San Diego Women’s Week Celebrates Women’s Role in the World. · HUD Toll-Free at 1-800-669-9777. Th Toll-free telephone number for the hearing impaired is 1-800-927-9275. Read

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MARCH 2015

S P E C I A L W O M E N ’ S I S S U E

San Diego Women’s Week

CelebratesWomen’s Role in the World.

Page 10

GRETCHEN RUBIN

NAOMI TUTU

AKIKO MIKAMO

ALICIA GWYNN SUSAN PACKARD

C OV E R STO RY

16Feel-Great Lifestyle TipsThe American Heart Association/AmericanStroke Association says that about 31 percentof U.S. adults say they participate in no leisuretime physical activity and more than 159 millionU.S. adults are overweight or obese. With the in-creasing daily demands of life, how canwomen take control and prioritize healthyhabits? Contributing writer Katelyn O’Riordanoffers five feel-great tips.

Chairman | CEORobert Page

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PublisherRebeca Page

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Managing EditorManny Cruz

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Graphic DesignerChristopher Baker

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Photography/IllustrationEric Peters

David Rottenberg

Contributing WritersCecilia Buckner

Adriana CaraMichael Denzinger

Courtney DwyerMeagan Garland

Colette MauzeralleKatelyn O’Riordan

Delle WillettJohn Zygowicz

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ON THE COVER:

San Diego Women’s WeekIn her new book, “New Rules of the Game: 10 Strategies for Women in theWorkplace,” Susan Packard, co-founder of HGTV (pictured), shows howwomen can achieve their career goals using techniques of what she calls“gamesmanship.” Packard is one of several notable female trailblazers whowill offer their views on women’s empowerment at this year’s San DiegoWomen’s Week, a five-day conference sponsored by the North San DiegoBusiness Chamber March 16-20. Page 10.

MARCH 2015|Issue 2 |Volume 30 Our mission is to always pro-

vide quality journalism for our readers by being fair, accurate

and ethical and a credible resource for our advertisers.

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Women’s Hall of FameSix women who have made profound changesin their communities and improved the lives ofother women have been inducted into the SanDiego County Women’s Hall of Fame for 2015.Among them is Lee Ann Kim (pictured), a first-generation Korean American and the execu-tive director of the Pacific Arts Movement,chosen for her ongoing efforts reflecting thevalues of the Hall of Fame.

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Inspirational WomenMalala Yousafzai is a Pakistani activist known forher advocacy for education and for women inher native Swat Valley in Pakistan, where thelocal Taliban had banned girls from attendingschool. Yousafzai is one of six women writer DelleWillett calls out as persons who have inspired herfor their bravery and leadership.

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Working Women: Job Vs. FamilyOn a typical workday for Erin Rooker, her alarmgoes off at 4 a.m. The marketing specialist withTurner Construction Co. gets up to exercise andspend time with her 2-year-old daughter be-fore she heads to the office at 7 a.m. She’shome by 4:30 p.m. and puts her daughter tobed by 7 p.m. Rooker and her husband thenmeal prep for the next day and relax a bit be-fore lights are out at 9 p.m. She is one of themany women who try to balance work withfamily responsibilities.

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Rendering of the i3 campus.

BioMed Realty Trust Inc. has broken ground on a new 316,000-square-foot laboratory and office campus designed to meet the real es-tate needs of San Diego’s life sciences industry. i3 is centered in theUniversity Town Centre area of the city. The project is expected to becompleted in mid-2016.

The i3 campus will bring together the key elements needed by life sci-ence companies and their employees. For life science companies to thrive,grow and conduct great research they require an environment with flex-ible design, great amenities and easy access to transportation.

Besides a 16,000-square-foot amenities area, the campus will havethree 100,000-square-foot, fully customizable buildings with adaptablelab zones enabling companies to more effectively create the environmentsof innovation unique to their science. The company said the campus willcreate an atmosphere of connectivity, innovation and collaboration withoutdoor conferencing and auditorium, an open courtyard programmedwith activities for employees, modern fitness center and a market andcafe.

“San Diego’s life science industry is bursting at the seams with tremen-dous innovation, and i3 will become the destination for life science inSan Diego,” said Alan Gold, chairman and CEO of BioMed Realty.

BioMed Realty estimates life science real estate in San Diego to beapproximately 94 percent occupied, leaving fewer options for new com-panies to start and existing companies to grow and expand.

Another key element of the i3 design is that it is expected to achieveLEED Platinum certification. The project is expected to include manysustainable features such as one of the first green roofs in San Diego, on-site bio-filtration zones, use of recycled water for irrigation and coolingtowers, fuel cell energy generation, operable windows, and a net-zeroamenity area.

BioMed Realty Trust Breaks Ground OnCampus to Serve Life Sciences Industry

SAN DIEGOSCENE


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Lisa Martens, a principal with the Fish& Richardson law firm, has been installedas chair of Athena San Diego’s 2015 boardof directors. Athena is an organization thatfosters and promotes personal and profes-sional growth through educational andmotivational programs that address key is-sues in life science, health care, defense, en-gineering and other related industries.

The organization also provides network-ing opportunities that contribute to the vi-tality of women’s roles in business andnurtures the next generation of women ex-ecutives.

“In the coming year, the board and I willbe focusing on the power of the Athenanetwork,” says Martens. “We will also beconcentrating on expanding the resourceswe provide to our sponsors and members.”

In addition to Martens, the other electedboard officers are Karen Fisher of the

OneRoof Energy as vice chair and JulieBurgess of Otonomy Inc. as treasurer.

The new directors include: Erna Adel-son, Sony Network Entertainment; Gem-ini Babla, Qualcomm; Jennifer Cayer,Remplex Pharmaceuticals; Michele Com-tois, Barney & Barney LLC; Karen De-schaine, Cooley LLP;

Maureen Feerick, Deloitte & ToucheLLP; Cathy Gonzales, KPMG LLP; Em-ilie Hersh, InterKnowlogy; Sabrina John-son, WomanCare Global; ConstanceMaples, Merrill Lynch; Tracy Parrott, Tra-gara Pharmaceuticals;

Leni Preciado, HSBC; Gwen Rosen-berg, Senomyx Inc.; Dawn Saunders,Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky andPopeo PC; Joan Stafslien, CareFusion; An-nette Winn, Compensia; Nicola Zahl, Pe-diatric Bioscience Inc.

Lisa Martens Chairs Athena San Diego Board

When most people meet Robin Lay-ton, president & CEO of EducationalEnrichment Systems, they see a seasonedexecutive who is comfortable lobbyingstate legislators, engaging philanthropists,and serving on multiple advisoryboards. They see a powerful advocate forearly childhood education who is cele-brating 30 years at the helm of SanDiego’s Educational Enrichment Systems(EES), a nonprofit preschool networkthat serves more than 1,100 children fromlow-income, working families.

They don’t see that Layton knows ex-actly what it’s like to walk in the shoes ofthe families her organization serves.“Today I have a nice middle class life, butI grew up in Montebello, near East LosAngeles with a single mother who reallystruggled to keep a roof over our head,”says Layton. “I saw my mother jugglethree jobs and go to college at night soher children could have a better life.” Partof that was making sure Layton and herthree siblings got the best possible educa-tion.

It wasn’t always easy because youngLayton had to work after school to pitchin with household expenses. But as luckwould have it, this hardship introducedRobin to her life’s passion: early child-hood education. She was 15 years oldwhen she started working as a preschoolteacher and hasn’t looked back since.“Watching young children light up asthey learn about language, math, and sci-ence is nothing short of magical,” Layton

says. “After college, I knew I wanted towork in this field, but felt my skills wouldbe put to their best and highest purposeas an administrator because I could helpexpand access to child care for families.”

Two weeks after graduating from highschool, Layton came to San Diego to at-tend San Diego State University. At 25,she was hired as the president & CEO ofEducational Enrichment Systems, a fairlynew organization with three preschoolsites. Today, EES has 22 child develop-ment centers throughout the county.

“Education is a great equalizer,” ex-plains Layton, citing studies indicatingthat children who attend a high qualitypreschool are well prepared for kinder-garten and future academic success. Fur-ther, these children are less likely to beheld back in school, require special edu-cation, drop out of high school, or becomepart of the criminal justice system.“Preschool benefits children and theirfamilies, but there are very real social andeconomic benefits for the entire commu-nity.”

Robin Layton: Powerful Advocate for Children

Robin Layton


LisaMartens



IDW Publishing announced plans tomove its headquarters into the NTC Arts& Culture District in Liberty Station andto open a new San Diego Comic ArtGallery in the district.

The new offices and gallery will be lo-cated in two renovated former barracksbuildings that were among the first build-ings constructed in 1923 for Naval Train-ing Center San Diego. IDW Publishingwill become the largest tenant in the artsdistrict with offices of 18,300 square feet.

The grand opening is scheduled forJune 1.

The San Diego Comic Art Gallery willlocated within the IDW offices, designedto educate and engage visitors with thesequential comic book and graphic arts.

“The SDCAG will create a permanent

home in San Diego as a showcase for thiscelebrated art form, already associatedwith San Diego, thanks to Comic-ConInternational,” the company said in its an-nouncement. “With a retail space, agallery of original art from comics andanimation, and actual working artists onthe premises, the SDCAG is an entirelynew kind of venture. Through events, au-thor and artist appearances, art installa-tions and celebrations, the SDCAG willbecome a destination to worldwide fansof the medium, and cement San Diego’sstatus as a capital of the comic arts.”

The first installation will be an exten-sive showcase of the work of Kevin East-man, co-creator of the Teenage MutantNinja Turtles, and local San Diego resi-dent. Harry L. Katz, former head Cura-

tor in the Prints and Photographs Divi-sion at the Library of Congress, has beennamed the curator of SDCAG.

