Join Us in Celebrating Social Advocacy Award Winner

‘Colleen Brathwaite’

Westchester Women’s Agenda
Award Presented by Renegeron

Learn more about this year's Social Advocacy Award Winner

Colleen Brathwaite is unparalleled as an advocate for women in Westchester County. As the former Board Chair of the Westchester Women’s Agenda (WWA), an organization that aims to improve the lives of women by advancing racial, economic, and social equity and justice, she worked tirelessly to drive positive change.  

Her primary goal at the WWA was making all women aware that “the WWA is there advocating for them.” In 2016, under her leadership, the WWA conducted the first-of-its-kind research study that documented the status of women in Westchester. The study examined issues including affordable housing, childcare costs, employment, poverty, education, and health, and the findings highlighted the dire situation of women of limited means and the need for WWA to advocate on their behalf. A follow-up study several years later indicated areas with improvement, as well as those where slight improvement was made. The study allowed the WWA to use quantitative evidence to support its advocacy efforts.  

She co-founded the Westchester Racial Equity Collaborative (WREC) to bring together all Westchester County groups focused on addressing racial inequities. She also led an effort that resulted in the distribution of COVID relief funds to previously excluded workers. Recently, Colleen pushed for Westchester County to join a national organization that guides local governments revamping policies to achieve racial equity within their workforces. As a result, Westchester County has already begun implementing new approaches to hiring.  

Colleen was born in Barbados, moved to the United States to attend Brandeis University, and later obtained a master’s degree from the Columbia University School of Journalism. While Colleen is now a bonafide New Yorker, she has retained close ties to Barbados. She is closely involved with two nonprofit organizations supporting the medical system in Barbados, and she also works with a group of friends from her high school to provide scholarships for current students at the school.  

Before her involvement in the WWA, Colleen enjoyed a successful public relations, communications, and marketing career in both the corporate and nonprofit sectors. She enjoyed “making other people look good” rather than being in the limelight herself. She demonstrates this while mentoring her two grown daughters, who are following in their mom’s footsteps with careers benefiting the public sector. Colleen may have done her tremendous work behind the scenes at the WWA, but the impact of her work can’t be hidden out of sight!

The Volunteer Spirit Awards is the premier volunteer recognition event in our region, with an expected attendance of nearly 600 community leaders, business leaders, and elected officials.

Please join us for a celebration of volunteerism and community on Friday, April 12th, at the Westchester Marriott in Tarrytown, NY.

44th Annual Volunteer Spirit Awards
Friday, April 12th, 2024

Schedule:

7:45 AM - 10:00 AM: Registration and Awards Program

10:00 AM: Coffee and Connections in the Legacy Suite

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