MILWAUKEE, Wis. (May 10, 2021) - Professional Dimensions, a professional women’s organization serving the Greater Milwaukee area, has announced the selection of its 2021 Imprint Award winners and the featured artist.
The 2021 Imprint Awards virtual event will be held on July 29, 2021. This is the 40th anniversary of the Professional Dimensions event, which honors Milwaukee’s women leaders, while raising funds for local organizations and initiatives that positively impact the self-sufficiency of women and girls.
The 2021 Imprint Award recipients are Janette Braverman, president of the NAACP of Ozaukee County and Dawn Yang, owner of Alternative Family Services, LLC and co-owner and general manager of Nyob Zoo Milwaukee TV. Both are trailblazing leaders chosen for their career accomplishments, commitment to community and support of the advancement of women.
“These two women represent the best of what PD has honored in women leaders for 40+ years, first as the Sacajawea Awards and now as The Imprint Award. These are fearless leaders who commit to making the world better for all, and follow in the footsteps of the 78 prior award winners.” said Jamie Pratt, President of Professional Dimensions’ Board of Directors and co-founder of Spano Pratt Executive Search.
“PD is committed to intentional inclusion and meaningful action, values that shine through the words and actions of our two Imprint awardees. They are an aspiration and an inspiration for the 400+ members of PD for what leadership looks like in 2021 and beyond.” said Lauren Feaster, CEO of Professional Dimensions.
Janette Braverman has over 25 years of experience in IT, has been in public services roles, is a founder of Leaders Leaving Legacies, LLC and the author of 10 Reasons Communication Brings Transformation: Unleash Your Greatness. She has been recognized by the Milwaukee Business Journal as a Woman of Influence in 2018, and as a Power Broker in 2020. In 2019, she received the NAACP Game Changer Award for being an inspirational community leader. Most recently she was the Dean of the College of Business and Management for Cardinal Stritch University, where she is now the Executive Director of External Partnerships.
Janette is involved in several organizations focused on empowering women leaders and is on the Board of Directors for the Zoological Society of Milwaukee and a steering committee member for Milwaukee Women, Inc.
Dawn Yang arrived in the United States in 1976 as a one-year-old Hmong refugee. After becoming a first generation Alverno College graduate, Dawn drew on her own family’s experience, and developed a passion for advocating for underserved communities. She owns Alternative Family Services, LLC, which provides support services to individuals experiencing homelessness and/or living with disabilities, mental health, or AODA (alcohol and other drug abuse) issues.
Dawn is also committed to providing positive and valuable information to the underserved Hmong and Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. She is the co-owner and general manager of Nyob Zoo Milwaukee TV with her husband. This is the first over-the-air Hmong newscast in Southeastern Wisconsin. Since first show aired in September 2017, the monthly broadcasts have reached hundreds of thousands of people across the state of Wisconsin and around the world. Nyob Zoo TV also provides college students with an opportunity to gain valuable paid work experience and knowledge in the broadcasting field.
Dawn’s passion for advocating for her community led her to spearhead a film project, “Save Me,” designed to shine a light on mental health concerns in the Hmong community. By bringing together community members, stakeholders, healthcare providers, and elected officials, inroads were made in the effort to recognize and engage in starting the conversation about mental health issues within the Hmong community, which includes people who have experienced trauma.
Each of these award winners will receive a customized piece of art from the 2021 selected artist, Nova Czarnecki. Nova specializes in oil paintings and murals that depict nature and humans integrated. She will create a painting for each winner and one for the Professional Dimensions permanent collection at Alverno College.
Click here to view the coverage of the 2021 Imprint Award winners by the Milwaukee Business Journal.
About the Imprint Awards
To “imprint” is to make a lasting mark. It also describes when one person comes to recognize another as a source of trust and support. An “imprint” is defined as a mark or depression made by pressure and an indelible distinguishing effect or influence.
Professional Dimensions’ Imprint award was created in 2021 to recognize two women who making a lasting mark in their career, community and collaborations, following a year-long reimagining of PD’s longstanding Sacajawea award. Like the definitions of “imprint,” they are both successful and supportive. They truly embody the well-rounded character trait, and Professional Dimensions is honored to celebrate their lasting impacts.
The 2021 Imprint Awards virtual event will be held on July 29, 2021. While this is our first year honoring women with our newly announced award name (The Imprint Award), this is the 40th anniversary of the Professional Dimensions event, which celebrates Milwaukee’s women leaders, while raising funds for local organizations and initiatives that positively impact the self-sufficiency of women and girls. Proceeds of this annual fundraising event will benefit Milwaukee area organizations that work to advance the self- sufficiency of women and girls. To sponsor or attend please visit https://professionaldimensions.org/Imprint-Award
About Professional Dimensions
Founded in 1978, Professional Dimensions is a membership organization of more than 400 inclusive women leaders who use their collective power to help each other and advance the community. Guided by four tenets, Leadership, Diversity, Community and Networking, Professional Dimensions cultivates relationships between women of all backgrounds, ages, industries and experience levels.
www.professionaldimensions.org
