District 4 resident Rafael Avendano is the After-School and Summer Program Director for Siena Youth Center of the St. Francis Center, former Chair of the North Fair Oaks Community Council, and a hands-on leader in North Fair Oaks – and he is only 31 years old! Rafael is a passionate advocate for education, accessibility, open space, affordable housing, and the positive development of future leaders.    

One of my favorite places to be is in the District-- speaking with you, your neighbors and local business owners about your real life joys and challenges.

As part of June's 2017 Black History Year, Robert Hoover, a fixture in East Palo Alto, California, shared his story about growing up in the 1930’s in the South.

By Samantha Weigel, San Mateo Daily Journal. In an acknowledgment of San Mateo County’s diversity and inspired by the nation’s changing immigration policies, the Board of Supervisors is considering ways to support those facing deportation or language barriers. County officials will host a study session Tuesday, March 28, on actions to support immigrants that include setting up a legal defense fund, creating an access policy across county departments for non-English speakers, and establishing a new Office of Community Affairs.

In continuing with my celebration of Women’s History Month – I am pleased to introduce Paula G. Uccelli! Paula Uccelli was born and raised in San Jose and originally moved to the Peninsula to attend College of San Mateo to study business where she married and made a home. She was an active resident of Redwood City for 47 years and she and her husband, Pete, were involved in improving the life of others in the community. 

In honor of Women’s History month, I would like to introduce San Mateo County Women’s Hall of Fame inductee Dr. Faye McNair-Knox. Dr. Faye was born and raised in East Palo Alto, something she is very proud of. She graduated from Stanford University in 1972, and went on to received her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Teacher Education from Stanford University in 1985. She was the 2010 Woman of the Year for Assembly District 21. Dr. Faye is the Executive Director of One East Palo Alto Improvement Initiative. Her work focuses on youth in East Palo Alto and consists of helping youth develop skills, helping families build resilience, and helping teachers improve on there teaching techniques. She started working with this program in 2004 and has made huge contributions in all three areas for the neighborhood she's proud to call home.

The first woman to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States, Sandra Day O’Connor, began her career in the San Mateo Cistrict Attorney's Office...at a time when the only job offer she could get was secretarial. In 2015 she was inducted into the San Mateo County Women's Hall of Fame; a special celebration was held and she returned to San Mateo County to the courthouse where her career began.

In honor of Women’s History Month, I would like to introduce San Mateo County Women’s Hall of Fame inductee, and community advocate/activist, Linda Lopez. A native San Mateo County resident, mother and public servant, there is no denying that Linda is as strong as they come. Her passion, commitment and determination to improve her community knows no limits. Linda Lopez currently serves on the North Fair Oaks Community Council, and has been actively involved with community affairs since the 1970s.

Some of you know her, some of you may have heard of her, and those of you who don't, I introduce you to an amazing woman, Sister Christina Heltsley, a member of the San Mateo County Women's Hall of Fame. "Sister C" as many of us call her, is the Executive Director of the St. Francis Center in North Fair Oaks. She's been a teacher of all grade levels, a principal, a superintendent for Catholic Schools, and became the executive director for the St. Francis Center in 2000. Her primary mission is to help low income children achieve success.

In honor of Women's History Month - and International Women's Day, I plan to showcase a series of remarkable women from our County. Jean Harmon of Menlo Park is my first--she's a veteran. Jean Harmon was an elite member of the Women’s Air Force Service Pilots (WASP). The WASP’S were trained pilots who flew military planes during World War II. Jean was introduced to airplanes at the age of 7 when she got her first airborne ride with a relatives. It was love at first flight. Amelia Earhart was her heroine. Jean graduated high school at 16 and attended University of the Pacific in Stockton California when World War II broke out during the first semester. She left college to pursue her training to become a pilot.

March is Women's History Month! The U.S. Congress officially declared March as Women’s History Month in 1987 to honor of the many contributions of women in our history. The recognition has expanded beyond the early suffragettes, Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and others who advocated across the nation for a women's right to vote. Thanks to the suffragettes, the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution was passed in 1920 and women were finally granted the right to vote.