Lipscomb faculty, alumna honored as outstanding mentors at luncheon
Janel Shoun |
Wilson has conducted various educational programs for women through her professional and volunteer work, including annual summer programs for the Women’s National Book Association’s Nashville chapter and several seminars on literature for Lipscomb’s Lifelong Learning program. She has worked with the Southern Festival of Books since 1989 and has organized several summer reading discussion groups funded by the Tennessee Humanities Council. “I’ve known Carolyn for years and she has mentored many women through the course of her career. She is a natural mentor… just one of those people who will take you under her wing and make you a better person just by knowing her,” Chadwick said of Wilson.
Vali Forrister Vali Forrister (DLHS, ’86, LU ’90) created Act Like A GRRRL (ALAG) in 2005. ALAG is an autobiographical writing and performance program encouraging young women to achieve a public voice while engaging with peers from diverse backgrounds.
Numerous studies have shown that when they hit adolescence, formerly assertive, confident, healthy girls begin to change, Forrister said. ALAG intervenes at that moment, creating the space for girls to express themselves, to practice speaking out and learning what they have to say, to practice being strong and taking up space. ALAG introduces girls to strong adult women who make healthy decisions and gives girls the tools to analyze their culture critically so they become active change agents rather than passive recipients of cultural messages. Forrister is the co-founder of Actor’s Bridge Ensemble, an ensemble theater where a group of actors work together in community. One of Forrister’s most recent ventures was co-writing and producing the play Ordinary Heroes, along with Amun Ra Theatre founder jeff obafemi carr (cq). Ordinary Heroes explores Nashville’s critical role in the civil rights movement as described by eyewitnesses to the tumultuous era and received national attention. Local performances were funded by a Metropolitan Nashville Arts Commission creation grant, Lipscomb University and the Fisk University Race Relations Institute.
Carolyn Wilson, Vali Forrister and Kim Wyche-Ethridge will be honored on Friday, Feb. 29, at “A Celebration of Women Mentoring Women” luncheon, a first-time fund-raiser to benefit the Maternal Infant Health Outreach Worker (MIHOW) program of the Center for Health Services at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Diane Neighbors, vice mayor, is honorary chair of the luncheon.
Carolyn Wilson (’57) has served as director of the Beaman Library at Lipscomb University since 1999. She has served on the boards of numerous organizations in the community, including the Disciples of Christ Historical Society, the Tennessee Library Association, the Southeastern Library Association and the Tennessee Writer’s Alliance.
The luncheon will take place from 11:30 a.m.-1 pm at the main branch of the Nashville Public Library, 615 Church St. Tickets are $60 apiece or $500 for a table of 10. Tickets may be purchased by calling 615-297-2125.
Wilson, director of Lipscomb’s library, and Forrister, producing artistic director of the Actors Bridge Ensemble, were selected for their tireless efforts to encourage other women, contribute to the community and generally support women whenever they find such an opportunity facing them, said Barbie Chadwick, chairman of the MIHOW luncheon.
The third honoree is Kim Wyche-Etheridge, MD. She is director of maternal child health at the Metro Nashville Health Department. She has been an instrumental voice in improving prenatal care in the Nashville community as founder of The Birthing Project, linking pregnant African-American and Latina teens with older women who become their mentors during pregnancy and the child’s first few months.The Maternal Infant Health Outreach Worker Program
The Maternal Infant Health Outreach Worker (MIHOW) program is a non-profit organization that trains local women to serve as mentors to other women in their communities. These mentors visit pregnant women and families with young children up to three years of age in their homes to promote healthy living and self-sufficiency. Leading by example, they listen to parents' concerns, educate them about nutrition, health and children's development, model positive parenting practices, and provide links to medical and social services.
A luncheon honoring women mentors in the community is a wonderful extension of the mentoring component of MIHOW, said Tonya Elkins, director of the program. “This is something that women do naturally in their lives,” she noted.
Honoree Wilson agreed. “I think if you enjoy what you do and you feel it is useful to people, you want to share this and hope some will catch the enthusiasm,” she said. “I have tried to do this not just in my daily position but in organizational work, professional societies and serving on charitable boards and offices.”
Dr. Wyche-Etheridge noted that the percentage of female medical students has increased during her career, and credits mentoring programs with expanding opportunities for women.“The benefit of these very strong women has been opening my eyes to opportunities that I
otherwise may not have known existed,” she said of mentors who have helped her. “They provided an incentive to reach beyond the expectations and to reach for opportunities that I wouldn't have otherwise thought were possible. They have also provided resources, contacts, and connections that have helped me to move forward on my present course.”