“IDW joins more than 80 artists,dance companies, museums, galleries,music groups and art schools in SanDiego’s largest cultural district outside ofBalboa Park,” said NTC Foundation Ex-ecutive Director Alan Ziter. “Their newSan Diego Comic Art Gallery will be agreat addition to the numerous art gal-leries and museums already at NTC andwe look forward to the creative collabo-rations ahead.”

The design and build out of IDW’smove into the historic buildings is beingmade possible with the assistance of SanDiego area businesses Good & RobertsLLC and obrARCHITECTURE inc.

New San Diego Comic Art Gallery To Open at Liberty Station in Point Loma

Rendering of the San Diego Comic Art Gallery.

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Small drones could become a familiar

sight across the nation’s skies if the gov-ernment adopts proposals that are largelyfavorable to commercial use of the remote-controlled aircraft.

An economic analysis by the FederalAviation Administration envisions smalldrones -- defined as those weighing 55pounds or less -- routinely taking off toperform aerial photography, crop monitor-ing and mapping, inspections of cell towersand bridges and many others commercialtasks.

The FAA released the draft rules on Feb.15. The rules have been in the works foryears and were submitted to the WhiteHouse budget office in October for review.

The rules will eventually open the na-tional airspace to businesses that want touse drones to deliver packages, to take pho-tographs or shoot video.

Drones have been growing in popularityand while hobbyist are permitted to fly(UAS) Unmanned Aircraft Systems undercertain restrictions, commercial operatorshave largely been grounded. These rules

and regulations will eventually change allof that. Make no mistake about it there isa lot of money at stake. The economic im-pact according to some estimates is roughly$100 million annually.

The regulations would improve safety byusing small, lightweight unmanned aircraftinstead of heavier, manned aircraft that“pose a higher level of risk,” the analysissaid. It notes that between 2004 and 2012,there were 95 fatalities involving climbersworking on cell and other towers.

If the rules would prevent only one fa-tality by using a small drone instead of atower climber, the $9.2 million saved -- theamount the government says is the eco-nomic value of a single life -- would exceedthe entire cost of the regulations to society,according to the document.

The analysis does not offer a total esti-mate on the annual economic benefit ofregulations but says it would exceed $100million a year. For example, about 45,000annual bridge inspections could be con-ducted with small drones. Most bridge in-spections currently employ hydraulic

mobile cranes called "snoopers." The aver-age cost of an inspection using a snooper is$3,250. Cable bridge inspections are evenmore expensive because they often requirea 200-foot aerial lift.

The Association of Unmanned VehicleSystems International, an industry tradeassociation, estimates that small, commer-cial drones will create 70,000 jobs with aneconomic impact of more than $13.6 bil-lion in the first three years after their inte-gration into U.S. skies.

FAA Unveils Draft Rules for Commercial Operation of Remote-Controled Aircraft

Hilton San Diego Mission Valley Hotel Finishes Multi-Million-Dollar Renovation

The multi-million-dollar renovation ofthe Hilton San Diego Mission ValleyHotel has been completed -- work that in-cluded a new onsite restaurant, upgradingof its 350 guestrooms and larger meetingand event spaces.

The “reinvention” of the Hilton includesthe redesign of the hotel’s lobby and invit-ing interior public spaces, as well as an allnew city view executive lounge.

The hotel now features 21,000 squarefeet of re-imagined meeting and eventspace for state-of-the-art business andconference needs, including a 5,000-square-foot ballroom, 10 breakout rooms,flexible pre-function space, and an exclu-sive demonstration kitchen, complete withretractable barn doors for privacy, and ahot-stone granite buffet.

The new onsite restaurant is PolancoKitchen & Bar, led by executive chefNicholas Villamil. The property boasts anew artisan food marketplace, with mealsand light bites to-go as well as a Starbuck’sespresso bar, and a new fitness center of-fering the latest equipment.

The hotel will introduce a new outdoorevent space this spring, complete with anoutdoor pool area, expansive open deck,and all-new furnishings for enjoying al-fresco San Diego days and nights year-round.

“It’s extremely exciting to unveil a com-pletely new hotel offering an unparalleledguest experience,” said Mark Ziomek, gen-eral manager.

Executive Lounge of the Hilton San DiegoMission Valley Hotel.



In her new book, “New Rules of theGame: 10 Strategies for Women in theWorkplace,” Susan Packard, co-founderof HGTV, shows how women canachieve their career goals using tech-niques of what she calls “gamesmanship.”

SUSAN PACKARDYou hear that expression often in the

gaming andsports worlds.But Packard de-fines it as astrategic way ofthinking thatcultivates cre-ativity, focus, op-t i m i s m ,teamwork andcompetitiveness.Women, she says, can use these skills tocompete successfully in the businessworld.

Packard is one of several notable femaletrailblazers who will offer their views onwomen’s empowerment at this year’s SanDiego Women’s Week, a five-day confer-ence sponsored by the North San DiegoBusiness Chamber March 16-20.

AKIKO MIKAMOAnother conference speaker will be

Akiko Mikamo, winner of the 2014 In-ternational Peace Prize and president ofSan Diego-WISH (Worldwide Initiativeto SafeguardHumanity.

Mikamo wasborn in Hi-roshima, Japan.Both her par-ents wereabout half amile from theepicenter of

the atomic bomb explosion in World WarII and miraculously survived.

Having been raised in Hiroshima Cityby the atomic bomb survivors and with adisabled older sister, she became deter-mined in her childhood to contribute toworld peace and humanity.

Mikamo is a clinical, forensic, and sportpsychologist as well as an executive coachand educator. She is the author of “Risingfrom the Ashes: A True Story of Survivaland Forgiveness from Hiroshima.”

Also in headlining roles:

GRETCHEN RUBINGretchen Rubin is the author of several

books, including the No. 1 New YorkTimes and international bestseller, “TheH a p p i n e s sProject” — anaccount of theyear she spenttest-driving thewisdom of theages, the cur-rent scientificstudies, and thelessons frompopular cultureabout how tobe happier.

“The Happiness Project” has sold morethan 1million copies, has been publishedin more than 30 languages, and spentmore than two years on the New YorkTimes bestseller list.

In the book, Rubin explores how tomake home a happier place by concen-trating on the factors that matter most forhome, such as possessions, marriage, time,parenthood, body, neighborhood.

Rubin’s interest in happiness led her tothe study of habits, because when shetalked to people about their happinesschallenges, they often pointed to a habitthat they couldn’t make or break. Thispattern made her ask, “When and why

can people successfully change a habit—or not?”

In her current book, “Better Than Be-fore” (forthcoming 2015), she investigatesthe multiple strategies she’s identified thathelp us make and break our habits. Whenwe change our habits, she says, we changeour lives.

KRISTEN KAVANAUGHIn 1998, Kristen Kavanaugh chose the

path less traveled and accepted an ap-pointment to the U.S. Naval Academy. Asshe embarked on her military journey, shemade a commitment to service that be-came the cornerstone of her life’s work.Now, as majority owner and president ofTrident Analytical Solutions Inc., Kristendraws upon her military and personal ex-perience to inspire and lead an expandingnational management consulting firm.

NAOMI TUTUThe challenges of growing up black

and female ina p a r t h e i dSouth Africahave been thefoundation ofN o n t o m b iNaomi Tutu’slife as an ac-tivist forhuman rights.Those experi-ences taughther that ourwhole human family loses when we ac-cept situations of oppression, and how theteaching and preaching of hate and divi-sion injure us all. In her speeches sheblends this passion for human dignitywith humor and personal stories.

Tutu is the third child of ArchbishopDesmond Tutu and Nomalizo Leah Tutu.She was born in South Africa and had the

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W O M A N ’S W E E K

SAN DIEGO WOMEN’S WEEK 2015CELEBRATING WOMEN’S ROLES IN THE WORLD

By Manny Cruz

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W O M A N ’S W E E K

opportunity to live in many communitiesand countries. She was educated in Swazi-land, the U.S., and England, and has di-vided her adult life between South Africaand the U.S. Growing up the “daughterof...” has offered Naomi Tutu many oppor-tunities and challenges in her life. Mostimportant of these has been the challengeto follow her own path and role in buildinga better world. She has taken up the chal-lenge and channeled the opportunities shehas been given to raise her voice as a cham-pion for the dignity of all.

Her professional experience ranges frombeing a development consultant in West

Africa to being program coordinator forprograms on race and gender and gender-based violence in education at the AfricanGender Institute at the University of CapeTown. In addition Tutu has taught at theUniversity of Hartford, University of Con-necticut, and Brevard College in NorthCarolina. She served as program coordina-tor for the historic Race Relations Insti-tute at Fisk University, and was a part ofthe Institute's delegation to the WorldConference Against Racism in Durban.

ACCOLADESThis year’s Women’s Week comes off a

highly successful conference last year,which brought many accolades from at-tendees. “The Friday Inspiration Confer-ence was amazing! Each of the speakersmoved me in different ways as they sharedsuch powerful stories. I look forward tothis year’s event,” said Stacy Kadrich ofSharp Rees-Stealy Medical Centers.

Said Lori Ann Stevens of Turner Con-struction Co. “I brought many womenfrom my office to the final day of Women’sWeek last year. After listening to ElizabethSmart, Kim Coles and Tanya Brown, Icould not imagine a better day for thewomen of San Diego.”

