The Atlantic County Women’s Hall of Fame has announced six new members who will be honored at its annual induction ceremony being held 6 p.m. Thursday, March 26 at Atlantic City Country Club, 1 Leo Fraser Drive in Northfield.
Recipients are:
Automne Bennett, co-founder of Princess, Inc., a program that cultivates young girls in education, talent and pursuing life’s purpose.
She supports community programs such as Pack a Purse, which donates gently used purses packed with toiletries to women at the Atlantic City Rescue Mission; Thanksgiving To Go, which provides meals to the needy; and sponsoring a coat drive.
Tamu K. Lane, an advocate for victims of domestic violence. Having overcome victimization, Lane has counseled victims and trained others to perform healing work. She leads the Dismantling Racism Initiative, which works to eliminate discrimination.
Dorrie Papedemetriou, founder of Mud Girls Studio, which provides homeless women with a creative outlet creating pottery. As someone who is passionate about art and social change, Pepedemetriou dedicates her time to the Boys and Girls Club of Atlantic City, afterschool activities in the Pleasantville schools, senior and assisted living centers, stroke and brain injury patients at Bacharach Rehabilitation Hospital, and AtlantiCare Behavioral Health. She also devotes time to Adelaides Place, a drop-in center for homeless women.
Ruth F. Raphel, who with her husband developed the Gordon’s Alley retail center in Atlantic City. She took leadership roles in the shopping district’s management and operations. After selling the business, she worked with her husband and son on a marketing and publishing business.
Carolyn E. Rott, a former high school teacher and coach. Rott is an advisor for the Girls Athletic Association, and raises money for charities, disaster relief and scholarship. After recovery from an attack by the violent sexual offender, she sought ways to help others who are victims of sexual assault and domestic abuse. She has volunteered for Avanzar, formerly the Atlantic County Women’s Center, and keynotes for county law enforcement agencies.
Henrietta Shelton, who is best known for forming Chicken Bone Beach, the Missouri Avenue beach for people of color she frequented as a child.
Shelton was instrumental in getting the Atlantic City Council to enact an ordinance declaring the beach an historical landmark. The organization supports a free summer jazz series on the Boardwalk, a year-round jazz series and the Chicken Bone Beach Youth Jazz Band
Tickets are $75 per person. For more information, call 609-272-1469.
