Connecticut Post

Past honorees still going strong
 

Januar 6, 2006
By Amanda Cuda (acuda@ctpost.com)

For more than a decade, the Connecticut Post has picked a Woman of the Year. Chosen for their contributions to their communities, and the strength of their personalities, all of these women have been exceptional in their own ways.

Some have overcome personal tragedy and gone on to help others. Some havefound personal fulfillment in helping society's overlooked people, such as prisoners. But each has done something to make herself stand out.

So what has become of these exceptional women? We decided to catch up with some of them and see what they're up to. The following women joined us for a discussion on what being Woman of the Year meant to them, why it's important to contribute to your community, and how future generations can make the world a better place.

•	Doris "Dee" Lippman of Westport, 1992: first Woman of the Year; vice chairwoman of the Vietnam Women's Project; professor of nursing at Fairfield University
•	Brenda Culpepper of Stamford, 1994: owner, Ready Kids, Inc., a nonprofit agency that focuses on the multiple barriers to unemployment in youth
•	Marjorie Schulman, of Trumbull, 1995: co-founder, Connecticut Network for Developing Capable People, an organization that helps parents develop parenting skills
•	Rosa J. Correa of Bridgeport, 1999: chairwoman of the Bridgeport Housing Authority, Barnum Festival La Danza chairwoman
•	Ginger Katz of Norwalk, 2000: President of the Courage to Speak Foundation, which educates kids on the dangers of drugs.
•	Rhina Carmona, from a suburb of Bridgeport, 2002: Ministers to prison inmates at several institutions
•	Mary-Jane Foster of Bridgeport, 2003: chief executive officer, Bridgeport Bluefish; co-chair of the United Way Success by 6; member of the Fund for Women and Girls advisory board
•	Nina Engstrom of Fairfield, 2004: president elect, National Alliance for the Mentally Ill of Connecticut

To start off, all these women were pleased to be named Woman of the Year, and felt the recognition gave exposure to issues that might not otherwise get attention.

That is, once they realized what they had been chosen for. As the first Woman of the Year, Lippman knew little about the honor when she first got the call telling her she had received it. "I said 'I'm what?' " she said.

But, eventually, she was both flattered by the recognition and hopeful that it might educate people about women who, like her, had served their country during the war in Vietnam. Lippman, who served in the Army nurse corps, received the honor not long before the dedication of the Vietnam Women's Memorial, which she helped make a reality.

Katz also hoped her recognition would draw attention to her pet cause, the Courage to Speak Foundation, which she started following the death of her son, Ian, to an accidental drug overdose. Through the foundation, Katz visits schools and other institutions, educating young people and their families about the dangers of drugs. She said being named Woman of the Year opened people's eyes to a subject they might not otherwise embrace.

"It shone a light on my organization and my topic, which is such a sensitive topic," Katz said.
However, all the women were quick to point out that, while being recognized is nice, it's not why they get involved. "We're not looking for recognition," Schulman said. "We're doing the things we do because we believe in them."

Correa said, while she was proud of her recognition, she realized there are many women who do amazing things for their community, and they might have easily been named Woman of the Year instead of her. "My mother is a very wise woman," she said. "She told me 'Think about those women who were nominated with you.' " Every single one of them said one of the main reasons they are involved is that they enjoy helping others. "Don't you feel that volunteering is the most selfish thing you've ever done?" Foster asked her Woman of the Year vets.

They all agreed, and many said volunteering is something nearly everyone can, and should, do. "I think you have to find something you have a passion for," Lippman said. "Everyone has something that they are interested in and care about."

As role models of service, these are women with a lot of knowledge to offer, so we decided to pick their brains. We gave them all a written questionnaire, asking them two questions. The first question asked what advice they would give to future generations of women.

Not surprisingly, most called for their fellow women to be active in their communities. "To grow as a woman, one must get involved in activities to make for a better community," Carmona wrote. "Help your fellow men. Be generous with your time and resources."

Culpepper also stressed the importance of service, calling it something "that must be replicated until it becomes a habit."

Some of their lessons were specific to their causes. Engstrom, for instance, hoped that other women would learn "the importance of accepting mental illness, and viewing it like any other physical illness."

The other question we asked was what one thing they would change about the world if they had the power. They all had a least one suggestion. Lippman wanted to eliminate war as a way of solving conflicts, and Katz wanted to stop all illegal drug use.

Correa had multiple suggestions, including having affordable housing for all, and treating all people equally, no matter what their race, ethnicity or background. But one of the most touching suggestions came from Schulman. Her dream was "for people to better understand one another, to more effectively communicate with one another, to believe in the basic goodness of each person and to love, honor and respect mankind in order to create love and peace in the world."

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