Jolie Johnson Leadership Awards
Jolie Johnson’s inspirational personal, philanthropic, and professional leadership made a tangible and lasting impact on our community. In celebration of her many contributions, including to the Women’s Leadership Conference, we have created an award in her honor.
We celebrate women in our community who advocate for others and support causes that echo Jolie Johnson’s legacy.
In the spring of each year, we invite community members to nominate a female leader for this award; the honor is presented at our annual conference in May.
Jolie Johnson (1950-2015)
The Jolie Johnson Award was named in memory of one of the Rogue Valley’s most unforgettable residents. She was larger than life, and so were her accomplishments. Johnson not only lived her life dedicated to providing advancement for women’s leadership but also in support of nonprofit organizations helping to positively impact the community’s most vulnerable populations.
Keenly aware of the needs of the less fortunate in her community, Ms. Johnson spent her adult life advocating for the most vulnerable in our community. She served on the Providence Medford Medical Center board for ten years and on the La Clinica board for six years. She contributed significantly to bringing together three different agencies to form what is now known as Community Works.
Johnson also served on the development committee for the Children’s Advocacy Center was a leader in Girl Scouts of America and the Rogue Valley Association of Realtors. Johnson served three terms as president of the North Medford Rotary Club and was a member of the Rotary Club of Bear Creek at the time of her passing. Johnson was also on the Women’s Leadership Council and a founding Women Living Leadership member through the United Way of Jackson County.
Ms. Johnson was born and raised in San Bernardino County, California. She later graduated from the University of California Santa Barbara. In 1987, she relocated to Southern Oregon and launched a long and successful career as a real estate broker with John L. Scott. Jolie enjoyed traveling, golfing, skiing, scuba diving, reading, cooking, and spending time with loved ones in her spare time.
Laura Lindley-Gutierrez, 2024 Recipient
As a supervising attorney with the Immigration Law Project at the Center for Non Profit Legal Services, Laura Lindley-Gutierrez focuses her work on empowering immigrant survivors of crimes, and supporting unaccompanied minors in their transition from youth to adulthood by providing no barrier immigration law services. In this role, she is known for not only providing competent legal representation, but also helping clients identify and overcome other barriers–including barriers to safety, housing, education, food, or childcare. She is also a Community Dinner Volunteer with Jobs with Justice and serves as Board Secretary for Rogue Food Unites, a grass-roots organization that uses food to heal individuals and communities during times of crisis. Laura has served as project supervisor for the Northwest Forest Worker Center, as a Victim’s Rights Advocate with the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office, as a public defender, and as a prisoner rights and police misconduct attorney.
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Sabrina Prud’homme, 2023 Recipient
Sabrina is the university board secretary and strategic advisor to the Board of Trustees of Southern Oregon University. Additionally, she is an elected director of the School Board for the Ashland School District (ASD). She also is a member of the Oregon School Board Association’s School Board Members of Color Caucus, and the ASD Budget Committee and she previously served on the board of the Ashland Schools Foundation. Sabrina was the inaugural board chair of BASE, Black Alliance and Social Empowerment, and is a member of the Police Liaison Oversight Committee, dedicated to improving anti-bias efforts and community relations among local Black residents in partnership with the Jackson County sherriff and the police chiefs of Ashland, Central Point, Medford, Phoenix, and Talent. Sabrina is also a member of the Oregon Community Foundation’s Southern Oregon Leadership Council.
Tiffany Beach, 2022 Recipient
Tiffany founded and runs Afroscoutz, a program that uplifts and educates Black children in the Rogue Valley. She revised the statewide school inclusion policy, “Every Student Belongs,” and made local changes that were then adopted at the state level. Tiffany was nominated to lead the Medford School District ED&I board for the Black community because of her education advocacy.
Tiffany Beach, 2022 Recipient
Tiffany founded and runs Afroscoutz, a program that uplifts and educates Black children in the Rogue Valley. She revised the statewide school inclusion policy, “Every Student Belongs,” and made local changes that were then adopted at the state level. Tiffany was nominated to lead the Medford School District ED&I board for the Black community because of her education advocacy.
Lillia Caballero, 2021 Recipient
Lilia has served as the Cultural Liaison Coordinator for the Medford Police Department, a position that was created to establish an effective working relationship between the Medford Police Department and the minority community it serves and protects. She has served as a director for the Medford School Board for four years, works tirelessly with the Medford Police Department to help provide positive interactions for the community, is the longest serving Chair of the Latino Interagency Committee, and is a passionate advocate/mentor for Jackson County CASA. She also serves as a bilingual/bicultural volunteer and mentor. She is looked to as a leader, not only as a voice for the Latino population, but as a critical partner to the entire community.
Holly Roberts, 2019 Recipient
Holly is a true philanthropist at heart, serving as a board member for Community Works, Storytelling Guild, and the Hillcrest Committee, as well as a past board member for the Craterian Theater.
Holly Roberts, 2019 Recipient
Holly is a true philanthropist at heart, serving as a board member for Community Works, Storytelling Guild, and the Hillcrest Committee, as well as a past board member for the Craterian Theater.
Marlene Yesquen, 2018 Recipient
Marlene is a passionate, driven woman who is determined to succeed. She owns her law firm, Yesquen Law, and frequently volunteers in the community.