History

2024:

Celebrated 40 years of Women of Achievement and 20 years of the Memphis Area Women’s Council “Then, Now, and Always” at a rooftop cocktail party
Trained hundreds of nursing students and faculty on how to recognize and respond when patients present with signs of intimate partner violence.
Updated Memphis Says NO MORE palm-size information cards and gave hundreds to University of Memphis counselors, Shelby County Health Department, students, hospitals and survivor-serving groups.
Saluted eight women for change-making leadership with Opera Memphis performers and powerful essays at the 38th Memphis Women of Achievement awards.
Championed the importance of women’s vote at Women Vote Early press conference and national rally with partners National Coalition of 100 Black Women Memphis Chapter, League of Women Voters and more.
Hosted Criminal Court Clerk Heidi Kuhn and Memphis City Councilwoman Jerri Green at Memphis Women Rule party during Playhouse on the Square production of all-female POTUS.
Strategized with partners in legislature and courts to improve 2024 state law requiring GPS bracelets as condition of bail for DV aggravated assault.
Highlighted women’s voice and calls for action in difficult times at “Grateful for Great Women,” a forum with four Women of Achievement honorees at November WomenTalk.
Rallied boys and men as allies for ending rape, intimate violence and harassment at 13th Memphis Walk A Mile In Her Shoes from UofM to Poplar Avenue and back.
Spoke out for safety of women and girls at community anti-gun rally, UofM healthy relationship fair, UofM Fogelman business leadership class and nonprofit fairs and in TV and podcast interviews.
Discussed legislative strategies in WomenTalk with Rep. Karen Camper and women’s reproductive health with CHOICES Midwife Dr. Nikia Grayson and UTHSC menopause expert Dr. Diane Pace.

2023:

Rallied men and boys to walk as allies against intimate partner violence, rape, harassment
and stalking at the 12th Memphis Walk a Mile in Her Shoes
Spoke out about gender violence, women’s health care and women’s history with The
Daily Memphian, Tennessee Lookout, WREG TV, ABC24 and FOX 13
Hosted WomenTalk on physical/mental health impact of toxic relationships, new data on
the status of women in Memphis and Shelby County, legislation threatening third graders
with failure and more
Celebrated and documented history-making Memphis women with the 2023 Women of
Achievement awards – now 270 women and three groups archived
Staged Grateful for Great Women, a forum with Women of Achievement honorees
sharing their own stories of persistence
Organized What is a Post-Roe World? with Rhodes College Culture of Consent,
informative conversation with expert panelists on impact on women’s health and possible
actions
Shared Memphis Says NO MORE messages at community anti-gun rally, University of
Memphis healthy relationships fair, Agape’s annual DV online summit, with student
researchers and community groups
Developed Violence at Home, Victims at Work presentation on workplace DV for nurses,
partnering with Tennessee Nurses Association
Strategized with legislators for quicker response to testing rape kit evidence
Joined three subgroups of University of Memphis domestic violence task force,
coordinating Memphis Says NO MORE as keystone for new middle school DV
prevention outreach

2022:

Spoke out for urgent funding of rape kit testing statewide to address new backlog of untested kits; saw governor and U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen announce new appropriations.
Hosted WomenTalk online on elections and politics with former mayoral candidate Deidre Malone; on Women of Achievement with winners of St. Mary’s Episcopal School Cynthia D. Pitcock History Award including 2022 honoree, MAWC executive director Deborah Clubb; on rape kit testing and policy change.
Organized Women Vote Early press conference with National Coalition of 100 Black Women Memphis Chapter, League of Women Voters of Memphis and Shelby County and other partners.
Celebrated women’s changemaking, historic leadership and sisterhood at the 2020-2022 Women of Achievement awards reception.
Rallied men and boys to join as allies against intimate partner violence, rape and stalking at the 11th annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes with University of Memphis colleagues and advocates.
Shared Memphis Says NO MORE info and resources with Agape, Women’s Advocacy Center, Family Safety Center, Mempho Music Festival, UofM School of Social Work, Northeast Memphis Optimist Club, Love Doesn’t Hurt, churches.
Joined new three-year domestic violence task force set by the Public Safety Institute at the UofM, aimed at enhancing cooperation between domestic violence services/providers.
Wrote sexual assault prevention chapter for first book on impact of national federally funded Sexual Assault Kit Initiative project.

