Women from diverse cultures always add value to the conversation. Their unique experiences demand we be inclusive and welcoming of their perspectives. As a Somalian woman working to effect change, this is critical to my work. -Amina Sheikh, Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action and Diversity Award recipient; Heads the African American Campaign for the Network for a […]

When I was younger the voice of feminism was strength and power and finding your own way in life, being able to stand up and take care of yourself, not being dependent on a man for anything. It was really important for me to chart my own path and to make sure that I was […]

The experiences I’ve had made me realize more and more that we’re all part of this global world, and I had to find my place. Life has taught me that people are the most important thing—people and relationships, how we see them, how we have compassion for them, or may not. We must talk with […]

I think that life challenges are an opportunity for self-growth and introspection. That leads to the opportunity to give back to those who are facing the same challenges. As a breast cancer survivor, that’s what I want to do. -Bette Hoffman, Activist, Community Leader, Cancer Survivor, San Diego, CA 

The more I study history and look back upon what I’ve learned, the more I don’t believe in roles anymore. Human beings require partnerships of equality, of shared power. -Carol Rowell Council, Co-founder, Women’s Studies Department, San Diego State University; Co-founder, Center for Women’s Studies and Services (now the Center for Community Solutions), San Diego, […]

On my visit to Uganda, at age 13, I realized the power and strength of women to change the world. I left Uganda believing that by becoming a social entrepreneur I can change the world. You’re never too young to make a difference. -Catherine Mitchell, Student. At age 15 Catherine established her micro-business, Beauty 4 […]

What exactly is Native American, and what does Native American look like? Well, it doesn’t just look like one thing; it looks like a lot of different things. And in reality it’s not really a look—it’s a spirituality; it’s how we interact with people; it’s our songs, which reminds us of who we are and […]

My philosophy on life is not about how many rights or wrongs we’ve done but what we’ve learned, what we’ve accomplished, what we’ve changed, what we have given back. -Chong Kim, Sex Trafficking Survivor and Activist, Equal Rights Advocate, Co-writer of Story of Eden, Dallas, TX 

I am wiser as a result of my struggles. I’ve discovered that justice is essential to humanity. -Crystal Harris, Social activist, Survivor, Feminist; Inspired Assembly Bill 1522, San Diego, CA 

I discovered around age 5 that my calling is serving others and fighting for human rights. My other calling, though, is prayer. To be in spirit. -Deborah Santana, Activist for peace and social justice; Founder of Do A Little, a nonprofit serving women and girls in the areas of health, education, and happiness; Author, Space […]

This I know: keep busy doing things for others as well as for yourself. That’s how you learn. -Deborah Szekely, Philanthropist 

My work has taught me to be humble, to listen, to look. There’s such an amazing world of possibility when you actually do those three things. The greatest thing is humility. -Dee Aker, Psychological Anthropologist, Conflict Resolution Professional, University of San Diego Joan B. Kroc Institute of Peace and Justice San Diego, CA 

I was angry at life. This was before I realized my purpose. From my experience, and from what I’ve had, it’s not easy to live with HIV. I just want to prove that anything is possible. I’m focused on being a doctor. My dad is my inspiration. Life has taught me patience. -Dorah Wanyana Dunigan, […]

What I do for myself dies with me. What I do for others lives on forever. -Dr. Josephine Odumakin, 2013 International Women of Courage award, Nigerian Democracy Activist, and Women’s Right Advocate; Executive Director of the Institute of Human Rights and Democratic Studies; President of Women Arise for Change Initiative; Chairman, Task Force of the […]

During my university study in Spain, the country was riddled with poverty and little opportunity for creative expression. I returned to the U.S. and perceived a kind of cultural bubble. I became adamantly engaged in issues related to women and children, and worked with activist anger. An inspired leader suggested to me, “If this work […]

My dad gave me confidence. He was a remarkable man of faith who believed in God and the goodness of mankind. It became commonplace for us to move every year, living in various churches, and then later we were moved to the internment camps. We never really had a home. Yet, my father would remind […]

When you go through a trauma you start to examine a lot of things in your life. And one thing I realized was that I tried to be fine all the time. I sloughed off my emotions most of the time and ignored my health because it got in the way of what I was […]

To help somebody understand their ability in a loving, warm way—when that is understood by a child or by any person, you’re freed as a human being to be truly the best you can be. It’s a wonderful thing to give another human. -Eunice Sanchez, physician, healthcare advocate, Friends Family Community Connection, which has hosted […]

It’s amazing that when you follow your heart, your dream, your passion, there’s a different force also helping you. I felt this force while working to increase educational opportunities for girls and young women in Jalalabad, Afghanistan. It’s an amazing and deeply satisfying journey. -Fary Moini, Champion of Change honoree for humanitarianism and contributions to […]

The world has its flaws, just like everybody. The world isn’t perfect, but we can only hope. And I’m going to keep hoping. -Inocente Izucar, Artist, Teen Activist, Academy Award Winner, Former Homeless Teen, Undocumented Daughter of Mexican Immigrant Parents, Chula Vista, CA 

