Women’s History Month Briefs

State Senator Limón Honors Dr. Katrina B. Mitchell at Capitol Ceremony

In honor of Women’s History Month, California State Legislature comes together to highlight women in their community. District 21 Senator Monique Limón celebrated Katrina B. Mitchell, MD. 

In addition to her role as a breast surgical oncologist in Santa Barbara at Ridley-Tree Cancer Center, now part of Sutter Health, Mitchell also serves patients as a perinatal health provider, a certified lactation consultant and a medical expert in oncolactation, or the intersection of breastfeeding and cancer. She established the Santa Barbara Women’s Health Coalition; she serves on the advisory board of Santa Barbara’s Postpartum Education for Parents (PEP) and is the acting medical director of the Ventura Coast Milk Bank.

Senator Monique Limón stating, “She is doing critical work providing care to women and mothers throughout Santa Barbara County. Through her advocacy she has made a tremendous impact on women’s health throughout the Central Coast and I am grateful for her continued service to thousands of women in Senate District 21.”

Scientists at the Las Cumbres Observatory Recognize Women in Astrophysics

I reached out in the community for Women’s History Month. The Las Cumbres Observatory replied, “Due to recent Federal regulations, the National Science Foundation directed the removal of the word ‘women’ from their and our website. We at LCO did internally acknowledge the women astrophysicists who work with us. 

They are, Dr. Emily Manne-Nicholas is our Telescope Operations Scientist; Dr. Rachel Street, LCO Senior Scientist, is working on exoplanets, microlensing, Rubin Observatory and the Legacy Survey of Space and Time; Dr. Carrie Holt is our Catalyst Fellow working with Dr. Tim Lister in Solar System Science; and Dr. Katarzyna Kruszynska is a postdoctoral fellow working with Dr. Rachel Street in exoplanets.” 

411: https://lco.global/people/science/ 

2025 California 37^th Assembly District Woman of the Year

Assemblymember 37^th District Gregg Hart, announced this week that Tere Jurado is the California 37^th District Woman of the Year. She is a longtime Santa Barbara resident and community leader. Originally from Mexico City, she is a Spanish-language radio broadcaster and activist. Jurado shared that she is proud of her 17 years working as a family advocate at Franklin Elementary School. She has served on the boards of the Santa Barbara Eastside Society, Santa Barbara Mariachi Festival, Standing Together to End Sexual Assault (STESA), and Santa Barbara Police Activities League, among her other board work.

The recognition of The Woman of the Year event was founded in 1987 by Assemblywoman Bev Hansen (R) and Assemblywoman Sally Tanner (D). Nominations are sent in from the residents in the districts for one woman from each Senate and Assembly district to come to the Capitol and be honored for their accomplishments in a formal ceremony on the floors of the Senate and Assembly. 

Women’s History Bicycle Ride 

You can pedal through women’s history landmarks in Los Angeles on the Women’s History Ride. The 4.9-mile loop begins at Union Station and winds through Downtown L.A., passing through various landmarks associated with some of the city’s most towering women figures from the fields of architecture, women’s rights, and philanthropy. The ride is sponsored by the Metro Bike Share program which is providing the bikes, and visitors can set out on their rides whenever they choose. 

411: https://bikeshare.metro.net/ride-guides/dtla/womens-history-month