Throughout history, many women have made major contributions to the progress of society, yet their work has often gone unrecognized. Several award ceremonies today are working to counteract this trend by recognizing women for their accomplishments as community leaders and female role models. One such award ceremony is the 100 Women of Color Gala & Awards event, which will be held on April 5 in Hartford. This gala intends to honor the accomplishments of women of color who have worked to positively influence their communities in Connecticut and Western Massachusetts.
The gala is being organized by Mr. June Archer, an author, motivational speaker, and entrepreneur. He is the president and CEO of multimedia marketing company Eleven28 Entertainment. Mr. Archer has written several motivational books and has made appearances on ESPN, FOX, and NBC. As Mr. Archer said, the gala’s goal is to “bring the community back together to reintroduce the village concept, assist various organizations that are empowering our young women, and to inspire the next generation of positive thinkers and community leaders.” Mr. Archer hopes to recognize the talents and achievements of successful local women while raising funds to support programs and scholarships for young women of color as well as organizations conducting cervical and breast cancer research.
The honorees for the gala have all contributed to their communities and have notched significant accomplishments. On the selection process, Mr. Archer said, “Honorees are nominated by the community and past honorees. They are selected by past honorees and a selection committee that changes every year.” In total, 103 women were selected for the gala. While none of the honorees this year were from Wallingford, there have been honorees from the past who were from Wallingford.
One notable woman who was selected as a guest legacy honoree from outside Connecticut and Massachusetts was Collette V. Smith. Mrs. Smith is the first black female coach in the National Football League and the first female coach of the New York Jets. She grew up in Queens as a passionate football fan and player. Now, she gives back to her community by volunteering as a mentor of the NY Knicks Entrepreneurial Program for Urban Youth. She also works with several other organizations focused on supporting young girls involved in sports. Other notable legacy honorees include Melissa Harville-Lebron, the first and only black woman to own a Nascar team; Lucinda Cross, a motivational author and speaker; and Maria Davis, an AIDS activist.
Mr. Archer also organizes the annual 100 Men of Color Gala which celebrates the achievements of black men who have helped their community. His work on the 100 Men of Color Gala is what inspired him to start the annual 100 Women of Color Gala. According to Mr. Archer, “The idea was birthed from creating and producing The 100 Men of Color Black Tie Gala and Awards and realizing women are the pillars and backbone of our families and communities.”
The Gala aims not only to celebrate the successes of these women but also to inspire younger generations. Mr. Archer said, “It’s been a long time coming since the opportunity to recognize the efforts of individuals who work hard day in and day out, tirelessly making an effort to motivate and inspire our young people.”
