2026 Women's Equality Day Event
From Voice to Vote:
Affordability at the Ballot Box
How can we use our voices—and our votes—to help make San Mateo County more affordable for women and families?
Join the San Mateo County Commission on the Status of Women for a timely Women’s Equality Day conversation celebrating the power of women’s civic participation and spotlighting practical, community-based solutions already making a difference.
Facilitated by Erin Baldassari, KQED’s award-winning housing reporter whose work explores affordability and the forces shaping life in the Bay Area, this dynamic 90-minute program will feature:
- Karen Pace, Executive Director of Ravenswood Early Learning
- Kalimah Salahuddin, community advocate and co-founder of the REACH Coalition
- Laura Bent, Chief Executive Officer of Samaritan House
Through a thought-provoking panel conversation, each leader will share a specific program or initiative addressing affordability in San Mateo County—and what it takes to turn community priorities into meaningful action.
The event will include networking, light appetizers, and beverages. Participants will leave with tangible ways to use their voices, votes, and community connections to help build a future in which all women can thrive.
Hosted by the San Mateo County Commission on the Status of Women
Register on Eventbrite, starting August 3!
The program will be recorded and shared on the Commission on the Status of Women's YouTube channel following the event.
History of Women's Equality Day
The right to vote, the cornerstone of democracy, belongs to all citizens — but this wasn’t always the case. Until recently, most countries denied voting rights to women. To claim their voice, women began agitating for the right to vote in the early 19th century. In the U.S., decisions about who could vote were left up to the states. The 19th Amendment, ratified in 1920, ensures voting rights for everyone regardless of gender. In 1971, Congresswoman Bella Abzug of New York introduced a resolution to designate August 26th as annual recognition of Women's Equality Day. Today, Women’s Equality Day celebrates the achievements of women's rights activists, pays tribute to those who have moved us closer to equality for women and girls, and reminds us to continue fighting for these rights.
