The life of Frances Young exemplifies spirit of Scottsdale Leadership pursuit
Staff Reports | Community Updates
Scottsdale Leadership is blazing a new and exciting trail at this year’s annual Spirit of Community Awards ceremony in December 2024.
Joining the prominent Scottsdale Leadership awards named after Scottsdale leaders including Mayor Herb Drinkwater; Mayor Bill Jenkins; Assistant Fire Chief Frank Hodges; and former president of Scottsdale Community College Dr. Art DeCabooter is the new Frances Young Trailblazer Award.
The Frances Young Trailblazer Award is named after Frances Young (1921 – 2009), who was a Scottsdale pioneer and tireless advocate for minority rights.
As a trailblazer and co-founder of Scottsdale Community Partners, Frances Young championed numerous community initiatives, including the Vista del Camino Community Center. Her Scottsdale contributions spanned over four decades, establishing essential social services, educational programs, and health initiatives for underserved communities.
Representatives of Scottsdale Leadership tell the Digital Free Press the significance of the new Frances Young Trailblazer Award is distinct in two ways.
The first is the award will recognize a leader who may be early in their leadership journey and may or may not hold a formal leadership title. The impacts of their work in the Scottsdale community are in progress as compared to tenured community leaders who have a long list of Scottsdale achievements under their belts.
The second distinction is the award, with nominations open to all genders, is named after a Scottsdale woman who was historically significant to the Scottsdale community’s development.
The life of Frances Young exemplifies spirit of Scottsdale Leadership pursuit
The idea of the Frances Young Trailblazer Award was proposed to Scottsdale Leadership by The Woman’s Collective, which is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in Scottsdale with the mission of inspiring and elevating women leaders.
Have a nominee in mind? Click HERE.
“By introducing The Frances Young Trailblazer Award, Scottsdale Leadership is demonstrating a formal recognition of hard work that women have contributed to the Scottsdale community. At the same time, they are highlighting a powerful, in progress, leadership stage of community building,” said Jona Davis, chair of the Women’s Collective, in a prepared statement.
“The Women’s Collective is proud to sponsor the Scottsdale Leadership, Frances Young Trailblazer Award.”
Joanna Peyton, Scottsdale Leadership board president, says she hopes the new award can help empower the next generation of leaders.
“Scottsdale Leadership is honored to announce this new opportunity for recognition in our community,” she said. “The Francis Young Trailblazer Award empowers our next generation of leaders — the ones we need to watch for what’s yet to come.”
Have a nominee in mind? Click HERE.
