Susan B. Anthony Award Honorees Announced

The Jackson Women’s History Council is pleased to announce the Susan B. Anthony and Emerging leaders for 2023. The 47th annual Susan B. Anthony “Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories” recognition dinner will be held on March 12th at Cascades Manor House. Dinner reservations are required. Contact Shirley Zeller at seztowne@gmail.com

Susan B. Anthony recipients:

Barbara Fuller

Barb is the co-founder of MI List, a political action committee devoted to electing women. Since interning in the office of State Senator Lana Pollack, Barb has run over a dozen campaigns spanning more than 30 years. Barb is an active member of Jackson Business and Professional Women and has worked tirelessly to help women achieve their goals, especially their political aspirations. She is currently serving as chair of the Washtenaw Co. Board of Road Commissioner, and vice president of the Michigan Broadband Alliance. She has many qualities including persistence, Integrity, drive to get the job done, organized and efficient.

Roberta (Bert) Sexton

As the membership chair of the League of Women’s Voter Jackson Area, Bert has developed information and orientation programs that allow members to become more active. She serves on the Board, is a member of the Education Committee and is developing a school program teaching how important voting is in our form of government. “When Bert commits to doing something you never have to wonder if she will complete the task” states Linda Furgason. As a longtime active member of AARP she has extensive involvement and fosters the focus on issues that affect those over the age of 50.

Marilyn Anders Guidinger

Marilyn has been an advocate for Parkinson’s Disease Research since 2010 and has participated as a volunteer for clinical trials in medical research studies at the NIH, UM and MSU. She also started the Parkinson’s exercise program at the YMCA. As a volunteer for Michigan Theatre of Jackson she was their bookkeeper for many years and you would see her at theater events frequently as a volunteer. She Chaired the Jackson Historic District Commission, was a Board of Trustees at First Congregational Church, and was awarded Jackson Co. Senior Citizen of the Year in 2014.

Emerging Leaders:

Abigail Frew: nominated by Diana Agy

I have known Ms. Frew for five years and have had the opportunity to witness her giving spirit, courage and care for others remarks Diana Agy. Abby has worked to ensure those who are forgotten and disenfranchised will always be remembered with her work at Jackson College Heritage Center while she studied at Jackson College. Her hard work and diligence and love of learning made it possible for the Heritage Center to receive the 2019 – Jackson Co. Airport Service Award.

Abby is a writer and academic on the highest level and part of the elite Jackson College Writing Fellow program and was recognized as a senior Writing Fellow Merit Scholarship winner. During her first year at Jackson College she was also recognized with the George Potter Outstanding Student Award in 2020.

In her current position as a registered Nurse her role is to “provide critical care nursing services to patients in the surgical intensive care unit” But she does much more and her caring demeaner and steady hand help calm those in trauma. That hands on “patient centric” care attitude garnered her the November 2021 HFAH Honeybee Award where she was recognized for patient care and teamwork.

Alexandria Viger- Inman: nominated by Shelly Job

Alexandria is a 10^th grade student at Hanover Horton who has a passion for making a change through interconnections. I am so impressed with what Allie is trying to achieve in Jackson County states Shelly Job , teacher at Hanover High School. She has started her own non-profit “ Next Future-Jackson” -a free tutoring service for younger students in the community.

The drive and passion for giving back and her hard work and determination has made it a personal mission to help enrich young people. Allie works with Mayor Daniel Mahoney as a teen voice on city projects such as the ecofriendly decision to add recycling bins in downtown Jackson. She is an appointed official servicing on the youth council.

Allie is dedicated in her role at Encounter Church in Kids ministry helping in the development and education of the young members in their congregation.

The annual celebration honors local women and men who share a commitment to equal opportunities and participation for women in our community. The criteria for the 2023 Susan B. Anthony and Emerging Leader awards is to honor a woman or man who has devoted their lives and talents to producing art and news, pursuing truth and reflecting society decade after decade in Jackson Co.