Women at the Forefront Award champions women of influence as catalysts for change—celebrating leadership, amplifying voices, and strengthening Chicago’s communities through collective support.

For its 8th year, Kareracter® created a suite of custom hand-lettered quotes that treated the recognition as more than an award; it became an invitation to carry Anna Valencia’s ideals forward—anchored by the call to lift as we climb and embody the spirit of women supporting women.

Through four hand-lettered designs of quotes by Frida Kahlo, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Michelle Obama, and Ida B. Wells, we translated timeless wisdom into a living system of inspiration. The evening, hosted in the home of Manuela Zoninsein, brought together a packed room of women leaders for a fireside chat and the honoring of Suzanne Muchin and Ellie Bahrmasel—an atmosphere where recognition became a rallying point, and inspiration became a companion.