2021:

Taught staffers at Kroger, WMC Action News 5 and Alpha Delta Pi Sorority to recognize signs of intimate partner violence and respond with healing resources.
Researched and wrote sexual assault resource list for multi-county area.
Hosted a Women’s History Month tour of Elmwood featuring stories of Women of Achievement (WA) interred there and told WA stories to 262 International Paper employees in online “herstory” session.
Organized with the University of Memphis the 10th Memphis Walk a Mile in Her Shoes with 250 walkers in September, plus a virtual walk and two online panels, during April Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
Via WomenTalk online, showcased WA honorees and women leading theater productions, fighting sex trafficking, counseling children traumatized by family violence and breaking glass ceilings.
Updated and reprinted the Memphis Says NO MORE “palm card” about services available even during times of closed offices or staggered staffing hours.
Gave palm cards and other resource materials for Hope Bags for Memphis Child Advocacy Center, RestoreCorps and Lisieux Community; for Hope House and Memphis’s Juneteenth festival and at monthly commUNITY Walks Against Gun Violence.
Supported gender violence prevention with partners Memphis Shelby Crime Commission, CrimeStoppers, Center for Transforming Communities, Moms Demand Action, No More Foundation, Love Doesn’t Hurt, The Athena Project.
Spoke for Women with The Commercial Appeal, Fox News 13, Local 24 Memphis, Live at Nine, and Memphis Magazine.

2020:

Organized 36th annual Women of Achievement celebration of leadership and historic changemaking.
Raised alarm about dangerous conditions for persons sheltering at home during pandemic with aggressors/abusers.
Rewrote, distributed resource card with vital phone numbers as agencies shifted to virtual work.
Launched Advocacy Media Fund to spread messages of intervention and resources.
Created DV awareness week “events” with University of Memphis partners; produced guide to local college resources for sexual and relationship violence.
Trained Agape clients, ALSAC personnel and Veterans Administration staff on response to intimate partner violence in the workplace.
Promoted Memphis Women’s Legacy Trail for safe family outings during COVID-19.
Collaborated on Women Vote Early campaign and Unity Walk Against Gun Violence.
Urged women to vote and to vote early.
Rolled new Memphis Says NO MORE messaging to youth, men and Spanish speakers on MATA buses.
Honored survivors voices in Community Matters workshop with Playback Memphis.

2019:

Honored 35 years of Women of Achievement with exhibit in Vasco A. Smith Jr. Shelby County Administration Building
Showcased local women’s history with creation and publication of Memphis Women’s Legacy Trail Guide
Celebrated local women for change-making leadership at the 35th Women of Achievement awards reception, on WA website and through publicity
Co-sponsored with Moms Demand Action, Methodist LeBonheur and others the “Action for Hope and Healing: Responses to Community Violence” summit
Directed sexual consent and assault information to highest risk demographic with Memphis Says NO MORE safe tent at two-day Mempho music festival with outreach volunteers and Shelby County Crime Victims & Rape Crisis Center counselors
Staged 9th Walk a Mile in Her Shoes for 280 men, boys and allies to rally and march to end domestic and sexual violence. Drew fraternities and athletes from UofM and Christian Brothers University
Printed and distributed new Memphis Says NO MORE posters with celebrities and local leaders messaging to change attitudes and share resources
Screened “Roll Red Roll” documentary on high school rape culture at four campuses and a public venue with an expert panel to train disclosure and consent
Dedicated historical marker honoring WHER all-female radio station and Woman of Achievement Marion Keisker in Shelby County Historical Commission ceremony
Partnered with Kappa Sigma fraternity for leadership summit and campus NO MORE events
Hosted “Kinky Boots” fundraiser at Playhouse On The Square

2018:

Honored local women for change-making leadership at the 34th Women of Achievement awards ceremony.
Trained law enforcement, counselors and advocates on the trauma of sexual and domestic violence, how to adapt interactions with victims, and share the information at a public event.
Trained local employers to recognize intimate partner violence and respond with compassion and resources at the fifth annual “Violence at Home. Victims at Work.” conference.

