Politically savvy women packed Ukiah’s Saturday Afternoon Club last weekend for the 37th Women’s History Gala, a fundraiser for the Mendocino Women’s Political Coalition.
For nearly four decades, the Coalition has funded candidates forums, women’s political trainings, promoted diversity and local women in politics through outreach, mentoring and leadership training and financial support.
The annual Women’s History Gala is the platform to spotlight women in the county who exemplify that spirit, and is the only fundraising event the MWPC will hold this year.
This year’s theme was the” Valiant Women of The Vote,” celebrating the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution granting women the right vote.
State Treasurer Fiona Ma was a guest speaker, there were speeches, singing, and a silent auction to raise money for the MWPC.
Four local women were honored, including MWPC co-founder Val Muchowski, who was also awarded the “Bella Abzug Award for Passion in Politics.”
For decades, Muchowski has been a fixture on the local political scene, agitating for diversity and equality and helping promote women to leadership positions in Mendocino County.
In addition to Muchowski, the Gala honored Jackeline Orozco, co-publisher of Al Punto, the local Spanish language newspaper, Barbara Bristol of the American Association of University Women and Carrie Durkee, citizen activist with the Grassroots Institute.
Guest speaker Kelda Britton raised awareness around Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women.
The overflow crowd at the Saturday Afternoon Club Gala were treated to rousing performances by the Raging Grannies and local singing duo Roseanne Weitzel and Haley Harris Moore.
The 37th Annual Women’s History Gala celebration was
presented by the Mendocino Women’s Political Coalition and sponsored by the American Association of University Women of Ukiah and the Mendocino Office of Education and Cloud Forest Institute.