ST. LOUIS - In a building on Grandel Square is a doorway to making St. Louis better. An incredible organization that has been serving the St. Louis community for more than 100 years.
"So the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis services more than 100,000 per year through it's 30 different programs," explains Deborah Catchings-Smith.
As the National president of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, she's worked closely with the institution.
"As we all know the Urban League is really managed day to day by an awesome leader Dr. now Michael McMillan and he has done such a wonderful job to ensure that all of the activities, all of the programs that are offered to the community are making a difference in the lives of women, children and families."
Of course it takes a village and tonight the Urban League will honor 19 remarkable women in leadership.
"Well, we have a mixture which is what's so great about the salute to women. It's women we all may have seen, read about, heard about, but then it's also the unknown women who are out here doing the work, not necessarily acknowledged publicly." Catchings-Smith says.
It is a distinguished group of business leaders, corporate executives, entrepreneurs and educators.
"Karen Jones is going to receive the corporate trailblazer award."
A list that includes Alicia Elsner, the President and General Manager of 5 on Your Side and Motown legend Martha Reeves, who will receive the lifetime achievement award.
"It is just magnificent that we're able to bring together women from all backgrounds, economic backgrounds, educational backgrounds across different spectrums and not only salute them but also rally and support each other in the work that we're doing across the St. Louis metropolitan area and outside across the united states."
It's more than a fancy gala it's a reminder of all the good being done in our area.
"The awards serve a purpose of being able to inspire and promote not only the women doing the work in the community, but also to fuel that engine that's much needed for us to go out and continue to do the work and inspire others to get more involved and engaged in the communities that we all live in because our communities really need our support."
