In 1990, the United Methodist Women of the North Alabama Conference established the Louise Branscomb Barrier Breaker Award. The Louise Branscomb Barrier Breaker Award celebrates North Alabama United Methodists who are willing to stand up for the rights of marginalized women and minorities and take risks in their ministries. For nearly three decades, the North Alabama Conference Commission on the Status and Role of Women (COSROW) annually presents this award to a recipient that best embodies the spirit of the award’s namesake and first recipient, Dr. Louise Branscomb. Its winners have been male and female; clergy and laity; and have worked within all aspects of the church. Their single common denominator is supporting and lifting up the voices of the oft-silenced. Each year the Conference Commission on the Status and Role of Women (COSROW) continues to recognize these “barrier breakers” through this award.
We are thrilled to announce that the 2018 Louise Branscomb Barrier Breaker Award Winner is our very own Ama Shambulia! Given Ama’s remarkable work at Urban Ministry over the years, she embodies the true meaning of advocacy and servant leadership. Ama received the award Monday morning at Annual Conference in Huntsville.