Newsletters

Stay connected to Commission activities, policy developments, upcoming events, and the latest news affecting women and girls. Subscribe to the newsletter.

Reclaiming Women’s Stories in the Places We Love

Across our nation’s history, women have shaped movements, protected communities, and led with courage. Yet their names are too often missing from the places meant to honor our shared story. We remember Paul Revere, but far fewer know Sybil Ludington, the young girl who rode twice as far to warn American troops. Her story, like so many others, has been pushed to the margins of public memory.

This pattern continues in the world around us. Out of thousands of public spaces across the country, only a small fraction are named after women. It is a striking reminder that even when women lead in environmental justice, conservation, and land stewardship, their contributions are rarely reflected in the names of the places we cherish.

California offers powerful examples of women whose legacies are remembered and celebrated.

Ruby Van Deventer County Park in Crescent City is a 54acre park dedicated to Mrs. Ruby Van Deventer. She cofounded the local Historical Society, taught for 30 years, and helped catalog thousands of plant species for the county.
McLaughlin Eastshore State Park in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties honors Sylvia McLaughlin, the environmentalist who co-founded Save the San Francisco Bay Association. Her advocacy helped protect the shoreline and secure the sweeping views of the Golden Gate Bridge that visitors enjoy today.
Forest of Nisene Marks State Park in Santa Cruz County honors Nisene Marks, a Danish immigrant and businesswoman whose children donated nearly ten thousand acres in her memory.
Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park in Monterey County is named after a respected Big Sur rancher and conservationist whose love for the coastline helped preserve one of the most breathtaking stretches of California.
Zmudowski State Beach in Monterey County recognizes Mary Zmudowski, a dedicated educator and conservationist. This remote beach, known for its dunes and undeveloped coastline, requires a four-wheel drive to reach, but rewards visitors with quiet beauty.
Dolores Huerta Park is a 4.5-acre community space located in Fresno, named in honor of the legendary civil rights and farm labor movement icon.
Kate Sessions Memorial Park is in Pacific Beach/La Jolla and named after Kate O. Sessions, the famous botanist and horticulturist known as the “Mother of Balboa Park.”

These parks remind us that women have always been central to the protection of our natural spaces. They fought for access, preservation, and representation, and their leadership continues to shape the landscapes we enjoy.

The Commission remains committed to shining a light on disparities like these. We also see this work as an invitation to reconnect with the stories of women who shaped our communities and our environment. Whether you are taking your family on a weekend hike, planning a solo retreat, or gathering friends for a day trip, these parks offer more than recreation. They offer remembrance. They remind us that every vista, shoreline, and shaded path is strengthened by the contributions of women who pushed for access, preservation, and representation. California carries the legacy of women who made these spaces possible and offers an opportunity to remember the women who blazed trails in our shared history.

Celebrating women’s leadership does not require a special occasion. It requires a willingness to pause, to name what has been forgotten, and to carry these legacies forward with intention. When we remember women, we restore balance to our shared history and ensure that future generations grow up seeing themselves reflected in the world around them.

Thank you for joining us in this work. And as you head out to enjoy California’s beautiful open spaces, look for the women who made California’s story unique.

Celebrating Progress and Creating Change for LGBTQIA+ Communities

As June marks Pride Month, I am reminded of why visibility, compassion, and solidarity are powerful tools for change, especially for people living on the margins. Being queer shaped who I am. Resilience and endurance are a huge part of me, and my community. And they continue to shape how I think about the problems we bring people together to solve here at the Commission.

My story mirrors what many in the LGBTQIA+ community experience. Life shifted dramatically when I came out at 14. Economic instability and disconnection followed, shaping a reality that far too many LGBTQIA+ youth still know intimately today.

These experiences shaped the leader I became and my unwavering commitment to inclusion, community building, and remaking structures and inequitable systems to create a California for everyone.

Many have worked hard to build a state that is at the forefront of LGBTQIA+ rights, offering strong civil rights protections, pioneering legal shield laws for transgender individuals, and increasing representation across all levels of policymaking. Our state serves as both a refuge and a blueprint for progress for the rest of the country.

Yet, there is still much work to be done. Significant pay disparities exist for LGBTQIA+ communities. Recent research shows that LGBTQIA+ households earn, on average, about 85% of the income of non-LGBTQIA+ households, and data is sparse to understand the disparities at a state level. We need to keep pushing for resources and disaggregated data to support our diverse LGBTQIA+ communities across California. You can read more about this issue in our press release.

