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The Women’s City Club of New York elected a new Chair, Helen Diana (“Heidi”) Reavis, Esq. of Manhattan, Vice Chair, Deborah Martin Owens of Queens, and Julia Kagan Baumann of Manhattan as Treasurer at its 102nd annual meeting. The new terms are effective immediately. Betty C. Jones of Manhattan is continuing as Secretary.
“As a second generation WCC member, I am thrilled to help guide the WCC as we embrace our second century of emboldening New Yorkers in their civic engagement,” commented Reavis.
“I feel incredibly blessed to hold a leadership position in such a strong and vibrant organization that has led this City for the past 100 years and will continue to do so for the next 100 years!” remarked Martin Owens.
“WCC’s Board of Directors has always played an influential role in shaping policies that improve the lives of New Yorkers,” said President and CEO Carole J. Wacey. “New times call for new leadership, so we are now poised to boldly move WCC forward to resist challenges to our rights, to seize opportunities for equality, and to embrace a stronger vision and mission that reflect and address the needs of women and girls in our city and state.”
The new leadership comes as WCC moves to broaden its reach and become more inclusive to reach more women in New York, particularly those who are seeking access and opportunities to affect change and have an impact.
At the annual event, WCC also heard remarks from Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer; Heidi Reavis presented the Centennial Medal for Leadership to outgoing WCC Chair, Annette Choolfaian; Susan Alt presented the Member of the Year Award to outgoing Treasurer, Ruth Acker; and, the organization honored our inspiring milestone members.
Helen Diana (“Heidi”) Reavis is Managing Partner of Reavis Page Jump LLP, a law firm specializing in commercial litigation and dispute resolution, employment law and discrimination matters, intellectual property and media law, non-profit organizations, and real estate and corporate law. Ms. Reavis also received an Emmy® Award as an Executive Producer of the feature documentary film, A Walk to Beautiful, about early marriage, childbirth injuries, and maternal health care in developing nations. Early in her career, Ms. Reavis resided abroad and worked for several firms located in Europe, Australia and Asia where she was exposed to global legal issues. Prior to law school, she worked for the New York County District Attorney’s Office, Sex Crimes Prosecution Unit and Trial Division.
Ms. Reavis has been Counsel to and Chair of the Board of the Women’s City Club of New York; Counsel to and on the Board and Executive Committee of Women Make Movies; and a member of the Women’s Forum. She previously served on the Board of the Friends Seminary School, where she was Chair of the Admissions and Financial Aid Committee. Ms. Reavis has been recognized by the Women’s Sports Foundation for her work in Title IX desegregation in scholastic sports, and received WCC’s coveted Centennial Civic Spirit Award for her transformational work in anti-discrimination, employment law, television and film.
Deborah Martin Owens is an attorney in the New York office of Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP. At the end of July 2018, Deborah will begin in her new role as Executive Director of Diversity & Inclusion at the New York City Bar Association. At WCC, she is a member of the Strategic Planning Advisory Committee, the Executive Committee and the Development Committee. She previously served on the Board of Friends of Island Academy and held positions of leadership in the Metropolitan Black Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association and the National Bar Association.
About Women’s City Club of New York
Women’s City Club of New York (WCC) is a nonprofit, non-partisan, multi-issue activist organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for all New Yorkers. WCC shapes public policy through education, issues analysis, advocacy, and civic participation. As WCC enters its second century of activism, it continues to pursue economic, racial, and gender justice with the goal of dismantling the social inequities that deprive citizens of the opportunity to thrive. Through member-led Task Forces, WCC conducts research, publishes reports, fosters dialogue with public officials, and launches public education and multi-year advocacy campaigns in the following focus areas: Criminal Justice, The Environment, Good Government, Health, Housing and Homelessness, Income Inequality, and Public Education. For more information, visit https://www.wccny.org.