2017:

Staged 2017 Run Women Run campaign training with League of Women Voters of Memphis and Shelby County and the National Coalition of 100 Black Women – Memphis Chapter.

2016:

Recruited more than 150 participants in the sixth annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes on Beale Street and the Main Street Mall.

2015:

Created and launched Memphis Says NO MORE campaign which aimed to change attitudes of youth and men and connect survivors of rape and domestic violence to resources for healing and justice.

2014:

Joined Mayor AC Wharton’s Memphis Sexual Assault Kit Task Force to fund DNA testing of all 12,000+ stored rape kits and full investigation and prosecution of old cases.

2013:

Advocated for strengthening of rape survivor services as part of leadership for comprehensive response to resolution of local rape kit backlog. Spoke out for attention to needs of investigators and prosecutors to undertake cold cases and for renewed support of victim advocates, counseling and other unique services in the Rape Crisis Center. Met with City Council, local funders, police, mayor’s staff, county administrators, etc. Carried message to local news media and community groups.
Taught six “Violence at Home. Victims at Work” workshops for employers, monthly on the fourth Thursdays, January thru June. More than 100 employers, supervisors and human resource professionals attended.
Recruited men and boys to join the 4th annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes – in April in the Broad Avenue arts district
Raised support at Playhouse on the Square on June 22 for “The Color Purple” our annual theater party fundraising event.
Exposed sexism and violence in media images of women, from Memphis in May Barbecue Festival poster to Pyramid restaurant mermaid to multi-image exhibit during Broad Avenue Art Walk, in conjunction with Rhodes College. Also co-sponsored screening of Miss Representation as a companion event to the exhibit, participated on panel at Rhodes College.
Launched WomenTalk, monthly issues discussion for women to focus on politics, policy and action.
Organized third annual Dr. Nancy Hardt Women’s Health Lecture – on “Sexual Coercion and Birth Control Sabotage within Intimate Partner Violence”
Coordinated and produced the Memphis Development District hearing on “economic impact of violence against women in Tennessee” for the Tennessee Economic Council on Women. Legislators, state Homeland Security Commissioner Bill Gibbons, sheriffs, prosecutors, social service leaders, employers, medical professionals and advocates from three counties brought data and evidence of wide impact of sexual assault and intimate partner violence. State Rep. Karen Camper, former state Sen. Beverly Marrero, Dr. Carol Danehower, Dr. Lynda Sagrestano and Nicholas Mastron served on the MDD planning team.
Demanded appointment of women to all-male City Council committee to rename local parks; two were named.
Laid groundwork for a local business alliance to end partner violence – launched in January 2014 at our annual conference on workplace violence for employers.

2012:

