Red Wing Area Women's Network

The 2026 inductees into the Red Wing Area Women's Network Hall of Fame were named this week at the St. James Hotel.

Yanelis Jinete (left) and Catherine Johnson (right) were inducted during a luncheon at the St. James Hotel on Wednesday.

Reflecting that March is Women's History Month, groundbreaking public health nurse Leola Ellis was inducted posthumously.

Whether in a volunteer capacity or through her legal career, lifelong Red Wing resident Catherine Friedrich Johnson has helped to establish and lift up community entities that benefit countless people, nominator and Central High School classmate Jill Mehrkens said. 

Yanelis Jinete arrived in Red Wing from Venezuela some 15 years ago. Like many immigrants, she faced the challenges of navigating a new language, new culture and new life. Among her first stops was the local CARE Clinic, which offers no-cost or affordable-cost health care along with translation services. She left with a powerful goal: Become fluent in English and return as a volunteer interpreter.

March is Women’s History Month, and the 2026 posthumous inductee was Goodhue County public health nurse Leola Ellis. Liz Schmidt, the Goodhue County Historical Society curator, recounted Ellis’ groundbreaking career in public health.

She came to Red Wing in 1920 and joined Goodhue County Public Health, where her responsibilities included school and home visits. She logged more than 9,000 miles a year with unflagging service. In 1950, Leola started a mobile X-Ray clinic. In one year, she oversaw over 25,000 chest X-Rays. Under her stewardship, Goodhue County became a tuberculosis-accredited county in 1954.

Since 2007 the Hall of Fame has been held in March, during International Women’s Month, to recognize local women who have made a significant impact to our local community through volunteerism, going above and beyond their daily work, civic activities and mentoring.