SAN DIEGO WOMEN’S WEEK SCHEDULE

Empowering WomenMONDAY, March 16 — Opening DayLocation: Rancho Bernardo InnHours: noon — 8 p.m.Tickets $30 in advance $40 at the door.Military and students with ID, free

Keynote Speakers:Tanya Brown, Seven Sneaky Characters of AbuseKristen Kavanaugh, Standing up for Your Values and Being SuccessfulMallika Chopra, Living with Intent

Breakout Sessions12:30 p.m. Taking Control of Your Health 1 p.m. Empowering Yourself to Be A Leader of Change 1:30 p.m. Powerful Impact of Engaging In Your Community 2 p.m. Why are Girls Falling Prey to the Bad Boys 2:30 p.m. Navigate Networking with Confidence 3 p.m. Money Matters: Smart Credit Decisions 3:30 p.m. 7 Sneaky Characters of Abuse 4 p.m. 10 Steps to Financial Success 4:30 p.m. Standing UP For What You Believe in 5 p.m. Planning for Life Changes 5:30 p.m. Standing up to a Bully 6 p.m. Money: Friend or Foe 6:30 p.m. Living with Intent 7:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. Fashion Show

TUESDAY, March 17 — Leaders of Change LuncheonLocation: Del Mar Country ClubHours: 11:30 a.m. —1:30 p.m.Tickets $59 in advance No tickets at the DoorSpeaker: Naomi Tutu, daughter of Arch Bushop Desmond Tutu.“The Responsibility of Being Human”

WEDNESDAY, March 18 — Women and Wine NetworkingLocation: Bernardo Winery,13330 Paseo del Verano NorteTime: 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.Tickets $35 in advance, $45 at the doorJoin over 300 women for an interactive night of wine, savory and sweet food pairings, livemusic, and unique shopping. Share the experience of pairing specialty appetizers withBernardo Wines while enjoying the history and charm of this 126-year-old property. Throughoutthe night you will visit five interactive pairing stations where you will receive appetizers, wineand the opportunity to win prizes, such as a Tour and Tasting for eight, wine and chocolatepairing, gift baskets, and much more.

THURSDAY, March 19 — Health, Beauty, Fashion, FitnessLocation: Sharp Healthcare, 8695 Spectrum Center Blvd.Hours: 6 to 8 p.m.Tickets: $35 advance / $45 at the doorNBC 7 San Diego News Anchor Catherine Garcia moderates a panel of Sharp Healthcare ex-perts who will discuss women’s health issues. Also, a local stylist and image consultant sharesthe latest fashion tips from a local stylist and image consultant. Enjoy light appetizers and bev-erages, music, swag bag, an exhibitor expo and more/ Schedule:6 p.m. — Check-in and registration, meet and greet with Sharp Rees-Stealy physicians, music,light appetizers and exhibits 6:30 p.m. — Fashion tips: Take your professional wear from daytime to evening. 6:55 p.m. — Feature program: Health panel includes experts in OB/GYN, urology, family medi-cine, cardiology, dermatology, musculoskeletal medicine, nutrition, and Sharp Health Plan.7:55-8 p.m. — Event closing remarks.

Panelists:Dr. Bethani Ann Bernaba, Dr. Emily Cole, Dr. Gayatri Chhatre, Dr. Robert Gillespie, Dr. Stanley Besser

FRIDAY, March 20 — San Diego Women’s Empowerment ConferenceLocation: San Diego Marriott La Jolla, 4240 La Jolla Village Drive, La Jolla Tickets: $159 in advance, $175 doorConference Time: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Conference SpeakersOpening Speaker: Dr. Akiko Mikamo, “Rising From the Ashes,” a true story of survival and for-giveness From Hiroshima.Panel: Influential Women Share Their Secrets from The TopPanelists: Helen Robbins Meyer, Bonnie Dumanis, Melissa Hayden Cook, Selena Roberts A Conversation with Alicia Gwynn: Carrying on a Legacy of LoveGretchen Rubin, Better Than BeforeLuncheon Speaker: Dr. Candy Cummings, Sharp Reese StealyKim Coles, Reinvent and Redefine YourselfSusan Packard, New Rules of the GamePanel: Is It Possible To Have it All as a Professional Woman?Panelists: Maureen Carew, LoriAnn Stevens, Gail Coury, Lisa Hellmann Rhodes, Kathy HutchensKeeping Our Girls Safe From Romeo, Tiffany Mester

Speakers and Panelists:Akiko Mikamo, Alicia Gwynn, Helen Robbins Meyer, Melissa Hayden CookSelena Roberts, Gretchen Rubin

INSPIRATIONAL WOMENSIX TRAILBLAZERS WHO CHANGED THEIR WORLD — OR OURS


BY DELLE WILLETT


I N S P I R AT I O N A L W O M E N

During the ’60s I was in my 20s,and even before the women’smovement, I recognized in-

equities between men and women.

Instead of side by side, I noticed womenstanding in the shadows of men: nursesbehind doctors, nuns behind priests, wivesbehind husbands, secretaries behindbosses. Subordinated, instead of being ac-knowledged for what they really are —the wind beneath our wings.

I didn’t like what I saw.So I joined the National Organization

for Women. I dodged pay inequities bystarting my own business. I kept mymaiden name when I got married at 35,and I wrote my own wedding vows to bedarn sure the word “obey” wouldn’t touchmy lips.

What helped me then and now is hav-ing fabulous women to look up to, to in-spire me. Here are some of them.

ELIZABETH BLACKWELL (1821–1910) wasthe first woman to receive a medical de-gree in the U.S. as well as the first womanon the U.K. Medical Register. She pio-neered education of women in medicine,and was a social and moral reformer inboth the U.S. and Britain.

Blackwell decided to study medicinebefore she realized how difficult it wouldbe to overcome the patriarchal barriers toher goal. She was met with resistance al-most everywhere. Most physicians recom-mended that she either go to Paris ordisguise herself as a man to study medi-cine.

The main reasons offered for her rejec-tion were that she was a woman andtherefore intellectually inferior, and thatshe might actually prove equal to the task,and be competition.

In New York City, Blackwell opened upher own practice but had very few pa-tients, a fact she attributed to the stigmaof woman doctors as abortionists.

Later she established a small dispensarywhich expanded into the New York Infir-mary for Indigent Women and Children,growing her practice. She also foundedthe London School of Medicine forWomen, with the primary goal of prepar-

ing women for the licensing exam.Most world countries now provide

women with equal access to medical edu-cation, however not all ensure equal em-ployment opportunities. By 2010 theacceptance rate of women in medicalschool was 56 percent and by 2017women doctors are predicted to be in themajority.

ELLEN BROWNING SCRIPPS (1836–1932)is really the Fairy Godmother of SanDiego. From the wealthy Scripps publish-ing family, she was interested in scienceand education. She donated hours of vol-unteer work and the bulk of her fortuneto the Scripps Institution of Oceanogra-phy, The Bishop’s School in La Jolla,and Scripps College in Claremont Calif.She also financed the construction of theLa Jolla Women’s Club, and the La JollaRecreational Center.

My two sons and I spent countlesshours enjoying organizations that mightnever have existed without Scripps, in-cluding the San Diego Zoo, Torrey PinesState Park, the Natural History Museum,and the La Jolla Children’s Pool.

She also funded what eventually be-came The Scripps Research Institute, andtwo of the core providers now compris-ing Scripps Health: Scripps MemorialHospital La Jolla and Scripps Clinic.Both of my parents received critical careat these hospitals. My new grand-daugh-ter recently came safely into our worldthere as well.

Scripps’ obituary describes her as awoman who had perfected the art of liv-ing as well as the art of giving.

ELEANOR ROOSEVELT (1884–1962)President Harry Truman called her the

First Lady of the World in tribute toher human rights achievements as anAmerican politician, diplomat and ac-tivist.

Roosevelt had an unhappy childhood,with an alcoholic father, and the earlydeaths of both parents and one of herbrothers. She described her childhood asinsecure and starved for affection. Con-sidering herself an “ugly duckling,” herchildhood losses left her prone to depres-

sion throughout her life. However, at 14, she wrote that one’s

prospects in life were not totally depend-ent on physical beauty: “No matter howplain a woman may be, if truth and loy-alty are stamped upon her face, all will beattracted to her,” she said.

The wife of President Franklin D. Roo-sevelt and a controversial First Lady, shetook a stance on racial issues, advocatedfor expanded roles for women in theworkplace, the civil rights of African-Americans, Asian-Americans, and WorldWar II refugees.

She urged women to develop their ownskills and means of support.

President Truman appointed Rooseveltas a delegate to the United Nations Gen-eral Assembly and she became the firstchairperson of the preliminary U.N.Commission on Human Rights, playingan instrumental role in drafting the Uni-versal Declaration of Human Rights.

She was a reluctant First Lady, butgreatly admired. Three presidents at-tended her memorial service where AdlaiStevenson asked, “What other singlehuman being has touched and trans-formed the existence of so many?” He fur-ther praised her by stating, “She wouldrather light a candle than curse the dark-ness, and her glow has warmed theworld.”

The mother of six children, in a diffi-cult family and marriage situation, with ahusband stricken by Polio, she was rankedin the top 10 of Gallup’s “List of MostWidely Admired People of the 20th Cen-tury.”

From her example I was inspired to bean active volunteer in San Diego’sWomen’s Empowerment International,which makes micro-loans available for theworld’s poorest-of-poor women.

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR (1958– ) is theglobal affairs anchor for ABC News, pro-viding international analysis of importantissues of the day, and anchoring prime-time documentaries on international sub-jects, as well as host of “Amanpour” andchief international correspondent forCNN International.

Without long blonde hair, low-cut


I N S P I R AT I O N A L W O M E N

dresses and layers of makeup, she hasachieved an illustrious career in journal-ism that spans three decades. Reportingfor CNN in 1990, her first major assign-ment was covering the Gulf War. She hassince reported from the world’s majorhotspots, including Afghanistan, Iraq,Iran, Pakistan, Somalia, Israel, the Pales-tinian territories, Asia, Rwanda, theBalkans, and the U.S. during HurricaneKatrina.

Fluent in Persian, she has interviewedmost of the top world leaders over thepast two decades, including securing theonly interview with Hosni Mubarak andan exclusive with Muammar Gadhafiduring the Arab Spring.

Amanpour was born in London andspent part of her childhood in Tehran,Iran. She graduated summa cum laudefrom the University of Rhode Island witha B.A. in journalism. She has won over 25major broadcast awards.

As I start a new chapter of my life as ajournalist, I highly value her example.

