2012

Edith Windsor took on the federal government and the Defense of Marriage Act, when she was forced to pay $350,000 in taxes on the estate of her late partner Thea Spyer, who passed away in 2009. Edith and Thea lived in New York City and were married in Canada in 2007, but their union was not recognized by the federal government. Edith is suing the federal government for the tax charge and her case prompted President Obama to direct the Department of Justice to stop defending DOMA. With the case still pending, this octogenarian continues to be a champion for marriage equality. The 2004 documentary, A Very Long Engagement, illuminates the lives and story of Edith and Thea and their forty plus year journey together that Edith continues today.

Ileana Jiménez, activist and educator, is transforming education. Her high school students learn about feminism by advocating against the commercial sexual exploitation of children,  testifying against street harassment, and blogging about the sexualization of girls and women. Currently a teacher at the Little Red School House & Elisabeth Irwin High School (LREI) in New York, Ileana has created courses and literature that have gained the attention of education and activist circles ,also she  reaches teachers through her blog, feministteacher.com . In 2009, she was named one of the 30 Women Making History by the Women’s Media Center; in 2010 one of the 40 Feminists Under 40 by the Feminist Press; and the 2010-11 recipient of the Distinguished Fulbright Award in Teaching.

Lauren Hersh, Police officers and advocates alike know that they can reach Lauren Hersh, Chief of the Sex Trafficking Unit for the Kings County District Attorney's Office, any time of the day or night. Whether it's meeting at a diner with a young woman who has been sold on the internet or delving into the Facebook pages of pimps, Lauren is on the frontlines of this fight. Passionate about making real change in a city recognized as a human trafficking hub, Lauren helped to create one of the first-ever sex-trafficking prosecutorial units in the country. In the last year and a half, she led her team to prosecute 32 sex traffickers, some who had trafficked girls as young as 12 years old. 

Quentin Walcott, Through his bold work, Quentin Walcott is pushing communities to redefine manhood and is building a society that embraces equality rejects violence against women and girls as the status quo. Quentin has spent the last 16 years addressing a critical part of the equation to stopping violence against women: men. As Director of CONNECT's Training Institute Community Empowerment Program, he has created some of New York City's only programs aimed at transforming bystanders, male youth, and batterers into allies and activists against all forms of violence.  

2011

Domestic Workers United secured passage of the New York Domestic Worker Bill of Rights, the first legislation of its kind in the U.S. The new law protects a workforce that has historically been excluded from almost all labor laws. DWU is a membership-based organization of Caribbean, Latina and African domestic workers organizing to build power, gain respect, establish fair labor standards, and help build a movement to end exploitation and oppression for all.   

Efrosini Katanakis braves dizzying heights and merciless winds to jazz up some of New York City’s best landmarks and most famous bridges in the world. Getting the job wasn’t a cakewalk either. Ms. Katanakis, a single mother of two, is the first female bridge painter to join the Department of Transportation’s all-male bridge-painting division, following her recent victory over the city in a federal gender-discrimination suit. In all, Katanakis is one of only 30 women bridge painters, the rest of whom work for private companies. But thanks to Ms. Katanakis, New York City can no operate as a “de facto boys’ club”, according to the judge in the case, that denied able women in “unvarnished sex   discrimination.”

Ain't I A Woman?! Campaign is a national organizing effort led by women workers and sponsored by the Chinese Staff & Workers' Association and the National Mobilization Against SweatShops to demand that those benefiting the most from sweatshop labor are held accountable. Garment workers who labored in the factories of DKNY, Liberty Apparel, and Great Wall organized against the long hours, low pay, and unhealthy conditions. Their triumphs are paving the way for workers of all sub-contracted industries to stand up against sweatshop conditions and call for stronger manufacturer and retailer accountability laws.

2010

Shelby Knox (SBA 2010) began a quest for comprehensive sex education at age 15 when she publicly challenged the practices of preachers and teachers in her hometown of Lubbock, Texas. Her journey is documented in the Sundance award-winning film, The Education of Shelby Knox. Since then, Shelby has become a feminist organizer for reproductive justice and a national advocate for sex education, testifying before city councils, state legislatures, and the House Ways and Means Committee about the failure of abstinence-only-until-marriage programs. 

