Correspondent photo / Nancilynn Gatta Cheryl Saffold of Warren, center, one of nine women inducted Thursday into the League of Women Voters of Greater Youngstown’s Women’s Hall of Fame, is flanked by her parents, Betty and Robert Saffold. In her acceptance speech, Saffold said her parents made her the person that she is today through their example and support.

YOUNGSTOWN — The 2026 League of Women Voters of Greater Youngstown’s Women’s Hall of Fame dinner honored nine Mahoning Valley women who are determined to make a difference in the area through their leadership and professional achievements.

The inductees included lawyers, professors, community leaders and directors of organizations who were lauded Thursday at the Jewish Community Center. More than 170 friends, family and colleagues attended the event.

“I read the letters from my nominees and they brought me to tears,” said Julie M. Green, Trumbull County Planning Commission director.

Concerning her award, associate director of outreach for Axess Family Services Brandi Shamara Parker said, “I am so honored to be nominated. The idea that someone recognized my work. I am just busy doing what I do.”

Each honoree received a vase of flowers, a certificate and membership to the League of Women Voters Greater Youngstown chapter.

Several thanked their parents for their influence on their success and involvement with their community.

“I first learned the importance of community service from my mom and dad,” said Jessica Lev, associate general counsel for Phantom Fireworks. “Growing up, my dad would attend board meetings for pretty much every Jewish organization there was here. He was also Youngstown’s official Santa Claus, red suit and all. That was pretty cool. If there was a need, he met it. Behind the scenes, it was my mom who made sure that we loved each other, and she made it possible for my dad to attend.”

Marie Dockry, governing board member for the Educational Service Center of Eastern Ohio and the Mahoning County Career and Technical Center, said her mother and mother-in-law were ardent supporters of her and encouraged her to become politically active and aware of current events.

“I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge my 90-year-old parents, Betty and Robert Saffold. They made me the person that I am today,” said Cheryl Saffold, a lawyer and president of Community Concerned Citizens II, a neighborhood organization in Warren.

Since the nonpartisan League of Women Voters espoused “Making Democracy Work since 1933,” on the cover of its program book, some of the acceptance speeches reminded women about their civic duties as American citizens.

Parker said if the courage and tenacity of the suffragettes didn’t achieve the right to vote, this award ceremony would not exist.

“One of the things I’ve learned with my involvement with the league and other activist endeavors is the power of the everyday woman. They don’t have a lot of experience or funding or power, but they have a passion and a determination. Such women are often underestimated,” said Amanda Fehlbaum, associate professor of sociology and director of Women and Gender Studies at Youngstown State University.

As an example, she pointed out the suffragettes from Ohio.

In Green’s acceptance speech, she said the League of Women Voters of Greater Youngstown’s commitment to empower voters and protect the democratic process is humbling for her. She also mentioned in her speech that Harriet Taylor Upton of Warren was one of the first leaders of the women’s suffrage movement.

When she accepted her award, inductee Lisa Lee Kohler, president of the League of Women Voters of Greater Youngstown, a community leader and volunteer, referred to the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote.

“It is 106 years, and we are still standing here fighting for our right to vote in free and fair elections. Sometimes it seems like we’ve come a long way, baby, and sometimes it seems like everything old is new again,” Kohler said.

Sarah Lown, director of public finance of the Western Reserve Port Authority, said she is a third-generation member of the League of Women Voters.

Inductee Jorine Stone, community leader and past president of the American Association of University Women, told the audience to consider becoming a poll worker to participate in democracy and also to become an informed voter.

“Do your research,” she said.

In her closing remarks, master of ceremonies Kathie Chaffee Gaige reminded the awards dinner attendees to exercise their right to vote in the primary in May and the general election in November.

“Only 1 in 5 Ohioans vote in the primary elections. We can do better than that. There are a lot of important decisions to make,” she said.