Verdugos News

PASADENA, CA — On Saturday, May 6, Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28) hosted an annual Congressional Women of the Year Awards Ceremony to honor local women in the San Gabriel Valley who have contributed to the community through service, organizing, or leadership. The award, now in its 13th year, is given to women nominated by people in their own cities and communities.

“The annual Women of the Year Awards Ceremony is one of my favorite events of the year,” said Rep. Chu. “The honorees have stood out in our communities because of their drive and commitment to give back to the San Gabriel Valley. Every single honoree has been selected through an exhaustive process that begins with a nomination from their neighbors, friends, and family—the people in their communities who have benefited most directly from their service. We received a flood of nominations from cities across the district, and the winners stood out not only because of their passion and drive, but because of the admiration from their neighbors and fellow citizens. I’m so proud of these role models and am honored to be recognizing them.”

The 2023 honorees are:

• Dr. Marcia Wilson – Alhambra School Board Member – Alhambra
  • Dr. Marcia R. Wilson’s lifelong dedication to education, civic engagement, advocacy, and volunteerism is a legacy that stems from her parents’ involvement in the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s and 1970’s. She earned her B.A, M.S.W., and Ph.D. at the University of Southern California and joined the faculty at the Suzanne Dworak-Peck School Social Work, where she has been an adjunct professor for over 30 years—teaching in both the MSW and DSW programs and launching their online M.S.W. program. Dr. Wilson also serves as Dean of Pathway Innovation and Institutional Effectiveness and is Dean of Equity Initiatives, including the Re-entry Pathway, Employment and Career Success, and Strong Workforce Programs at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College. An active parent booster while her sons attended Alhambra Unified School District (AUSD) schools, Dr. Wilson held multiple PTA leadership roles after her family moved to the district in 2000. She also served on the Citizen’s Oversight Committee for Measure C & MM to oversee the bond construction at AUSD schools and on the board of the Alhambra Educational Foundation for seven years.
• Yoland Treviño – Founder, Pasadena/Altadena Coalition Transformative Leaders –Altadena
  • Yoland Treviño is Board President and Executive Director of Pasadena/Altadena Coalition of Transformative Leaders (PACTL), a nonprofit Family Resource Center in Pasadena that provides innovative and crucial programs for children, parent, families, and professionals of the Greater San Gabriel Valley and Pacoima since 2011. PACTL works to advance social justice and transformative community leadership, though its human-centered, parent- and youth-led programs and services. She has devoted her professional career and international work to addressing social challenges of the world. Her work with families has made her an expert in the field, and she has met with world dignitaries including Hilary Clinton, Nelson Mandela, and Mother Theresa. Ms. Treviño was born in Guatemala and immigrated to the US as a youth in 1996. She is married, the mother of two adult professionals, and grandmother to two college students. She moved to Pasadena in 1974 and has been engaged locally since that time. Ms. Treviño is deeply passionate about the natural leadership of parents and youth and believes that parents are powerful teachers.
• Diana O'Brien – Queen of Pickleball – Claremont and Upland
  • Diana O’Brien’s journey to being crowned the “Queen of Pickleball” began in 2017 when she identified the sport's popularity and rallied support for it at the Claremont Club, even lobbying for the conversion of two well-trafficked tennis courts into eight pickleball areas. She spent long hours teaching the fundamentals of the game, hosting social events, recruiting players, and creating a welcoming social and athletic environment for everyone. Her dedication to the sport paid off, and the pickleball community quickly grew in popularity. Unfortunately, the growth of the sport coincided with the pandemic, which forced the closure of the Claremont Club. But not one to be deterred, Ms. O’Brien kept pickleball alive and took it upon herself to teach the sport at Larkin and Wheeler Park in Claremont. For many residents, the sport gave them an outlet to express themselves and get out of the house during difficult times. Ms. O’Brien currently divides her time as the Pickleball Coach at the Upland Sports Arena, where she started teaching in early 2021, and as the Racquetball Director at the Claremont Club.
• Caroline Anderson – Board Member, La Cañada USD – La Cañada Flintridge
  • In 2020 at the height of the pandemic, long time education advocate Caroline Anderson decided to run for a seat on the La Cañada Unified School District Board of Education. This was a difficult time to run a campaign, but Ms. Anderson was passionate about doing more for the youth in our community and ended up being the highest vote getter in that race. More importantly, she smashed through a glass ceiling becoming not only the first Asian American on the Board, but also becoming the first woman of color on it. Since then, Ms. Anderson has been instrumental in shepherding the district through the COVID-19 lockdowns and ensuring the best instructional practices. In addition to her work during the pandemic, her leadership has helped the Board pass a 3-year Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion plan that is now in its second year of implementation. This achievement that will make a lasting impact on the district and its students.
• Dora Leung – President, Greater Monterey Park Chamber of Commerce - Monterey Park