We all play a role in creating communities where every person can thrive. This means seeing people fully, honoring their lived experiences, and building systems and structures where belonging is not conditional, and opportunity is for everyone.

Mental Health and the Invisible Load Women Carry

Every day, women across California hold families, workplaces, and communities together. We often do it quietly, without acknowledgment, and often at the expense of our own well‑being. We know this mental load well: constant planning, remembering, anticipating, and smoothing the edges of life for everyone around us. It is real work. And too often, it is invisible.

As we close out this season and look ahead to Summer, I want to say something clearly: your well‑being matters. The fatigue so many women feel is not a personal failing. It is a reflection of inequitable systems that force them to carry extra weight without acknowledging it.

Taking care of yourself is not selfish. It is necessary for the health and well-being of all of us. Women are the cornerstones of our communities. Caring for ourselves is critical.

But women should not have to shoulder this alone. Mental health is not an individual responsibility; it is community care. Families, workplaces, partners, neighbors, and institutions all have a role to play in easing the load so women (half the population) can also thrive.

The California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls remains committed to that goal. Through policy, advocacy, and partnership, we are working to ensure that women and families have the support they need, from mental health resources to paid family leave, from affordable access to community‑based programs that strengthen connection and reduce isolation, to access to play and participation in healthy activities.

As you move through the coming weeks, I hope you give yourself permission to pause and enjoy the opportunities for outdoor time with friends and family, for rest and play, and time to focus on your own well-being.

Together, we can build a California where women are not just surviving, but living full, healthy, supported lives.

Building a Safer Future for All

In April, we honored Sexual Assault Awareness Month, a time when communities across California come together to confront a reality that is both urgent and deeply painful: sexual violence remains far too common, and its impact reaches into every corner of our state.

Sexual violence is not rare or isolated. National data shows that 1 in 3 female survivors of rape or attempted rape experience their first assault between the ages of 11 and 17. Rates are even higher for transgender and nonbinary people, Black and Native women, bisexual women, people with disabilities, and those who cannot safely report. These disparities reflect long‑standing inequities in safety, access, and support.

Sexual violence is a public health crisis, a civil rights crisis, and a moral crisis. There is no place for sexual harassment, assault, or gender‑based violence in our communities.

We believe survivors. And we will not tolerate sexual violence in any form.

At the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls, our work reflects this commitment every day. We appoint members to the State Advisory Committee on Sexual Assault Victim Services, ensuring survivor voices shape trauma‑informed services statewide. We support efforts to strengthen California’s safety net for victims of crime and advance legislation designed to close dangerous gaps in protection and care. Through our Youth Advisory Council, girls across the state are elevating critical issues like teen dating violence, sexual harassment, cyberbullying, and Title IX protections.

But awareness alone is not enough. Changing the conditions that allow sexual violence to persist requires collective action. It requires communities that refuse to silence those harmed, systems that center survivors, and a culture that holds perpetrators accountable.

I invite you to take action, whether by learning more about how you can help survivors, supporting a local organization, or using your voice to advocate for safer, more equitable communities. Consider offering your voice and support for Commission-supported legislation that closes dangerous gaps like SB 1395 (Valladares), AB 1716 (Stephani), and AB 1657 (Rogers). Learn more about these Commission-supported and co-sponsored bills and how to send a letter of support below.

Every effort strengthens the network of care and moves us closer to a California where every person can live free from violence.

Thank you for your bravery, your advocacy, and your unwavering commitment to building a safer future for us all.

Thank You for Celebrating Women’s History Month with Us

As we close out Women’s History Month, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who continues to stand with us in embracing gender equity, justice for survivors, and increasing opportunities for women and girls. This month offers us a moment to pause and honor the extraordinary contributions women have made to our communities, our state, and our world.

But the truth is this: women’s history cannot be contained in a single month. The courage, brilliance, and resilience of women shape our lives every day of the year. We celebrate the highs—the breakthroughs, the victories, the moments of joy and progress. And we acknowledge the lows—the barriers that persist, the inequities that demand our attention, and the painful truths that continue to surface.

