The National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc., Metropolitan Nashville Chapter has announced long-time education advocate, Gracie Porter, as the 2013 Davis-Galloway Empowerment Award recipient. Porter received the award during the annual Sister-for-Sister Conference and Women of Color Luncheon, in which HCA/Tri-Star was the presenting corporate sponsor. Her nomination was sponsored by the Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc., Nashville Capitol City Chapter.
“The Coalition is very proud to present this award to Gracie Porter, a dynamic education advocate for our community and children,” said Veronica Marable-Johnson. “She has demonstrated a stellar and committed career in educating, mentoring and fighting for equity and quality instruction in classrooms across the city. She is a worthy recipient of the Davis-Galloway Empowerment Award.”
The Davis-Galloway Empowerment Award recognizes and honors African American women who ascend to leadership through outstanding advocacy, effective networking and superlative community service. Porter, who was among several nominees submitted by supporting organizations across the city, has served as an educator for more than 40 years in numerous capacities, including teacher, librarian and principal with the Metropolitan Nashville Public School System. In 2006, she was elected to the Metropolitan Nashville Board of Education for a two-year term and ran unopposed for re-election in 2008-12. She was twice elected by her peers to serve in the position of vice chair, and twice as chair—the position she held until August 2012. Porter spent seven years at Middle Tennessee State University as an adjunct professor in the department of Elementary and Special Education from 2004-07.
As the 2013 Davis-Galloway Award recipient, Porter received an exclusive, custom-designed crystal award as well as a $500 grant from the National Coalition of 100 Black Women Foundation, Inc. to be awarded to a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization of her choice.
Porter is highly active in the education and community associations and is a member of Fifteenth Avenue Baptist Church, the American Baptist College Library Committee, St. Ann’s Hope Exchange Educational Board, Ray of Hope CDE Board, the Tennessee School Board Association, the National School Board Association and the Council of Urban Boards of Education, Top Ladies of Distinction and the Nashville Democratic Women, to name a few. She is also a graduate of Leadership Nashville and has been recognized as a Career Ladder III Principal for state of Tennessee, a YMCA Academy for Women of Achievement Award nominee, the Greater Nashville Association of Black School Educators’ Legacy Award, ATHENA nominee and Nefertiti Award nominee.
