By Megan Sayles
AFRO Business Writer
msayles@afro.com
Executive Alliance has issued its 2024 Honor Roll Award for Women’s Representation, and the AFRO has made the list for the second year in a row. In order for a company to qualify for the honor, women must hold at least 30 percent of executive leadership positions and at least 30 percent of the roles board of directors at the company. Credit AFRO Photo
Executive Alliance recently issued its Honor Roll Award for Women’s Representation, and the AFRO made the list for the second year in a row. Forty-three Maryland businesses and nonprofits, including the Black-owned media company, received the award for their dedication to the recruitment, development and advancement of women.
To be chosen for the honor, each organization must have women compose 30 percent of its executive leadership and 30 percent of its board of directors.
“Some businesses have to sit down, look at the numbers and say, ‘Who are we missing?’” said Frances Toni Draper, publisher of the AFRO. “We’ve been a company that’s valued inclusion throughout our whole existence. It’s part of our DNA. We are honored to be recognized once again by Executive Alliance.”
The AFRO’s 1892 founding stemmed from an investment by a woman. Martha Howard Murphy, wife of John H. Murphy, gave her husband $200 to purchase the newspaper. Today, the paper is led by their great-granddaughter, Draper.
Managing editor, Alexis Taylor, and assistant editor, Ashleigh Fields, drive the newspaper’s award-winning editorial team. Savannah Wood, a fifth generation Murphy, sits on the AFRO’s board and manages its extensive archival collection under the paper’s sister organization, Afro Charities.
“I’m so excited that the AFRO is on the Honor Roll, which is honestly not a surprise because there’s such strong female leadership at the publication,” said Rebecca Snyder, executive director of Executive Alliance. “From the very beginning, the AFRO has been supported and uplifted by women. It’s very special to see that carry through and to see them be recognized for those accomplishments.”
Executive Alliance has run the Honor Roll Award for Women’s Representation since 2007. The organization’s mission is to advance the success and leadership of women in Greater Baltimore through advocacy, education and mentorship.
Snyder said recognizing organizations for their commitment to empowering women is critical because there are still many C-suites and boardrooms that women struggle to enter. Out of nearly 80 public companies in Maryland, Snyder said only nine met the threshold for the Honor Roll.
Executive Alliance will hold a celebration for this year’s recipients on March 20 at Notre Dame of Maryland University. During the program, the organization will hold a panel discussion on how women can advocate for one another in the workplace.
“Programs, like the Honor Roll, are so important because it gives us an opportunity to celebrate these companies and to see that there’s a long way to go until we reach equity because we’re not on pace to do that in any of our working lifetimes,” said Snyder.
Megan Sayles is a Report For America corps member.
