The League of Women Voters of Greater Youngstown celebrated its 90th anniversary and its seventh Women’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony March 30.
The Women’s Hall of Fame honors outstanding women in the greater Youngstown area who have made contributions of local importance and enduring value.
Among the honorees were Bonnie Deutsch Burdman, executive director of community relations and government affairs at the Youngstown Area Jewish Federation, and Sarah Grinstein Wilschek, executive director of Ohev Beth Sholom. Burdman was inducted into the Hall of Fame during the ceremony in the Multi-Purpose Room of the Jewish Community Center of Youngstown.
Dr. Amy Acton, who served as director of the Ohio Department of Health during the COVID-19 pandemic, received the Distinguished Service Award in recognition of her statewide and national service and impact. She is currently the president and CEO of RAPID 5 in Columbus. Suzyn Schwebel Epstein, president of the Youngstown Area Jewish Federation, as chairperson of the event, presented the award to Acton.
Other honorees were Suzanne Barbati, recently retired from her role as founding director of OH WOW! The Roger & Gloria Jones Children’s Center for Science & Technology; V. Anne Harpman, a retired special education teacher at Youngstown City Schools; Dr. Lashale Pugh, assistant executive director and research and evaluation director of the Northeast Ohio Black Health Coalition; Roxann Sebest, vice president of the United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley; Vicki Vicars, director of mission, equity, and resilience at the Ursuline Sisters Mission and director of advancement at Thrive Mahoning Valley. Also inducted into the Hall of Fame were Vicki Vicars, Dr. Lashale Pugh, and Suzanne Barbati.
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| Bonnie Deutsch Burdman | Dr. Amy Acton | Sarah Grinstein Wilschek |