MALALA YOUSAFZAI (1997– )17-year-old Yousafzai is a Pakistani activist knownfor her advocacy for education andfor women in her native Swat Valley inPakistan, where the local Taliban hadbanned girls from attending school.

When she was around 12, she wrote ablog under a pseudonym for the BBC de-tailing her life under Taliban occupation,their attempts to take control of the Val-ley, and her views on promoting educationfor girls in the Swat Valley, rising inprominence, giving interviews in printand on television.

On the afternoon of Oct. 9, 2012,Yousafzai, while riding on her school bus,was shot by a Taliban gunman. One bul-let hit the left side of her forehead, travel-ling under her skin through the length ofher face, and then into her shoulder. Inthe days immediately following the attack,she remained unconscious and in criticalcondition. Undergoing over 30 surgeries,she miraculously survived the assassina-tion attempt, and sparked a national andinternational outpouring of support.

Yousafzai’s advocacy has grown into an

international movement. The United Na-tions Special Envoy for Global Educa-tion launched a U.N. petition in her name,demanding that all children worldwide be

in school by the end of 2015, whichhelped lead to the ratification of Pakistan’sfirst Right to Education Bill.

Speaking at a U.N. assembly in 2014,Yousafzai held the world leaders of theU.N. in rapt attention, calling for world-wide access to education. She was laterannounced as the co-recipient ofthe Nobel Peace Prize for her struggleagainst the suppression of children andyoung people and for the right of all chil-dren to education.

Yousafzai is the youngest-ever Nobel

Prize laureate. She has also received a number of

awards including one of Time magazine’s“100 Most Influential People in theWorld,” Pakistan’s first National YouthPeace Prize, and the 2013 Sakharov Prize.She was nominated for the World Chil-dren’s Prize in Sweden and the Interna-tional Children’s Peace Prize by SouthAfrican activist Desmond Tutu.

Yousafzai is adorable, articulate, bright,charming, charismatic, driven, and wiseway beyond her years. If allowed, she willcontinue to make a huge difference in theworld.

MERYL STREEP (1949 – ) It doesn’t mat-ter what the film is about, if Meryl Streepis in it, I’m there to see it. I’m a Streeper!I love to watch her act; how she uses hereyes, how she speaks.

Her special talent is her ability to imi-tate a wide range of accents, from Danish,English, Italian, Australian, Irish-Ameri-can, Minnesotan and heavy Bronx.

For her role in the film “Sophie’s Choice,”Streep spoke both English and Germanwith a Polish accent, as well as Polish itself.When asked how she reproduces differentaccents, she replied, “I listen.”

Widely regarded as one of the greatestfilm actors of all time, she has had moreAcademy Award nominations than anyactor or actress in history, and is one ofonly six actors who have won three ormore Academy Awards for acting.

Meryl has also received 29 GoldenGlobe nominations, winning eight—more nominations and more competitive(non-honorary) wins than any other maleor female actor in history.

And the list goes on and on, includingPresident Barack Obama awarding herthe 2010 National Medal of Arts and in2014 the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Married for 36 years, and the mother offour, she has managed to stay out of theHollywood hullabaloo and off the coverof The National Enquirer.

My favorite of her movies is “Out ofAfrica,” with Robert Redford. Can’t waitto see her next film.

COUNTING WOMEN WHO COUNT HISTORICALLY:

Nobel Peace Prize winners: 96 men, 14 women.U.S. Presidents:

43 men, 0 women.Supreme Court Justices:

Since 1789, 116; since 1981, four are women. Saints:

Of 10,000+, 783 are women.Popes:

Of 266 in a continuous line of apostolic succession spanning almost 2000 years, 0 are women.

Four-star Admirals:260 men, one woman

(an African-American), as of July 2014

CURRENTLY:

World Leaders:Of the 195 world countries, 27 are women.

Fortune 500 CEOs:26 are women.Governors:

Of 50, five are women.Senators:

Of 101 in the 114th Congress, 21 are women.U.S. Ambassadors:

Of 189, 47 are women.Women in Films:

Of the 2014 top 250 domestic grossing films, 17% of alldirectors, writers, producers, executive directors, editors,and cinematographers working on the films were women.

Astronauts:Between 1996 and 2009, 43 people have worked

as astronauts for NASA;10 are women.Commercial Airline Pilots:

Worldwide, of 134,000, 4,000 are women.Elementary and Secondary Public School Teachers:

3.7 million, of which, 2,812,000 are female. (2012)


M E T R O M O V E R S


W O M E N ’ S H E A LT H

Early mornings, long work hours, fam-ily and personal commitments —today’sbusy schedules make it difficult to keep upwith eating right, exercising and main-taining a consistent healthy lifestyle.

A recent report from American HeartAssociation/American Stroke Associationconcluded that about 31 percent of U.S.adults say they participate in no leisuretime physical activity and more than 159million U.S. adults are overweight orobese.

With the increasing daily demands oflife, how can women take control and pri-oritize healthy habits? From schedulingexercise time to utilizing technology, hereare five feel-great tips to encourage ahealthier, happier life:

Plan AheadAccording to UC San Diego Director

of Health Promotion Services DeborahPino-Saballett, planning ahead can makeall the difference. “Schedule exercise likeyou would schedule anything else in yourday, and ‘show-up’ for that appointmentlike you would for animportant meeting,”says Pino-Saballett.

Stephanie Thielen,ACE certified groupfitness instructor andpersonal trainer,agrees that schedul-ing is key. “Plan ex-ercise like you wouldyour dentist or doc-tor appointment.You’re more likely to stick to a workout orself-care when you write it on your calen-dar and set an alarm,” she says.

Thielen also recommends that busy

people exercise in the morning to get itout of the way before the rest of the day’sactivities commence. “As the day goes on,it gets more demanding and more‘glitches’ pop up where you might miss aworkout,” she says. Incorporate exerciseinto the next day’s schedule and prepareyour workout clothes the night before.

Take Small StepsWhen it comes to living a healthy

lifestyle, from exercising to eating right togetting enough sleep, take small steps tobetter achieve goals.

“People in general think that they haveto make big changes to daily living inorder to get what theywant, but big changescan often lead tofalling off the wagonand trying to handletoo much too soon,”says Thielen.

She recommendsstarting off with oneto two things that areimportant and havemeaning. Focusing onsmaller steps first willlead to significant changes and you won’tfeel so overwhelmed at the continuedcommitment.

Utilize TechnologyThere are countless apps and online

programs these days that make workingout and eating right easier than ever. My-FitnessPal is a free app that allows you toquickly add and log recipes from acrossthe web and track fitness activities. Withmore than 4 million foods in the database,this app makes it easy to keep tabs on the

foods you eat on a daily basis, monitoryour calorie intake and set future weightloss and nutrition goals. When sitting at adesk all day, it’s easy to eat a cup of trailmix here and a handful of pretzels therewithout realizing how many caloriesyou’re actually ingesting. MyFitnessPalhelps you to be accountable for everythingyou consume.

Another helpful app is Runtastic. Run-tastic utilizes GPS technology to monitorsports and fitness activities, tracking du-ration, distance, elevation change andcalories burned for cardio exercises likerunning, walking and biking to buildhealthy exercise habits.

Thielen suggests wearing a pedometerto become more conscious of how muchor how little you are moving throughoutthe day, and utilizing DVDs and onlinestreaming of workouts. Home exercisinghas never been more accessible, and manytimes no gym or equipment is needed toget a good workout that fits within yourdaily schedule.

Follow the 15-Minute RuleThe 15-minute rule encourages physi-

cal activity and lessens the potential forexcuses. You’ve finished a nine-hour dayworkday, the sky is dark and nothingsounds better than curling up on thecouch. You’re just about to talk yourselfout of the gym or an after work walkwhen the 15-minute rule pops in yourhead. The rule entails that regardless ofthe day’s events, you show up and dosomething active for 15 minutes. Even ifjust walking on a treadmill, dedicate thistime to the most important part of yourday: you! Once the 15 minutes is up, morelikely than not the exercise will feel so

Feel-Great Lifestyle Tips How to develop healthy habits and live well By Katelyn O’Riordan

Stephanie Thielen,ACE certified groupfitness instructor andpersonal trainer.

Deborah Pino-Sa-ballett, UC SanDiego director ofhealth promotionservices.


W O M E N ’ S H E A LT H

Coming in our April issue:

Our Guide to San Diego County’s

TOP ATTORNEYS2015

good that you want to continue. But if not,pat yourself on the back and head home tothe couch.

“Workouts do not need to be 60 minuteslong,” says Thielen. “Get up from your deskevery hour for five minutes to walk, stretch,move and rejuvenate. Five minutes turnsinto 10, which turns into 30 minutes; whenthe body feels good and rejuvenated, itwants more.”

Everything in ModerationAccording to Pino-Saballett of UC San

Diego, there are no magic foods and thereare no evil foods but there are plenty offoods that have zero nutritional value.Moderation is key. She suggests planningand shopping ahead on weekends to pre-pare for the upcoming week of meals.

Pick up healthy snacks like nuts, freshfruits and cut-up veggies and hummus foron-the-go eating and nutritional optionsto have ready at work. KIND bars are tasty,healthy and packed with essential nutrients

like fiber, proteinand antioxidants;another great op-tion to keep in yourpurse or at yourdesk. For family-friendly, healthfuland delicious recipesthat satisfy a rangeof diets, includinglow-carb, gluten-free and paleo, Skinnytaste.com provideslight and fresh meal choices that don’t sac-rifice flavor.

“Women lead busy lives and it can beeasy to fall into a pattern of skipped meals,mindless eating and emotional or stress-re-lated eating,” says San Diego registered di-etitian and founder of Nutrition InstinctsLindsay Stenovec. “ A woman can learn alot about her relationship with food byslowing down at mealtime — tuning inwith her body, increasing her appetiteawareness and savoring the flavors and tex-

tures of food.”Stenovec advises starting with one meal

per day to learn how to eat mindfully. Shesays it’s important to limit distractions,take time to observe and smell the foodand take note of how hungry you are pre-meal and then rate how full you are post-meal.

