LA officials, civic leaders mobilize for women’s causes

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti speaking with women students.MSMU

LOS ANGELES – City officials and civic leaders gathered for the first state of the city’s women address on March 14 at the University of Southern California to push for equality for women.

Mayor Eric Garcetti gave the inaugural Los Angeles State of Women and Girls Address, which combined with the Young Women’s Assembly to promote gender equity.

“Gender equity is a universal value,” stated Garcetti. More than half of Garcetti’s commission appointments are women.

Garcetti challenged all attendees to find their local cause, spread their efforts globally, and be life-long activists.

The daylong event included panels, a resource fair, spoken word performance, celebrities, local leaders, students, businesses and numerous organizations.

The assembly included panels addressing “Doing Business Like a Woman: Careers in Business,” “Entertain Like a Woman: Following Your Dreams,” “Make Change Like a Woman: Careers in Government,” “Care Like a Woman: Self Care, Health, and Wellness” and “Compete Like a Woman.”

Many panelists echoed the importance of influencing and implementing programs and policies that give women and girls an equal shot at success.

Women’s equity plan

Actress Eva Longoria, who promotes equity for the Latina population through the Eva Longoria Foundation, stated that the event was the unveiling of a plan by Los Angeles Mayor Garcetti and his administration for women in Los Angeles that relates to many aspects of their lives such as work, equal pay, homelessness and education.

Ana Guerrero, Chief of Staff of the Office of Mayor Eric Garcetti, enumerated three goals: share the progress made in advancing women and girls in Los Angeles; share the gender equity agenda for next term; and mobilize civic and government leaders to join the task of promoting gender equity.

“Summits like this one are critical for conversations and actions that advance gender equity,” said the president of the Women’s Foundation of California, Surina Khan.

The Women’s Foundation of California provides support through policy advocacy and philanthropy in order to help ensure the health, safety and economic security of California women and communities.

“I mostly take orders from women—that’s the truth!” stated Western Region General Manager Jon Slavet of WeWork.

Women leaders

Slavet shared some of the progress within WeWork and noted that two-thirds of his Western Region leadership is women. “We don’t care about how you look like and where you come from, we care about what is in your head and in your heart,” he added.

In support of the assembly and in celebration of Women’s History Month, the National Federation of Filipino American Associations stated: “Filipinas have made a powerful impact on American society in fields as diverse as law, science, media and beyond. NaFFAA recognizes, applauds, and supports the contributions of Filipinas past and present who fuel the achievements of the future.”

Mayor Garcetti and his administration led the fight to increase the minimum wage, which helps promote gender equity. According to Surina Khan “nationally, two-thirds of minimum-wage workers are women.”

Facing barriers

Women and minorities are populations who face barriers in achieving a more equitable life, which LA’s first lady Amy Elaine Wakeland addressed personally in her closing speech.

“Those who grow up with privilege in our city almost never question whether or not they will get to college or graduate, but I always did … Could I afford college? Would I be needed at home? Would I even succeed in a college environment?” she said.

In closing, Garcetti addressed the USC ballroom full of Los Angeles high school students, saying, “You are the ones that we have been waiting for. The young women of Los Angeles today can not only change this city, but can change this world.”