Bridge of Courage

Bridge of Courage Awards

Bridge of Courage Reception and Silent Auction honors the people who are committed to WOAR’s mission of eliminating sexual violence in our community. On April 9, 2019, at the Kimpton Hotel Monaco Philadelphia, we celebrated WOAR’s Bridge of Courage Award recipients and the Carole Johnson Humanitarian Award recipients.

Carole Johnson Humanitarian Award recipients:

2019 Carole Johnson Humanitarian Award recipient

Tracy Davidson

Tracy Davidson is the morning anchor for NBC10 News Today alongside Vai Sikahema, helping viewers prepare for their day here in the City of Philadelphia.

Since joining NBC10, Tracy has received many accolades for her outstanding work as a journalist. She has received 11 Emmy Awards, including the Best News Anchor Emmy for the Mid-Atlantic Region in 2008 and 2013. She was recognized with Pennsylvania’s Most Powerful and Influential Women Award by the National and Pennsylvania Diversity Council. In 2014, she was inducted into Philadelphia’s Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame. In 2017, Tracy was awarded the “Hero Award” from Montgomery Child Advocacy Project.

Passionate about many causes, Tracy devotes much of her personal time to community service serving grassroots organizations that support women and children like WOAR.

2019 Bridge of Courage Award recipient

Councilwoman Helen Gym

Seated in 2016, Councilmember Helen Gym is a longtime education and community organizer and is the first Asian American woman elected to the Philadelphia City Council.

As chair of Council’s Children and Youth Committee, she has helped lead a public schools agenda that contributed to the end of the 17-year state takeover of the Philadelphia school system, supported funding for pre-K programs, and restored nurses and counselors back to every public school. She established the city’s first legal defense fund for tenants facing eviction and the first budget fund to specifically address youth homelessness. She has also focused her legislative efforts on economic justice issues, including championing fair scheduling legislation, expanding the city’s living wage laws, and requiring disclosure for businesses accepting city subsidies.

She is Vice Chair of Local Progress, a network of progressive municipal leaders, where she has helped lead national efforts around Sanctuary Cities and progressive public education policies.

Councilwoman Helen Gym is a WOAR advocate and ally. In December 2017, alongside fellow councilwomen, she sponsored Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown’s bill to amend the City Charter that mandates sexual harassment training for all City of Philadelphia employees.

2019 Bridge of Courage Award recipient

Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown

Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown is currently serving her fifth term as a member of Philadelphia City Council. On January 4, 2016, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown was again elected by her peers to serve as Majority Whip, and is the only woman serving in City Council Leadership.

Councilwoman Reynolds Brown is dedicated to enriching the lives of Philadelphia residents by “Putting People First.” As an educator, community activist, political leader and concerned parent, her focus and commitment to helping others defined her work prior to her election to Philadelphia City Council.

Councilwoman Reynolds Brown has passed meaningful legislation and supported valuable community programming that positively impacts her core issues: children and youth, women, arts and culture, education, small business development, and the environment and sustainability such as the recent passing of a bill that mandates sexual harassment training for all City of Philadelphia employees.

Councilwoman Reynolds Brown has been a WOAR advocate and ally by supporting the work that WOAR does for the residents of Philadelphia.