“Learning how to be mindful takes timeand practice but it can dramatically im-prove a woman’s ability to care for herself,”says Stenovec.

At the end of your day, allow yourself towind down and prepare for good rest.Whether practicing a few yoga poses, tak-ing a hot bath or meditating, decide whatworks best for you and incorporate thisroutine to close out your day and turn offyour mind.

“We are pulled in so many different di-rections, some days will just not be good;you may not eat well or exercise,” saysPino-Saballett. “It’s okay, tomorrow is anew day.”

San Diego registereddietitian and founderof Nutrition InstinctsLindsay Stenovec.


H I G H E R E D U C AT I O N

This year marks 11 years for the first woman and longest runningpresident of 25-year-young California State University San Mar-cos.

Her educational journey began as a first-generation college stu-dent in an all-women university in the ’60s while her mother workedfull-time.

“It was a unique situation for that day and time,” said KarenHaynes. But more importantly, it was “life changing . . . in terms ofseeing myself as having a career, rather than perhaps just some tem-porary job.”

More than half of CSUSM’s students are first-generationcollege students, according to Haynes. This is signifi-cant, she said, because higher education “not onlychanges their lives, but it changes the lives oftheir siblings… family and communities,and ultimately, the region we serve.”

Making education more accessible andreaching out to groups with statisticallylow college attendance and graduationrates are high on Haynes’ agenda atCSUSM.

The university currently has pathwayagreements with 10 school districts, in-volving nearly 200,000 students, offer-ing guaranteed admission to those thatmeet the program’s requirements.

Former San Marcos High Schoolstudent, Joselyn Perez, a freshmanand first-generation college student,was admitted to the universityunder an agreement between

First Woman PresidentLeads University withFocus on InclusionKaren Haynes journey beganin the ’60s By Cecilia Buckner

Karen Haynes is the longestrunning president in the 25-year history of California StateUniversity San Marcos.


H I G H E R E D U C AT I O N

CSUSM and the San Marcos UnifiedSchool District — the Partners Ad-vancing College Education (PACE)Promise program. Perez is pursuing abachelor’s degree in sociology in hopesof becoming a researcher in the field.

As a PACE Promise student andCSUSM’s first recipient of the AllianceFellowship Scholarship, Perez receivesannual stipends, has access to campusworkshops and conferences and willmentor incoming high school students.

“I have been given a support systemthat aids me when I’m faced with anobstacle,” said Perez. Something that isnot available to all students at local uni-versities, she said.

The PACE Promise program “hasonly strengthened our environment ofhigh expectations for our students,” saidHerbie Smith, executive director ofPACE Promise, San Marcos. PACEprovides a college and career prepara-tion plan, beginning in the seventhgrade, college field trips, college and ca-reer nights, college application work-shops, and early assessment programs.“Our students are beginning to thinkabout college quite early in their aca-demic career and confidently believethat they can be college bound,” Smithsaid.

In addition to making college moreaccessible to pre-college students, under

Haynes administration, CSUSM hasdeveloped the only program in the CSUsystem that guarantees college admis-sion to former foster youth (ACEScholars Services), has established atribal engagement initiative, includingthe placement of a tribal liaison — toincrease Native American admissionsand opened up a veterans’ center to helpthe school’s 11 percent veteran popula-tion access educational benefits.

“Native Americans, veterans and for-mer foster youth in our region and na-tionally have the lowest rate ofattending college and graduating col-lege and we already are beating all ofthose odds,” said Haynes.

CSUSM is the only university in thesystem’s 23 schools that is increasing itsNative American population, which iscurrently at about 3 percent, accordingto the Association of Governing Boardsof Universities and Colleges. The uni-versity was also named one of the top20 “Best for Vets” campuses by the Mil-itary Times and nearly 80 percent ofCSUSM’s former foster youth graduate— far exceeding the national average,according to a letter written by DebraZanders-Willis, Child Welfare Servicesdirector of the County of San Diego, tothe Higher Education Review Com-mittee.

Haynes credits her commitment to

academic equality to her training andeducational background in social work.She earned a dual bachelor’s degree insociology and psychology fromGoucher College, in Towson, Md.,completed a master’s program in socialwork at McGill University in Montreal,and a Ph.D. at the University of Texas.She has also co-authored a book withhusband, Jim Mickelson, which is in itsseventh edition, “Affecting Change: So-cial Workers in the Political Arena.”Mickelson also has a background in so-cial work and directs the ACE programat CSUSM.

Haynes’ educational employment ca-reer includes a stint as the first femaledean, as well as a professor at the Uni-versity of Houston, and president of theUniversity of Houston-Victoria foreight years.

“Having been a president 20 years . .. it’s incredibly fulfilling work to watchthe transformation that educationmakes, said Haynes.

“Every year at commencement, Ishake every hand of every student thatwalks across that stage . . . I see pride ontheir faces . . . And it reminds me whythis is important work. I am incrediblygratified and quite honestly humbleddoing this work.”

Under Haynes’ watch, the university opened a veterans’ center tohelp the school’s 11 percent veteran population access educa-tional benefits.

Foster student Julius Williams with Karen Haynes. CSUSM has devel-oped the only program in the CSU system that guarantees collegeadmission to foster youth. (Photo by Chris Jennewein/Times of SanDiego)


R E TA I L

WOMAN DESIGNER FOR MEN ONLYBy Colette Mauzeralle

Just before Thanksgiving, men’s retailer Crow Thief removedthe opaque butcher paper from its windows to reveal a remodeledspace stocked with versatile menswear and accessories.

The 700-square-foot store has resided at 3009 Grape St. since2011, and South Parkers and San Diegans have embraced thecontinually-evolving Crow Thief thus far, if not for its custom-made clothing for men then for its commitment to the commu-nity.

"Something we offer that other retailers don’t is an experience;the experience to come in and design your own garment and have,at the end of it all, a product that you can say you were part ofmaking. It’s a unique process,” says owner and designer MelissaHendrix-Lawson, who founded the company in 2008 and whosedesigns have been featured everywhere from AFAR Magazine toBusiness Insider.

Inside the updated store, alongside a work table where patternsare drawn and cut, shoppers will find a mixture of ready-to-wearbutton-down shirts, tee shirts, vests, jeans and more. Prices can beaffordable, such as $25 to $48 for a simple tee, and climb into thehundreds of dollars for more complex pieces and custom cre-ations, the latter having a turnaround time of four to eight weeks.

Hendrix-Lawson has now curated a collection of other de-signers’ work to sell in-store, including neckwear from fashionforward San Diego designer Lord Wallington and tops fromVelva Sheen.

In stocking her shop, one ideal remains important: materialsmust be from and labor must be done locally.

“San Diego isn’t like Los Angeles, where you have a lot of re-sources as far as fashion apparel goes. But from day one, some-thing I’ve always been extremely passionate about ismanufacturing in the United States and keeping jobs local,” saysHendrix-Lawson. “People have asked me why I don’t make theproduct overseas but I’m just not interested. I’d have supplierslaugh at me and tell me how I’m going to go out of business be-cause I was spending so much money on labor, but being a smallbusiness, manufacturing local allows me to have shorter leadtimes. I can create mini-collections within a season because ofthat.”

Another of Crow Thief ’s specialties is fit, which Hendrix-Law-son is passionate about. Clients who take advantage of CrowThief ’s custom clothing first go through a fitting appointment,and then have their patterns put on file so that they can continue

Melissa Hendrix-Lawson offers custom-made clothing for men.


R E TA I L

to get custom-made clothing as desired.“One thing that makes me feel so honored and happy is when

a client comes in and for their entire life, due to a unique bodystructure or weight, they’ve had a hard time finding things thatfit properly; but we give them the custom process and they leavehere with a smile because they’ve actually found something thatfits them.”

Hendrix-Lawson is a native of Seattle who moved to SanDiego in 2006. She graduated from the Fashion Institute of De-sign and Merchandising in Los Angeles with a focus on apparelmanufacturing, and then brought her expertise to brands andbusinesses including Forever 21 and the Hotel del Coronado.Today, she resides in South Park and is constantly inspired by thecreativity that goes into running her store.

While Crow Thief is currently shoppable by appointment only— a system put into place in mid-2013 due to an influx of cus-tom requests — plans are in place to change this limitation andthe store will soon be open Wednesday through Saturday duringtypical business hours.

Additional future plans include selling wholesale and provid-ing retailers with custom collections. Hendrix-Lawson will in-creasingly focus on ready-to-wear products, while still offeringcustom orders to some capacity.

“We have some fun collaborations in the works as well, be-cause I love conceptualizing collections,” says Hendrix-Lawson.“And look out for package deals launching after the holidays.”

One thing that remains certain is that Crow Thief will stay inSouth Park, a result of Hendrix-Lawson’s appreciation for theneighborhood’s rare combination of small town-meets-thrivingcity feel.

“A lot of people ask me ‘why here, why not La Jolla?’ becausethe demographic is obviously different. But I feel like the peoplewho live here support the businesses. There’s a strong communitypresence. They’re very aware of products and what they want andwhether they're ecofriendly and locally made.”

Hendrix-Lawson’s final thought for the stylish men of SanDiego: “Don’t be afraid to dress up.”

Contact Crow Thief at crowthief.com or at (619) 961-6210.

Men’s clothing is displayed in Crow Thief’s main shop. Crow Thief is located at 3009 Grape St. in South Park.

WOMEN WHOIMPACT SAN DIEGO

COMING IN THE MAY 2015 ISSUE


J O B V S . FA M I LY

On a typical workday for Erin Rooker,her alarm goes off at 4 a.m. The market-ing specialist with Turner ConstructionCo. gets up to exercise and spend timewith her 2-year-old daughter before sheheads to the office at 7 a.m. She’s homeby 4:30 p.m. and puts her daughter to bedby 7 p.m.

