Women, Words & Wisdom

The Women’s Center of Jacksonville (WCJ) presents Women, Words & Wisdom, an annual event celebrating women’s voices, leadership, and stories that spark change, motivation, and inspiration! Guests can expect an evening of thought-provoking conversation, storytelling, and community. Melanie Lawson, our well-respected journalist and anchor at WJXT News4JAX, will interview Amanda Nguyen in a “fireside chat” setting, creating a casual and intimate conversation designed to foster a sense of connection with our audience. A Q&A will immediately follow. WCJ will also honor 5 Unsung Sheros and commemorate the 30th anniversary of providing hope and healing in Northeast Florida. Don’t miss the opportunity to meet this inspiring woman at a once-in-a-lifetime event. Reserve your seats now! Tickets are $100 per person and include dinner and drinks. Sponsorships start at $500.

DON’T MISS IT… SEATING IS LIMITED. REGISTRATION CLOSES SOON.

About Amanda Nguyen, our guest speaker for Women, Words and Wisdom!

Amanda is a civil rights activist and sexual assault survivor who set aside her dream of becoming an astronaut to champion legislative change. She founded and now leads RISE, a powerful nonprofit social movement organization that successfully crafted the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Bill of Rights. This groundbreaking legislation passed unanimously in Congress and was signed into law by President Barack Obama in 2016. Her advocacy earned her a Nobel Peace Prize nomination in 2019, and she was credited with igniting the pivotal worldwide coverage of the Stop Asian Hate movement in 2021. Honored globally, she was named TIME Magazine Woman of the Year (2022) and was recognized with numerous awards for her work. On April 14, 2025, she became the first Vietnamese and Southeast Asian woman to fly to space on Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket. In a heartfelt interview immediately following her flight, she shared, “I studied the stars—astrophysics at Harvard and MIT—but life got in the way. In this moment, I just want all survivors to know: “You can heal. No dream is too wild.”

When you become a Women’s Center of Jacksonville (WCJ) sponsor, you help continue to build awareness for sexual violence and improve the lives of survivors through advocacy, support and education. Our rape recovery services include a 24/7 sexual assault hotline, forensic exams, trauma-informed therapy for depression, anxiety, stress, grief, and PTSD, and campus/community programs focused on prevention and support for women facing breast cancer. ALL funds raised ensure that services remain 100% FREE for everyone in Duval, Nassau and Baker Counties.

Women, Words & Wisdom takes place on Women’s Equality Day, a national day celebrating the importance of the
women’s suffrage movement and the passage of the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote.

For additional information or sponsorship questions, please contact Maria Johnson, Director of Development
(904) 722-3000 Ext. 203 or email: mjohnson@thewcj.org