We are delighted to announce the 2023 Women Who Dare awardees! Join us in congratulating these five extraordinary women who are powerful role models and outstanding examples of what it means to be strong, smart, and bold.
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Congratulations To Our 2023 Women Who Dare Awardees |
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AMY SCHNEIDER
Jeopardy Champion, LGBTQ+ Advocate, Writer
Amy enjoyed a 40-game winning streak during her time on the popular Jeopardy game show and won the Tournament of Champions last November, making her the second-winningest contestant ever! Since then, Amy has gone on to become a powerful advocate for trans youth and a prominent spokesperson for the trans community. As such, she has engaged in numerous speaking engagements around the country and was invited to the White House on Trans Visibility Day. Amy was named one of Out Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People and received the GLADD Special Recognition Media Award in 2022. She has also had the honor of throwing out the first pitch at both a Giants and A’s game. Amy is currently working on a book about her amazing life story and resides in Oakland with her wife Genevieve.
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KIRSTEN ALLEN
Special Assistant to the President & Press Secretary to Vice President Kamala Harris
Kirsten serves as Press Secretary to Vice President Kamala Harris. Before joining the Office of the Vice President, she was the National Press Secretary for Coronavirus Response at the Department of Health and Human Services. Kirsten began her career as a Public Affairs Specialist at USDOT and has served in senior communications roles for federal, state, and local officials and campaigns including the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, and the presidential campaigns of then-Senator Kamala Harris and Secretary Hillary Clinton. She has also served in the House of Representatives as Communications Director for the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis and as Communications Director for Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman of New Jersey. Hailing from Alameda, Kirsten is a proud graduate of Howard University and member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. Kirsten enjoys cooking, traveling, and exploring new places.
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CAPTAIN JACKIE LEVERICH
Commanding Officer, Coast Guard Base Alameda
Captain Leverich oversees delivery of operational mission support to 19 tenant commands, 6,000 personnel, and four National Security Cutters across the Eleventh Coast Guard District. She previously served as Planning Chief for District Eleven where she led the contingency response during the 2020 Wildfire Season, and national pandemic planning efforts across Pacific Area as Incident Commander for the COVID Action Team. She became a permanent Cutterman in 2004 following assignments on USCGC MORGENTHAU and USCGC WASHINGTON. Captain Leverich is a graduate of the Coast Guard Academy, has a master’s in Organizational Change from Hawaii Pacific University, and recently completed the Center for Homeland Defense and Security Executive Leaders Program at Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey. She lives in Alameda with her husband Kris and enjoys rowing with the Coast Guard Whaleboat Team.
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ANNIE LIU
Senior, Alameda Community Learning Center (ACLC)
Annie is passionate about women’s empowerment and uplifting other immigrant students. She has volunteered hundreds of hours and received numerous awards for her service. Annie was selected to the National Teen Advocacy Council (TAC) that advises Girls Inc. on issues facing girls. Through TAC, she lobbied Congress for the Real Education Access Health Youth Act which provides comprehensive sex education for youth. She was later elected Learner Representative to ACLC’s Governing Board. As an intern at Asian Pacific Islander Legal Outreach, Annie helped combat myths about teenage dating & domestic violence by leading workshops in school communities. Her passion for social justice inspired her to lead Chinese Exclusion Act workshops to address violence against Asian Americans. Annie won a Girls Inc. National scholarship and plans to major in Social Entrepreneurship with the goal of increasing venture capitalism in women’s businesses.
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JOYCE DENYVEN
Honorary Lifetime Achievement Award
Life-long Champion for Girls, Community Volunteer, Visionary
Joyce has been a life-long champion of advancing girls’ and women’s opportunities. She received a science degree from the University of Cincinnati and worked as a high school science teacher. As a tireless volunteer, her influence has touched many lives through work with organizations such as the Alameda Girl & Boy Scouts, Alameda Welfare Council, AUSD School Board and PTA, Alameda Girls State, and many more. She has received countless awards including the City of Alameda’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and she served as Grand Marshall of the 4th of July parade. Most importantly for us, she was Executive Director of Girls Club/Girls Inc. for 29 years and oversaw the securing of a permanent home at Meyers Center and advancement of our life-changing programs. Joyce accomplished all this while raising two daughters with her husband David.
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Thank you to our sponsors! |
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Proceeds benefit Girls Inc. of the Island City's engaging, empowering, and transformative programs. |
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Girls Inc. of the Island City
1724 Santa Clara Avenue
Alameda, CA 94501
www.girlsincislandcity.org | 510.521.1743
We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
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Inspiring all girls to be
strong, smart, and bold
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