An evening of good food, wine, music and friendship will also shine a light on two women whose work makes Lincoln Parish a better place to live.
The Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce will honor Phaedra Blake as Volunteer of the Year and Mallory Patterson as Young Woman Business Leader of the Year during Under the Lights: Women Celebrating Women on November 5.
The celebration will feature food from 12 local restaurants, wine pairings and music, bringing friends and neighbors together for a night dedicated to celebrating women and the many ways they contribute to our community. A special Legacy Award will also be announced during the event.
For Blake, service is woven into both her professional life and the way she spends her time outside of work. As Special Education Director for the Lincoln Parish School District, she works with children and families, helping support students and advocating for their needs. Her commitment to others continues through her church and her involvement throughout Lincoln Parish.
Those who nominated Blake described someone who consistently shows up, offers her gifts and makes time to help. She is a person others look up to, both for her leadership and for the care she brings to the people around her. Whether serving through her profession, her church or a community effort, Blake gives of herself in ways that deserve recognition. The Volunteer of the Year award honors that steady commitment and the difference it makes.
Patterson has built a business around creativity, connection and a love for her hometown. A Louisiana Tech graduate, she turned a creative outlet designing custom gifts and apparel into Mallory Patterson Design. In 2020, she opened The Collective, a gift boutique in downtown Ruston, adding another place for people to shop locally and find something special.
Her work also shows how a small business can give back. Through a Louisiana Tech sweater collection, Patterson has honored a dear friend’s memory while supporting a scholarship for future students. It is a meaningful example of the heart behind her business: creating something people love while making an investment in someone else’s future.
As Young Woman Business Leader of the Year, Patterson is being recognized for her initiative, creativity and commitment to the community that has helped her business grow.
Together, this year’s honorees represent so much of what the evening is meant to celebrate: women who see a need, put their talents to work and bring others along with them. Recognizing their contributions is an opportunity for the community to say thank you.
Under the Lights is also a chance to slow down, enjoy an evening with friends and make a few new connections over food and wine from local favorites. Guests are encouraged to gather their friends, wear white and come ready to celebrate Phaedra, Mallory and the women who make a difference in their own lives every day.
For tickets to the event visit :
https://events.humanitix.com/an-evening-under-the-lights-in-white
This is an advertorial
