{"id":239015,"date":"2017-02-03T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-02-03T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sdnews.com\/local-women-rocking-the-boat\/"},"modified":"2017-02-03T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2017-02-03T08:00:00","slug":"local-women-rocking-the-boat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/local-women-rocking-the-boat\/","title":{"rendered":"Local women rocking the boat"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fundraiser for Women\u2019s Museum honors local elected officials<\/strong><\/p>\n

Por Morgan M. Hurley | Editor<\/p>\n

Originally founded in 1995 by Mary Maschal, who opened her Golden Hill home to the public after having gathered relevant collectibles and memorabilia for over a decade, the Women\u2019s Museum of California is now located in Liberty Station.<\/p>\n

With its mission of \u201cpreserving the past, inspiring the future,\u201d the museum has grown into a wealth of archives, exhibits, resources and live shows.<\/p>\n

On Thursday, Jan. 26, the Women\u2019s Museum held a fundraiser called \u201cCelebrating Women in Politics,\u201d honoring all the women who were recently elected into local offices, while unveiling a new traveling exhibit, \u201cRocking the Political Boat.\u201d<\/p>\n

(l to r) Councilmember Chris Ward presented Sen. Toni Atkins with an award from the Women\u2019s Museum. (Photos by Melissa Jones)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The event was held at Mister A\u2019s in the \u201ceast room,\u201d with its dynamic views overlooking Bankers Hill and Downtown.<\/p>\n

Rachel Laing \u2014 former San Diego Union-Tribune staff writer and deputy press secretary for Mayor Jerry Sanders who now runs her own PR and communications consultation business \u2014 emceed the fundraiser.<\/p>\n

After a short networking social hour, Hannah Cohen, president of the Women\u2019s Museum, opened up the event.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are here to celebrate the wonderful women in San Diego who are our leaders,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Thanking the board for its work, Cohen then introduced the board\u2019s only male member, local political activist and Navy veteran Shawn VanDiver.<\/p>\n

Cohen also introduced Diane Peabody Strow, who took over as executive director of the Women\u2019s Museum from Ashley Gardner about six months ago.<\/p>\n

Laing then welcomed distinguished guests in attendance, including newly minted state Sen. Toni Atkins; new Assemblymember Todd Gloria, who was still en route; Sheriff Bill Gore; Supervisor Kristin Gaspar, City Attorney Mara Elliott; new San Diego City Councilmembers Barbara Bry, Chris Ward and Georgette Gomez; and Imperial Beach Councilmember Mark West.<\/p>\n

Laing also reminded everyone that this was a fundraiser for a \u201ctruly wonderful organization that is absolutely worthy of our support.\u201d<\/p>\n

Also in attendance was Atkins\u2019 wife, Jennifer LeSar, various board members and approximately 100 total attendees.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are trying to foster an expectation among women that we can lead,\u201d Laing said. \u201cWhy is it important? It is about privilege for our girls and our women. What is privilege? Being able to walk through your world knowing you will get a fair shake.\u201d<\/p>\n

Councilmember Ward, just six weeks on the job, presented Sen. Atkins with the Women\u2019s Museum\u2019s \u201cWomen in Leadership Award,\u201d noting that it is a historic time in the city\u2019s history.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis year marks a first for our San Diego City Council,\u201d Ward said. \u201cThe four officials that lead the business of the council meetings \u2014 and sit at the upper dais \u2014 are all women: the Council President, City Attorney, City Clerk and Independent Budget Analyst,\u201d Ward said.<\/p>\n

(l to r) Annie Hoiberg, a member of the Women\u2019s Museum board, shares a laugh with Councilmember Georgette Gomez. (Photos by Melissa Jones)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The award honored Atkins, citing, \u201cto commemorate your trailblazing leadership and advocacy for women throughout your public service.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTonight is about taking the Women\u2019s Museum to the next level,\u201d Atkins said, while accepting the award. \u201cIn this day of alternative facts, it is so important to document our history. We need to focus our commitment and really think about what it means to have the resources to know our history.\u201d<\/p>\n

Atkins told the audience that when she was in the state Assembly, only 17 out of 80 were women; a low 22 percent.<\/p>\n

\u201cMothers and women can do anything,\u201d she continued. \u201cWhen a window opens, we as women need to jump through it.\u201d<\/p>\n

She noted the Assembly\u2019s surprise when she took over as Speaker of the Assembly; she was the first San Diegan, and the first lesbian, to do so.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey didn\u2019t see it coming and I think it was because I was a woman,\u201d she said. \u201cI want the world to be equal to when we don\u2019t need to point out our allies and friends. I stand on the shoulders of people like Lucy Killea, and my friend Christine Kehoe, who told me that I had to run.\u201d<\/p>\n

The mention of Killea was poignant. Killea, who served 14 years in the California state legislature and is a large part of the Women\u2019s Museum\u2019s new traveling exhibit, died Jan. 17.<\/p>\n

