Women’s Foundation of California celebrates four decades of power
Photo courtesy of The Women’s Foundation of California
Four decades of creating change. Forty bills passed. And more than 500 fellows trained. These are just some of the milestones that are the cornerstone of The Women’s Foundation of California’s success since its inception in 1979.
The event
On a cool fall night in downtown Los Angeles, hundreds of thought leaders, visionaries and supporters gathered at the historic Vibiana to celebrate the female changemakers advancing racial, economic and gender justice progress. The night kicked off with a lively cocktail hour where guests mingled in the Vibiana courtyard enjoying an assortment of savory warm bites and flowing champagne and libations set to the sounds of a live all-female mariachi band.
Photo courtesy of The Women’s Foundation of California
Mayor Eric Garcetti, whose Chief of Staff Ana Guerrero was being honored later in the evening, welcomed the spirited crowd with a speech about empowering women and local communities before inviting the TransLatin@ Coaltion and event honorees to join him on stage.
Photo courtesy of The Women’s Foundation of California
The scene
Guests then made their way into the pink and purple lit venue where flower gobos danced across the beams of the old historic church. Many stopped by the open bar to continue the pre-dinner toasts or stopped by the photobooth with red rose wall and props before the program began. Eunisses Hernandez of JustLeadershipUSA, a national nonprofit working to cut the incarcerated population by half in 2030, served as a lively and energetic emcee.
Instead of table numbers, guests were assigned seats at tables displaying various social organizations sponsoring the event. A representative from that organization was seated each dinner table, catalyzing productive and enthusiastic conversations about the organization’s mission. Guests trickled in, often stopping by the open bar to continue the pre-dinner toasts or making a pitstop at the photobooth with red rose wall and props before the program began. The Anahuacalmecac International Preparatory High School opened program with a traditional ceremony as guests stood in their presence, paying respect to their land beneath them.
Photo courtesy of The Women’s Foundation of California
The family-style dinner included a selection of comforting farm-to-table dishes prepared by Vibiana’s Chef Neal Fraser, who also owns Redbird located right behind the venue. Surina Khan, CEO of the Women’s Foundation of California, took to the stage in a celebratory keynote to honor the past, celebrate the present and catalyze the future. Throughout dinner, several distinguished leaders took the stage to honor this year’s gender justice champions: American labor leader and civil rights activist Dolores Huerta and Ana Guerrero, Chief of Staff for Mayor Eric Garcetti.
Photo courtesy of The Women’s Foundation of California
Champions of change
WFC Board Chair Diane Manuel presented the award to Guerrero, who gave a heartfelt speech about life prior to joining Mayor Garcetti’s staff. She touched on her feelings of working for the city surrounded by Ivy league educated staffers as she juggled responsibilities of being a single mother while attending night school and advocating for her community, ultimately leading her to the highest-ranking position in the Mayor’s Office.
Photo courtesy of The Women’s Foundation of California
First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom presented the award to Dolores Huerta, who was welcomed to the stage with a standing ovation and crowd roaring her famous slogan, “Sí, se puede,” and motto for the United Farm Workers of America, which she co-founded. Her daughters joined her on stage as she accepted the award for her longtime, prestigious career advocating for workers’, imigrants’ and women’s rights.
The Women’s Foundation of California is vital to the flourishing network of organizations across the state that shift the balance of power and create the world we know is possible. If you share their sense of urgency and purpose, join them by investing in gender justice and the Women’s Foundation of California for the next 40 years.