Rooker and her husband then mealprep for the next day and relax a bit be-fore lights are out at 9 p.m. This is theschedule Rooker and her husband use tokeep everyone in their house happy. “Yes,women can have it all, depending on whatyour definition of ‘all’ is,” says Rooker.

Finding the perfect balance betweenfamily and career is an elusive goal forwomen in all professions. In the fast-paced, super-volatile world of commercialreal estate, finding balance can be rackedwith multiple challenges. Women in thisindustry have the added challenge ofbeing in a notable gender minority. Manyof the women of CREW (CommercialReal Estate Women) San Diego, the city’slargest organization dedicated to the ad-vancement of women in commercial real

estate, have successfully faced the balanceissue head on, while being in the minoritythat do so.

“You have to give yourself a break andrealize the part of balancing the two isbeing okay with not being 100 percent inone world or the other at all times,” saysKatie Yee, a mother of two and the re-gional director of marketing at FuscoeEngineering. “This means that you can’tstare longingly at the moms that dedicateall their time to PTA, room-mom, andclassroom volunteer and you also can’tbeat yourself up about not being able tochair every professional board and attendevery industry event like a lot of the full-time career women.”

Now, with her oldest daughter inkindergarten, Yee works five days a week,9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. “This schedule hasbeen great for both me and for Fuscoe,”she says. Yee believes you can’t be afraid tomake yourself a priority when it comes tofinding a job that fits you and your family.“Ask your employer about their policies orfeelings on a flexible schedule, work shar-ing, or working from home.”

Tiffany English, a principal for WareMalcomb’s San Diego office, is responsi-ble for overseeing the day-to-day opera-tions of the office. When she leaves workeach day, she’s a wife and a mom. Englishdrives her kids to their afterschool activi-ties, makes dinner, helps with homeworkand only gets about six hours of sleep eachnight.

“I put my family first and I don’t makeexcuses about it, I think men and womenshould be able to put their family first andstill be successful,” says English. “Withtechnology allowing us to be productiveanywhere and anytime, life is easier tomanage. Be confident in who you are andwhat is important to you.”

Susan Steele, a senior manager withDeloitte Tax LLP, often travels to meetwith regional clients. However, when she’shome, her days vary based on family, workand community commitments. Steele andher husband made the decision after theirsecond child was born that her husbandwould stay home with the kids and Steelewould work full-time. “I am truly fortu-nate that the career path I chose allows

By Courtney DwyerWORKING WOMENFinding balance between family and career an elusive goal

Women can have it all, depend-ing on what your definition of‘all’ is, says Erin Rooker, work-ing mother of a 2-year-old.

You can’t be afraid to make your-self a priority when it comes tofinding a job that fits you andyour family, says Katie Yee, theregional director of marketing atFuscoe Engineering.

‘I put my family first and I don’tmake excuses about it, I think menand women should be able to puttheir family first and still be suc-cessful,’ says Tiffany English, a prin-cipal for Ware Malcomb in San Diego.


J O B V S . FA M I LY

me to support my entire family and alsofulfills me personally and professionally,”says Steele. “We were hesitant at first togo down this path and made a deal thatwe would check-in with each other reg-ularly to make sure it continued to workfor our relationship and our children. Ithas now been four years and neither ofus could imagine it any other way.”

Steele proudly says Deloitte Tax hasprovided her with tremendous opportu-nities for growth both professionally andpersonally with great client assignmentsand mentors in a number of officesacross the United States. In the com-munity, she serves as a treasurer/execu-tive board member for two nonprofitorganizations. “My family is more im-portant to me than anything else. If mychoices made them miserable, I wouldfigure out a different path for my careerto accommodate their needs,” saysSteele.

For other women like LynnLaChapelle, it’s about finding balancebetween her career and her passion. “Ihave found that there is no perfect bal-ance as everything melds into one bigstewpot — a continuum of sorts,” saysLaChapelle.

As managing director for JLL, aglobal real estate company, she is thrilledto be following a passion LaChapelleshares with her husband — makingwine. The couple opened Domaine

Artefact Vineyard and Winery in Es-condido last year. “We have workedside-by-side on all of the initial plan-ning, plantings, design and develop-ment. My husband is the winemakerand I am the tasting room hostess andmarketing guru,” says LaChapelle. “Weare a small boutique winery so the heavylifting comes during the evenings andweekends.”

When it comes to her position atJJLL, LaChapelle says, “I selected a verycompetitive, high risk-high reward pro-fession that can be very challenging attimes. I am fortunate to have an opti-mistic outlook on life and was provideda strong work ethic by my parents. Thesetwo attributes have helped me navigatemy career and design my life.”

The balancing act is not simple. Forsome it means giving something up orhaving to set your alarm for 4 a.m. thenext day. Each path is different in deal-ing with this challenge. However, thereis one thing most working women canagree on; free yourself from guilt and dowhat works for you.

Courtney Dwyer is a

consultant with TW2

Marketing. Dwyer is

also the mother of

two young daugh-

ters.

YOUNG WOMEN FINDING BALANCE:For women who are not married and

do not have children, there’s a ten-dency to assume they can work all ofthe time without the demands of chil-dren or a husband.

“I think balance is one of the hardestthings to achieve as a young profes-sional woman. There are so many pres-sures pulling us in so many directions,”says Star Hughes of Hughes Marino.The 24-year-old is a director at HughesMarino, one of Southern California’sleading commercial real estate firmsthat exclusively represent tenants andbuyers.

The University of San Diego gradu-ate believes it’s important to choose acareer that you love and to also choosea partner that supports whateverlifestyle and career choice you aspireto. “Know yourself, know your limits,and know when it’s time to take abreather. My parents always told methat life (and your career) is a marathon— not a sprint — so it’s important totake care of yourself first,” says Hughes.

According to published reports, theyoung professional workforce in Amer-ica is majority female. Women havemaintained majority status in educationand health care occupations, but menstill hold most jobs in engineering andcomputer occupations.

Hughes currently spends most of herfree time planning her wedding andshe’s excited about the future. “In 10years, I see myself continuing to helpour clients find office space that trulybrings out the best in their teams, anddelivering amazing economic resultsthat allow them to continue to growand flourish. I see myself continuing toadvocate for Downtown’s growth andsuccess — as I am passionate about theamazing culture, lifestyle, and ameni-ties it offers to companies and their em-ployees,” says Hughes.

‘My family is more important to methan anything else. If my choicesmade them miserable, I would figureout a different path for my career toaccommodate their needs,” saysSusan Steele, a senior manager withDeloitte Tax LLP.

‘I have found that there is noperfect balance, as everythingmelds into one big stewpot —a continuum of sorts,’ saysLynn LaChapelle, managingdirector for JLL.

S C H O O L S


The spotlight on girls education is notonly a global topic of conversation, butone that the Academy of Our Lady ofPeace (OLP) takes seriously on a dailybasis.

Under the new, and first lay leadershipof Head of School, Lauren Lek, the onlyall girls high school in San Diego is notonly drawing from its rich 132-year his-tory of ensuring excellence for their 750high school girls, but is cutting edge in itsholistic academic practices in considera-tion of the 21st century learner.

The single gender environment createsa culture of achievement in which peerencouragement of each individual is ofgreat importance, and the discovery anddevelopment of a girl’s potential is para-mount.

Time spent in the classroom is timespent learning. Girls are empowered toask questions and participate in the class-room without worry of judgment fromboys or other distractions that come nat-urally in a mixed-gender environment.

This is evidenced in the results of theNational Coalition of Girls Schools(NCGS) study Steeped in Learning: TheStudent Experience at All-Girls Schools.The study found that students at girls’schools felt more comfortable beingthemselves and expressing their ideas,which translated into 95 percent of sur-vey participants reporting that they ac-tively participate in class discussionscompared to 93.5 percent at coed inde-pendent schools and 80.4 percent at coedpublic schools.

“All-girls education ensures our youngwomen, the next generation of leaders and

innovators, find their voices and discoverthat they can accomplish anything theyset their minds to,” said Head of SchoolLek.

OLP provides more than 340 leader-ship opportunities available each year andmore than 50 elected student leadershippositions. In addition, OLP offers aSTEM Certificate and over 47 courses inSTEAM disciplines. Just this past year,they partnered with UC San Diego to beone of the chosen pilot sites for the newPre-AP Computer Science Principlescourse.

Lek’s insight is echoed further by theschool’s statistics that on average, 100 per-cent of graduates go on to higher educa-tion, and the class of 2015 garnered over

$17.8 million in academic scholarships forColleges and Universities internationally.

Although academic excellence is a cor-nerstone of the OLP mission, it is as es-sential as the focus on forming youngwomen to be the changemakers in ourworld. As a Catholic school sponsored bythe Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet,OLP women are committed to being bothgreat scholars, as well as women of heart.Annually, OLP students give over 25,000hours in service to the larger bi-nationalSan Diego community.

With Lek at the helm, the greater SanDiego community is being called upon onMarch 27 for the first annual Women’sSymposium. “The Women’s Symposiumis bringing together prominent womenleaders on five multi-subject panels toshare insights and knowledge with thechange makers of tomorrow,” said Lek.

Panel discussions will cover a widearray of topics helping the next generationof women leaders manage the multi-faceted aspects of being a woman in thework force.

With a vast array of research to supportthe benefits of an all girls education, cou-pled with the top notch practices in placeat OLP, San Diego can continue to boastof its academic asset and partnership withthe longest running school in the city.

Benefits of An All-Girls Education Students at the Academy of Our Lady of Peace excel

Lauren Lek, Head of School at the Acad-emy of Our Lady of Peace.


P H O T O G R A P H I C A R T

Photographs that challenge the repre-sentation of women are part of an exhibi-tion opening this month at the San DiegoMuseum of Art in Balboa Park.

“Lalla Essaydi: Photographs, 2005–13” features 10 large-scale photographsfrom Moroccan-born, New York–basedphotographer Lalla Essaydi. The interna-tionally acclaimed artist is known for herwork that explores the issues surroundingthe role of women in Arab culture andtheir representations in the Western Eu-ropean artistic tradition.

