United Way's Women United celebrates, recognizes women's leadership at work & in community

Brenda Williams McDuffie honored at International Women’s Day event

United Way of Buffalo & Erie County’s Women United on Wednesday celebrated International Women’s Day with a breakfast and panel discussion at Burchfield Penney Art Center. The breakfast, attended by more than 180 women, marked new UWBEC President and CEO Trina Burruss’ first official event since assuming the role in January.

Panelists Paulette M. Crooke (retired banking executive), Kawanza Humphrey (chief human resources officer for VyStar Credit Union) and Anna Stolzenburg (director of social media and content for Pegula Sports Entertainment) engaged in a discussion on the topic of career advancement through community engagement, offering perspectives for women at every stage of their careers. The panel was moderated by Burruss.

Crooke said, “I’m so honored to have this opportunity to speak with so many amazing women, many of whom I know well because of working together in the community. Highlighting the ways that community involvement connects us to one another and feeds our careers along with our souls feels like the perfect way to recognize International Women’s Day.”

Burruss presented the Women United President’s Award to Brenda Williams McDuffie in honor of “her lifelong dedication to breaking down financial, health and educational disparities in our community.”

“Brenda is a person I’ve watched since the early days of my own career,” Burruss said. “I’ve gained so much inspiration from the ways she would not only move through a room, but how she would move about tackling community issues. To be able to honor her as one of my first official public responsibilities is amazing.”

UBEC stated, “Learn more about this diverse, vibrant community of women working together to create systemic community change at uwbec.org/womenunited.”

A press release continued, “For over 100 years, United Way of Buffalo & Erie County has fought to improve the health, education and financial stability of every person in our community. By forging unlikely partnerships, finding new solutions to old problems, and mobilizing the best resources, we inspire individuals to join the fight against our community’s most daunting social crises. We believe that to live better, we must LIVE UNITED.”

Learn more at uwbec.org.