studies, Maxine Goodman Levin College of 

Urban Affairs at CSU.

The Symposium will culminate with the traditional COLORS Networking Reception.  For

more information on Women of Color Foundation events, including registration, scholarships and/or sponsorship opportunities, please call 216-391-4300, ext. 311 or visit the website at:

www.womenofcolorfoundation.com