By Sarah Kim

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Glendale’s Alex Theatre Courtyard was a flurry of activity on September 10th, as over 200 attendees, ranging from CEOs to students, gathered for the city’s second annual Women’s Equality Day Celebration. This sold-out event was an interplay of networking, panel discussions, and exhibitions aiming to educate and empower women. In a statement obtained by the City of Glendale, Mayor Ara Najarian lauded the event’s ability to pull together diverse voices, saying, “every voice matters in advancing equity and opportunity for women in Glendale and beyond.”

One of the event highlights detailed by the City of Glendale was the panel discussion titled “Mind the Gap: Leveling the Playing Field for Women at Work, at Home, and in Business,” featuring influential leaders like Honorable Maria Lucy Armendariz, Judge of the Los Angeles Superior Court, and Melody Safavizadeh, Supervisor for Avionics Testbeds at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The conversation centered on strategies to navigate and dismantle barriers that women often face, setting the tone for an evening of profound insights and shared experiences.

The networking sessions buzzed with the transfer of knowledge according to Dr. Ramella Markarian, Chair of the Commission on the Status of Women, who told the City of Glendale, “I saw mentors pass along wisdom that could shape a young woman’s entire career path.” This spirit of mentorship and collaboration was encapsulated in a collaborative art project where young attendees offered their definitions of women’s equality, with words like “resilience” and “fearless” adorning large panels for all to add to.

Supporting the quest for business success, the event also connected attendees with resources from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), Glendale Economic Development Department, and other business-focused organizations. A post-event survey is set to guide the Commission on the Status of Women in crafting future programs, while an upcoming City Council vote on September 30 will determine crucial updates to the Commission’s ordinance to further women and girl’s equity and opportunity.

More about Glendale’s progress in advocating for women, event multimedia, and resources can be found on the city’s official website. They encourage visitors to keep up with the latest by following them on their social media platforms @MyGlendale.