Three women will be honored with the Women of Courageous Action Award by the Utah National Organization for Women.
"Active and committed women often risk the alienation of friends and family, their reputations and their jobs by stepping out of the mainstream to address our society's unjust and incorrect treatment of women," said Robin Frodge, Utah NOW executive coordinator.The women will be honored at the group's annual awards dinner Friday at the Alta Lodge.
"Each year Utah NOW recognizes women who have made profound contributions to the quality of life for women and minorities in Utah," Frodge said.
Winners this year are Sally Smith, founder and owner of A Woman's Place Bookstore; Margaret Toscano, board member of the Mormon Women's Forum; and Jeanetta Williams, executive director of the Salt Lake NAACP.
Toscano is active in providing a network of support for women in the state's dominant religion. Her work assists women in voicing their concerns and identifying their needs.
She also helped found the Mormon Alliance last year for the purpose of identifying and combating spiritual abuse.
Smith opened A Woman's Place Bookstore in 1987 and specializes in books by, about and for women. The idea for the store grew out of a women's studies class she taught at Judge Memorial High School.
By bringing national authors and women like Gloria Steinem to Salt Lake City, as well as supporting local authors, Smith has empowered many Utah women, Frodge said.
Jeanetta Williams, president of the Salt Lake Branch of the NAACP, has fought racism and in the process helped fight sexism in the state for more than a decade. She's been president of the Salt Lake branch for only about 10 months but has worked to have more minorities appointed to powerful and influential boards and committees in government.
Williams was one of the driving forces behind the William Andrews Committee for Equal Justice for All, which combats racism in the judicial system, Frodge said.
Tickets for the dinner are $25 and can be purchased by calling Utah NOW at 483-5188.