Lyn Pentecost  (SBA 2010) sprang into action when the Boys Club of New York refused to follow the national trend of opening its membership to girls. She mobilized women in her neighborhood, and the Lower Eastside Girls Club was born. For years, the club operated out of church basements and make-shift spaces, but thanks to Lyn's efforts the club is poised to break ground on a multi-level, state-of-the-art facility. Lyn has worked tirelessly to help her community create a space for girls and to help youn women flourish and thrive through programming designed to build ethical, entrepreneurial, and environmental awareness and leadership.

Venita Pinckney (SBA 2010) When giving birth to her son last year  serving a sentence at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility, Venita Pinckney was placed in waist restraints, ankle shackles, and handcuffs. Her terrible experience inspired her to become both a leader and tenacious ally in the fight to end the cruel practice of shackling inmates during labor. By raising her voice, Venita helped push through a legislative victory that bans the use of restraints on inmates during labor and post-delivery recovery.

 Ninaj Raoul (SBA 2010) answered a call by the U.S. Justice Department for Creole interpreters to go to Guantanamo Bay in 1991, where thousands of Haitians were detained after fleeing persecution. After returning to Brooklyn, she found herself opening her own home to pregnant Haitian refugees flown into the U.S. with no resources. A first-hand witness to the ordeals faced by those seeking asylum here, she translated need into action, co-founding Haitian Women for Haitian Refugees to provide housing, support, and public assistance to hundreds of families resettling in New York.

 Rebekah Spicuglia  (SBA 2010) As a noncustodial mom, Rebekah recognized the lack of awareness of and bias toward mothers like herself. She responded by creating a NonCustodial Parent Community blog, becoming a spokesperson on parenting issues, and fostering a community and a movement. A feminist activist on many issues, she mobilized a national campaign against the Chili's restaurant chain after her sister was fired for filing a sexual harassment complaint. Rebekah currently serves as the Media Director for the Women's Media Center.

2009

Irshad Manji (SBA 2009) A refugee from Uganda, Irshad Manji grew up outside of Vancouver attending a local secular public school and the Islamic religious school. She couldn't reconcile the open and tolerant world of her public school with the rigid and bigoted world inside her “madressa.” But she had enough faith to ask "Why can't girls lead prayer?"  Manji has launched the Moral Courage Project at NYU’s Wagner School of Public Service, where she teaches students to withstand the backlash that comes from speaking truth to power.  

Chanel J. Clark Rose (SBA 2009) endured cruelty from classmates and peers about her weight.  She turned the tables on her bullies by organizing a search for 20 contestants to compete in the first Miss NYC Plus modeling competition for women sizes 12 and up.  At NYC Fashion Week last year, Chanel organized a protest to bring more full-figured models to Bryant Park.  “Too many size zero models are dying from anorexia, and we need to teach our children about proper body image versus what is seen in magazines and on television."

Pauline DeMairo (SBA 2009) Thirteen years ago, Pauline DeMairo developed the Teen Outreach Reproductive Challenge (TORCH), an afterschool peer education program that focuses on adolescent reproductive health issues, sexuality, body image/self esteem, abortion, healthy adolescent relationships, and building communication between adolescents and health care providers.   Because of Pauline, thousands of NYC youth have a safe and comfortable environment in which to learn to make healthy decisions about their bodies and relationships and how to teach their peers to do the same.

Joy Rose (SBA 2009) is the President and Founder of MAMAPALOOZA which promotes mothers for social, cultural and economic benefit. MAMAPALOOZA is a grass roots movement teaching women how to support and empower themselves in meaningful ways, by amplifying their voices, and impacting their children, families and communities.  A mother of four,  Joy is dedicated to  redefining modern motherhood. She’s also the founder and lead singer of the rock band, 'Housewives On Prozac',  and she is editing a film about ‘The Motherhood Movement’, capturing the voices of Feminist Mothers of the 21st century.

Olivia Greer  (SBA 2009) is the founder of Emancipate, an initiative bringing together women musician activists in their communities to create solidarity and work on social justice issues. Emancipate recently launched The New Orleans Project, through which six musicians tell stories of heroic community organizing. She also oversees Women Center Stage, which presents multi-disciplinary programming of women artists, giving voice to human struggles globally. She has worked as an activist in labor and civil rights. She is the  co-author of Actions Speak Louder Than Bumper Stickers.

