March 3, 2020
Media Contacts:
Scott Peterson, Director of Communications, Office of Public Information, (202) 277-9412
Cheryl Mattis, Executive Secretary, Commission for Women, (410) 313-6400
ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball and the Howard County Commission for Women today announced five new inductees into the County’s Women’s Hall of Fame.
Barbara Allen, Evelyn Darden, Lori Fuchs, Terri Hill and Tracey Williams were selected from a pool of community-based philanthropists, volunteers and advocates with a record of enduring support for the social, cultural, economic or political well-being of the community, state or nation, and particularly for women and girls.
“These five dynamic women have made meaningful impacts on our county, and it is quite fitting for them to be honored by the Commission for Women in the Hall of Fame,” said Ball. “Our communities are more empowered because of their dedicated service to others and I am grateful for their contributions to Howard County."
The 2020 class of inductees will be honored at the annual Women’s Hall of Fame ceremony on Thursday, March 26, at 7:00 p.m. in the Banneker Room of the George Howard Building, 3430 Court House Drive in Ellicott City. The ceremony is free and open to the public, sign language interpretation will be provided and a reception will be held immediately following the event.
"We are in awe of this year’s Women’s Hall of Fame inductees. The work they have done speaks volumes, as well as the character and grace by which they are widely known throughout our communities,” said Commission Chair Kashonna Holland. “They are quintessential figures of community service who embody how the Women’s Hall of Fame best represents us all."
Barbara Allen – A tireless advocate for addiction-related policymaking and treatment, Allen is a stalwart in Howard County’s network of councils, task forces and committees in this area. She was appointed to serve as the inaugural chair of the Howard County Opioid Crisis Community Council in 2018 and to the Maryland State Behavioral Health Advisory Council, where she currently serves as co-chair.
She is the founder of James’ Place, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness and increasing resources for addiction recovery services, education and transitional support since 2003.
Evelyn Darden – Darden is one of Maryland’s most distinguished attorneys and community advocates. She was the 11th African American woman to be admitted to the Maryland Bar and among the first African American women to serve as an assistant attorney general. Her record of trial success in cases involving equal pay for women and civil rights spanned more than 40 years, and rewarded her with two terms of service on the Maryland Trial Attorneys’ Board of Governors.
She is a two-time appointee to the Howard County Human Relations Commission and a former Maryland Trial Lawyer of the Year.
Lori Fuchs – A consummate community servant, Fuchs is a member of several county-based organizations supporting K thru 12 education, disability services, workforce development and equity for women. Fuchs has served as a member of Parent/Teacher Associations at Bollman Bridge Elementary School, Patuxent Valley Middle School and Hammond High School, where she is a member of the Golden Bears’ Athletic Hall of Fame.
Following a 25-year career in human resources, Fuchs is currently an active member of Emmanuel United Methodist Church, where she has chaired outreach initiatives for the organization.
Terri Hill – Delegate Hill has represented Maryland’s 12th District and residents of Baltimore and Howard counties since 2015 and is a groundbreaking physician and surgeon with the distinction of being the founder of Maryland’s first African American-owned plastic surgery practice since 1991. She has served on the board of the regional American Red Cross and volunteered on local and international medical missions to Venezuela and China to perform cleft palate surgery on children from impoverished families.
Her honors for community service include the 2012 Mother Mary Lange Leadership Award from the Archdiocese of Baltimore, Towson University’s Distinguished Black Marylander Award and the 2003 Outstanding Professional Achievement Spirit Award from the Columbia, Maryland chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Tracey Williams – Williams is a renowned leader and advocate with deep roots in Howard County’s positioning as one of the nation’s best places for K thru 12 education. She has pioneered collaborative community efforts to bring college fairs, student exposure and training in science and mathematical fields and liberal and fine arts presentations to county youth for more than 19 years.
She was a catalyst in the creation of Howard County’s inaugural expungement fair, while she served as president of the Iota Lambda Omega Chapter from 2014-2017. The fair drew support from federal lawmakers and attracted more than 500 individuals from the county and surrounding areas seeking information and resources. She is the 2016 recipient of the William Donald Schaefer ‘Helping People’ Award and the 2018 ‘Making A Difference’ award from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
Established in 1996, the Commission’s Hall of Fame annual ceremony inducts up to five honorees during its Women’s History Month schedule of programs. Now in its 40th year, the commission promotes the economic, social, and political equality of women in Howard County through work with local organizations.
** Note to Media: Biographies and photographs available upon request. **