Valerie Jarrett to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award at 2025 Women Of Excellence Event
Trailblazers Unite to Celebrate the Leadership and Impact of Exemplary Black Women
CHICAGO – Valerie Jarrett, the longest-serving senior advisor to a U.S. president and Chief Executive Officer for the Obama Foundation, will receive the 2025 Chicago Defender Women of Excellence Lifetime Achievement Award.
A trailblazer in politics, business, and civic leadership, Jarrett shaped history in the Obama White House. Now, she brings that same pioneering spirit to a night honoring the brilliance and resilience of Black women who are changing the game.
Illinois Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford and WLS TV news anchor Cheryl Burton, this year’s Vanguard honorees, will join her.
These luminaries and the distinguished class of 50 honorees embody the theme for this year’s Women of Excellence event: “Unstoppable Voices: Leading with Purpose, Inspiring Through Action.”
50 Women of Excellence Honorees
| Dr. Joi C. | Basley | Director – Young Adult Programs | Mercy Home for Boys and Girls |
| Nicole | Brookens | Founding Executive Director | PLAN4SUCCESS |
| Latina | Brooks | Development Associate | UNCF |
| Micea | Brown | Assistant Vice President, Business Access Advisor | US Bank |
| Brielle | Bryson | Founder & Executive Director | Arose Foundation | Bryson PMC |
| Jacqueline | Burgess-Bishop | CEO | National Kidney Foundation of Illinois |
| Tonita | Cheatham | Executive Director, Communication & Community Relations | Blue Cross Blue Shield IL |
| Gina | Clegs | Senior Vice President | Catholic Charities of Archdiocese of Chicago |
| Calmetta | Coleman | Chief Operating Officer | Chicago Urban League |
| Honorable Adrienne E. | Davis | Judge | Illinois 2nd Subcircuit-Cook County |
| Gail | Davis | Director of Administrative Services | Chicago Teachers Pension Fund |
| Jessyca | Dudley | CEO | Bold Ventures |
| Ashlei | Eaton | Real Estate Consultant | at Properties/Christie’s International Real Estate |
| Christy | George | President & CEO | Intersect Illinois |
| Dr. Lawanda Rutledge | Gordon | AVP-Chief Alliance Officer | Eli Lilly and Company |
| Jehan | Gordon-Booth | Illinois State Representative | Illinois House of Representatives, District 92 |
| Dr. Marilyn | Griffin | Behavioral Health Medical Director | Aetna Better Health of Illinois |
| Dr. Toinette | Gunn | President & CEO | LINK Unlimited Scholars |
| Whitney | Hampton | Chief Strategy Officer | Sip and Savor Hospitality Group Inc |
| Jamelia | Hand | CEO | Vantage Clinical Consulting LLC |
| Kimberly Tolbert | Henderson | Senior Manager-Equity, Inclusion & Diversity | Mars North America |
| Tonya | Howard | Park District Commissioner | Blue Island Park District |
| Lisa | Howard | Blue Cancer Advocate | UChicago Medicine |
| Talana | Hughes | Executive Director | Sickle Cell Disease Association of Illinois |
| Joyce Jackson | Hurley | Building Director | Village of Lynwood |
| Gloria M. | Jackson | Senior Director of Customer Service | Verizon |
| Jacqueline | Jackson | Owner | Kilwins |
| Katrina | Jackson | VP, Talent Management & Diversity, Equity and Inclusion | Adtalem Global Education |
| Morgan Elise | Johnson | Co-Founder/Publisher | The Triibe |
| Cherese | Ledet | President & CEO | YWCA of Evanston/North Shore |
| Angela | Martin | CEO | Angela Martin Ministries |
| Yani | Mason | CEO | Girls Inc. of Chicago |
| Dr. Kenya | McCalebb | Owner | Smile Theory |
| Karimiah | McKee | Global Telecoms Engineer | Mayer Brown LLP |
| Love | McPherson | Relationship Expert & Author | Love Infinity, Inc. |
| Angela | O’Banion | Chief Information Officer | Cook County Health |
| Jeanette | Outly | Owner | Dunkin’ Donuts/Rev - Advertisement - More articles Welcome to City Stuff: Chicago, your trusted source for comprehensive coverage of the latest stories and events in Chicago. Our mission is to inform, inspire, and engage readers by delivering high-quality journalism across various key areas, including crime reports, shopping, weather, dining, education, health, real estate, and sports. Explore CitiesUseful LinksPopular CategoriesOur NewsletterSubscribe Us To Receive Our Latest News Directly In Your Inbox! |