YWCA Dayton seeks artist to design Women of Influence awards

Credit: Knack Video + Photo

Credit: Knack Video + Photo

YWCA Dayton is looking for a local woman artist to design and create seven awards to present to honorees at the nonprofit’s 2023 Women of Influence luncheon on Thursday, March 9.

The organization wants artists to draw inspiration from the persimmon-colored pashminas that past and present honorees wear at the event, according to a YWCA Dayton press release. Artists can use any medium to create the awards, but they must be able to serve as a physical award handed to the honorees at the event.

“We see this award as a way to not only recognize our Women of Influence honorees, but as a way to also recognize the talent of a local woman in the arts,” said Nadia Boquist, associate director of development at YWCA Dayton.

The artist selected will have a $1,000 commission for the design, materials and completion of the seven awards, the release said. There must be a way to engrave the names of the honorees on each award as well.

Credit: Knack Video + Photo

Credit: Knack Video + Photo

This year marks the 25th anniversary of Women of Influence (WOI). The honorees are being recognized for their work to further YWCA Dayton’s mission of eliminating racism and empowering women.

“Since 1998, the YWCA Dayton WOI Awards have recognized and honored more than 180 influential women in the Dayton area, visionaries and thought leaders who have made a difference in our community through their dedication to the YWCA mission of empowering women, eliminating racism, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all,” another release from the organization said.

The 2023 honorees include:

  • Melodie Bennett — Executive Director, House of Bread
  • Marvene Mitchell Cook — Director of CARES Act and Workforce Development, Montgomery County
  • Joanne “Jo” Granzow — Community Volunteer
  • Michelle Kaye — Vice President and Client and Community Relations Director, PNC Bank
  • Carol Prewitt — President, Prewitt Consulting LLC
  • Carolyn Rice – President, Montgomery County Commission

Honorees were selected from a pool of 67 nominations by YWCA leadership and the volunteer WOI Committee. The organization plans to present a lifetime achievement award at the luncheon as well.

Artists have until Feb. 1 to submit entries and the final project must be completed by March 6. Interested artists must be within a 100-mile radius of Dayton and must submit a digital design of their proposal and fill out a questionnaire about their design and about YWCA Dayton’s mission. Submissions should be emailed to info@ywcadayton.org and nboquist@ywcadayton.org with the subject line Call for Artists Women of Influence.

This will be the seventh year that YWCA Dayton has commissioned a local artist to design the award.

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