The Indianapolis Propylaeum is awarding Joanna Taft and Tamara Winfrey-Harris their highest distinction: The May.
Named for the organization’s founder, May Wright Sewall, The May recognizes women whose “sustained leadership and civic impact strengthen Indianapolis and communities across Indiana,” according to a press release. The Indianapolis Propylaeum announced April 15 that Taft and Winfrey-Harris will be honored during The May Awards Breakfast & Ceremony at 8:30 a.m. on May 7 at the Propylaeum.
“More than an awards program, this event is a powerful moment of recognition — bringing together civic leaders, philanthropists and community members to honor women whose leadership is shaping the future of Indiana,” the press release states. “This is a rare opportunity to celebrate not only individual achievement, but the collective progress of women leading across sectors — from public service and the arts to technology, philanthropy, and beyond.”
READ MORE: Bloombox Festival to celebrate 25 years, meet this year’s student organizer
Sewall, an educator, suffragist and civic leader, founded the Indianapolis Propylaeum in 1888. Since then, the women-centered organization — which is also a nationally registered historic landmark — has continued to serve as a gathering place for dialogue, education and community life. The organization remains dedicated to Sewall’s mission of “ensuring women’s voices shape the public sphere” by connecting women, celebrating arts and culture and supporting historic preservation throughout the city, according to a press release.
Formerly known as the May Wright Sewall Leadership Award, The May is given out each year to leaders who not only excel in their respective fields but also work to build pathways for others to lead, grow and thrive, according to a press release. This year, that distinction goes to Taft, the founding executive director of the Harrison Center, and Winfrey-Harris, president and CEO of the Women’s Foundation of Indiana.
Taft’s work with the Harrison Center has “transformed Indianapolis” through various civic and cultural initiatives designed to foster community development, strengthen neighborhoods and increase access to the arts and opportunities for artists. Taft’s work “… exemplifies Sewall’s pioneering commitment to building institutions that enrich both civic and cultural landscapes,” according to a press release.
Winfrey-Harris is a nationally recognized writer, speaker and thought leader celebrated for her advocacy and leadership across issues of race, gender and equity while inspiring future generations to lead with confidence and purpose. Winfrey-Harris’s work “reflects Sewall’s belief in the transformative power of ideas to shape a more just and inclusive society,” according to a press release.
The May Awards Breakfast and Ceremony is an annual gathering that aims to bring together leaders across Indiana to celebrate the women driving meaningful change in their communities. During the event, the Indianapolis Propylaeum will also recognize two of the 2026 finalists for the May — which include Carolene Mays, founder and CEO of Building Leaders + Legacies, and Stephanie Hays-Mussoni, vice president of development for the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. Both Mays and Hays-Mussoni demonstrate “outstanding leadership and impact,” according to a press release.
The May Awards Breakfast & Ceremony takes place at 8:30 a.m. on May 7 at the Propylaeum, 1410 N. Delaware St. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit thepropylaeum.org/calendar/themay2026.
Contact Arts & Culture Reporter Chloe McGowan at 317-762-7848. Follow her on X @chloe_mcgowanxx.
Chloe McGowan is the Arts & Culture Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper. Originally from Columbus, OH, Chloe has a bachelor's in journalism from The Ohio State University. She is a former IndyStar Pulliam Fellow, and has previously worked for Indy Maven, The Lantern, and CityScene Media Group. In her free time, Chloe enjoys live theatre, reading, baking and keeping her plants alive.
