HELP US CELEBRATE NEW MEXICO’S EXCEPTIONAL WOMEN ON APRIL 3
The YWCA Women on the Move Award recognizes women of New Mexico for their leadership, commitment, innovation, focus, and dedication to community. For the past 27 years, the YWCA has been celebrating women in our midst who have distinguished service in the areas of social and racial justice and/or empowerment of women. The prestigious award was created by the YWCA in 1985 to celebrate extraordinary women who are making significant contributions to their communities. The Women on the Move award recipients have distinguished themselves not only in their chosen fields but also in their community leadership. To date, the YWCA has honored more than 1,000 exceptional women. Click here for a list of our previous Women on the Move Award winners!
THIS YEAR’S EVENT:
Wednesday, April 3, 2026
6:00 – 9:00 pm
National Hispanic Cultural Center
1701 4th Street SW
Guests will enjoy fabulous heavy hors d’oeuvres, cash bar, desserts and coffee, as well as have opportunities to bid on the wonderful silent auction items and network with the community’s Who’s Who! The proceeds from the event benefit the YWCA’s many programs and services for women and girls. We help to save lives through education and early detection of breast cancer by providing access to mammograms for uninsured and underinsured women. Monthly, we help feed 2,500 children in home-based daycare by providing training and subsidies to caregivers so that children receive healthy meals and snacks. Our Sisters’ Closet provides the professional clothing needed for women to enter or re-enter the job market. TechGYRLS teaches girls ages 9-13 how to succeed in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math. And, we opened Henderson House, the nation’s first gender-specific transitional facility for homeless women veterans and their children.
 | MISTRESS OF CEREMONIES Royale Da |
| KEYNOTE SPEAKER | |
 | Lorna M. Wiggins is President of the law firm of Wiggins, Williams & Wiggins, P.C. She has practiced primarily in the areas of labor and employment law since 1983, when she started practicing law in New Mexico after completing a judicial clerkship for the North Dakota Supreme Court. Lorna currently serves as a trustee of Sandia Preparatory School and is on the board of directors of ACCION New Mexico Arizona Colorado. She is also the President of the board of OASIS. Lorna has served as President of the board of directors for the YWCA of the Middle Rio Grande, and on the boards of the Junior League of Albuquerque, Inc., the Association of Junior Leagues International, the Albuquerque Aquarium and Rio Grande Botanic Garden and WESST. Lorna attended Southern Methodist University and the University of North Dakota. She and her husband, Bruce, have five children. She has been named a “Southwest Super Lawyer” by Thomson Reuters, a “Woman of Influence” by the New Mexico Business Weekly and included as a “2011 Best of the Bar” by the New Mexico Business Weekly. She was also the recipient of the YWCA’s Lifetime Achievement Award. One of her most significant accomplishments is that her 15 year old daughter still engages in actual conversations with her. |
In addition to honoring the Women on the Move Award recipients:
 | This year’s La Estrella Award will be presented to DR. CHERYL WILLMAN for her distinguished medical career and her leadership role in the field of cancer research. Dr. Willman is the Maurice & Marguerite Liberman Distinguished Chair in Cancer Research, a University of New Mexico Professor of Pathology and Medicine, and Director & CEO of the UNM Cancer Center. Under Dr. Willman’s leadership, the UNM Cancer Center achieved National Cancer Institute Designation in 2005 and was re-designated in 2010. This makes the UNM Cancer Center the only NCI-designated cancer center in our state. Over the past 25 years, Dr. Willman has also contributed several seminal research efforts that have advanced our understanding and treatment of blood cancers. Dr. Willman is truly “La Estrella” as she helps to improve the health of our state and chart the way for New Mexico women and girls to pursue fields that still have few women leaders. The La Estrella Award was presented for the first time in 2011 to Governor Susana Martinez and last year to Chief Justice Petra Jimenez Maes. |
 | This year’s Woman to Be Reckoned With Award will be presented to CLAUDIA MEDINA. Ms. Medina is a co-founder and executive director of Enlace Comunitario which provides comprehensive services and advocates to improve laws, policies and practices that enhance battered immigrant women’s rights. She also works with members of the Latino community in efforts to prevent domestic violence. Ms. Medina has co-founded three other agencies: El Centro de Igualdad y Derechos, which works on advancing immigrant rights; Mujeres en Accion, a women’s income generating project; and the Plaza de Encuentro, a newly formed immigrant center that provides educational and civic engagement opportunities to Latino immigrants in New Mexico. The Woman to be Reckoned With Award was presented for the first time in 2011 to LaDonna Hopkins and last year to Elaine Solimon. |
We hope to see you on April 3rd for this time-honored and prestigious event!
