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5 Local Women Honored By YWCA

From left, Mary Maxwell, coordinator of the Jamestown Renaissance Corporation neighborhood projects; Linnea Carlson, farmers market manager for the Jamestown Public Market; Diana Butcher, program director for the Salvation Army Anew Center; Shari Grice, retired registered nurse and founder of Treasured Gems; and Gaylene Lindell, owner of Gaylene’s Jewelers, stand as the 2019 YWCA Women of Achievement. Submitted photo

What it means to be a high-achieving woman was celebrated Tuesday as five women from different corners of the local area were recognized for their accomplishments in business, leadership, fitness, education and social justice.

The YWCA’s newest award for the Women of Achievement was labeled the Unity Award and was earned by Mary Maxwell, the coordinator for the Jamestown Renaissance Corporation’s neighborhood projects that have helped revitalize city blocks and connect different areas of the city with resources to help overcome racism, blight and economic hardships.

“I am honored and humbled,” Maxwell said after receiving the award.

More than 90 women have been nominated through 22 years of the YWCA’s Women of Achievement recognition program, and YWCA Executive Director Jacqueline Phelps said the increased variety of awards helped recognize several unique individuals.

Diana Butcher was named the recipient of the health, wellness and fitness award for her work as the program director of the Salvation Army Anew Center. She’s been able to fundraise to provide emergency assistance for sexual assault victims and provide prevention work to combat struggles women and men face domestically. Previously, she was a shelter case manager and a shelter manager.

Linnea Carlson, YWCA’s 2019 Leader of the Future, was honored for her work as the farmers market manager for the Jamestown Public Market. Leaders of the Future are young women between 25 and 40 years old; Phelps added that she thinks this award helps community members look with optimism toward the future.

Carlson first helped reestablish the Salvation Army of Dunkirk Food Pantry and Emergency Services. She later joined the Jamestown Renaissance Corporation and helped run the Jamestown Mobile Market as a means to get community members eating healthier.

“(This award) reminds them at a young age that the work that they’re doing is important,” Phelps said.

Shari Grice, founder of Treasured Gems, was named the recipient of the mentorship, education and training award for her work giving makeovers for city women. For the past few years, Grice has helped women understand self-worth and overall beauty through the Treasured Gems initiative, which Grice was inspired to facilitate similar to the Extreme Makeover events hosted in New York City.

Gaylene Lindell was named the outstanding entrepreneur of the year for her decades-long small business success as owner of Gaylene’s Jewelers. After learning how to repair jewelry for the Chautauqua Mall’s Kay Jewelers location, she moved her way up through other stores and started her own small business with a loan, tools and a risk-taking mentality. Since 1994, Lindell has operated her store on Fluvanna Avenue.

“You support your neighbors,” Phelps said, summing up Maxwell’s push to reduce discrimination in the community, something that relates with a recent YWCA mission to actively advocate against present-day racism. “No matter what, you work with these people; it doesn’t matter who they are.”

Phelps’ words can also be applied to how the five women have reached out to different pockets of the community, and she said that none of the award winners went out looking for recognition. The women were instead nominated for consideration for the honors by their families, friends and co-workers.

“You could see (the passion),” Phelps said, describing the recognition ceremony Tuesday. “It’s one of those nights where it’s just incredible.”

Follow Eric Zavinski at twitter.com/EZavinski

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