What: The Women of Ferry Street: Then & Now is a celebration of the trailblazing women of the East Ferry Street historic district who forged its legacy, and the six women honorees of today who continue it.

The invitation-only event, in honor of Women’s History Month, is co-sponsored by WSU’s Division of Government & Community Affairs and the historic Freer House (home of the Merrill Palmer Skillman Institute). “Women have played significant leadership, advocacy and entrepreneurship roles on East Ferry Street for decades,” said Stacie Clayton, WSU director of community affairs. 

When: Thursday, March 23, 2023, 4:00 – 6:00 p.m

Where: The awards ceremony, including a video detailing significant women leaders of the neighborhood in the 1900s, will take place in the Freer House, 71 East Ferry Avenue, followed by a reception at BasBlue, 110 East Ferry Avenue, a women’s membership and mentorship club in the restored Victorian home once occupied by Josephine Love.        

Who:  he 2023 honorees are Sue Mosey, executive director of Midtown Detroit Inc.; Jacqueline Wilson, Wayne State University First Lady; Nancy Tellem, co-founder of BasBlue; Ann Nicholson, long-standing board member of Merrill Palmer Skillman Institute and the Freer House; Carla Walker-Miller, founder and CEO of Walker-Miller Energy Services; and Geneva Williams, PhD, vice-chair of the Michigan Women’s Commission.

Media: Contact Cheryl Deep at cheryldeep@wayne.edu or 248-225-9474

The Merrill Palmer Skillman Institute for Child & Family Development promotes and improves the well-being of children and families across the lifespan through research, education and outreach. The institute is housed in the Freer House built in 1892 by Charles Lang Freer, a Detroit industrialist and art collector whose collection is now housed at the Smithsonian. MPSI is part of Wayne State University, a premier urban public research university.