The Los Angeles African American Women’s Political Policy Institute (LAAAWPPI) will pay tribute to four women of distinction at the Women in Action Gala Awards Reception on Thursday, October 13, at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel.
LAAAWPPI is a non-partisan, non-profit organization whose mission is to prepare African American women for leadership in public policy, government and public affairs. Since 2004, LAAAWPPI has trained more than 200 African American women on the science of politics and community organizing.
Each year, LAAAWPPI recognizes women whose actions have made a significant contribution to their community and are blazing a trail for the next generation of women leaders.
Jacqueline “Jackie” Dupont-Walker is president of the Ward Economic Development Corporation (WEDC). At the helm of WEDC for 25 years, Dupont-Walker has had a major impact on South Los Angeles. She is responsible for the development of 280 units of affordable housing and a shopping center and for creating numerous neighborhood networks and facilitating job creation.
Sydney Kamlager-Dove is District Director for Senator Holly J. Mitchell and on the Board of Trustees for the Los Angeles Community College District. Kamlager-Dove has spent the last two decades working for nonprofit organizations and in the public sector. As Director for External Affairs for Crystal Stairs, a child care development agency, she created a parent advocacy group that trained parent leaders across Los Angeles and raised the visibility of child care as a critical issue for working families.
Dr. Tumani S. Moore-Leatherwood has recently retired after spending over 35 years serving the medical needs of South Los Angeles families. She was the first physician-in-charge at the Kaiser Permanente South Los Angeles Medical offices and served on the Board of the South Central Family Health Center.
Newly appointed Los Angeles Deputy Mayor of Economic Opportunity Brenda Shockley is the founder of Community Build, Inc. In the wake of the 1992 civil unrest, Shockley created Community Build, a non-profit organization to revitalize South Los Angeles through human investment and economic development. Her work to revitalize communities in South L.A. has led to more than $100 million of investment into the education, employment and training of programs for young people.
The Wave 94.7 FM morning show host Pat Prescott will be the mistress of ceremonies for the Women in Action Gala Awards Reception. Prescott has been an on-air radio personality and a voice over artist for broadcasts such as USA Network’s award winning late night program “Night Flight” and Time Warner Cable New York. She is very active in the community and has received numerous awards and citations for her contributions.
“Each of the Women in Action honorees are exceptional in their chosen field and deserve to be recognized for their work,” said LAAAWPPI chairperson Angela Gibson-Shaw. “These powerful women are setting an example for what it means to be a woman in action.”
For more information on LAAAWPPI and the Women in Action Gala Awards Reception, visit www.laaawppi.org, or call (323) 954-3777.
