Vision, Voice, Advocacy for a New Generation
Barbara Ben-Horin, CEO of Girls Inc. of Greater Santa Barbara, and Luz Reyes-Martin, Executive Director of Public Affairs and Communications at Santa Barbara City College, will be honored by the Santa Barbara Chapter of the Association for Women in Communications (AWC-SB) at the 2020 Women of Achievement luncheon presented by Women Connect4Good. The honorees will receive their awards on Friday, April 24, 2020 at the Hyatt Hotel in Santa Barbara. Tickets to the Women of Achievement luncheon may be reserved online.
As the CEO of Girls Inc. of Greater Santa Barbara, Barbara Ben-Horin’s professional commitment to communication intersects with her passion for advocacy and social justice. Girls Inc. of Greater Santa Barbara is the local affiliate of a national organization whose vision is empowering girls in an equitable society. Under Barbara’s leadership, hundreds of girls receive the resources they need to grow up to be healthy, educated and independent. “In both my personal and professional life, I have been committed to the concept of fair and just relations which require both civility and supportive language,” said Ben-Horin. “All of us hold the power to make a difference in the world both by taking action when something is not just, and by using words to convey kindness, support, courage, and empowerment.”
Luz Reyes-Martin identifies as a communications professional, advocate, mother and feminist. She has expertise in the fields of communications, public affairs, marketing and land use planning, which she uses in her role as executive director of communications for Santa Barbara City College. Reyes-Martin also serves as a member of the Goleta Unified School District Board, and president of the Santa Barbara Women’s Political Committee, a non-partisan organization that endorses candidates who support a feminist agenda that includes action opposing discrimination based on gender identity, race, ethnicity, religion, age or ability. “In my roles as School board member, Public Information Officer, and President of a Political Action Committee, I think constantly about how to communicate effectively with different audiences,” says Reyes-Martin. “The essential ingredients are always authenticity, honesty, integrity and respect.”
“The Women of Achievement luncheon is a cornerstone event for our local chapter,” says Carolyn Jabs, President of AWC-SB. “It’s our way of honoring women who have used their gifts as communicators on behalf of our community. These women inspire us and we want to celebrate their achievements!”
AWC-SB has presented the Women of Achievement Awards for over a decade. Past winners include KEYT Journalist and Anchor Beth Farnsworth, State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson, retired Congresswoman Lois Capps, former mayor Helene Schneider, Santa Barbara Independent editor-in-chief and co-founder Marianne Partridge, Dr. Carrie Hutchinson, Paula Lopez, Lynda Weinman, Catherine Remak and Sara Miller McCune.
This post is reprinted with permission by the AWC-SB. AWC is a national organization which has been encouraging women to develop their skills as communicators for over 100 years. The Santa Barbara chapter sponsors monthly meetings which help women at all stages of their careers stay current with important developments in the technology, practice, psychology and ethics of communications. Members are also encouraged to assume leadership roles in the organization, their careers and their communities.