2008

Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls (SBA 2008) is a non-profit music and mentoring organization serving girls and young women in NYC.  The organization's summer camp and after school programs provide opportunities for girls and young women to learn how to play instruments, write songs, form bands, perform, and participate in activities that encourage self-confidence, creativity, critical thinking, tolerance, and collaboration.  Karla Schickele is the Executive Director of the Camp. Under her leadership, the organization has more than doubled in size in its first three years.

Rachel Fleit (SBA 2008) has been working with founder Caggie Simonelli since 2004 on BOLD, an organization that celebrates bald female beauty and courage and provides resources for women who have Alopecia or have lost their hair from Chemotherapy. From August 2002 through April 2007, Rachel was a producer at chashama (www.chashama.org) where her primary focus was to raise money to transform vacant New York City real estate properties into temporary affordable arts spaces.

Joanne Smith  (SBA 2008) is the founder and Executive Director of Girls for Gender Equity.  The organization is committed to improving the physical, psychological, social and economic development of girls and women. In 1997, Joanne graduated from Bowie State University with a degree in psychology.  She was awarded a community fellowship by Open Society Institute in 2001, and as a fellow established Girls for Gender Equity.  She completed post graduate training at Ackerman Institute for the Family; providing therapy to families, supporting the family/school collaborative and linking families to community resources.  

Rachel Lloyd  (SBA 2008) is the Executive Director and founder of GEMS, Girls Educational and Mentoring Services.  The mission of the organization is to empower young women who have experienced sexual exploitation and violence to exit unsafe and abusive lifestyles and to develop their full potential.  Through GEMS, Rachel works to rescue young women and children from the sex industry and lobbies for legislation that will protect their rights.  This is the only organization in New York State that specifically addresses this issue.

2007

Taina Bien-Aime (SBA 2007) In 2001, Taina became the Executive Director of Equality Now, an international human rights organization working for the protection of the rights of women and girls. Holding a J.D. from NYU School of Law and a Licence in Political Science from the University of Geneva and the Graduate School of International Studies, Switzerland, Taina first practiced international corporate law on Wall Street. In law school though, she focused her studies on the institutionalization of violence, planting the seed for her self-described life’s work defending the human rights of women and girls around the world.

Lisa Ann Alter and Jordana Alter Confino  (SBA 2007) Lisa Ann Alter, together with her 16-year-old daughter, Jordana, run Girls Learn International, Inc., an NYC-based nonprofit that links middle and high school girls in the United States with girls in countries where females access to education is limited. In three short years GLI has grown to include 1,000 girls in 50 chapters across the country. This mother/daughter team is sparking activism among young girls throughout the Northeast while simultaneously helping to close the education gap for girls globally.

Pamela Chen (SBA 2007) As Chief of Civil Rights in the Criminal Division, Pamela leads her office’s efforts to investigate human trafficking cases and bring them to trial. Her outstanding dedication has resulted in the convictions of almost 40 defendants and achieved justice for over 100 trafficking victims in just few years.  A strong believer in the power of public awareness, Pamela has worked with other federal agencies, foreign governments and victim advocacy and support organizations, providing anti-trafficking training and educational presentations in the United States and abroad.

Belkys Centeno  (SBA 2007) Belkys Centeno stood on the floor of the New York State Assembly in 2006 where she advocated for the passage of strong anti-trafficking legislation. With excitement and great hope for her future, Belkys came to the U.S. in the 1990’s to be with her  boyfriend. Upon her arrival in Queens Belkys’ boyfriend and his cousin confiscated her passport, stole her life savings and finally, forced her into prostitution. In the brothels, Belkys encountered other trafficked women. As a mother, Belkys chooses to focus on the future, aspiring to make the world a better place for her three daughters.

2006

Oraia Reed & Consuelo Ruybal  (SBA 2006) In direct response to a perceived increase in attacks on women in statistically safe North Brooklyn neighborhoods, Oraia Reid and Consuelo Ruybal co-founded RightRides in late 2004, a non-profit organization that continues to offer free late-night rides home to women and transwomen in several Brooklyn neighborhoods and parts of the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Their creative, proactive response to improving women’s safety so impressed Mayor Michael Bloomberg that on his behalf, Human Rights Commissioner Patricia Gatling declared December 12th “Right Rides For Women's Safety Day."

