Guests and honorees literally and figuratively stopped traffic as they arrived for the 20th Anniversary of Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis Salute to Women in Leadership Gala.
Cars lined up for blocks in both directions of Washington Avenue and the surrounding streets of the Marriott St. Louis Grand Saturday night. When they emerged from their vehicles, heads turned as they walked to the hotel showing off their best Hollywood glamour attire– which was the theme for this year’s festivities – and filled the massive hotel’s largest ballroom to capacity.
They were adorned in shining jewels and elegant gowns and ready to celebrate women in the community who have dedicated their time and resources to help make St. Louis a more equitable place.
“When I created this event twenty years ago, it was to uplift and recognize women who are leading and making a difference,” Michael McMillan said. “And setting the stage and example for all of us on who and what we should be.” He created his Salute to Women in Leadership gala years before he became the President & CEO of The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis. When he was tapped to lead the organization in 2013, he brought the immensely popular event with him. He also elevated the St. Louis Urban League’s status to the standard for excellence among affiliates across the country. Under his leadership, In his welcome, he pointed out that The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis has accrued a historic milestone of $50M worth of assets for the benefit of the community.
“We have eighty members on the board of directors here in St. Louis,” McMillan said. “They are the secret sauce that helps us be the best versions of ourselves each and every day.”
The awards portion of the program – which was hosted by veteran broadcast media personality and KTVI Fox 2 anchor Shirley Washington – began with recognition of this year’s honorees. They included Laura Ellenhorn, General Counsel for the Edwards Jones Foundation and President for the Edward Jones Disaster Relief Fund; Pat Holterman-Hommes, President and CEO of Youth in Need; Chonda Jordan Nwamu, the Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary for the Ameren Corporation; Madisin Rian, a well-known model who made history as the first Black model to represent Giorgio Armani Beauty; Carlita Vasser, CEO of At Home Care; Dr. Cheryl Watkins, President and CEO of the YWCA Metro St. Louis.
Three outstanding women within the Urban League organization were honored: Urban League Vice President Michelle Merriweather, Dr. Lachrisa Crenshaw, who serves as the Urban League’s Executive Director of the Youth and Family Center, and the Director of Schools and Institutional Partnerships and Chief Financial Officer Donna Joseph.
The awards portion of the program concluded with the presentation of Lifetime Achievement Awards to Noemi Neidorff and Emmy Award winning actress Lynn Whitfield.
Neidorff escaped the Hungarian revolution and found music to be a refuge. She began playing music by ear at the age of four before being classically trained at the Manhattan School of Music. She is involved in numerous organizations like the St. Louis Symphony Volunteer Association, and the National Society of Arts and Letters. She has been awarded with the St. Louis “Woman of Achievement” award in 2009 and Grand Center’s “Visionary Award” in 2011. In her acceptance speech, she dedicated the award to her late husband Michael Neidorff.
The biggest role of fellow Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Lynn Whitfield’s career has a St. Louis connection. She won an Emmy – and several other awards – for her portrayal of our city’s own Josephine Baker in the critically acclaimed HBO biopic “The Josephine Baker Story.”
In her remarks, she told the audience she seeks projects that reflect the complexities of Black life and advocates for representation in storytelling.
“If I take it upon myself to channel a Black woman’s truth through me, it’s service,” Whitfield said.
She also stressed the importance of living in the moment.
“I think we all need to be in the present right now. We can’t think about last week, we can’t think about last month, we can’t think about the possible horrors that may be upon us,” Whitfield said, alluding to last week’s presidential election. “We have to think about today.”
Ended her speech by reciting Today is Ours, Let’s Live It by Ruby Dee. “The past is gone,” Whitfield said. “Don’t rue it because our work is here.”
The night concluded with the music of Grammy winner Regina Belle and Grammy nominated singer/songwriter Kenny Lattimore. They sounded amazing as they gifted the audience with some of the most popular tunes from their respective catalogs – including Belle’s “If I Could,” and Lattimore’s “For You.” They pleasantly surprised the crowd with a duet performance of “A Whole New World (Aladdin’s Theme).” The song from the hit 1992 Disney animated film earned Belle and Peabo Bryson a Grammy Award for “Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal.”
They sang into the night while guests clapped and sang along – basking in an unforgettable night that honored women who make St. Louis, and the world, a wonderful place.