History of the
Empowering Women Luncheon
20 Years of Extraordinary Voices
2007
Dr. Mae Jamison
Physician and first Black woman to
travel in space aboard the 1992 Space Shuttle Endeavor.
2008
Liz Murray
Her life inspired the film
“Homeless to Harvard”
2011
Victoria Rowell
Actress & Author
2012
Kathy LeMay
Founder of “Raising Change”
2013
Susan L. Taylor
editor-in-chief emerita of Essence, founder-CEO National CARES Mentoring Movement
2014
Elizabeth Smart
Survivor
2015
Lucille O’Neal
Author
2016
Beverly Gooden
A victims’ rights advocate who created #WhyIStayed
“Change for Good”
2017
Sonia Manzano
“Maria” on Sesame Street
2018
Carlotta Walls LaNier
Little Rock Nine
2019
Janine Latus
Award-winning journalist, author and advocate
2020
In 2020, due to Covid-19 the YWCA made the difficult decision to cancel the Luncheon, but Dr. Myra Henry re-envisioned it as a call to action opportunity
2021
Empowering Women Sponsorship
During Covid, the City of Rochester lit the town Orange for the month of October in support of YWCA
2022
Ilyasah Shabazz
“Allies & Activists”
Clarissa Street Branch Centennial
2023
Erin Gruwell
Freedom Writers Foundation
“Be the Change”
2024
Nicole Lynn
Klutch Sports Group
“Game Changers”
2009
Ursula Burns
CEO of XEROX
2010
Jeannette Walls
Author of “The Glass Castle”
2025
MC Lyte
“Power Up”
2026
Venus Williams
“Serving Strength, Building Futures”