The Association for Women in Communications – Santa Barbara (AWC-SB) will honor five local creatives who are building community through the arts at the 2025 Women of Achievement Awards luncheon, 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 21 at Cabrillo Pavilion.

The annual Women of Achievement Awards recognizes exemplary women communicators, providing role models for women pursuing careers in journalism, public speaking, writing, public relations, filmmaking, photography, and related disciplines.

The honorees are:

Adriana Arriaga, visual artist, entrepreneur and activist; Teresa Kuskey, founder/artistic director of La Boheme Dance; Frances Moore, co-founder/artistic director, Santa Barbara Ringshout Project; Melinda Palacio, Santa Barbara Poet Laureate; and Joanne Wasserman, artistic director/conductor, Santa Barbara Choral Society.

This year’s Women of Achievement honorees represent the 2025 Women of Achievement theme Creative Communication: Building Community Through the Arts.

“As individuals and collectively, they employ the arts as an impactful form of communication and a way to bring people together to build community,” AWC-SB said.

The luncheon will feature performances, an art exhibition, and poetry reading showcasing the honorees’ community-building artistic work.

Caroline Feraday, award-winning journalist at KCLU Radio, will emcee the event.

“This year we look forward to honoring these five women, each a beacon of creativity and strength, who use their art to weave threads of connection that unite us all,” said Brooke Holland, AWC-SB Board member and Women of Achievement co-chair.

“Through the power of creative communication, they build communities that celebrate diversity, inspire collaboration, and transform the world around them,” said Holland, AWC-SB Board member and Women of Achievement co-chair.

The 17th Annual  Women of Achievement awards luncheon is made possible by Presenting Sponsor Women Connect4Good.

The 2025 Women of Achievement Luncheon is also supported by sponsors Women Connect4Good / Dr. Nancy O’Reilly; Santa Barbara Independent; Brooks and Kate Firestone; Natalie Orfalea Foundation; Santa Barbara Foundation; La Boheme Productions/Oshay Family Foundation; Santa Barbara Choral Society Board; Montecito Bank & Trust; KCSB-FM; and Montecito Journal.

Limited additional sponsorship opportunities are available until April 10; interested potential sponsors may email news@awcsb.org for more information.

Tickets to the luncheon are available at AWC-SB Women of Achievement. Tickets are $100 for AWC-SB members, $110 for non-members through April 15. After April 15, prices will be $110 for AWC-SB members, $125 for non-members.

Funds raised support ongoing professional development opportunities offered by AWC-SB throughout the year.  
 
To learn more about becoming a member of AWC-SB, visit https://awcsb.org/become-a-member/.

AWC-SB hosts monthly meetings for its members and guests, featuring topics that help communicators hone their skills and stay up to date with important developments in the technology, practice, and ethics of communications.