YWCA’s 39th Annual Women of Achievement Conference
The Women of Achievement Leadership Luncheon is a highly visible and prestigious event that honors outstanding women who work, live or impact lives in the Lake County/Chicago Metropolitan area and have made important contributions in their field.
This years event is no different but features a New York Times Best-Selling Author, Rebecca Skloot, known widely for her debut book The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. A book which took more than a decade to research and write, and instantly hit the New York Times best-seller list, where it has remained for more than seven years since its publication. Skloot lives in Chicago, where she is currently working on a new book about humans, animals, science, and ethics, a topic near and dear to her: before becoming a science writer.

Women were recognized as Hidden Figures in the following areas: Civic Leaders, Education Leaders, Health Leaders, Dr. Dorothy I. Height Racial Justice, Emerging Leaders (age 18–35) and the Minnie J. Leggette Young Woman of Achievement Scholarship of $1,000 to a Lake County high school senior.
The women that were awarded during this event include: Senator Melinda Bush as a Civic Leader, Merced Alfaro as an Education Leader, Dr. Frances Baxley as a Health Leader, Daphne Dickens King as a Racial Justice Leader, Jiquanda Nelson as an Emerging Leader, and Imani Bah as the Young Woman of Achievement recipient.