The photographs are based on 19th-century Orientalist paintings, but work tosubvert those traditional stereotyped andsexualized representations. In addition totheir timely and provocative subject mat-ter, Essaydi’s photographs are technicallyimpressive. Each image requires weeks ofpreparation, as the architectural backdropsare carefully constructed, the text is com-posed and fabrics are dyed to match thesetting in which they will appear. The en-tire field of the almost life-size photo-

graphs appears in sharp focus, a result ofher use of a large-format camera and tra-ditional film.

“Lalla Essaydi: Photographs, 2005–13” features 10 works from three differentseries by the artist: Les Femmes duMaroc, Harem and Bullets Revisited.

Curated by Marika Sardar, AssociateCurator of Southern Asian and IslamicArt, the photographs will be presentedthroughout the museum. Several workswill be on display in a dedicated gallery,while others will be placed as interven-tions alongside the Museum’s PermanentCollection next to examples of historicMiddle Eastern tilework and calligraphy,with related European paintings and aspart of the discourse of Modern art.

“Lalla Essaydi: Photographs, 2005–13” will be on view at The San DiegoMuseum of Art from March 28 to Aug. 1,2015.

For more information on The SanDiego Museum of Art or to purchasetickets, visit www.sdmart.org.

Artist Explores Role of Women in Arab CultureLalla Essaydi’s work featured at San Diego Museum of Art


H A L L O F FA M E

WOMEN’S HALL OF FAME 2015

Six women who have made profound changes in their commu-nities and improved the lives of other women have been inductedinto the San Diego County Women’s Hall of Fame for 2015.

The annual inductions are sponsored by the San Diego CountyCommission on the Status of Women, the Women’s Museum ofCalifornia in San Diego, UC San Diego Women’s Center and theDepartment of Women’s Studies at San Diego State University.

The women were inducted March 1 at the Joe and Vi JacobsCenter. Inductees for 2015 and the category in which they arebeing honored, are:

LEE ANN KIM Spirit of the Hall of FameLee Ann Kim, was chosen as the Spirit of the Hall of Fame for

her on-going endeavors which truly re-flect the values and mission of theaward founders. Kim is a first-genera-tion Korean American who was an an-chor and general assignment reporterfor KGTV Channel 10, the ABC tel-evision affiliate. She worked at KGTVfrom 1996 to 2008. She is also the ex-ecutive director of Pacific Arts Move-ment (formerly the San Diego AsianFilm Foundation), which presents theannual San Diego Asian Film Festival,an event she founded in 2000 with the Asian American Journal-ists Association of San Diego. She has been married to Louis Songsince 1997, with whom she has two sons.

SARA MOSER ActivistSara Moser has been an integral part of the pro-choice move-

ment in San Diego since she moved toLa Jolla in 1968. She worked with the“Abortion Underground Railroad,”helped create Planned Parenthood’sAction Fund for electoral activities, andworked to ensure that women have ac-cess to a full range of reproductive andsexual health services. Moser joined theboard of directors of Planned Parent-

hood in 1972 and became an active volunteer leader. She served asboard chair and headed numerous committees and campaigns, in-cluding the capital campaign to raise funds to buy the organiza-tion’s first headquarters. During this decade of activism, Moser alsoserved on the board of the La Jolla Shores Association, and theWomen’s Bank.

STARLA LEWIS BridgebuilderStarla Lewis is a brilliant woman who for the past 40 years has

committed herself to bridging, unify-ing and empowering multi-culturallydiverse communities. As a professorof Black Studies, poet, author, and lifemastery consultant, Lewis has helpedthousands of people recognize theirown greatness. She has taught at SanDiego Mesa College for over 20years, where she served as depart-ment chair for 11 years. Lewis is thefounder of C.E.L.L. (Celebration ofEverlasting Love and Life), a humanpotential consultancy firm, where she has worked for 30 years as alife mastery coach. Through C.E.L.L. she teaches people how toutilize love to heal and transform themselves and their communi-ties. Through teaching people how to share compassion, love, mu-tual respect and understanding, her work has helped to bridge thehuman family.

DR. NATASHA JOSEFOWITZ EmpowererNatasha Josefowitz has spent her life

as an educator. She taught the firstcourse in the U.S. for women in man-agement at the University of NewHampshire, and her book, “Paths toPower: A Woman’s Guide from FirstJob to Top Executive,” became a best-seller. She worked as a consultant togovernment and profit and nonprofitorganizations to help women entermale-dominated workplaces. Now 88,

Honoring 6 who have worked to improve the lives of otherwomen and changed their communities


her latest project focuses on how men and women grieve and healdifferently and takes a new approach to the different states of grief.Her latest book, “Living Without the One You Cannot Live With-out,” is a reflection of her research and personal experiences on thesubject. Josefowitz was a professor of management for 30 years andis an internationally known business consultant and keynote speaker.For 10 years she had her own weekly program on public radio and amonthly segment on television.

VIVIANA ENRIQUE ACOSTA HistorianViviana Enrique Acosta, CEO and

artistic director of the Ballet Folklorico enAztlan, has over 40 years of experience asa curator, arts administrator, choreogra-pher, performance artist, dance theater di-rector, playwright, actor, composer,instructor and culture bearer. She contin-ues on the BFA board her offering oftransferring ancient knowledge and wis-dom to the next seven generations tobring sacred traditions into fruition, shar-ing her two spirit vision of a sacred lifeworldwide. Acosta has the distinction of being one of the youngestCalifornia Arts Council Artists in Residence — Artists in Commu-nities awardees for her work in dance.

DR. ANITA FIGUEREDO TrailblazerDr. Anita Figueredo (1916-2010) was

the first female surgeon in San Diego, andfriend of Mother Teresa. A fierce propo-nent of women’s higher education, shewas a founding member of the board oftrustees of San Diego College forWomen, later the University of SanDiego, and served in that capacity for 40years. Figueredo’s great passion in life,aside from medicine and her family, washumanitarianism, a calling that produceda four-decade-long friendship withMother Teresa of Calcutta, who called her “The Smiling Apostle ofCharity.” Figueredo was among Mother Teresa’s few intimates, andthe two women traveloed all over the world in service of the poor. Itwas Figueredo who lobbied the nun to establish her mission in Ti-juana, which now serves as the world headquarters for MotherTeresa’s Missionaries of Charity Fathers. Figueredo founded a char-ity of her own, Friends of the Poor, originally devoted to the needyresidents of Tijuana and San Diego, and now expanded to three con-tinents.

The San Diego County Women's Hall of Fame was created in2002 as a way to bring attention to women’s actions and accomplish-ments visible in San Diego. Currently, 72 women have taken theirplace in the San Diego County Women’s Hall of Fame.


E D U C AT I O N

Making Education System Work

By Cecilia BucknerLaura Kohn makes student achievement a priorityMore California high school students

graduated last year than any other year in thestate’s history, according to the CaliforniaDepartment of Education. Yet, one in fivestudents did not graduate. And of those whoreceived a diploma, many lack the knowl-edge, skills and confidence to succeed in col-lege or mid-level employment, according toresearch group SRI International.

Laura Kohn, executive director of SanDiego-based nonprofit, Education SynergyAlliance (ESA), has made it her goal tochange this.

“The focus that schools have had for thepast decade or so of preparing all studentsfor college has served no students well,” saidKohn. “All students are more motivated intheir learning when they can see why it mat-ters and envision where it’s leading ...”

Kohn and ESA provide support for aninitiative that allows students to get hands-on experience in career fields while concur-rently studying supportive academics —allowing them to get an answer to that burn-ing question: “When will I use this in reallife?”

Linked Learning pathways in the state,made possible by the passing of recent legis-lation, has become a buzz term in today’s ed-ucational environment.

The state’s LL programs, made possible byAB 790, approved in 2011, prepare studentsfor success in college and employment byconnecting classroom learning with real-world experiences. San Diego, Grossmont,Carlsbad, Escondido, and Oceanside schooldistricts offered 26 LL courses last year andthere were approximately 14,000 studentsenrolled in the programs across the state.

Rigorous academics combined withhands-on complex work tasks in variousareas of study, including such pathway com-binations as health science and medical tech-nology, and engineering and architecture,give the students a taste of the fields of study

they may be interestedin before they graduate.

“I want all studentsto know about and totest out for themselvesa range of possible op-tions,” said Kohn. “It’sa process of discoverythat every student

should experience in high school and in theirpost-secondary experience.”

ESA garnered more than $300,000 ingrants last year from The James Irvine Foun-dation and the Moxie Foundation for use insupport of the state’s LL initiative.

For some students, it’s all about the careerpath they want to follow, Kohn said. It is notall about the hands-on experience with allthe students. Some are just not inspired bythe “regular” high school experience and LLprograms motivate them.

Del Lago Academy, for example, Kohnsaid, is “cool to visit.” “The students aredoing a lot of studying about the humananatomy — more than a typical high school— utilizing amazing equipment, doing genemapping with industry standard equipment,doing problems that teachers worked outand they have an amazing partner with Palo-mar Health.”

Compared with similar peers in traditionalhigh school programs, students participatingin certified Linked Learning pathways earnmore credits in the first three years of highschool, are more likely to be on track at theend of 10th grade to complete the coursesrequired for four-year public colleges in Cal-ifornia, and are more likely to stay in theirschool district instead of transferring ordropping out before graduation, SRI found.

Kohn's interests in promoting the qualityof K-12 education came after some post-col-lege degree soul searching, when she becamedisillusioned by her efforts working longhours for a private consulting firm. Advising

pharmaceutical companies how to maximizetheir drug sales just was not doing it for heranymore and she wanted to be engaged insomething more worthwhile.

“It’s more possible than fighting povertydirectly, or helping the homeless,” Kohnsaid. “Give people the education and skillthey need, so they will never be homeless —never be hungry.”