As a restaurateur, I’ve noticed that women have an insight, an inner patience that sometimes men don’t have. I’m not saying all men don’t have it, but a lot of men don’t. This inner patience makes it so that women see things that men don’t see all the time. And I think that’s really important. […]

Our contribution to diminish the suffering of others is what causes meaning and value. What causes me to feel my life has meaning is the gesture I make to diminish another’s pain. -Jan Phillips, Author, Activist, Artist, Co-founder, and Executive Director of The Livingkindness Foundation. San Diego, CA 

Forgiveness, for me, in one word, is freedom. It is freeing to release bitterness, sorrow, and regrets. -Jeanine Lee, Public Speaker, Survivor, Advocate, San Diego, CA 

Seeing someone homeless, living off the streets, scared, alone—it touches me. I would be terrified if I were in their shoes. But it’s also an opportunity to see more than just suffering, to also see strength. That’s where my path has gone much more: from that recognition of our common humanity and the need for […]

I think my mentor saw in me, early, the ability to do more, experience more, and then also she encouraged me to express my opinion and take leadership positions. And I think it takes that— somebody to pull you up, so to speak. To recognize, maybe, raw talent and give that person an opportunity or […]

Become more self-confident, try to believe in yourself more, to have more courage and trust your instincts. There’s a big world out there, and there are folks who will try to make it narrower for you, try to close you into a smaller world, and you have to have the strength and courage to fight […]

I believe passionately that when women flourish, then families thrive, communities thrive, nations thrive. Therefore, let us no longer walk into a room and assume that everybody knows better than we do. -Linda Katz, Co-founder of Women Give San Diego, Community Leader, Philanthropist, Civic Activist, Feminist, Del Mar, CA 

The word “feminist” connotes equality of opportunity, giving women the chance to succeed or fail. It should be cleansed of its political trappings. Every woman and every man who believes in equality of opportunity is a feminist. -Lynn Schenk, Attorney, Former Member of the United States House of Representatives, Feminist, promoted the Equal Rights Amendment […]

I think my entire life—and this comes from my mother—is founded on the notion of fairness and equality, the idea that we should all have access to the same things. That one child, irrespective of birth, should have access to the same school as another, or medical care, or access to the legal process. But […]

There’s nobody so ugly he doesn’t have beauty within him, and no one so poor there isn’t richness within him, and no one so weak he doesn’t have strength within him. Every person is invaluable in this world, and so I serve every person, every prisoner, with love; I hope and pray through the Holy […]

My hope for Sudan is that we are going to be a great nation. Because all our time was wasted in war. I’ve never really been stable in my life. All my youthful period was a waste. But I think now we are beginning anew, and what I went through, I hope my child will […]

At age 7, I was taking food to my father, who was imprisoned for voicing his objection to political oppression. I had no childhood, no Barbies. At 17 I became student leader and general secretary of my college student union, leading marches with other women, protesting against social and political oppression. I had to leave […]

I always felt that it’s really important to maintain your faith, be a good person, and do the right thing. And if you did all of those things, at some point they were going to come back to you, because I think those are the laws of the universe. I’ve seen it work in my […]

I am the fourth daughter of my freedom-fighter parents, who dedicated their lives for the freedom movement led by Mahatma Gandhi. My mother was 14 when she joined the movement. It was that culture, those ethics, and those values that shape me. As a lawyer, practicing law in support of women’s issues in India, I […]

As a result of the Bosnian war, I became a refugee, and for the first time realized the impact of trauma on women as a result of war. In healing myself I wanted to heal others, particularly women who are survivors of war rape and sexual violence. While in camp I established a women’s group. […]

As a straight-A 10-year-old, I received my first F on a math test and was devastated, crying hysterically. I felt I had disappointed everyone. My grandfather immediately took me for ice cream and consoled me, informing me there will be other tests and opportunities to succeed. When I reached home, still hysterical, my mom placed […]

I found my life’s passion when a professor of mine died from AIDS. He handed in our exams one day, and the next week he was gone. Later, my Ph.D. supervisor and best friend also died from AIDS. It appeared that a virus was able to peck out the very things that make our society […]

I tend to be a stressful, perfectionist-oriented person. I need things to be certain. So in overcoming obstacles I have to stay patient. That’s the hardest thing for me. I have to be able to sit down and analyze what the issue is and how I can go through with it in the most graceful […]

Sometimes there’s a place for men to step back and make a space for women to take the lead in a particular issue. And sometimes it’s really important for men to step forward and support women and take the lead so a woman doesn’t always have to do it. You create balance by making it […]

I know a nonviolent world will happen; I know it’s possible. I know the violence that people endure and go through and end up being really graceful and gracious after it happens. I know that it can stop. I’m not going to see it in my lifetime, so I’m not Pollyanna enough to believe that. […]