We are reminded of the importance of honoring all women’s stories, including those too often forgotten or overlooked. We uplift the brave women who speak out, whose voices continue to challenge us to confront harm, support survivors, and build systems rooted in dignity and accountability. We honor the women who paved the way, the women who are fighting for change today, and the young women and girls who are already imagining a better future.

We embrace the rebels, the changemakers, the leaders, the visionaries, the truth‑tellers, the bridge‑builders, the boundary‑breakers, the disruptors, the healers, the organizers, the advocates, the protectors, the innovators, the risk‑takers, the culture‑shifters, the movement‑makers, the survivors, the storytellers, the torch‑bearers, the women who refuse to be forgotten, the women who speak even when their voices shake, and the women who are determined to change the world.

Women’s History Month is a celebration, but it is also a call to action. A reminder that our work does not begin in March and does not end on March 31. Every month is an opportunity to champion equity, expand opportunity, and ensure that every woman and girl in California can thrive.

Thank you for your partnership, your leadership, and your unwavering commitment to this shared mission. Together, we will continue to build a California where women’s and girls’ stories are honored, their voices are heard, and their futures are limitless.

In this moment, togetherness matters more than ever

Across California and around the world, women are struggling under the weight of overlapping gendered challenges. From juggling caregiving demands, to persistent pay inequities, we continue to push against systems that were not designed with us in mind. And despite what the headlines suggest about a so-called “ambition gap,” women are not lacking drive. They are simply depleted from lifetimes of being undervalued.

At the Commission, we know that the solution for these challenges lies where it always has, in radical solidarity and commitment to uplifting each other as we fight for an equitable world. When women stand together, we don’t just weather hard times, we reshape what’s possible and build communities where everyone can thrive.

The Commission focuses on a legislative package grounded in our mission to ensure that California’s systems work for women and girls in every community. During the legislative session, we will continue to champion policies that move us closer to equity, dignity, and opportunity for all.

As we move into Women’s History Month, I’m reminded that progress has never been the work of one person or one moment. It has always been the work of many, linked through shared purpose, and a belief in what we can achieve when we work together.

We’re Ready for 2026!

Each new year brings challenges, but it also brings renewed opportunity to stand together, lift one another up, and continue building a future rooted in equity and justice.

In 2026, our commitment to women and girls remains unwavering. We look forward to strengthening our partnerships, expanding our reach, and continuing the vital work of ensuring that every woman and girl has the opportunity to thrive.

This year, we must move forward in solidarity. We must move forward together as a village—because real progress has always been built through collective strength. When we stand shoulder to shoulder, we are harder to silence, harder to divide, and impossible to ignore. Together, we hold the line. Together, we protect the rights, dignity, and opportunities that generations before us fought to secure.

Thank you for being part of this community, for showing up, and for believing in the power of working together. With your support, 2026 holds tremendous promise.

Here’s to a strong, united, and impactful year—one where we continue to rise, resist, and reimagine what’s possible for women and girls across California.

Closing Out 2025

As 2025 draws to a close, we reflect on a year of transformation, resilience, and collective action at the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls. This year marked a continuation of the Commission’s evolution, building on decades of advocacy and innovation while celebrating 60 years of service to California. Together, we navigated pivotal moments, embraced growth, and confronted the persistent challenges facing women and girls in today’s shifting federal landscape. The urgency of our mission has never been clearer: to ensure that every woman and girl, regardless of race, gender identity, age, ability, geography, or lived experience, has the opportunity not just to survive, but to thrive.

Throughout 2025, the Commission advanced its mission through advocacy, collaboration, and community engagement. Highlights included hosting the Convening of local women’s commissions, connecting with local women’s commissions, celebrating 10 years of the California Fair Pay Act with partners Equal Rights Advocates and the bill’s author, our former Chair the Honorable Hannah Beth Jackson, contributing to the Mount Saint Mary’s University Report on the Status of Women and Girls in California, mentoring new leaders at Girl Scout Day at the Capitol and other girl centered events, building skills for women leaders with California Women Lead, amplifying the voices of women veterans at the Veterans Leadership Summit, spotlighting pay equity, celebrating California’s 175th and the Commission’s 60th anniversaries, connecting on core gender justice issues including pay equity with the Office of the First Partner and the California Partner’s Project, and deepening global connections through international partnerships.