In addition to providing support for thecounty’s LL programs, Kohn’s group is in theprocess of developing a pre-school to thirdgrade initiative (P3) with a goal of ensuringthat all elementary students are reading atgrade level by the third grade.

“There’s compelling research that showsthat students who don’t have that strongfoundation from the start will be strugglinglater,” Kohn said. “If you come in behind, it’sdifficult to keep up with students who al-ready have that strong footing and you tendto fall further and further behind. It’s muchbetter to prevent the gap in the first placethan to try and close the gap.”

ESA’s P3 plan, slated to be complete earlythis year, will provide support to mobilizelocal school districts, teachers, preschoolproviders, community-

based organizations and funders in an ef-fort to increase access to early education, as-sure a smooth transition into kindergartenand improve the quality of early elementaryinstruction.

Kohn moved to San Diego from Wash-ington in 2011 with her two children andhusband, a scientist at Scripps Institute. Shehas broad and varied experience in areas suchas policy, government, advocacy, research,and education, including serving as directorof education in Seattle. She has a bachelor’sin economics from Yale and a master’s inpublic administration from the University ofWashington.


Laura Kohn

Business creation hit a record pace in 2014 with the number ofwomen-owned firms reaching a new milestone. The fifth annualU.S. Bank small business survey estimates that in 2014 there weremore than 9.1 million women-owned businesses in the UnitedStates, compared to 8.6 million in 2013.

These businesses generate more than $1.4 trillion in revenues,employ 7.9 million people and account for 30 percent of all en-terprises nationwide.

In the early years of a business, the startup owner’s excitementand initial trepidation can rapidly give way to survival mode.Many new owners are focused on immediate issues, such as de-veloping a viable business plan, projecting growth opportunitiesin both market share and revenue and securing financing and out-side investors. When this happens, long-term measures may ei-ther be put on the back burner or never discussed with businesspartners, financial consultants or heirs, which can create issuesonce the business is generating value through profitability andrevenue growth.

We have a few months of 2015 under our belts. For thosewhose New Year goals might include starting a new business, hereare a few items to consider that may help make your businessmore viable.

Level-setting expectations: Some women entrepreneurshave ventured out on their own for various reasons, such as togain financial freedom or to simply have a sense of ownership andfuel creativity. A host of women ventured out on their own due todivorce, job discrimination or a layoff, pregnancy or the health ofa family member. Many simply needed more flexible work sched-ules to balance the demands of their families. Seven out of 10 fe-male business owners say they’re almost always on the go,compared to 61 percent of their male counterparts. Challengingexperiences that fuel the desire to build a business do not mini-mize the time, effort and capital investments needed to turn anidea into something successful.

Proper Business Structure: Many new owners don’t con-sider the tax issues, liability and business succession issues whensetting up the business. For example, the simplest and least costlyway to establish a business can be as a sole proprietorship or ageneral partnership. These options may save you money up front,but you could risk losing your personal assets if, for example, youfind yourself facing a lawsuit, including one initiated by a cus-tomer. Typically, an LLC is the business structure that can offerpersonal asset protection for the owner.

Contingency Plan: Develop and put in place a plan to pro-

tect the business and keep it running in the event you are seriouslyinjured, faced with a debilitating disease or pass away. Many busi-ness owners have a will or living trust that passes ownership orcontrol of the business to heirs upon death or disability, but manytimes those heirs are not involved in managing the business.Often, when they become responsible for revenue, growth andemployees, they are ill-prepared. It is important to have heirs in-volved in the business early on to mitigate operational and fi-nancial issues at the time of the transition. If you have partnerswith ownership interest in the business, an up-to-date InsuranceFunded Buy-Sell Agreement may be a consideration.

Business succession: Many ask, “What do you mean exitmy business? I’m just going to keep running it forever!” There aresome successful owners who are secretly in denial and thereforedon’t adequately plan ahead for a business ownership transition tothe next generation, or the sale of the business to a strategic buyer.

According to the Family Business Institute, 30 percent of fam-ily businesses survive into the second generation, 12 percent sur-vive into the third generation, and only 3 percent of family-ownedbusinesses make it into the fourth generation and beyond. It isvital to prepare for estate taxes, spendthrift heirs and current lia-bilities of the heirs within the first three years of establishing thebusiness. If a divorce settlement is in effect, it can also affect thetransition or sale of a business. In the earliest stages of growth ofthe business estate planning and insurance liability and protectionmay be employed through the creation of trusts.

Women tend to bring many years of experience to a new busi-ness. On average, women start businesses about 10 years later thanmen so they have worked as an employee for several years, gainedexperience, established business connections and built a reputationbefore going out on their own. Even so, it is important to consulta financial adviser, an attorney and a tax accountant when you starta business to ensure you are protecting your assets and you have aplan in place that will prepare you for the road ahead.


W O M E N - O W N E D B U S I N E S S

Milestone Reached in Women-Owned Firms

By Michael Denzinger and John Zygowicz

Advice to owners on how to keep the business viable

Michael Denzinger is senior wealth

strategist for The Private Client Reserve

of U.S. Bank.

John Zygowicz is senior vice president

for The Private Client Reserve of U.S.

Bank.

We are proud and honored to have es-tablished our minority-and-women-owned law firm, Cara & Garland APLCduring a pivotal chapter in Americanhistory.

The backdrop of the 50th anniversaryof Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s iconicand prophetic “I Have a Dream” speech,the historic presidency of the nation’sfirst African-American president, BarackObama; and a Supreme Court that hason its distinguished bench the nation’sfirst-ever Latina Supreme Court Justice,the Honorable Sonia Sotomayor, ishumbling and invigorating.

As women of color — Mexican-American and Cape Verdean-Ameri-can/African-American — our place inthis special chapter brings into sharpfocus what it truly means to be a minor-ity-and-women owned law firm:

An Opportunity to Underscore Ex-cellence

Owning our own law firm provides usthe opportunity to highlight the fact

that clients do not have to sacrifice ex-cellence for diversity among their legalcounsel. Women of color are who we are,but excellence, backed by a proven trackrecord of success and practical know-how, is what we provide. We havethrived and excelled at some of thelargest, most well-respected law firms inthe nation and the world, and are able toprovide the same quality of service thosefirms offer, and to the same clientele, butcustomized to meet the specific needs ofour clients, and at affordable rates. Ontop of our commitment to excellence, wehave the benefit of our multi-dimen-sional perspective as women of color. In-deed, the tenacity we bring to ourzealous representation of our clients isinformed in part by the fortitude, legalacumen, and academic gravitas we havehad to demonstrate to shatter the ceil-ings we have encountered.

A Platform from Which to Serveas Change Agents:

Before we partnered to launch Cara &Garland we both served as changeagents and ceiling breakers in our re-spective lives and practices. We have hadthe experiences of appearing in courtand being mistaken for the court re-porter, the assistant to the lawyer whomust be on his way, the defendant, or theasylum applicant in a pro bono case —instead of the lawyer handling the mat-ter. We have had the experiences ofbeing treated with less respect than ourother colleagues of the bar simply be-cause of our color and sometimes ourgender, or sometimes both. It may comeas a surprise to some, but we have alsohad the experience of being mistreatedand marginalized by other women who

publicly advocate for the advancement ofwomen and women of color, but whobehind closed doors seek to strategicallyoppress these same women for their ownadvancement and personal gain.

Fortunately, our story does not endthere. We have had the gratifying experi-ence of commanding respect notwith-standing the preconceived notions andmachinations of others by way of ourlegal acumen and our determination toblaze our own trail.

When we joined forces, it was onlynatural for us to look for ways to im-prove the legal community on a largerscale. We feel humbled and blessed, butmost of all we feel an awesome responsi-bility to make those who came before usproud. We are living a reality that manyof our ancestors could only dream, andwe owe them a duty to give our best toour clients daily, and actively to assistother women of color who desire to pur-sue this path. We have purposed to neverbe a stumbling block to another sister inthe struggle, but rather, a tangible re-


L E G A L

Women in Law By Adriana Cara and Meagan E. Garland

Empowering women of color to blaze their own trails in the legal profession

Meagan Garland Adriana Cara


S E C T I O N T I T L E

source. We have purposed to use our voice and our platform totalk about the problems that still affect women and women ofcolor, and offer practical solutions. Finally, as we discuss below,we plan to allocate resources to the advancement of women ofcolor in the law, particularly those who could pursue any legalcareer, but choose to hang their own shingle. This, we feel, is thegreatest contribution we can give to the San Diego legal com-munity.

A Responsibility to Assist in Transitioning what weHave Accomplished from the Exception to the Com-monplace:

It is our obligation and our honor to pass the message toother women of color that they can do exactly what we havedone, and strive to do it better. They too can be successful busi-ness owners with an uncompromising commitment to qualitywork product and integrity — what we at Cara & Garland callQualtegrity. They too, can attract and maintain (by way ofquality service and stellar work product) fortune 500 companiesas clients, if they choose. Gone are the days when there wasroom for only one or two minority-women-owned law firms in

San Diego. We want minority-women-owned firms to becomethe commonplace, and not the exception, and we believe this isabsolutely possible. To that end, this year we are launching ournonprofit organization dedicated to providing essential start-uptools to up-and-coming minority-and-women-owned law firmswho have the legal acumen, commitment to excellence and, ofcourse, Qualtegrity to positively contribute to the legal servicesavailable in San Diego.

This is an exciting chapter in American history — the nationis buzzing with anticipation and limitless possibilities. As acountry, we are putting into practice the notion that if all thatstands between us and our dreams is a ceiling, shatter it. We feelthe same is true, right here in San Diego. We have been amazedby the tremendous outpouring of support we have received byour colleagues of the bar, and look forward to welcoming, cham-pioning, and practicing alongside other minority-women-ownedlaw firms, and adding to the already rich tapestry that is ourbeautiful city.

Adriana Cara and Meagan E. Garland are founders of Cara &

Garland APLC

L E G A L

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