  • Dora Leung’s journey to success has been nothing short of awe-inspiring. Born and raised in Hong Kong, she pursued her dream of studying abroad in the United States through sheer determination and hard work. Ms. Leung graduated from California State University, Fullerton with a major in International Business in 1999. She has continued to enhance her real estate and business investment acumen, earning the prestigious Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) designation from the California Association of REALTORS® and currently working towards the Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) certificate, showcasing her expertise in financial and market analysis, commercial leasing, sales, and investment. Ms. Leung’s dedication to her profession is matched only by her unwavering commitment to her community. As a resident of the City of Monterey Park for over a decade, she has been an active participant in local affairs, making significant contributions to the Greater Monterey Park Chamber of Commerce and currently serving as the vice chair of the Economic Development Commission.
• Pixie Boyden – Management Information Systems Director at USC – Pasadena
  • Pixie Boyden is the Management Information Systems Director for University of Southern California Rossier School of Education and is a current Adjunct Professor for Pasadena City College and Compton Community College. Ms. Boyden holds a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology from the University of Phoenix and an Executive Masters of Business Administration from Loyola Marymount University. She has been in the technology field for more than 29 years. Her love for technology pushed her to create Tech Girls E3 Academy, which is a STEM camp for middle school girls designed to help young girls engage in math and science concepts through project-based experiences with robotics. Ms. Boyden is also civically engaged in her community and has served on several nonprofit boards including STEAM:CODERS, Rose Bowl Operating Company, National Women’s Political Caucus-Greater Pasadena Area (NWPC-GPA), Women at Work, NATHA, Latino Heritage Association, ACLU-Pasadena, among others. Her focus has always been to ensure that her community’s voice is being heard and those who are underrepresented in the community have a seat at the table.
• Julia Gouw – Pasadena
  • Julia Gouw is a retired President and Chief Operating Officer of East West Bank. She was ranked one of the “25 Most Powerful Women in Banking” five times by American Banker magazine and has received the Los Angeles Business Journal’s “Women Making a Difference” award two times. Ms. Gouw has been a proponent in advancing Asian representation in entertainment. She was honored as an “Entertainment Game Changer” at Asia Society Southern California’s U.S Asia Entertainment Summit. She is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures and has been a leading contributor to its Asian Programming. Ms. Gouw also funded the Julia S. Gouw Short Film Challenge run by CAPE (Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment) and Janet Yang Productions for AAPI Women and Non-Binary writers. Ms. Gouw was recently selected as an AAPI Heritage Month Honoree by California Asian American & Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus. She has sought throughout her career and life to uplift AAPI women to positions of power.
• Helen Romero Shaw – Asian Youth Center Board Member – San Gabriel
  • When it comes to community dedication, few individuals can match the passion and commitment of Helen Romero Shaw. Her extraordinary work in the San Gabriel Valley is a testament to her unwavering commitment to community service. As a Board Member for the Asian Youth Center (AYC), an organization that empowers low-income, immigrant, and at-risk youth in the San Gabriel Valley, Ms. Romero Shaw has been instrumental in ensuring the success of several initiatives. In fact, she has held multiple leadership roles within AYC, including serving as President for two years, Vice President, and Treasurer. Her focus has been on developing job skills in young people so they are better prepared for the workforce. She is also involved in several community-based organizations, including serving as Board President for the Rosemead Chamber of Commerce, and Board Member for the Arcadia and Alhambra Chambers.
• Melody Lomboy-Lowe – Cancer Survivor – Sierra Madre
  • Melody Lomboy-Lowe was born and raised in Sierra Madre. She was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia at age six and has been a cancer warrior ever since. She was given a 50 percent chance of survival and was treated at City of Hope for three years until age nine. Being a survivor set her on a life-long path to help newly diagnosed cancer patients. Ms. Lomboy-Lowe is a graduate of UC Irvine, where she was awarded a scholarship as a collegiate swimmer. She graduated with a double major in sociology and art history. Motivated by her cancer experience, she and her niece co-founded the nonprofit, Luna Peak Foundation Inc. They focus on creating books and products that inspire and celebrate life. They are passionate about elevating the stories of survivors in the cancer and grief communities, and they strive to inspire others to embrace life with the same vigor. Together, they also founded Luna Peak Publishing to make books that elevate survivor stories, celebrate life, and give back.
• Yuki Cutcheon – President of South Pasadena Chinese-American Club – South Pasadena
  • Yuki Cutcheon and her husband John Au immigrated to the U.S. from Canada in 1999 and moved in 2000 to South Pasadena, where they raised both of their children. When her daughter started school, Ms. Cutcheon began volunteering. She held almost every PTA position in the South Pasadena Unified School District, even serving as the Council PTA President for two years. Ms. Cutcheon chaired the SPUSD Bond Measure committee in 2016—securing voter approval for $80 million to improve and expand facilities and infrastructure. In 2017, she was awarded the coveted SPUSD Apple Award for Volunteer of the Year. She became involved with the City of South Pasadena, co-chairing a campaign measure committee that succeeded in preserving a valuable local Utility User Tax (UUT). Since then, she has co-chaired the campaign to pass every measure proposed by the City. Most recently, a 2022 parcel tax renewal for the local library passed by nearly 87%. Ms. Cutcheon is also President of the South Pasadena Chinese Club and successfully coordinated the city’s first AAPI Heritage Month Festival.

Issues: Women's Rights

Original source can be found here.