Rode-along with police as they responded to battered women’s 911 calls.
Listened to battered women in their homes and in our focus groups about how systems helped them, or did not.
Listened as batterers attended court-ordered classes on how NOT to behave.
Monitored what pre-trial workers ask before setting bail for accused batterers.
Heard prosecutors negotiate terms for jailed batterers.
Listened as Judge Chris Turner acted on up to 200 DV cases a day.
Analyzed and assessed our local criminal justice system through close observation and in long hours of discussion as systems change advocates in the Blueprint for Safety Project. MAWC partnered with Shelby County government to win Department of Justice funding for the Blueprint project which aims to help our system be more victim-centered and to hold batterers accountable.
Drafted possible changes to criminal justice system response based on years of analysis and discussion including the Blueprint project – keeping voices of women and victims at the center.
Talked often with DV Court Judge Christ Turner, police officials, Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich, pre-trial and probation administration and other elected officials to strengthen relationships and strategies for getting criminal justice system changes implemented.
Maintained a community calendar of domestic violence-themed events for public engagement.
Launched “Violence at Home. Victims at Work. Employers Confront Domestic Violence” a new Erase Domestic Crime campaign to equip local employers with awareness and resources to help employees who are victims.
Created and posted materials and resources online so that each of us can help coworkers, family and friends become safe.
Organized two fall festival community events to introduce NOVA – Network for Overcoming Violence and Abuse – and our client-serving partners in this new coordinated enhanced care for children exposed to violence, under funding from the Department of Justice Defending Childhood Initiative.
Won $3,000 grant from Verizon Wireless and $3,500 support from United Way of the Midsouth for 2013 employer awareness training series.
Organized the first Purple Light Nights Memphis press conference with Mayor AC Wharton and Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich and got Liberty Bowl Stadium lit in purple for DV awareness.
Partnered with Memphis Men for Memphis Women for its 3rd annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event, uniting attorneys, political leaders, physicians, business owners and media during a Broad Avenue Art Walk and raising awareness of the need for men to engage in eliminating DV.
Convened meeting of police officials, Defending Childhood partners and Blueprint leadership to coordinate how to capture on police report and share information on children exposed to violence in crime scenes.
Trained at the national Advocacy Learning Center in Minneapolis to increase our capacity to organize and lead social change that benefits women thru dialog, understanding, analysis and collective action strategies.
Studied data on local domestic violence cases to determine proportion of intimate partner violence (battering) versus overall family/household violence to allow better focusing of resources in future community planning.
Spoke on behalf of local women at the WOMEN VOTE EARLY collaborative; Economic Summit for Women held in Nashville; Shelby County’s Defending Childhood Initiative; Operation: Safe Community goal of Reducing Violence in the Home; West Tennessee Conference on Social Welfare; on local television & print media & many civic meetings.
Theater fundraiser at Circuit Playhouse at “Tuna Does Vegas.”

2011:

Won federal funding to bring the Blueprint for Safety project to Shelby County – one of three communities in the nation to win this two-year support for helping our criminal justice system become more victim-centered and to hold perpetrators of battering accountable.
Committed to multiple meetings with criminal justice work groups to represent women, victims and systems change in the Blueprint project.
Added leaders from legal and medical professions, business, local funders and faith-based partners to the Erase Domestic Crime Collaborative which coordinates efforts at improving services for victims and their families.
Acquired for rape victims a new power exam table from local firm Physician Sales & Services Inc, donated to the Midsouth Sexual Assault Resource Center.
Organized the annual Erase Domestic Crime rally at the Children’s Museum of Memphis, working with partners to generate awareness thru speakers and media attention
Created and updated resource materials to help each of us help family, friends, coworkers and neighbors become safe – and loaded them onto erasedomesticcrime.com.
Wrote a brochure to guide apartment owners and faith communities in providing shelter and housing to DV victims.
Crafted a one-page guide to the Orders of Protection process.
Initiated curriculum and materials to equip employers to aid employees and secure workplaces.
Partnered with Memphis Men for Memphis Women for second annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes, uniting attorneys, physicians, business owners and media in awareness event thru the Broad Avenue Business District.
Advocated for training, evaluation and supervision of judicial commissioners regarding Orders of Protection and management of hearing room.
Spoke for local women in the Economic Summit for Women in Nashville, Shelby County’s Defending Childhood Initiative, Memphis’s National Youth Violence Prevention Forum, MemTV teen pregnancy collaborative, Reaching Home homelessness conference, on local television and print media and to Rotary and other civic meetings.
“August Osage County” fundraiser at Playhouse on the Square.

2010:

Organized community rally and press conference – two-part event with officials and data in the morning, panel and viewing of Precious in the evening.
Advocated for green jobs training and workforce policy changes for women.
Monitored rape prosecution rates and handling of forensic exam kits.
Fostered employer awareness of and response to family violence
Won state/federal funding for Shelby County’s Coordinated Community Response to Domestic Violence
Organized Study for Court Innovations on operation of our domestic violence court and Orders of Protection process – and strategic actions to improve response to victims and batterers.
Assisted UofM “safety audit” of local domestic violence system and coordinated responses to fix weaknesses
Partnered with Memphis Men for Memphis Women for downtown Walk a Mile in Her Shoes awareness and fundraising event
Coordinated DV Emergency Shelter task force on quality and capacity of shelters to support upcoming Family Safety Center
Supported 31 co-hosting groups in producing “The 19th Turns 90” celebration of women’s rights to vote and staffed Run Women Run campaign training event for 60 participants.
Theater fundraiser held at Playhouse on the Square at Frost/Nixon raised $1,990

