Members of the California Legislative Black Caucus recently honored eight outstanding women from their districts during the Legislature’s annual Woman of the Year Award Ceremony on the floors of the Assembly and the Senate.

“These are exemplary women in California who work indefatigably to keep our business communities thriving and our art and culture alive,” said Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas, chairman of the LBC. “It is a privilege to take them from their busy schedules and formally honor them at the State Capitol for their commendable work and service. They are most deserving.”

The women chosen by legislators to be honored as “Woman of the Year” awardees represent various facets of community and professional life from advertising executives and senior governmental advisers to directors of vital community organizations and leaders in education and civic engagement.

They are as follows:

Synthia Saint James, artist
Saint James’ award-winning work includes designing the first U.S. Postal Kwanzaa stamp and the covers of books by Terry McMillan and Iyanla Vanzant and numerous commissioned paintings — by Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas (SD-26)

Yvette Johnson-Reagan, community activist
Johnson-Reagan has been a dedicated civic activist in Hawthorne, Calif., volunteering in several capacities at Behavioral Health Services, Inc., for 19 years — by Senator Ed Vincent (SD-25)

Margaret Fortune, Senator adviser
As senator adviser to Gov. Schwarzenegger, Fortune collaborated with LBC on important issues. The Governor recently appointed her to the California State University Board of Trustees — by Assembly Member Curren Price (AD-51)

Lois Carson, educator
Carson is a national recipient of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Human Services Award for her efforts to help low-income families — by Assemblymember Amina Carter (AD-62)

Elizabeth “Betty” Johnson, civic leader
Johnson is a retired civil servant, business consultant and an active volunteer for national, state and local political campaigns — by Assembly Member Mike Davis (AD-48)

Karen Earl, non-profit executive
Earl is the executive director of Jenesse Center, Inc., the oldest domestic violence intervention program in South Los Angeles — by Assembly Speaker-Elect Karen Bass (AD-47)

Carol H. Williams, business executive
She is an advertising specialist, whose award-winning advertising campaigns include the timeless Secret Anti-perspirant “Strong Enough for a Man, But Made for a Woman” — by Assemblymember Sandre Swanson (AD-16)

Susan Kelly, business executive
Kelly was the eighth president and CEO of Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science — by Assembly Member Mervyn Dymally (AD-52).