Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Category Archives: Women

The SAUSD confirms the hiring of Meléndez de Santa Ana as their Superintendent

Posted on by Posted in Education, Santa Ana, SAUSD, Women 60 Comments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Mr. Michael Bishop, (714) 558-5523

The Santa Ana Board of Education Appoints
Thelma Meléndez de Santa Ana as New Superintendent

SANTA ANA, CA – July 15, 2011 – The Santa Ana Board of Education has announced the appointment of Dr. Thelma Meléndez de Santa Ana as the next superintendent to lead the Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD). Dr. Meléndez will assume the duties of Superintendent on August 8, 2011. This item will be agendized for open session ratification on July 26, 2011, as required by Government Code. Continue reading→

A Latina is in the running to be the next Santa Ana City Attorney

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Latinos, Lawyers, Santa Ana, Women 7 Comments

The city of Santa Ana has made an offer to a candidate for its vacant city attorney position and is awaiting acceptance of the offer, according to City Hall sources, as reported by the Voice of OC Blog.

My own insiders are reporting that the next Santa Ana City Attorney is going to be a Latina candidate.  I don’t know her name yet but I will soon enough and then we will update this post. Continue reading→

Rep. Sanchez to take a tour of Little Saigon’s Business District

Posted on by Posted in Asians, Business, Garden Grove, Little Saigon, Loretta Sanchez, Santa Ana, Vietnamese, Women Leave a comment

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, Representing California’s 47th Congressional District

MEDIA ADVISORY, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 8, 2011
MEDIA CONTACT: Adrienne Watson 202-309-0825

REP. LORETTA SANCHEZ TO TOUR LITTLE SAIGON BUSINESS DISTRICT

WASHINGTON, D.C. –Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (CA-47), co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Vietnam and member of the bipartisan-bicameral Joint Economic Committee will join Vietnamese American business leaders and members of the Vietnamese-American Chamber of Commerce in Orange County and the Asian American Business Women Association to visit the Little Saigon Business District. The focus will be on Little Saigon’s small business community where she will meet with business owners and their employees to deliver a congressional update on the economy and jobs scheduled this Saturday, July 9, 2011 from 3:30pm – 6:00pm. Continue reading→

Rep. Sanchez issues statement regarding key human trafficking report

Posted on by Posted in Civil Rights, Federal Government, Loretta Sanchez, Politics, Santa Ana, Women Leave a comment

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, Representing California’s 47th Congressional District

PRESS RELEASE, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 28, 2011

MEDIA CONTACT: Adrienne Watson 202-309-0825

REP. LORETTA SANCHEZ ISSUES STATEMENT ON RELEASE OF KEY HUMAN TRAFFICKING REPORT

WASHINGTON, D.C. –Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (CA-47), co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Vietnam, today issued the following statement regarding the Department of State’s release of the 2011 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report. The TIP Report outlines the challenges face in preventing and prosecuting human trafficking cases in the U.S. and around the world. It is the product of a collaborative process involving the Department of State’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons and embassies and NGOs of 184 countries.

“The annual release of the Trafficking in Persons report by the State Department reflects the United States’ deep commitment to stop the brutal crime of human trafficking,” said Sanchez. “The exploitation of the world’s most defenseless and vulnerable citizens is immoral and unacceptable and I call upon all countries to confront this evil.

“Last year, as the most senior female on the House Armed Services Committee, I conducted military site visits and a security tour throughout critical parts of the Philippines, Cambodia, Singapore, and Taiwan. There, I had the opportunity to meet with a network of faith and community based NGOs to call attention to the plight of domestic workers and trafficking victims. It was so sad to see girls as young at 8 sold into domestic servitude, exploited for commercial sex, or forced into labor at factories and sweatshops.

“The TIP Report acknowledges countries that have made enormous strides in combating human trafficking around the world and these countries should be commended and encouraged to continue efforts. Other countries have willingly ignored the problem of human trafficking, failing to take steps to protect defenseless persons from those who seek to profit from a modern day slave trade.

“Vietnam, for the second year in a row, has been placed on the State Department’s Tier 2 Watch List. It is imperative that we secure a commitment from the Vietnamese government that they will strengthen their efforts to fight trafficking and will enact laws enhancing the government’s ability to prevent this terrible practice.”

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez is proud to represent California’s 47th Congressional District, which includes the cities of Anaheim, Garden Grove, Santa Ana, and parts of Fullerton in Orange County. She serves as Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces and a senior member of the Committee on Homeland Security. Rep. Sanchez is also a member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition and sits on the bipartisan, bicameral Joint Economic Committee.

