More than 150 community leaders and Southeast area residents attended the Women’s Club of Huntington Park’s 2nd Annual International Women’s Day Tea Celebration. At the luncheon held at Leonardo's Restaurant on Alameda Street, which coincides with Women’s History Month, the club presented the congresswoman with its Woman of Wisdom Award and Esmelinda Baquero, owner of Dos Toros Meat Market, with its Business Owner Award.

The congresswoman made the following remarks recognizing the club's members and Women's History Month:

“It is truly an honor to receive this recognition from The Women’s Club of Huntington Park whose membership is filled with outstanding women dedicated to improving the lives of those in our community.

I commend the members of the club for recognizing the importance of International Women’s Day which has been set aside to recognize the struggles and immeasurable contributions of women around the world.

We need only to turn on the news to see firsthand how our sisters in the Middle East are valiantly fighting against oppression and to overcome poverty, illiteracy and traditions which deny them the opportunity to realize their full potential and that of their daughters.
I know our hearts and prayers go out to them in their fight against the tyranny in their lives.

While women of the world are wonderfully diverse and the obstacles we face somewhat different, the fact remains that here at home we share with them a common struggle for equality and fairness.

March is also Women’s History Month during which time we salute mothers, wives, grandmothers, daughters and sisters from all walks of life, cultures and ethnic backgrounds for their contributions to making our country the greatest in the world.

It is a time we set aside to honor the courage women have demonstrated throughout our nation’s history and the struggles we have overcome as we balance personal goals with our commitments to family and community.

Throughout the United States, we have women who represent the very meaning of Women’s History Month.
That is certainly true of, The Women’s Club of Huntington Park, and the women in this room who share in our common goal of a quality life for all.

Each of you, in your own way, is making a difference in our communities and towards the betterment of our country as a whole.
The Women’s Club of Huntington Park and all who have made this second annual International Women’s Day Celebration Tea possible is to be commended.

Through your efforts you are bringing attention to the significant role women and Latinas in particular have played in building our American society.

And in doing so you are helping to raise the status of women who come from all walks of life and economic backgrounds.
Women work in the fields, in our factories, in federal, state and local governments and in the armed forces in defense of our country.
Women help form the valuable pool of talent from which our nation draws innumerable volunteers, teachers, nurses, social workers, entrepreneurs and small business owners.

And we work hard at home to preserve the family, the very foundation of our country and our Latino culture.

We have all benefited from the struggles and pioneering efforts of the women who have come before us. It is their shoulders we stand on.
But now it is the courage and determination of you, the women of the 21st century, who are opening new doors of opportunity for the women of today and of the future.

To create positive change we must continue challenging a political system that says no when it should say yes. For it is clearly in the political arena where policy decisions are made on issues that directly impact our lives.

Through your unique experiences as women, and especially as Latinas, you can play a critical role in bringing new perspectives and ideas to the policy making process.

Whether you help create legislation, support it or oppose it, your involvement makes a difference.

As activists and leaders of your communities, you can also make a difference by encouraging and supporting qualified women to run for office.

No matter what role you choose however, the fact remains that when women are a major part of the political process, either as elected officials or through the power of their vote and their advocacy, we create positive and meaningful change for every man, woman and child in the state, the country and the world.

But politics alone is not enough. To fully empower our community, we must keep our young people in school, and educate them. Women must be provided equal educational opportunities and motivated to embrace the professions. And women must be properly trained and equipped to be competitive in the workforce of our highly technical society and world market place.

Women who work at home raising their children must be given the tools they need to keep their family healthy and strong. For the family is the foundation of our American society and our Latino culture. Through your hard work and sacrifices you already are building a better future for our children and our community. And in the process of highlighting our proud place in American history, you are also providing young Latinas with role models that will help empower them to create their own future and make our goal of women’s equality in America a true reality.

I salute you for all you do for our community and I thank you for this recognition which I share with each and every woman in this room.”