The theme for YWCA Madison’s 2025 Women of Distinction is Community Keystones: Building Just Ecosystems for One Imperative.

This theme honors leaders in our local community who serve as foundational forces—keystones. Just as keystones hold an arch together and keystone species strengthen ecosystems through ripple effects that sustain the whole, our honorees exemplify a deep commitment to building communities where everyone can thrive.

“One Imperative” pays homage to beloved civil rights leader and YWCA ancestor Dr. Dorothy I. Height, who galvanized YWCA associations nationwide around a singular, unifying mission: to eliminate racism by any means necessary.

On the evening of Wednesday, June 18, we will unite to celebrate the ongoing legacies of transformation in Madison and honor the sustained efforts to advance YWCA’s One Imperative—our mission. We invite you to experience the power and vitality of intergenerational leadership in our community. Together, we will reflect on how each of us can live into the mutually flourishing ecosystems that we dream of, guided by the wisdom of our beloved community keystones.