Our agency received a Gracie media award in early June from the American Women in Radio and Television organization. We received one free ticket to the event, so I was pleased to attend the award ceremony in New York City.

They were not “victims” but people who had been empowered by sharing their stories in this way.

It is not quite the Oscars or even Emmys but there is a red carpet outside the hotel, make-up artists who help you look your best, and a chance to give a short acceptance speech before a supportive audience. Like someone else said, “They do this up nice.”

Our award was for a public service radio campaign, “Unsung: Families Voices on Mental Illness” tagged “from the Mennonite churches and Faith & Values Media.” The spots are airing on about 310 radio stations and focus on how families and friends are absolutely critical in their support of those with mental illness. (To hear/read the spots or to find stations airing the spots, go to the link above.)

The awards (named after Gracie Allen) honor mainstream media programs “for, by, and about women.” Luminaries present included people such as: Maya Angelou, Katie Couric, Jane Pauley, Rachael Ray, Ann Curry, Suze Orman, Melissa Rivers (Joan’s daughter), a few males such as Bob Schieffer, and actresses Mariska Hargitay and Amy Poehler.

But I got to thinking about the lesser-known, behind-the-scenes women I got to meet and talk shop with. All of those I talked with were overwhelmingly supportive, kind, interested, and encouraging. And that was the true gift and realization of the evening. I talked to a woman who is in charge of the Web site for the Dr. Phil TV program, and two others who work for Lifetime Television’s Web site. They gave me some very good ideas for our own online presence. No worries about giving away their best secrets (apparently). I also talked to two women who cover the NPR religious beat and we compared notes on similar productions.

But perhaps the women who impressed me most were three women at my table who had appeared in a documentary, “Till fear do us part.” It was a program about domestic violence, for the Maryknoll “Voices of Our World” radio program. The producer who accepted the award on their behalf pointed out how they were not “victims” but people who had been empowered by sharing their stories in this way.

I had to think of the women and men who shared their stories for our radio spots, which came from a longer documentary project, Shadow Voices: Finding Hope in Mental Illness which we produced for TV earlier. Most people wish to keep their emotional vulnerabilities and difficulties somewhat private. Why reveal that you cut and burn your arms? Why confess you became so unstable that your spouse had to take the car keys away? But the persons in our radio spots found that in sharing their experiences and speaking up, they find community and support from others. In turn they want to give that gift to others who may be struggling. They participated to help the overall goal of reducing the stigma of mental illness.

Most of the productions honored with Gracies were programs of this type: sensitive, cutting edge personal topics with an emotional edge. And in that room of women and men with incomes ranging from $0 to $10,000 to many millions, there was a feeling of camaraderie and community that is frequently shared among like-minded women.

It doesn’t take an award program to feel this kind of camaraderie or celebrate the special gifts of women around you. I would be remiss to not name the many behind-the-scenes women who made a production like this possible: Dorothy Hartman, production manager; Lois Hertzler, marketing coordinator; Lois Priest, manager of mailings; Sheri Hartzler, program manager; and Barbra Graber, one of the narrators. It took men too: the engineer, director, finance director and editor. And that’s the way it is with almost any project of this nature: it takes women and men working together to do their best work. My hat is off, and gratitude goes out, to all.

For more information on the 2009 awards go to http://www.thegracies.org/gallery-2009.php .