# # #

United States House of Representatives
1114 Longworth House Office Building • Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-2965 • Fax: 202-225-5859

Weddings old and new, at the Santa Ana Historical Preservation Society

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Charities, Entertainment, Historical, Orange County, Women Leave a comment

Wedding Gowns, Tea, and Tours With Santa Ana Historical Preservation Society

The Santa Ana Historical Preservation Society requests the honor of your company at our Open House celebrating
“Weddings, Old and New,” on Saturday, June 4, 2011, from noon to four o’clock in the afternoon at the Dr. Willlella Howe-Waffle House, in Santa Ana.

Included with your tour of this 1889 Victorian gem is a display of vintage and contemporary wedding gowns, and wedding photos ranging from the early 1900s to today. Enjoy delicious tea and sweets, browse through an extensive collection of books on local history in our gift shop, and take home a “wedding party favor”.

Adults $5, Seniors and Members $4, Students K-12 $3

And to make the day even more unique, walk across the street to the Old Orange County Courthouse to enjoy a free special showing at 2 pm of Buster Keaton’s silent film classic “College”, accompanied on organ by William Campbell!

The Dr Willella Howe-Waffle House and Medical Museum is located at 120 Civic Center Drive West, Santa Ana, California. Read more about us at www.SantaAnaHistory.com, or call 714/547-9645.

Women’s Summit Project, at Casa de Familia on June 11

Posted on by Posted in Charities, Churches and Religion, Education, Entertainment, Women Leave a comment

Women’s Summit Project “I Am Woman”

Empowerment * Leadership * Community Resources

Saturday June 11, 2011
9:00 am to 3:00pm

  • Motivational talks
  • Workshops in English and Spanish
  • Entertainment
  • Raffles and gifts
  • Breakfast and lunch
  • Childcare provided

SAINT ANTHONY CLARET CATHOLIC CHURCH
1450 East La Palma Avenue; Anaheim, Ca. 92805

TO REGISTER CONTACT:

Gabriela Gonzalez, at 714-667.5220

Organized by: www.casadelafamilia.org

Video of Grrl Fair protest at the Santa Ana Artists Village

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Santa Ana, Women 3 Comments

The Grrl Fair Collective held their misguided protest this Saturday, May 6, at the Santa Ana Artists Village Art Walk.

The protest was spurred by allegations that an artist in the basement of the Santora building harassed various members of the Grrl Fair Collective when they held an event in the Santora Building on March 12 of this year.

Andy Verostek, an artist at the Santora, has written a post about the allegations by the Grrl Fair collective that an artist at the Santora harassed a number of them at their recent event.  Click here to read his account, which clearly debunks the allegations made by the OC Weekly – which include irresponsible charges that the artists at the Santora building covered up what happened.

Judging from the video, it does not look like very many folks showed up to support this protest.

Grrl Fair collective planning a misguided protest at the next Art Walk

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Santa Ana, Women 15 Comments

UPDATE: Andy Verostek, an artist at the Santora, has written a post about the allegations by the Grrl Fair collective that an artist at the Santora harassed a number of them at their recent event.  Click here to read his account, which clearly debunks the allegations made by the OC Weekly.

“Organizers of this year’s Grrl Fair collective,the county’s decade-old celebration of all things womyn, are planning a protest May 7 in SanTana’s Artists Village during its next Art Walk,” according to the OC Weekly.  You can also read about it over at the Orange Juice blog.

The OC Weekly article explains that “They claim that during their March 12 Grrl Fair in downtown SanTana, an artist in the Santora Building constantly groped underage girls, and that Santora management (under the rule of mega-developer Mike Harrah), artists, and the city’s police department have not bothered with their pleas for action.”

Protesting the Art Walk and ripping Mike Harrah, who owns the Santora Building, is ridiculous.  Harrah cannot do anything about this.  It is a police matter, but the police cannot do anything either.  The comments left by readers indicate that the reason the SAPD has not opened an investigation is that none of those making allegations have been willing to put their name on a formal police report.  No names – no report.  That is how this works.

Until the women who were groped actually file police reports, nothing is going to happen.  This planned protest is just going to hurt innocent artists who had nothing to do with any of this.

There are allegations that the artists knew beforehand that they had a pervy guy in their midst.  If true, the question is – what could they have done?  I have seen all sorts of pervy guys at the Art Walks – including a bunch of local politicians known for cheating on their wives.

This incident however does open up a can of worms for the Art Walk in that there are also allegations that the alleged groper was very drunk.  The fact is that many of the art galleries serve alcohol during the Art Walk, and even those that don’t serve it often have liquor on hand for the artists themselves.  Should this tradition continue?  Or should we leave the alcohol service to the bars and restaurants in the Artists Village?  I am told that the Santa Ana Planning Commission is going to look into this.

