First Alice Paul Legacy in Action Awards Recognizes Three Ridgefield Women

Ridgefield leaders Christine Lodewick, Alisa Trachtenberg and Cindy Bruno were recognized with the first annual Alice Paul Legacy in Action Awards at a reception held at the Garden House at the Keeler Tavern Museum & History Center on March 8, 2023.

The event, which was hosted by Ridgefield Democrats, coincided with International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month and attracted an audience of 75+ Ridgefielders.

Connecticut’s Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz and Ridgefield’s First Selectman Rudy Marconi honored these women whose actions and advocacy make an impact upon social equity and justice, democracy, and women’s issues. The awards are named for noted suffragist Alice Paul, a 40-year resident of Ridgefield, women’s rights activist and a leader of the campaign for the 19^th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibiting sex discrimination in the right to vote.

The honorees received citations from Lieutenant Governor Bysiewicz, First Selectman Marconi, Connecticut State Senators Julie Kushner and Ceci Maher, and State Representatives Aimee Berger-Girvalo and Keith Denning.

The outstanding contemporary women honored are notable for their contributions, advocacy, courage and integrity. Christine Lodewick, educational and social equity advocate and philanthropist, has championed social and educational equity, the empowerment of women and girls, voter initiatives and the importance of philanthropy for decades. Her work includes A Better Chance of Ridgefield, Ridgefield’s League of Women Voters, the Ridgefield Library and the Universities of Connecticut and Wisconsin.

Cindy Bruno, Democratic registrar of voters,has served in a non-partisan manner for over 28 years, during which time she has registered hundreds of Ridgefield High School students and new residents; converted our town from archaic lever voting machines to optical scanning voting machines without a hitch; provided voter education and training of election officials; and insured voting integrity. She verified and counted over 8,000 absentee ballots in 2020, up from the previous high of 1,500.

Alisa Trachtenberg, LGBTQ+ advocate and chairperson of Ridgefield CT Pride,has helped to educate and to foster awareness and understanding of LBGTQ+ issues in the general public, and with mental health workers, educators, medical personnel, and government officials via letters, articles, gender trainings and conversations. Alisa was instrumental in establishing Ridgefield CT Pride, a 501(c)3 non-profit charitable organization under the umbrella of the Friends of Ridgefield Community Programs, with the concurrence of the Board of Selectman.  

Inspired by Alice Paul, the event organizers recognized not only these three contemporary leaders, but also a woman from Ridgefield’s past. Historical honoree Anne Richardson, suffragist, conservationist and philanthropist, was recognized for contributions to our town as a founder of or driving force with the Ridgefield Garden Club, League of Women Voters, Boys and Girls Club, and Village Improvement Committee. She donated 30 acres of her homestead to the town of Ridgefield, creating Richardson Park.

For more information, visit www.ridgefielddems.net