Atkins then tipped her hat to other female politicians who came before her, Dede Alpert, Sheila Kuehl \u2014\u00a0the first out legislator in California \u2014 and some of her peers, including Lorena Gonzales Fletcher and Holly Mitchell of Los Angeles, whom she called \u201ca force of nature.\u201d<\/p>\n

Atkins \u2014 who earlier that afternoon had announced SB 179, called the Gender Recognition Act of 2017, co-sponsored by Sen. Scott Weiner \u2014 told the crowd that she has some exciting bills coming up and she \u201ccan\u2019t wait\u201d to put them forward. SB 179 would allow Californians to obtain state-issued identifications that accurately reflect their gender identity.<\/p>\n

Laing said all of the women being honored were \u201cunderestimated.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gomez, who won her long-shot bid to be the councilmember representing District 9 when Marti Emerald retired, told those gathered that she was \u201cvery humbled\u201d by her win.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was told not to do it because I\u2019d just be wasting space,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

A Barrio Logan native of immigrant parents, Gomez said her drive was her community.<\/p>\n

Newly elected City Attorney Mara Elliott is the first female to hold the office. (Photos by Melissa Jones)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cI\u2019m a brown, lesbian woman,\u201d she said. \u201cBut people believed in me, financially and emotionally. We need a city that is reflective of what San Diego looks like.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m proud to bring people to City Hall with me who don\u2019t normally get to be there,\u201d she said, referring to a staffer who previously worked for the ACLU. \u201cWe\u2019re bringing a different voice.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mara Elliott, the city\u2019s first female city attorney, emphasized the importance of the Women\u2019s Museum.<\/p>\n

\u201c[It\u2019s] a place where I can escape and remember why women do the things they do,\u201d she said, before relaying a story about her mother and the challenges she faced as the owner of a drafting business.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe wasn\u2019t allowed to admit it was her company,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

She cited her mother as an inspiration who often took her to various women\u2019s caucuses and events as she was growing up.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want little girls to look at me and say, \u2018I can do this,\u2019\u201d Elliott said. \u201cThis race swung those doors open and kids can dream again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Elliott said she plans to focus on immigration, hate crimes and minimum wage.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you for supporting women, it gives us encouragement to run,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Councilmember Bry started off welcoming Ward as an \u201chonorary member\u201d of the women\u2019s club on the City Council.<\/p>\n

A new traveling exhibit produced by the Women\u2019s Museum of California focuses, in part, on the public service of the late Lucy Killea. (Photo by Melissa Jones)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Bry, who won the District 1 race as a self-described \u201chigh-tech entrepreneur and 67-year-old grandma,\u201d said that even though she has always supported other women candidates, and was heavily involved in the minimum wage effort, she never considered running for public office herself.<\/p>\n

But after the street in front of her office was torn up for the third time, she said she decided to throw her hat into the ring. Bry said her mother, Adelaide Bry, was also her inspiration.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe was married twice but never changed her name,\u201d Bry said. \u201cShe was one of the first female executives, but was paid less than the men.\u201d<\/p>\n

County Supervisor Kristin Gaspar, who beat incumbent Dave Roberts for the District 3 seat, recognized the \u201cdiversity in the room\u201d when she took to the podium.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you Sen. Atkins, you certainly have been a trailblazer for someone like me,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

The former Encinitas mayor \u2014 who ran as a Republican for the Board of Supervisors position, but revoked her support for Donald Trump\u2019s candidacy during a KPBS interview in October \u2014 shared how she first got into the political realm.<\/p>\n

\u201cI went along with a friend to a political fundraiser for a female candidate while I was seven months pregnant,\u201d she began. \u201cAnd my friend introduced me to the candidate as a \u2018future senator.\u2019 When I corrected my friend, [the candidate said] \u2018Well, what\u2019s your excuse?\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cThose three words stuck with me,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

In 2010, Gaspar decided to run for Encinitas City Council, despite the fact she had an 8-week-old infant, a 2-year-old and a 4-year-old.<\/p>\n

As supervisor she hopes to inspire others.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have a limited time to work with young women,\u201d she said. \u201cYoung people can\u2019t become what they don\u2019t see.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gloria, the former city councilmember who recently stepped into Atkins\u2019 shoes in the state Assembly, arrived just in time to bestow his honors.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is very clear San Diego grows incredibly dynamic female leaders,\u201d Gloria said. \u201cI am very proud to say that the Women\u2019s Museum is in my district, so let\u2019s keep it going and continue to grow it. The message it sends is empowerment.\u201d<\/p>\n

The crowd was clearly inspired by all the speakers, as the Women\u2019s Museum raised nearly $10,000 at the event. Stay tuned for more upcoming events and expect the popular annual Wine, Cheese and Chocolate Festival to take place in September.<\/p>\n

Para m\u00e1s informaci\u00f3n visite womensmuseumca.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u2014Morgan M. Hurley puede ser contactado en morgan@sdcnn.com.<\/em><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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