Nancy Lublin  (SBA 2006) Nancy Lublin’s newest venture, Do Something, provides inspiration and opportunities for young people to improve their communities. Ms. Lublin founded Dress for Success, a not-for-profit organization that distributes second-hand suits and provides career advice and programs for low-income women. Ms. Lublin founded Dress for Success in 1996 in NYC with the help of three nuns from Harlem and a small inheritance from her great-grandfather. Ms. Lublin  newest venture, Do Something, lets young members vie for the Brick Awards, what CNN has dubbed the Oscars for kids in community service. Do Something is also the creator of Making the World a Better Place magazine.

Gale Brewer (SBA 2006) City Council Member Gale A. Brewer was instrumental in passing  the Human Rights Bill, which protects domestic partnerships from discrimination and retaliation in the workplace. Ms. Brewer has been representing the Upper West Side and Clinton in the New York City Council since 2002.  Prior to her election, Brewer served as Project Manager for the NYC Nonprofits Project and worked with the Telesis Corporation, a private firm that builds affordable housing. On the West Side, she served for over a decade as Chief of Staff to Council Member Ruth Messinger. She also has taught urban policy at Barnard, Baruch, Brooklyn, Hunter, and Queens Colleges.

Jane Manning  (SBA 2006) Jane Manning, President of NOW-NYC, is an attorney specializing in criminal law and violence against women. An advocate for victims of domestic violence, sexual violence, and trafficking, Jane launched NOW-NYC’s campaign to repeal New York's statute of limitations on rape cases and works closely with human rights groups to bring an end to the epidemic of trafficking in women. Jane has a long history of working to create new laws to bring about an end to violence against women.

Kathleen Ham  (SBA 2006) In June of 1973, Ms. Ham was brutally attacked and raped in her New York apartment. The trial resulted in a hung jury because the rape laws at the time set an unreasonably high standard for conviction. 32 years later, her rapist was arrested under an outstanding warrant. DNA technology linked the offender definitively not only to her rape but also to at least 23 other rapes in Maryland and New Jersey. Ms. Ham decided to take the stand again and to go public with her identity and story. As a result, nine more women came forward to state that they had been attacked by the same man, raising awareness of the need for the elimination of the current 5-year statute of limitations for rape in New York.

2005

 Casa Atabex Ache  (SBA 2005) Since 1994, Casa has been "Building A Movemnet of Alternatives" for womyn of color in the South Bronx. Casa has a unique approach in supporting collective transformation and social change by providing holistic and alternative healing techniques for the self-empowerment of womyn of color worldwide to reclaim the power of their minds, bodies and spirits, and as a consquence their rights.

Eleanor J. Bader (SBA 2005) is a teacher, writer, and activist. She writes the monthly Stoking Fire column on rhrealitycheck.org, and also contributes to feministreview.org, ontheissuesmagazine.com, The Progressive and other progressive, feminist publications and blogs. She is also the co-author of Targets of Hatred: Anti-Abortion Terrorism, St. Martin's Press, 2001.

 Florence Rush  (SBA 2005) electrified a New York Radical Feminist Conference on Rape in 1971, winning a standing ovation for her theory identifying familiar males as the major sexual abusers of children. Family abuse had been ignored by the reigning Freudian psychologists of the day, who preferred to theorize about seductive children and girlish fantasies. Rush went on to author "The Best Kept Secret: Sexual Abuse of Children." A leturer for Women Against Pornography in its early years, she later worked with the New York chapter of NOW on its Images of Chilren in the Media Committee. She died in 2008.

Dell Williams  (SBA 2005) In 1974, Dell Williams founded Eve's Garden, a businessguided by a feminist and sex-positive philosophy that offered for sale vibrators, books and other products to enhance and liberate women's sexuality. At first, she operated a mail order business, and later she also opened a storefront in New York City. The first store of its kind, Williams advertised it as a "feminist sexuality boutique and mail order catalog created by women for women and their partners."