Mercy Center celebrates 16 Women Making History in Erie region
Mercy Center for Women will honor 16 women this year for the service they give to their community.
"We celebrate the 30th year of Women Making History in 2023," said Jennie Hagerty, executive director of Mercy Center. "Throughout the years, this annual event has recognized 12 or more women. Women Making History is not defined in number but through commitment and beliefs of women impacting all walks of life in their journey to touch other lives. This year, 16 women fit the criteria."
They are Cheryl Bates; Susan Paradise Baxter; Darlene Bush; Jacqui Catrabone; Georgia Del Freo; Amy Eisert; Elizabeth Anne Hirz; Sarah Weis Humphrey; Marva Keys-Morris; Susanne Kuligowski; Karen Anne Morahan; Sister Margaret Pellerite; Kelly Stolar; Carla Storrs; Ruth Thompson, and Kathy Woodard.
Hagerty said these 16 were chosen because they are "diverse and committed to their lifelong journey of service to our community. They emulate the charisms of the Sisters of Mercy who sponsor the Mercy Center for Women: spirituality, community, service, social justice and the Mercy Critical Concerns of Earth, immigration, nonviolence, racism and women."
Any community member could nominate a woman for the honor via Mercy Center's website. A committee then selected the recipients.
Hagerty said Mercy Center recognizes local Women Making History because "these women are individuals who freely give of their time to serve in a variety of roles. They provide a journey of lifetime accomplishments to influence women who aspire to learn from them on how to give back. It is important for our community to recognize the achievements of Women Making History. They each walk step by step to create a footprint of passion to those served."
From February:Mercy Center for Women unveils new apartments, community hub at former Holy Rosary school
The Women Making History will be honored April 3 at 7 p.m. at the Mary D'Angelo Performing Arts Center at Mercyhurst University, 501 E. 38th St. The event, which is free and open to the public, will include a short video about each honoree. They will be presented with citations by Erie Mayor Joseph Schember and Erie County Council member Terry Scutella, Hagerty said.
Meet the 2023 Women Making History
Cheryl Bates — As a former program director at United Way of Erie County, Bates was the chief architect who implemented Erie Free Taxes in 2007. Now retired, she also worked as program director at the Erie County Office of Children and Youth.
Susan Paradise Baxter — Appointed the first female district judge for the U.S. District Court in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Baxter serves on the Judicial Conference of the United States and Committee on Administration of the Magistrate Judges System.
2018: Baxter named federal judge for Erie
Darlene Bush — One volunteer experience 10 years ago at the Mercy Center for Women led to Bush donating hours weekly at the nonprofit, where she works as a receptionist and oversees donations to the center's Daily Threads women's thrift store.
Jacqui Catrabone — The director of nonprofit and community services at Strategy Solutions Inc., Catrabone’s background as a mental health direct service professional exposed her to the complex needs of nonprofits, many of which seek her expertise to help them deliver optimal services to clients.
Georgia Del Freo — Del Freo has spent the past 22 years at the Greater Erie Community Action Committee, where she is vice president of operations. She also volunteers with Habitat for Humanity and serves as a deacon at Wayside Presbyterian Church.
Amy Eisert — Eisert is the director of Mercyhurst University's Thomas J. Gamble Civic Institute, with a mission to reduce crime and increase partnerships and trust in neighborhoods across Erie County. She helped launch the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's Adult Prom.
More: 'We are in the midst of a crisis': DA, mayor, police urge unity as juvenile crime surges
Elizabeth Anne Hirz — Hired in 2002 as an Erie County assistant district attorney, Hirz in 2022 became the county's first female district attorney. She is a board member of the Bradley Foulk Children’s Advocacy Center and Mercy Center for Women.
More: In historic moment, first women take office to serve as DAs in Erie, Crawford counties
Sarah Weis Humphrey — Weis Humphrey, MSN, RN, is the executive director and founder of Erie Cancer Wellness Center, an independent nonprofit providing non-medical services free of charge to those diagnosed with cancer and to their families.
More: Erie wellness center offers free yoga, massage, counseling for cancer patients
Marva Keys-Morris — Keys-Morris is the CEO of Premier Manufacturing LLC and the first Black female to own and lead an energy drink brand in the United States. Her company’s Zenedge Energy Drinks are sold at more than 100 Walmart stores and on Amazon.
More: For Marva Keys Morris, a deal with Walmart is only the latest step on a long journey
Susanne Kuligowski — As executive director of Erie Dawn since 2021, Kuligowski has played an instrumental role in her agency’s collaborative efforts with area landlords to provide safe, affordable, independent, transitional housing for low-income women and children.
Karen Anne Morahan — During the height of the pandemic when the nursing shortage was at its peak, Morahan, then-advanced critical educator for UPMC, proposed opening a school of nursing within the city limits. She is now the Jameson School of Nursing at UPMC Hamot's first director.
More: Erie hospitals seek long-term answers to nursing shortage with sign-on bonuses, new school
Sister Margaret Pellerite — An educator and member of the Sisters of St. Joseph, Pellerite has been with Kennedy Catholic High School in Hermitage for 56 years and is currently in campus ministry. She also has been feeding the Shenango Valley for more than 40 years at Thanksgiving time.
Kelly Stolar — Stolar is the first layperson named executive/development director of the Neighborhood Art House in Erie. She is a past president of the Northwestern Pennsylvania Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and has taught dance in a variety of venues.
More: Kelly Stolar assumes new role at Erie's Inner-city Neighborhood Art House
Carla Storrs — A licensed clinical social worker who spent 15 years at Mercy Center for Women, most recently as client services director, Storrs is now proprietor of a therapy practice, Hopeful Outlook. She also is an ordained deacon with Greater Calvary Full Gospel Baptist Church.
Ruth Thompson — For nearly 20 years, Thompson has been the director of the A.N.N.A. Shelter, with a goal to provide unwanted, stray, abused or neglected animals with a safe, nurturing loving environment. Thompson also started a dog training program at the Erie County Prison.
Kathy Woodard — Woodard is the educational services director at WQLN, where she created its S.T.R.E.A.M. (science, technology, religion, engineering, arts and mathematics) Machine, a mobile classroom that delivers educational outreach directly to neighborhoods.
Meet the 2022 recipients:Mercy Center honors its 'Dynamic Dozen' Women Making History, improving Erie community
Dana Massing can be reached at dmassing@timesnews.com.
Women's History Month
Women were making history long before 1982, when the first national celebration known as Women's History Week was proclaimed by President Ronald Reagan at the request of Congress.
Five years later, the week became a month, in March 1987. Between 1988 and 1994, Congress passed additional resolutions requesting and authorizing the president to proclaim March of each year as Women's History Month. Since 1995, presidents have issued a series of annual proclamations designating March as Women’s History Month, according to a Women's History Month website hosted by The Library of Congress.
The site at womenshistorymonth.gov contains photos and links to exhibits and collections about women including Frances Perkins, the first female Cabinet member; Underground Railroad conductor Harriet Tubman; civil rights activist Rosa Parks; Maya Lin, whose design was selected for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial; "Witch of Wall Street" Hetty Green; portraits of 19th century African American women activists; the TV show "I Love Lucy"; women breaking musical barriers; women in the military; and much more.
This March, watch the Erie Times-News and GoErie.com for stories celebrating local women and the contributions they make to our community.
— Dana Massing
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Mercy Center celebrates 16 Women Making History in Erie region