Laundry Love Santa Ana, this Thursday

Posted on by Posted in Charities, Civic Affairs, Entertainment, Women, Working Families 5 Comments

Join Laundry Love Santa Ana this Thursday for a regular opportunity to help people who are struggling financially by assisting them with doing their laundry.

Relationships are built, and and we hope to become a small community of common concern in which participants find that they receive assistance and benefit with other areas of their lives as well.

Time: Thursday, April 21 · 7:30pm – 10:30pm

Location: Lavanderia Santa Ana

406 East Santa Ana Blvd
Santa Ana, CA

Click here to RSVP.

11th Annual NHBWA Awards and Scholarships Dinner on May 19

Posted on by Posted in Business, Charities, Entertainment, Latino Leaders, Orange County, Santa Ana, Women Leave a comment

The National Hispanic Business Women Association (NHBWA) cordially invites you to join community and business leaders, friends, and supporters at our 11th Annual Awards and Scholarships Dinner, honoring 2011 Business Women of the Year and Educational Scholarships.

Deadline to RSVP is May 15, 2011.  Click here to register now.

2011 Women of the Year Honorees include:

  • Sandra Hutchens, O.C. Sheriff-Coroner, for Community Service
  • Milly Lago, Santa Ana Library, for Education
  • and Angelica Navarro-Sigala, Esq., from the Law Offices of John R. Alcorn, for Small Business

EVENT LOCATION:

DoubleTree Hotel – Santa Ana
201 E. MacArthur Blvd.
Santa Ana, CA 92707

DATE AND TIME:

Thursday, May 19, 2011
6:00 PM PDT

UNABLE TO ATTEND?

You can still support our NHBWA Scholars in any of the following ways (click each link for details):

Advertise on our program!

Adopt-A-Scholar!

Support our Silent Auction!

Rep. Sanchez creates congressional caucus on women in the military

Posted on by Posted in Federal Government, Loretta Sanchez, Military, Politics, Santa Ana, Women Leave a comment

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, Representing California’s 47th Congressional District

PRESS RELEASE, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 14, 2011

MEDIA CONTACT: Adrienne Watson 202-309-0825

REP. SANCHEZ CREATES CONGRESSIONAL CAUCUS ON WOMEN IN THE MILITARY

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (CA-47) announced the creation of the Congressional Caucus on Women in the Military. Rep. Sanchez will act as Chair to the newly formed caucus, which will serve as an informal group dedicated to educating Members of Congress on the various challenges women face while serving in the military including sexual assault, availability of health service specific to the needs of service women and exclusion policies which hinder female service member’s professional growth as a member of the U.S. Armed Forces.

“As the highest ranking woman on the House Armed Services Committee, I have worked hard to make the military a safer and more equal institution for those who choose to dedicate their lives to serving our country,” said Sanchez. “By establishing the Congressional Caucus on Women in the Military, I hope to educate my colleagues on the unique challenges faced by female service members as they struggle to find their place in this traditionally male-dominated institution. I am excited to Chair this newly created Caucus and I look forward to sharing my perspectives with my colleagues as we work to open doors for the next generation of women in the military.”

Rep. Sanchez is committed to creating a safe and healthy environment for female service members. In the this year’s Defense Authorization Act, Rep. Sanchez is advocating for language barring military commanders of sexual assault victims from involvement in the prosecution and giving the victim the option to transfer to another unit immediately or at least to a Warrior Transition Unit while the case is being investigated. Rep. Sanchez also requested that service members convicted of sexual assault within the military justice system be placed on the sex offender registry.

Rep. Sanchez supports a thorough review of policies that hinder professional advancement for women in the military. Last Congress she offered an amendment to the 2011 National Defense Authorization Act directing the Secretary of Defense to give the military the authorization to assign members of the armed services to units based on the needs of the unit, regardless of gender.

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez is proud to represent California’s 47th Congressional District, which includes the cities of Anaheim, Garden Grove, Santa Ana, and parts of Fullerton in Orange County. She serves as Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces and a senior member of the Committee on Homeland Security. Rep. Sanchez is also a member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition and sits on the bipartisan, bicameral Joint Economic Committee.

# # #

United States House of Representatives
1114 Longworth House Office Building • Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-2965 • Fax: 202-225-5859

NLBWA-OC to host a network mixer at Casa de la Familia on April 12

Posted on by Posted in Business, Entertainment, Santa Ana, Women Leave a comment

Time: Tuesday, April 12 · 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Location: Casa de la Familia – 1650 E 4th Street, Suite 101, Santa Ana, CA 92701

NLBWA OC will be holding its April Member Hosted Network Mixer at Casa de la Familia in Santa Ana, CA. We are excited to have Doctora Nogales, Director and Founder of Casa de la Familia, generously host our event at their Orange County location.

