It’s always an honor to bring you news of West Seattleites making a difference – and here’s another one: Bettie Williams-Watson (left) has been named a 2010 Purpose Prize Fellow, one of just 45 from around the nation. Here’s the official announcement explaining the honor:

Williams-Watson was recognized as a social entrepreneur over 60 who, in her encore careers, is using her experience and passion to make an extraordinary impact on society’s biggest challenges. Now in its fifth year, the six-year, $17 million Purpose Prize program is the nation’s only large-scale investment in social innovators in the second half of life.

Williams-Watson was named a Fellow because of her groundbreaking work in addressing domestic, youth and sexual violence in predominantly African American faith communities throughout the Greater Seattle area and beyond thru her nonprofit organization, Multi-Communities (M.I.C).

“Purpose Prize Fellows show what’s possible in our communities – and the world – when experienced adults apply their passion and skill to improve the lives of others.” said Alexandra Céspedes Kent, Director of The Purpose Prize. “Imagine the potential for society if tens of thousands of adults focused their know-how on the social causes they are most passionate about – it’s a tremendous opportunity.”

The 46 Purpose Prize Fellows of 2010 (were) honored at the Purpose Prize Summit November 12-14 in Philadelphia. Approximately 400 attendees of the invitation-only event (heard) from featured speakers such as W. Wilson Goode Sr. (former mayor of Philadelphia and 2006 Prize winner); writer and cultural anthropologist Mary Catherine Bateson (author of Composing a Further Life: The Age of Active Wisdom); civil rights leader and social innovator Robert Moses (founder of The Algebra Project); and bestselling author Martin Seligman (founder of the field of positive psychology).

In a followup e-mail exchange, Bettie told WSB, “I learned such positive reinforcement for how people over the age of 50 and 60 plus are the most creative, innovative folks of any generation, and the part that really excited me even more was that we are confidently shaping, and designing our own definition of what it means to be of age, and have not bought into the myths and stereotypes that are so prevalent today. Did I mention that I work full time, and run my nonprofit in my ‘spare time?'”