2009:

Led effort to address crisis in management of the Rape Crisis Center, in close conversation with City Council, County Commission and community partners. Got it moved from city management. Six of us were named by Mayor AC Wharton to Victims of Crime Advisory League (VOCAL).
Named lead organization for Coordinated Community Response to Domestic Violence by Operation: Safe Community
Won $20,000 United Way Venture Fund grant to support Erase Domestic Crime Collaborative – new resources and energy toward shelter, advocates, prevention and other services for victims/survivors.
Erase Domestic Crime 2009 Rally with the Clothesline project and guest speaker survivor Susan Still.
Celebrated opening of Shelby County’s DV Court after a hard push in legislature. Judge Lee Wilson appointed by county commission was our pick due to his stated commitment to operate a DV court.
Panelist “The Legacy of Women’s Activism” at Wednesday’s Women: In Black and White, National Civil Rights Museum
Girls for Change 2009 with $10,000 from Bornblum guided girls to use data from our sexual harassment survey to create and stage a dramatic script; publicity around the survey spurred stronger training and enforcement of harassment law in MCS in fall 2009.
Testified in legislature in support of a Unified Family Court
With Women’s Foundation, convened local leaders and researchers to form Women’s Economic Security Collaborative toward idea of creating a Poverty Impact Statement. WFGM funded the Council $28,800 to coordinate creation of two local advisory boards, convene discussion of workforce barriers and poverty and shape strategies for action plans focusing on women and green jobs and reauthorization of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and child care block grants.
Trained at intensive four-day conference on social change with Sonja, Connie Ross and Julie Coffey.
Executive director appointed to Shelby County Coalition for Effective Early Home Visitation public awareness and advocacy work group, part of a federal grant awarded to LeBonheur.

2008:

MAWC office moved from campus to Sam Cooper Blvd.
Conducted study of sexual harassment with funding from The Urban Child Institute
Deborah and Sonja appointed to Family Court Taskforce for Shelby County Board of Commissioners; Deborah eventually authored the taskforce report and assisted in shaping legislation and testifying in Nashville in support of it
Reception for female legislators with MWPC and WFGM Oct
Saw Mayor Herenton replace director of the Workforce Investment Board after MAWC alerted reporter to state investigation of local operations
Got Judge Lee Coffee appointed to revived domestic violence court;
Supported housing agreement with LEDIC Management for qualified DV survivors;
With partners forming Erase Domestic Crime Collaborative, organized public rally with Mayor Wharton and others declaring public health emergency due to high number of domestic homicides – October Domestic Violence Awareness Month event.
With $10,000 from CFGM, created a new awareness campaign to connect victims and volunteers to domestic violence resources
Championed a Family Safety Center to unify services for adults and children endangered by domestic violence
From Workforce Action Collaborative came Transportation Taskforce and effort with MATA to adjust bus routes to link highest-need areas with highest-employment areas.
Girls for Change had more than 30 girls in leadership series
Public forum on anti-crime legislation with Hadassah
With Women’s Foundation, convened local leaders and researchers to form Women’s Economic Security Collaborative toward idea of creating a Poverty Impact Statement.
Executive director was West Tennessee honorary co-chair for Tennessee Economic Council on Women annual summit in Nashville
Raised $2,200 trough theater party for 1776 at Circuit Playhouse .
Dr. Nancy Hardt returned from fellowship in Washington to present “Women, Policy and Power: A Federal Perspective”

2007:

Deborah invited to Wednesdays in Mississippi Planning Committee for National Civil Rights Museum
Girls for Change finale lock-in at Lindenwood Christian Church
Presented findings of Workforce Action Collaborative, on barriers keeping low wage women from good jobs with good wages, at CROW Community Issues Forum
Living Wage campaign extended to county employees
Sexual harassment research with CROW funded by The Urban Child Institute grant won by MAWC and CROW
Rhodes Summer Service Fellow on staff

2006:

