Huntington Woods Resident Gilda Jacobs Among 'Feminists of the Year'

was among four Detroit-area women named "Feminists of the Year" by the Wayne County chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW).

Jacobs received the Loretta Moore Award for consciousness-raising on behalf of women Friday during Women's Equality Day at a private home in Detroit. Jacobs served as a state lawmaker for 12 years in both the state House and Senate, and is now president and CEO of the Michigan League for Human Services, a Lansing-based nonprofit.

"I am now a recovering state senator," she joked. 

Jacobs said when she left public service, her husband John thought she would be spending more time at home–but that hasn't been the case. The League advocates for Michigan's low-income residents and she said, "The problem is, there's so much work left to be done."

A career of "firsts" marked Jacobs' time in the political world. She was the first woman elected to the Huntington Woods City Commission and the first woman floor leader in either the House or Senate.

"What I feel excited about and the challenge is to try to take my network and experience and apply it to helping people in our state who need it most," Jacobs said.

Wayne County NOW, formed two years ago when the Detroit and Downriver chapters of the feminist organization merged, also honored the following award recipients:

• Rose Mary Robinson, Detroit Charter Commission member–Susan B. Anthony Award for political activism on behalf of women.
• Kimberly Beebe, president of Oakland County NOW–Betty Friedan Award for service to NOW.
• Gloria House, professor, poet and civil rights activist–Harriet Tubman award for service to the community.

In addition, special recognition was given to Latina artist Mary Luevanos and G. Asenath Andrews, principal of the Catherine Ferguson Academy for pregnant teens.

To learn more about Wayne County NOW, visit waynecountynow.org.