Changemakers Receive Mary Lee Dayton Catalyst for Change Awards
The Women’s Foundation of Minnesota named Ruth Richardson and Carol Bissell Truesdell as recipients of the 2024 Mary Lee Dayton Catalyst for Change award. They will be presented with the awards at the Women’s Foundation’s annual Leadership Celebration on October 9.
Established in 2009 in honor of Mary Lee Dayton, who made the first $1 million gift to any women’s fund in the world, WFM presents the Catalyst for Change award annually to recognize two Minnesotans who use their resources and leadership to advance gender and racial equity and justice in Minnesota. As Mary Lee Dayton said, “Women know what they’re doing.” The honorees’ leadership and passionate commitment to gender and racial justice is transforming Minnesota for the better.
Ruth Richardson is the first Black woman to serve as President and CEO of Planned Parenthood North Central States in its over 100-year history. She’s a lawyer, health equity champion, and trailblazer. Previously, Ruth was entrenched in the fight for sexual and reproductive health as CEO of Wayside Recovery Center where she tackled housing insecurity, substance use disorder, family reunification, and mental health needs in the community. Ruth made history in 2018 becoming the first Black person elected to represent her district in the Minnesota House and was re-elected in 2020 and 2022, passing more than 50 bills that were signed into law between 2019-2023 many focused on reproductive justice. A strong Black maternal health leader, Ruth is uniquely positioned as a longtime advocate for equitable health care to lead the fight to ensure all patients can access care — no matter their race, income, sexual orientation, gender identity, or background.
For more than 50 years, Carol Bissell Truesdell has been leading strategic change to benefit women, girls, and under-resourced youth. She helped found and grow three nonprofits—CHART, Youth Trust, and OneVillage Partners, which named its Legacy Fund after her. Carol empowered women through training in career development; advocated for those without resources to achieve change; and trained women who couldn’t read to create businesses. In local, state, national, and international organizations, she helped found the Women’s Institute for Social Change; initiated an innovative nationwide career development program for women; initiated grants that admitted girls to male-dominated programs; helped found Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative; and advocated for pro-choice women to run for and win public office. Carol has received an Alumnae Medal of Honor from Mount Holyoke College and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Junior League of Minneapolis. She has supported the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota annually since its establishment in 1983.
The event will also feature a panel discussion with community partners, moderated by Roxane Battle, with Rep. Kaohly Vang Her, Takayla Lightfield from Indigenous Milk Medicine Collective, Shayla Walker from Our Justice. Thomasina Petrus will perform an original song, “Your People Are My People.” Best Buy is a sponsor of the event.
We are grateful for the leadership of Ruth Richardson and Carol Bissell Truesdell. Their legacy of generosity and unwavering belief in the power of women and girls is the foundation of how we catalyze change and build power for transformative future with communities across the state.