Ongoing WAC workgroups focused on child care subsidy policies, public transportation routes and schedules, access to mental and medical health services and operation of the local Workforce Investment Network.
Organized and hosted 2006 Women’s Policy Action Summit with panels on domestic violence, sexual harassment of girls in schools
MAWC and Women’s Studies Program worked with more than 100 girls from 15 public, private and parochial schools in Girls for Change, with training like a “baby MAWC.” MAWC and Women’s Studies won Public Service grant from UofM for a rally that was attended by more than 70 people to launch Girls for Change. Teen activist Shelby Knox spoke and showed the documentary about her work in Lubbock TX.
Advocated for change in management of Workforce Investment Board – manager was replaced
Strategized with Living Wage campaign – on steering committee and at City Hall sessions
Researched Memphis City Schools sex education policy and practice
Joined the Healthy Choices Week project of Memphis City Schools to bring concerns for girls’ health and safety to the discussion. Persistence moved planners to set Dating Violence as topic at a special panel presentation.
Supported state legislation to increase penalties for breaking domestic violence-related Orders of Protection and cheered legislators who helped
Testified to Shelby County Board of Commissioners on results of observation of judicial commissioners in Orders of Protection hearing room.
Achieved new designated private space in 201 Poplar Criminal Justice Center where victims and advocates could meet; continued investigation of gaps in services in court, behavior of judicial commissioners, etc.
Theater fundraiser at Playhouse on the Square at “The Full Monty” raised $1,980
Memphis City Council granted the living wage to all fulltime city employees on July 1, 2006 and to tax freeze recipients starting Jan. 1 2007
Organized a Memphis Development District Advisory group for the Tennessee Economic Council on women to assure concerns of women in Shelby, Lauderdale, Fayette and Tipton counties become part of the TECW agenda.
Joined the Healthy Choices Week project of Memphis City Schools to bring concerns for girls’ health and safety to the discussion. Persistence moved planners to set Dating Violence as topic at a special panel presentation.

2005:

Linked researchers, activists and unemployed and underemployed women to identify and change barriers to full employment with our Workforce Action Collaborative (WAC)– regular meetings of taskforce with committees on various issue areas with Community Foundation funding. Participating partners included MIFA, Uptown Alliance, Seedco, CROW, CBANA, Memphis HOPE, WFGM, YWCA, DHS, Neighborhood Christian Centers and Partners for the Homeless.
Produced Where the Girls Are women’s agency exhibit and collaboration with Ballet Memphis
Fostered Girls for Change, a new leadership program for girl activists ages 13-17 who are tackling issues of sexual harassment at school, teen pregnancy/reproductive education and negative media images.
Supported state legislation to increase penalties for breaking domestic violence-related Orders of Protection and cheered legislators who helped
Hosted another training to prepare to expand Courtwatch into General Sessions criminal courts
Joined the Coalition for a Better Memphis to bring women’s voices to the discussion of issues for local candidates and the ranking of those candidates
Researched Memphis City Schools Title IX activity.

2004:

Rallied women’s support for a successful Living Wage campaign for city employees
Helped secure a ban on corporal punishment in the Memphis City Schools with our Stop the Hitting campaign
Hosted Mondays with MAWC lunchtime gatherings to focus community attention on the Living Wage, Title IX/gender equity and domestic violence
Hosted Muffins with MAWC to introduce the Council and build relationships with local policy leaders and influence-makers.
Trained volunteers who then documented needs of domestic violence victims and staff in the Order of Protection hearing room in our Court Watch project. We achieved new signage in the Criminal Justice Center.
Domestic Violence action team united legal, government and health leaders.

May 2004:

Deborah Clubb is hired under United Way funding as executive director.

April 2004:

First Women’s Policy Summit is held
Action projects are announced on corporal punishment, domestic violence and the Living Wage campaign;
Website provided links to multiple issues of concern to women, calendar of local events and more

Fall 2003:

Board is formed
United Way funding via WFGM supports part-time administrative director Rebecca Terrell and creation of website; 501c3 is granted.
MAWC is housed at the Center for Research on Women at the UofM. Founding board members Dr. Phyllis Betts, Ruby Bright, Mary Durham, Naomi Dyson, Dr. Nancy Hardt, Happy Jones, Malrie Shelton and Dr. Barbara Ellen Smith.

MAWC

MAWC

Domestic Violence/Rape

Coming up…