Pasadena Celebrates Women’s History Month at City Council Meeting

The Pasadena City Council formally proclaimed March 2025 as Women’s History Month during its February 24 meeting, recognizing the historical and ongoing contributions of women to the city’s development.

Mayor Victor Gordo presented the proclamation, asking Leticia Lopez and Vanessa Rodriguez to join him. Gordo highlighted women’s critical role in Pasadena’s growth across economic, cultural and social spheres, particularly in establishing early charitable, philanthropic and cultural institutions.

“Women of every race, class and ethnic background have made history contributing to the growth and strength of Pasadena in countless recorded and unrecorded ways,” Gordo said during the presentation. “Women have served as leaders in the forefront of every major progressive social change movement and have had leaders not only in securing their own rights of suffrage and equal opportunity, but also in the abolitionist emancipation, industrial labor, civil rights and peace movements, which have created a far more fair and just society for all.”

The Mayor concluded, “Therefore, on behalf of the Pasadena City Council, I do hereby proclaim the month of March, 2025 in Pasadena as Women’s History Month.”

Commissioners from the city’s Commission on the Status of Women accepted the proclamation. Commission Chair Vanessa F. Rodriguez thanked the Council and announced the Commission’s annual “Herstory” event scheduled for March 13.

“We are so excited and eager for the month of March as we always are,” Rodriguez said. “I will remind everyone that it’s not just March, we show up as mothers and daughters and aunties and coworkers.”

Rodriguez introduced fellow commissioners Maria Guadalupe Castellon, Jennifer Thibault, Robin Allen, Jill Thompson, Gabby Perez, Maura Harrington Roggero and Crystal Aceves, while acknowledging their “wonderful staffers” including Leticia Lopez and Jane Whitmore.

She also requested Council support for their upcoming event: “We would love your partnership if we could include our flyer in your newsletters. We would love to get you the file and have you share that wide with your constituencies. It’s free and we’ve been working really hard as a Commission to get that kicked off.”

Councilmember Tyron Hampton expressed appreciation for the Commission’s work, noting that as a married man raising two daughters, he is frequently reminded of women’s importance.

“I want to let y’all know that your work definitely does not go overlooked in my household and I’m reminded all the time by my wife,” Hampton said. “If there are any initiatives or anything that you think our Council could work on to strengthen and make sure that our women are not overlooked in this community, we are here to support those efforts.”

Mayor Gordo affirmed the Council’s backing, stating, “I think that the rest of the Council can get behind those statements and again, thank you to our Commissioners and all the time and effort that you put into your work.”

This Women’s History Month proclamation was the only ceremonial matter addressed during the meeting before the Council moved on to public comments and agenda items.