Who do you think should be Oakland’s woman of the year?

Assembly member Nancy Skinner is on the search for women who have made significant impacts in their communities. She is inviting neighbors, community groups and civil leaders throughout District 14, which covers Albany, Berkeley, Canyon, El Cerrito, Emeryville, Kensington, Lafayette, Moraga, Oakland, Orinda, El Sobrante, Pleasant Hill, Richmond and San Pablo, to nominate women they believe have gone beyond the call of duty to support their communities. One woman from each city will be chosen as a woman of the year.

Last year’s winner for Oakland was Leslie Ewing who has worked as a volunteer for over 25 years as an advocate for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. Among her achievements are helping found the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt, serving as a media coordinator for the LGBT National Equality March in 2009 and stepping in as the executive director of the Pacific Center for Human Growth when reduced funding threatened the center with closure.

The criteria for nominations are that the person must be a female resident who lives in Assembly District 14, has made a notable contribution in this district, and shows a strong track record of volunteerism. If she has done her community work in a paid position, the nominee must show that she gone above and beyond her regular duties. She also may not have been previously honored for her community work.

The women selected will be honored at a “Women of the Year” dinner on Thursday, March 3, 2011at the Mira Vista Country Club in El Cerrito. The nomination application can be found here; the deadline is January 18 at noon.