From the pioneering leadership of Dianne Feinstein to the innovative accomplishments of architect Julia Morgan to the moving beauty of poet Maya Angelou, San Francisco has always been a great City because of the amazing contributions of our women residents—a legacy we proudly celebrate.

However, outside of this City, these are troubling times for women. We have a President who has shown an appalling lack of respect for women and a federal administration that continues to attack female health and reproductive rights.

In San Francisco, we will continue to uphold our City’s values of equality. We will always be a place where everyone is supported, regardless of their gender. I am proud to have authored equal pay measures for our female workforce and look forward to addressing critical equity issues in the coming months. 

This evening I will recognize eight women whose contributions to this City have made San Francisco a better place for all. They are visionary leaders and fearless trailblazers and their groundbreaking work is a reason why the nation looks to San Francisco—and not Washington D.C.—for ideas that inspire real, positive change in this country.”  

The eight women receiving Certificates of Honor from Mayor Farrell in recognition of Women’s History Month:
Anita Lee, wife of former Mayor Edwin M. Lee
Avantika Shastri, Legal Director for the San Francisco Immigrant Legal Defense Collaborative
Laura Victoria Sanchez, Esq., Director of CARECEN SF’s Immigration Legal Program
Marisela Esparza, San Francisco Immigrant Legal and Education Network
Mary Jung, San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee
Maxine Wilson, Chief Operating Officer, Boys and Girls Club
Nadia Sesay, Executive Director, Office of Community Investment and Infrastructure
Tomiquia Moss, Executive Director, Hamilton Families