News

Helen Chickering is guest host at AAUW's holiday luncheon

Helen Chickering

By Lightning Reports, Published: November 29, 2025

Award-winning  journalist Helen Chickering will be guest speaker when the AAUW (formerly American Association of University Women) hosts its annual holiday luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 11, at First Congregational Church Fellowship Hall, 1735 Fifth Avenue W.

The morning host on Blue Ridge Public Radio, Chickering is a veteran journalist with a passion for health and science literacy. She joined BPR in 2014 after a long career in television news, where she specialized in medical and science reporting, including helping to launch the health desk at NBC News Channel. She was the first journalist to serve as president of the National Association of Medical Communicators and more recently served on North Carolina’s Task Force on the Future of Local Public Health.

Luncheon will be catered again this year by Dandelion, an important asset of Safelight, the domestic violence woman’s shelter. The menu is power salad, shrimp and grits, quiche, fresh fruit and a Vegan option (quinoa veggie bowl with grilled portobello) that needs to be ordered separately (note Vegan as your choice in your reservation). Cost is $25 per person; $20 for the buffet and $5 donation to BPR. Please reserve by Dec. 8 by emailing ssmreb@bellsouth.net.