The Commission also continued to advance essential policy solutions. In 2025, the Policy Committee reviewed and recommended positions on hundreds of proposals, ultimately supporting 16 pieces of legislation that advanced to the Governor’s desk and co-sponsoring two proposals. Among these was SB 642, authored by Commissioner Senate pro Tempore Monique Limón and co-sponsored with the California Employment Lawyers Association and Equal Rights Advocates, which strengthens the California Fair Pay Act. Signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom, SB 642 represents a significant step forward toward pay equity. Other supported bills addressed critical issues, including sexual assault protections, student safety, paid family leave, rural healthcare access, and culturally competent services for LGBTQIA+ communities.

We extend our deepest gratitude to our partners, local women’s commissions, community organizations, the Governor and First Partner, the Legislature, Commissioners, and the dedicated staff of the Commission. Your trust and partnership drive our progress. We are looking forward to opportunities to continue our collaboration in 2026!

Thank You for Your Support

As we celebrate 60 years of progress, the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls reflects on both how far we’ve come and the work that still lies ahead. From equal pay laws to programs that support women and girls in education, health, and leadership, our mission has always been clear: to ensure that every woman and girl in California can thrive.

Yet, we know challenges remain. Women continue to face wage gaps, barriers to affordable childcare, and threats to their safety and well-being. Girls report rising levels of sadness and hopelessness, reminding us that the fight for equity is not only about economics and representation, but also about dignity, health, and hope. These realities fuel our determination to keep pushing for systemic change that uplifts all communities.

Looking forward, we are committed to building a more equal future by expanding partnerships, strengthening local women’s commissions, and ensuring that women’s voices are heard in every decision-making space. Together, we can create a California where fairness is not an aspiration but a reality.

Thank you for standing with us in this work — your support makes progress possible.

California Girls Shaping the Future

At the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls, we are continually inspired by the resilience and leadership of girls across our state. From classrooms to community centers, from advocacy campaigns to innovation labs, California’s girls are shaping the future with courage and conviction.

Their voices are powerful. Their ideas are bold. And their impact is undeniable.

We see girls leading healthcare change, championing equity, excelling in STEM, and standing up for justice in their schools and neighborhoods. They are not just the leaders of tomorrow — they are leading today.

Our work is rooted in the belief that when we invest in girls, we invest in a stronger, more inclusive California. That’s why we remain committed to creating opportunities, removing barriers, and amplifying the voices of girls in every corner of our state.

Our Youth Advisory Council is proud to be leading the development of the Girl’s Agenda for California — a bold and inclusive conversation shaped directly by the voices of girls across our state.

By centering youth perspectives, the Girl’s Agenda aims to inform policy, spark dialogue, and elevate the lived experiences of girls from all backgrounds. Stay tuned as we amplify our youth voices and work toward a California where every girl can thrive.

A Call to Action: Advancing Gender Justice Together

As we mark the 60th anniversary of the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls, we are not simply celebrating a milestone—we are issuing a call to action.

For six decades, the Commission has been at the forefront of advancing equity for California’s 19.6 million women and girls. From championing nation-leading equal pay protections and paid family leave, to eliminating the Pink Tax and expanding reproductive healthcare access through the College Student Right to Access Act, our work has been bold, intersectional, and deeply rooted in justice.

Through initiatives like the Women’s Recovery Response, which distributed $13.9 million in critical support, and the launch of our Youth Advisory Council, which is shaping an evolving Girls Agenda for California, we’ve demonstrated what’s possible when policy, partnership, and purpose align.

But we are not done.

The fight for gender equity is far from over—and we cannot do it alone. This is a pivotal moment to recommit ourselves to collective action. Whether you are a policymaker, educator, advocate, or community leader, your voice and your leadership are essential. Join your local women’s commission. Support legislation that uplifts women and girls. Mentor the next generation. Share your data, your expertise, your vision.

One person can make a difference—but together, we can transform systems.

In November, we will gather in Los Angeles for a historic California Convening of Women’s Commissions, co-hosted with the Los Angeles County Commission for Women and Mount Saint Mary’s University, Los Angeles. This is more than a celebration—it is a strategic moment to align our goals, strengthen our networks, and shape a unified policy agenda that transcends regional boundaries.

As we honor 60 years of progress, we invite you to help shape the next 60. Let’s build a future where gender justice is not aspirational—it’s operational.