On April 13, 2024, I was inducted into the San Diego County Women’s Hall of Fame and honored with the Trailblazer Award for my activism and community contributions in Escondido and beyond. The San Diego County Women’s Hall of Fame was created as a partnership among the San Diego Commission on the Status of Women and Girls, the Women’s Museum of California, the UC San Diego Women’s Center, and the San Diego State University Department of Women’s Studies. Together, these organizations identify, acknowledge and honor women who have made outstanding contributions as professionals and volunteers to improve the quality of life for all peoples.

The criteria for consideration set an aspirational tone for all women in San Diego and without knowing how high the bar was set, I have lived by these values in all that I do.

“We value women who are: trailblazers, courageous, fearless, and who dare to do the right thing; strong, persevering, intelligent, critical thinkers, analytical, strategic, and excellent communicators; professionally motivated by personal and community advancement; engaged in politics for the benefit of community; community role models and supportive of others’ advancement; and creative, imaginative, dreamers, and visionaries”

Surrounded by friends and among a group of honorees with inspiring contributions of their own, I accepted the award and shared the following comments:

I’m honored and humbled to receive this award, but the truth we all know is that No one makes it anywhere alone. As I reflected on events that led me to his moment, I laughed and cried through memories and realized there are too many stories to tell – and more gratitude than I can adequately express.

All people that have been part of my life deserve credit for shaping me, but I’d like to thank a few by name (with special comments about each one).

Women: Mom, Julia, Barbara Stewart, Chris Nava, Melinda Vásquez

Men: Dad, Neal, Eli, David Garrick

I believe that the most significant life event that ever happened to me was the great fortune of being born in the United States, where NOTHING is perfect, but EVERYTHING is possible. What kind of trailblazer would I be if I didn’t test that assumption?

If you know me, you know I jump into action to help people. I feel compelled to. Partly out of gratitude for all the help I received from good mentors, but also because I don’t like witnessing injustice. So, I have to credit the LONG list of both men and women who did objectionable things and motivated me to push back. I won’t name them, but they deserve credit for igniting my sense of true indignation and calling me into a Justice motivated state of mind that led me to this moment. You know me as a trailblazer because I took up causes with a fiery passion. Figuratively speaking – I kicked in doors, broke glass ceilings, and knocked out bullies.

Although it wasn’t as glamorous as I’m making it sound, my efforts led to better outcomes for people and places than if I had sat it out. That part was easy.

The hard part was losing friends to disagreement or worse, being attacked by people I cared for but offered me no grace for taking principled stands. It happens. Trailblazing comes at a price. The consequences include many burned bridges but maybe that’s ok. I have more to reflect on that.

My husband tells me I stand out because I don’t fit in. That’s the nicest way of capturing my spirit – I don’t worry about fitting in, I worry about doing the most good, for the most people – without compromising my core values of competence, conscience, compassion and courage.

I’m not sure what comes next for me, but I am sure the change I sparked in my corner of San Diego turned into a wildfire of strong, outspoken, brilliant women and progressive community members who pay attention, and take action. For that, I am grateful and satisfied.

Thank you to all attendees. It has been an honor to share space with you today.

Mil gracias.