March is Women’s History Month, a time that celebrates women's contributions to history, culture, and society. The California legislature recognizes women from across the state for their remarkable efforts in making their communities a better place to live.
The community looks to each of these honorees to uplift and support each other. This commitment has enabled women everywhere to shatter the glass ceiling and thrive in their fields. While there is much work to accomplish, I know that with strong women like these, we can get the job done.
Read more about each honoree here:
Assemblymember Lisa Calderon is honored to recognize Nancy as the Legislative Woman of the Year for her extraordinary contributions to historic preservation, community development, and civic engagement.
With over two decades of experience in the nonprofit sector, as the Director at Project Restore, Nancy has been a driving force in building partnerships that bridge the government, private organizations, and local communities to create meaningful change. Through her leadership, she has played an essential role in preserving some of Los Angeles’ most iconic landmarks, including Los Angeles City Hall, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Hollyhock House, and Residence A. Her dedication to protecting the city’s architectural and cultural heritage has ensured these historic sites remain accessible and celebrated for generations to come.
Beyond her work in preservation, Nancy is a passionate advocate for civic pride and community engagement. She has worked tirelessly to elevate Los Angeles’ diverse history, fostering a deeper connection between residents and their city’s cultural legacy. Additionally, she has made a lasting impact on students at La Serna High School through her fundraising efforts with Friends of La Serna, helping secure essential resources for their educational success.
Cherry Lee has dedicated over 16 years to serving nonprofit organizations, driven by a deep commitment to supporting immigrants and helping them adapt to a new life in the United States. As Chief Quality Officer of Herald Christian Health Center, she upholds its mission of providing high-quality, affordable, and holistic health care to underserved communities.
Her impact extends far beyond healthcare. Cherry serves on the community advisory boards of SPIRITT Family Services and City of Hope, helping shape policies and programs that uplift those in need. During the pandemic, she demonstrated exceptional leadership, guiding a small team to assist thousands of individuals navigating unemployment benefits. Today, she leads a team that provides crucial services, including state compensation support and counseling for victims of crime, domestic violence, and active shootings.
Cherry’s dedication to public service is also evident in times of crisis. Following the Palisades fires, she spearheaded outreach efforts, personally ensuring that over 200 affected patients received the aid and support they needed.
It is an honor to recognize Cindy Saucedo for her unwavering dedication to the City of La Puente and its residents.
For over 30 years, Cindy has been a pillar of the community, serving as a Community Services Specialist and positively impacting generations of children and individuals with disabilities. As the lead instructor for the Tiny Tots program, she has fostered early childhood development, creating a nurturing environment where young learners feel supported and encouraged. Her influence is so profound that many of today’s Tiny Tots students are the second or even third generation in their families to experience Cindy’s care and guidance.
Cindy’s work extends to the Special Olympics program, which she helped launch three years ago. Through her leadership, countless athletes have found confidence, friendship, and a sense of accomplishment. She has also been instrumental in incorporating special needs accommodations into city events, ensuring inclusivity for all residents.
Cindy’s deep-rooted passion for serving her community has left an indelible mark on La Puente. Her dedication to fostering growth, learning, and inclusion has made a difference in the lives of so many.
Dawn Starek is a dedicated professional whose service as a Management Analyst for the City of La Habra Heights Fire Department has been instrumental in ensuring the department’s efficiency and success. Dawn plays a pivotal role in administrative operations, recruitment, and public outreach. Her work ensures firefighters are well-prepared to serve, and her efforts behind the scenes help the department maintain its high standards of excellence.
Always willing to step in, Dawn supports the department’s outreach efforts, whether it’s coordinating events, assisting with community engagement, or ensuring that the department is accessible and responsive to the needs of the public. Her unwavering dedication to the community is evident in everything she does, making her an invaluable part of the fire department team.
Beyond her professional contributions, Dawn has a deep passion for storytelling and advocacy. As a volunteer writer for Kourageous Kids Storybooks, she crafted personalized stories for terminally ill children, portraying them as heroes in tales inspired by their interests. She is also an advocate for rescue animals, having self-published Tails of My Rescue Dog and contributed to various publications supporting animal welfare.
Dawn’s unwavering dedication to service, both in her professional and personal life, makes her an invaluable asset to her community.
