Our Minds, Our Voices Woman of Distinction 2019 Honoree: Omisade Burney-Scott
Durham, NC – In March 2019 Omisade Burney-Scott will be honored for her work in Social Justice. The Aura Galleria will host its third annual “Our Minds, Our Voices” event, a powerful awards luncheon honoring “Women of Distinction” on March 2nd in observance of National Women’s History Month. Omisade is one of ten influential women that will be honored in the categories education, medicine, social justice, civil service, public service, technology, mental health, business, humanities and fashion and beauty.
Omisade Burney-Scott is a black, southern, feminist, mother and healer with decades of experience in nonprofit leadership, philanthropy, and social justice. Grounded in an analysis of systems of oppression; she has trained extensively in identity politics, intersectionality and liberatory organizing practices. She is currently the Director of Strategic Partnerships and Advocacy for SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice collective.
SisterSong’s current NC work includes their End Shackling NC campaign to end the practice and change the state policies related to the shackling of women who are pregnant who are incarcerated or justice involved. Omisade is a 1989 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel and is a member of the 1999-01 class of the William C. Friday Fellows for Human Relations and a 2003 Southeastern Council on Foundation’s Hull Fellow. She is a founding tribe member of SpiritHouse and a board member of The Beautiful Project, Village of Wisdom, and Working Films.
This year’s luncheon will feature media pioneer Cathy Hughes, an African-American entrepreneur, radio and television personality and business executive. Hughes founded the media company Radio One (now known as Urban One), and when the company went public in 1999, she became the first African-American woman to head a publicly traded corporation. In the 1970s, Hughes created the urban radio format called “The Quiet Storm” on Howard University’s radio station WHUR with disc jockey and fellow Howard student Melvin Lindsay.
This electrifying event is expected to draw 300 women and men, including local area high school students, college students and vendors. Attendees of all ages and ethnicities are encouraged to attend.
Vendor and exhibitor showcase: 11:00 am
Our Minds, Our Voices
Saturday, March 2, 2019
11:00 am – 2:00 pm
JB Duke Hotel
230 Science Drive
Durham, NC 27708