A pink background with black text that reads: “2023, Women Mean Business Luncheon, Friday, April 28, 2023, Benefiting Coalition for the Homeless’ First Step Job Training.”
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Women Mean Business Luncheon 2023

Friday, April 28, 2023

The Plaza Hotel
770 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10019

11:30 AM Reception | 12:00 PM Luncheon

Keynote Speaker
Alicia Graf Mack, Dean & Director of Dance

Host
Cindy Hsu, CBS2 News Anchor and Reporter

Philanthropic Honoree
Ruth Pryor

Each year, more than 400 of New York City’s most accomplished and engaged leaders gather to attend the Women Mean Business Luncheon, which supports the Coalition’s First Step Job Training Program. The event features program graduates sharing their moving stories and experiences. Past events have also featured guest speakers including Eve Ensler, Arianna Huffington, Hillary Clinton, Christine Quinn, Anna Quindlen, Ashley Graham, Darlene Love, Adenah Bayoh, and Dari Alexander.

First Step gives homeless and low-income women the skills and confidence needed to achieve financial independence. Our innovative 14-week curriculum offers computer and job skills training, an internship with a major corporation or nonprofit organization, mentoring, job placement assistance and extensive post-graduate support.

 

First Step Advisory Board

Cindy Arnold, Chair
Yvette Arsenec-Weir
Vanessa Barnett
Christy Burke
Marisol DeLeon
Austin Fremont
Sara Fusco
Barbara Kolsun
Deborah Krulewitch
Natalie Lederman
Susan Lerner
Natsayi Mawere
Rachel Noel
Ruth Pryor
Wendy Samuel
Joan Sapinsley
Jane Singer

Advocates
Jennifer & Peter Wallace
Ruth Pryor

 

Sustainers
Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP
Burke & Company LLC
Richard H. Lewis & Joan M. Sapinsley
Friends of Deborah Krulewitch & Jane Singer

 

Patrons
Fross Zelnick Lehrman & Zissu, P.C.
Fundamental Advisors, LP
Marina Rinaldi

 

Sponsors
The Weir Family Foundation, Inc.
Fremont Blue Events

 

Supporters
Sullivan & Worcester LLP
Nardello & Co. LLC
Marc & Giulia Weisman
Clutter Therapy LLC
Susan Lerner

 

Friends
Vincent & Shelly Fremont
Rudolph Landin

 

As of March 13, 2023

Door Prize Donors

Bumble and bumble
305 Fitness
Fat Witch Bakery
GRIT BXNG
K&D Wine & Spirits
Lit & Lean
Morandi Restaurant (from Balthazar group)
Maha Chocolate
Marina Rinaldi
Chef Grace Ramirez
Via Carota

Alicia Graf Mack – Keynote Speaker

Dean & Director of Dance

Began her inaugural season as Dean and Director of Juilliard Dance in the fall of 2018. Before assuming that role, Alicia enjoyed a distinguished career as a principal dancer of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Dance Theater of Harlem and Complexions Contemporary Ballet. Ms. Graf Mack has danced as a guest performer with Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet, Beyoncé, John Legend, Andre 3000, Alicia Keys and Jon Batiste, in addition to numerous appearances in galas, festivals and nationally aired television shows.

Ms. Graf Mack graduated magna cum laude with honors in history from Columbia University and holds an MA in nonprofit management from Washington University in St. Louis. In 2007, Smithsonian magazine named her an American Innovator of the Arts and Sciences. She is a recipient of the Columbia University Medal of Excellence, an award given each year to one alumnus who has demonstrated excellence in their field of work. In 2008, she delivered the keynote address to the graduates of Columbia University’s School of General Studies.

As a dance educator, Ms. Graf Mack taught as adjunct faculty at the University of Houston and Washington University in St. Louis, and was a visiting assistant professor at Webster University in 2010-2011 and 2015-2018. She is a co-founder of D(n)A Arts Collective, an initiative created with her sister to enrich the lives of young dancers through master classes and intensives. Alicia Graf Mack is the proud co-producer and host of a new podcast, Moving Moments, featuring authentic conversations with some of the most celebrated, ground-breaking artists in the field of dance.

Cindy Hsu – Emcee

Anchor and Reporter, CBS2 News

Cindy Hsu is an Emmy Award-winning anchor and reporter who has been at CBS2 News in New York City since 1993. Her passion is sharing stories about children, seniors, education, adoption, animals and mental health awareness.

Cindy has earned Emmy Awards for stories including “Smuggled from China,” exposing the horrific plights of Chinese refugees trying to make it to America. Her most poignant story was the two-part series “Bringing Rosie Home.” Through home videos, she brought viewers to China as she adopted her daughter Rosie as a single mother. The series won the New York AP Broadcasters Award for Best Feature and was nominated for an Emmy.

She has worked as a journalist throughout the country, including Richmond, Virginia, Green Bay, Wisconsin, and Steubenville, Ohio.

She spends much for her off-duty time in community work and is open about her struggle with depression, hoping to break down the stigma surrounding mental health. She has worked with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and is strongly involved in the Asian-American community. Some of her past and present philanthropic affiliations include: The Asian Professional Exchange (APEX) which is a big brother/big sister program. Cindy and her little sister have been together for more than two decades. She’s also worked with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, The Humane Society of New York, The Children’s Miracle Network and the Museum of Chinese in America.

Cindy served as President of the New York Chapter of the Asian American Journalists Association, and paddled for years on a championship Dragon Boating team called Women in Canoe.

Cindy’s parents immigrated from China. Her father was a Coast Guard pilot, so the family moved every two to four years. Cindy was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, and graduated from Virginia Tech. She lives in New York City with her daughter Rosie and their rescue dog Lilo.