2022 Carl Maxey Racial & Social Justice Award Honoree

Congratulations Hanncel!

Thank You for Living Out YWCA Spokane’s Mission

Hanncel Sanchez is the founder and executive director of Mujeres in Action (MiA), a community-connected nonprofit organization serving Latinx survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. The seeds of the organization grew from Hanncel’s experiences in her community and her examination of local resources for survivors from the Latinx community. The gap in access to culturally responsive crisis, advocacy and counseling services for survivors was apparent. As an immigrant herself, Hanncel knew the barriers for survivors’ help-seeking efforts including the lack of providers who speak Spanish and understand the culture, the mistreatment of immigrant women and the fear of the systems’ relationships with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. 

Hanncel made Spokane her home in 2016 and has been contributing to the community in general and to the Latinx community specifically since she arrived. She pursued a major in women and gender studies with a double minor in Spanish and Religious Studies from Eastern Washington University (EWU) while she held a full-time job and volunteered for Lutheran Community Services. While volunteering and learning more about the inequity’s women experienced, she realized that her community was invisible and began to form the building blocks of what MiA would be come. She took the time to listen to the voices of survivors and their families, she made the effort to learn from local nonprofit organizations as to the unmet needs of the Latinx community and harnessed the volunteer efforts of other like-minded individuals and before she graduated in 2019, Hanncel established MiA.

Since then, she has worked tirelessly to transition the volunteer-led organization, conducting community education events in Spanish, to its current form as a 501(C)3 organization with a full board of directors and six staff members, offering advocacy and support services to the Latinx community in Spokane. MiA also sponsors a weekly KYRS Thin Air Community Radio show in Spanish (La voz de pueblo) on Ke Buena 95.7fm and will soon be launching a Spanish helpline. She was also the executive producer of the documentary “El poser de contarlo”. Hanncel has gathered a team of change agents to educate, serve and strategize to bring the realities of domestic and sexual violence to light in hopes of transforming lives and the community. 

Hanncel has served as a board member for the Spokane Regional Domestic Violence Coalition (SRDVC), advocating for increased and improved quality of access for the Latinx community to direct services, support and legislative initiatives. Beyond the SRDVC, Hanncel has built bridges and formed partnerships with local advocacy and cultural groups such as Latinos en Spokane, the Hispanic Business and Professional Association, Spokane Alliance, Spokane Immigrant Rights Coalition and Raiz. She has been the prominent voice at the table in each community group in which she interacts for those who have traditionally been invisible and are most often targeted for racist, xenophobic, classist and sexist acts and statements. 

Hanncel is the epitome of what all leaders should be. She is strategic, thoughtful, empathetic, trusting and trust-worthy, and believes that we each carry our own truth. She makes and gives space for others to bring their best self forward. Hanncel has strong critical thinking skills, passion for ending domestic and sexual violence and is grounded in community. She points out the gaps in services and access, oppressive practices and systematic racism while sitting down with people with diverse views for form a solution. She does this because she believes in the power of people working together. Her important work is providing services to an underrepresented community in Spokane. YWCA Spokane is honored to present Hanncel Sanchez with the 2022 Carl Maxey Racial & Social Justice award.

Dawn Wolski | Nancy Mahoney | Hanncel Sanchez | Fawn Schott | Lee Williams | Alison Gregoire | Oladunni Olywoye | Sarah Dixit

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Join Us In Honoring These Outstanding Women At The Awards Celebration And Benefit For YWCA Spokane On March 24, 2022

Over the last 40 years this awards luncheon has evolved into YWCA Spokane’s largest fundraising event. Sponsored by more than 50 companies and organizations each year, it has become one of the area’s most prestigious award recognition events for women. Friends and supporters who believe in YWCA Spokane’s mission come together to invest in the safety, hope, and healing  of those served by YWCA’s critical programs through their support of this spectacular celebration of women.

All proceeds raised support YWCA Spokane’s critical services for domestic violence victims and their children, including emergency shelter, counseling, legal services, job readiness, child care, and Pre-K programs for low income children. Learn more about the impact of YWCA Spokane.

Registration Is Now Closed

Please contact Jennifer Evans at jennifere@ywcaspokane.org with any questions or concerns.

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Admiral Howard Embodies Honor, Courage and Commitment

Born when female participation in the military was legally capped and women were not allowed to become generals or admirals or to attend service academies, Admiral Howard shattered every glass ceiling. She was the first women to command a U.S. Naval Ship, achieve the rank of four-star admiral and the first woman to be appointed to the position of vice chief of naval operations (the second highest rank in the Navy). She was also the first African-American woman to reach the rank of three-star and four-star in any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces and the first African-American woman to command a ship in the Navy. We are honored to welcome Admiral Michelle Howard (Retired) as our 2022 Keynote Speaker.

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Give in Honor of A Women of Achievement Award Honorees

Consider making a donation in honor of an outstanding woman acknowledged through this inspiring celebration. As our most critical fundraiser of the year, support received through the Women of Achievement awards celebration helps us serve approximately 16,500 clients through programs and services impacting the lives of those affected by domestic violence, homelessness, and unemployment. Your support allows our reach to go further and our mission to be realized. Simply put, we cannot do this work without you!

GIVE TODAY

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Your Health and Safety Remains our Priority

While we look forward to Women of Achievement’s in-person event, the health and safety of our guests and staff remains our top priority. With the evolving nature of the COVID-19 situation, a lot is changing quickly. We are looking at the published guidance from federal, state and local health authorities and government and making decisions to accommodate all of our guests and promote a safe gathering. We continue to assess health and safety policies for the event in light of changing state/local and venue requirements. Beginning March 12th, there will no longer be a statewide mask mandate, nor vaccination requirements for large events. While masks are recommended, they will not be required. Please contact Jennifer Evans at jennifere@ywcaspokane.org for additional information regarding our COVID-19 plan.

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This awards celebration would not be possible without the incredible support of our sponsors.

To learn more about sponsorship opportunities contact Briana Berner, YWCA Spokane Donor Engagement Coordinator, at brianab@ywcaspokane.org or call 509-953-5992.

Signature sponsor

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Keynote Sponsor

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Honoree Sponsor

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Survivor Sponsor

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Video Production Sponsor

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Women’s History Month Sponsor

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PhotoBooth Sponsor

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Staff Sponsor

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Champion Sponsors

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Trailblazer Sponsors

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Pioneer Sponsors

 

 

 

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Corporate Sponsors

Rosauers

Northwest Renewables

US Bank

Spokane Public Schools

Traci Bemis Real Estate – Homes for Change

Volunteers of America

Washington State University

Davenport Hotels

Wendle Ford Nissan

Columbia Bank