Doctora Nogales is a psychologist, an author and a playwright. She has developed a curriculum based on her book, Latina Power, to empower teenagers to break the circle of violence called Lateena Power. She has had radio and TV programs in LA and she is launching a community digital magazine called “Doctora Ana, Salud Psicología y Vida”.

Casa de la Familia is a nonprofit that offers mental health services, outreach and engagement platforms as well as educational programs. Please join us to learn more about this wonderful non-profit and to mingle with like minded professionals in the Orange County area. We look forward to see you and your friends there!

Wine and appetizers will be provided.

This free event is open to members, non-members and guests.

Please register by clicking here.

Correa’s reception to honor women making a difference is on March 24

Posted on by Posted in Education, Entertainment, Lou Correa, Politics, Santa Ana, SAUSD, Women Leave a comment

Please join Senator Lou Correa with special guest California State Superintendent of Public Education Tom Torlakson in celebrating Women’s History Month at a special Women Making a Difference awards reception, in recognition of the 34th District’s 2011 Woman of the Year: Jane Russo, Superintendent, Santa Ana Unified School District & Women Making a Difference Award Recipients, including a Special Tribute to Women Veterans.

This Thursday, March  2 4 , 2 0 1 1 • 4 – 6 pm, at McFadden Intermediate School, located at 2701 South Raitt Avenue, in Santa Ana.  Enjoy a spring afternoon with refreshments, legislative updates, and inspiration.

For more information or to rsvp, please call the District Office at 714.558.4400 or email Maggie.Moreno@sen.ca.gov.

Assemblyman Solorio honors Lucy Santana-Ornelas, Exec. Director of Girls Inc.

Posted on by Posted in Anaheim, Democratic Party, Jose Solorio, Politics, Santa Ana, Women Leave a comment

Assemblyman Solorio Honors Advocate for Girls at Woman of the Year Ceremony

Lucy Santana-Ornelas, Executive Director for Girls Inc., receives award on Assembly floor

SACRAMENTO – State Assemblyman Jose Solorio’s (D-Anaheim) choice for the Sixty-Ninth Assembly District’s Woman of the Year is Executive Director for Girls Inc. Orange County, Lucy Santana-Ornelas. She traveled to Sacramento today to receive the honor at a recognition ceremony held on the Assembly floor.

“Lucy has dedicated her heart, soul, time and talent to the girls and young women in our community,” says Solorio. “She exemplifies the mission of her organization, ‘inspiring all girls to be strong, smart and bold.’”

Born in Santa Ana, Lucy Santana-Ornelas is a graduate of Santa Ana High School, Santa Ana College and obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University, Fullerton (CSUF). Santana-Ornelas frequently tells her story of overcoming the advice of a high school counselor who told her to not bother pursuing college. Thankfully, she didn’t listen. In 2008, she was highlighted as one of 50 distinguished Latino graduates of CSUF at the university’s 50th Anniversary.

Santana-Ornelas’s entire career and adult life have been spent in public service. She has an extensive awareness of Orange County community issues and needs and is passionate about creating opportunities for underserved youth, especially girls age 4-1/2 to 18.

“We are seeing girls experience low self-esteem and body image issues at a younger age than ever before,” Santana-Ornelas says. “Girls Inc. can help break the barriers to success for those girls by providing girl-focused programs, adult role models and exposure to the world beyond their neighborhoods.”

Santana-Ornelas is particularly proud of integrated projects that increase girls’ interest in science, technology, engineering, and math by involving students in solving authentic problems, working with others, and building real solutions. Last year, Girls Inc. served 4,700 girls in Orange County. In an age of shrinking social services, Girls Inc.’s budget is projected to grow from $1.7 million to $ 2.5 million.

“We are so fortunate that our funding has increased during these tough economic times. Our proven success in helping girls achieve their potential and the recognition of the growing need for our services are huge factors in our growth,” says Santana-Ornelas. The agency is scheduled to serve over 54 outreach program locations this year. Girls Inc. is funded mainly by public/private foundation grants, corporate giving and individual donations.

“This honor is the California Assembly’s way of saying thank you for your dedication,” said Solorio. “And thank you for changing the lives of thousands of Orange County’s young women.”

State Assemblyman Jose Solorio is the Chair of the Assembly Insurance Committee and also serves on the Assembly Appropriations and Transportation committees. He represents the Sixty-Ninth Assembly District, which includes the cities of Anaheim, Garden Grove, and Santa Ana. For more information about Assemblyman Solorio, visit www.assembly.ca.gov/solorio.