League of Women Voters of Duluth

LWV Duluth made a commitment to raise money for a permanent scholarship in the name of Joyce Benson, a former President of LWV Duuth, 25-year member, and one of the first women to serve on the Duluth City Council (which she did from 1985-90).

Joyce Benson graduated in 1980 from University of Minnesota Duluth with an Interdisciplinary-Women's Studies program.  Her degree became a template for Women's Studies at UMD.  She was a long-time political activist and a women's advocate.  She was appointed to the city council in 1985 and later was elected to two terms.  She was a delegate to United Nations Decade for Women Conference in Nairobi, Kenya, in 1985, one of 40 Minnesota delegates:  the only delegate from Duluth.

Joyce was an advocate for international understanding.  She organized women's domestic violence and leadership trainings in Petrozavodsk,  Russia and Kirovograd, Ukraine.  As LWV Duluth International Relations Chair, she hosted women in Duluth from Guatemala, Brazil, Colombia, Russia, Ukraine, Tajikistan.

Thanks to League members and the support of Joyce's family and friends, we will endow a scholarship in Women's Leadership in Joyce's name.  It will support students for generations and emphasize LWV goals of education, community involvement, and international understanding.