Council History and Structure

The Memphis Area Women's Council was begun in 2000 following a Community Issues Forum on the Status of Women in Tennessee conducted by the Center for Research on Women at the University of Memphis and over 20 co-sponsors. It has been supported by a working partnership between the Center for Research on Women, the Women's Foundation for a Greater Memphis, and the Institute for Women's Health at the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center.

The Council was incorporated as a non-profit organization in the State of Tennessee in October 2003. Initial financial support was provided by the Women's Foundation for a Greater Memphis through a grant from the United Way of the Mid-South, Avron B. Fogelman Venture Fund. The Council's office space and other in-kind support is currently provided by the University of Memphis, Center for Research on Women.

Board of Directors

Sonja White, Memphis Area Legal Services, Inc. - President
Dr. Phyllis Betts, Center for Research on Women, University of Memphis - Secretary
Ms. Ruby Bright, Women's Foundation for a Greater Memphis
Ms. Mary Durham, Les Passees Center for Children and Families
Ms. Naomi Dyson, Community Activist
Sondra Willis Howell, New Pathways Community Development Corporation
Ms. Happy Jones, Community Activist - Treasurer
Dr. Owen Phillips, University of Tennessee Center for the Health Sciences

Council Staff

The Council's Executive Director is Deborah M. Clubb. Ms. Clubb holds a master's degree in journalism from Northwestern University and was a reporter and editor for more than 25 years at The Commercial Appeal. She is the founder of Women of Achievement Inc. and a past president of Network Inc. She received the Women's Rights Award from the National Council of Christians and Jews in 1986 and the Women of Achievement award for Vision in 1997. Additional administrative support for the Council is provided by the Center for Research on Women.