Linda Freedman, the current Mayor of the City of Walnut, is a lifelong public servant dedicated to strengthening her community.
First elected to the Walnut City Council in 2020 and re-elected in 2024, Linda has also served on the Parks and Recreation Commission and volunteered in numerous capacities throughout the city. Her career as a public school teacher in the Walnut Valley Unified School District reflects her deep commitment to education and youth development.
Beyond her role as Mayor, Linda serves on multiple regional boards and commissions, including the Local Governmental Control Services Commission, the LA County Library Commission, the Foothill Transit Board, and the League of California Cities Board. Her leadership ensures that Walnut remains a vibrant, well-resourced community.
Linda has lived in Walnut since 2004. She has been married to her husband, Mike, for 38 years. She has three children who are all married, and she is looking forward to the birth of her first grandchild in June.
Rachel Kirk has been a proud resident of Diamond Bar since 1971, dedicating decades to community service and advocacy.
As an Executive Board of the Los Angeles County Commission for Older Adults, she works to improve the lives of seniors throughout the region. She also serves on the Board of Friends of the Diamond Bar Library, co-chairs Read Together Diamond Bar, and is a passionate literacy advocate with over 40 years of experience as an LAUSD educator.
Rachel is a longtime member and past President of the Diamond Bar/Walnut American Association of University Women, advocating for women and girls. She was named the 2025 Diamond Bar Women’s Club Citizen of the Year and currently serves as 1st Vice President of the Tri-Counties Democratic Club. Additionally, in honor of her three veteran brothers, she honors them by volunteering with Making Spirits Bright for Military Families.
For over 54 years, Yvonne T. Gonzalez has called Pico Rivera home, dedicating her life to service, leadership, and community building.
In 1988, she co-founded a youth soccer program with 50 youth players that has since grown into a thriving league, providing opportunities for thousands of young athletes. The program continues to grow and now has a permanent soccer field located in Smith Park. Her passion for working with children and underserved communities has led her to volunteer with numerous organizations, including the Girl Scouts, Red Cross, Boys & Girls Club, the City of Pico Rivera, the Pico Rivera Chamber of Commerce, Pico Rivera Sheriff’s Department, City of Hope, Whittier/Pico Rivera Boys and Girls Club, Plaza De La Raza, and Alma Family Services. She has also volunteered at various Catholic charities such as Santa Mariana De Paredes Church, Angel Step Inn, St. Hilary’s Church, and St. Francis Xavier Church.
At Cintas Corporation, where she has worked for 18 years, Yvonne has led donation drives for food, clothing, school supplies, and hygiene products. As a dedicated member of WAVE (Women Adding Value Everywhere), she helps mentor and support women in their professional growth.
One of her most impactful initiatives is the Annual Christmas Toy Giveaway, which she has chaired since 2018, bringing holiday joy to over 500 children and their families each year—even during the pandemic.
Yvonne also serves on the Board of Directors for the Margaret Aylward Center, providing essential resources to families in need, including ministries, food assistance, clothing, counseling, ESL classes, sewing training, and citizenship preparation.
Allison Cho is a dedicated advocate for environmental sustainability, civic engagement, and youth leadership. She is the founder of Youth for Earth, a global coalition of 45 nonprofits spanning 16 countries, committed to promoting environmental literacy and sustainable practices.
As the California Policy Director for What We All Deserve, Allison has played a key role in shaping legislative efforts, helping draft five policy proposals and contributing to the passage of two California bills—Assembly Bill 1810 and Assembly Bill 3240. Her passion for public service is further reflected in her experience interning for both Assemblymember Lisa Calderon and Senator Bob Archuleta.
Committed to empowering young voices in government, Allison serves as the Policy Director for the California High School Democrats and as Speaker of the Assembly for Civic Leaders of America. At Rowland High School, she leads as ASB President and worked alongside the Superintendent to establish the district’s first Youth Advisory Board, ensuring that students have a platform to influence local education policies.
Allison believes that meaningful change begins with empathy and inclusion. She sees politics not just as a tool for reform but also as a means to expand access and ensure that all voices—especially those historically unheard—are part of the decision-making process.
Congratulations, Ms. Cho, and thank you for your leadership and dedication, you have a bright future ahead of you!