The Iowa Commission on the Status of Women announced the honorees of the 2023 Iowa Women’s Hall of Fame and the Cristine Wilson Medal for Equality and Justice.

The state agency established the Iowa Women’s Hall of Fame in 1975 to highlight women’s heritage, recognize their contributions and set them forth as role models for Iowans.

The 2023 honorees are:

• The Honorable Romonda D. Belcher – Des Moines (district associate judge).
• The Honorable Paula S. Dierenfeld – Johnston (mayor, city of Johnston).
• Bridget D. Reed, RN, BSN, MPH – Waterloo (registered nurse).

The Cristine Wilson Medal for Equality and Justice is awarded to a person who has made significant contributions to the principles of equality and justice in Iowa.

The 2023 awardee is:

• Teree Caldwell-Johnson – Des Moines. President and CEO of Oakridge Neighborhood and chair of the Des Moines School Board.

“Today we celebrate the profound accomplishments of these remarkable Iowans,” Kelly Garcia, director of the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, said in a prepared statement. “From Judge Belcher’s commitment to addressing racial disparities in the juvenile justice system, and Bridget Reed’s community organizing to reduce the burden of diabetes in the Cedar Valley, to Teree Caldwell-Johnson’s work to help immigrants and refugees achieve independence and prosperity, and Mayor Dierenfeld’s fundraising efforts to support a local food bank, I am privileged to help honor these trailblazing women who have shattered glass ceilings and lit the way for generations to come.”

An induction ceremony is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Saturday in the Iowa State Capitol Rotunda, 1007 E. Grand Ave. in Des Moines. A reception will immediately follow the ceremony. The event is free and open to the public. No registration is required.

More information about the honorees can be found at humanrights.iowa.gov.