With Women’s History Month on the horizon, the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History (MAH) is preparing to host its third annual HERstory Celebration on the evening of March 6, in partnership with the Santa Cruz County Office of Education (SCCOE) and Lookout Santa Cruz. The event will spotlight ten women, nominated by community members across Santa Cruz county for their leadership, change-making and vision. Honorees span generations and were nominated for three different award categories – Legacy, Impact and Rising – each representing a different stage of influence and community change. Together, all of these women reflect the depth of leadership across Santa Cruz County – from women who have spent decades change-making to young leaders shaping the future.
LEGACY AWARD HONOREES
The Legacy Award recognizes women whose sustained contributions have left an imprint on the county and whose work continues to echo throughout following generations, shaping institutions, policies, and community life. Meet our 2026 Legacy Honorees:
Rose Marie Filicetti has long been a force for civic engagement and nonprofit collaboration in Santa Cruz. She co-founded Breaking the Glass Ballot, served as a founding board member of Digital NEST and launched Now From Here, a women’s networking group and Non-Profit Connection Santa Cruz County. Her decades of organizing and institution building have helped to strengthen the nonprofit sector of Santa Cruz and created pathways for women and community leaders to thrive for generations to come.
Gail Michaelis-Ow, a nurse practitioner, helped to establish a Planned Parenthood clinic in Santa Cruz in 1976, just three years after Roe v. Wade, the same year she completed nursing school. For 50 years, she served patients at the local Planned Parenthood clinic, advocating for accessible and affordable reproductive healthcare until the clinic closed suddenly in 2025. Her commitment to health equity has helped to expand care for generations of residents and continues to influence healthcare access in the region.
Mary Gaukel Forster is a longtime educator and mentor that has dedicated decades to serving and teaching Santa Cruz County’s youth. She has played a key role in transforming Costanoa school into a Career Prep High School, supporting students, teachers and administrators through advocacy and mentorship. She has also worked with CASA, Ending the Silence and NAMI, while serving on the Delta Charter High School board. Her leadership has shaped educational pathways and strengthened youth advocacy efforts across the county.
IMPACT AWARD HONOREES
The Impact Award honors women who are actively shaping Santa Cruz County today, leaders whose current work is expanding opportunity, advancing equity and strengthening community systems. Meet our 2026 Impact Honorees:
Consuelo Alba is a visionary director and co-founder of the Watsonville Film Festival and has helped to build and curate a thriving platform for Latino filmmakers, dedicating her work to celebrating and highlighting underrepresented voices. Her leadership in arts and equity extends beyond the film festival as she has recently completed a two-year term as Board President of the Santa Cruz Arts Council, further advocating for geographic and racial equity within the creative sector of the county.
Laura Marcus, CEO of Dientes Community Dental has transformed the access to oral healthcare across Santa Cruz County. Over the past decade, she has expanded Dientes from a single clinic to five different locations, doubling the number of patients served and tripling the total number of visits. Under her guidance and leadership, the organization has strengthened the healthcare safety net, expanding the workforce development pathways that promote leadership from within, specifically for team members from underrepresented communities.
Yadira Flores Martinez, a community organizer and equity leader, centers her work on racial justice, youth leadership and cultural healing. As Community Engagement Director for County Park Friends, she co-directs the Young Outdoor Leaders program that helps youth and families connect with nature and career pathways. She is also the leader of multiple racial equity trainings, serving in multiple governance roles including as the Commissioner on Latino Affairs. Her leadership has earned countywide recognition for advancing inclusion and community resilience.
RISING AWARD HONOREES
The Rising Award celebrates young leaders who are already making a meaningful difference and shaping the county’s future through courage, creativity and commitment to community. Meet our 2026 Rising Honorees:
Amara Anderson is a senior at Santa Cruz High School and is the president to both the school’s Black Student Union and the countywide BSU. She has worked to expand membership and partnership with local organizations in the county including the NAACP of Santa Cruz County, Umoja and the Black Health Initiative. She is co-leading a student produced public service announcement that addresses racial slurs in schools.
Ivory Woodson a senior at Soquel High School, founded her school’s Black Student Union and has helped it grow through organizing events, fundraisers and the annual Ruby Bridges Walk to School. Working in partnership, she has helped connect BSU chapters across Santa Cruz, building bridges between students and community organizations.
Sasha Pavy is a barista at Verve Coffee Roasters, emerging as a key leader in a successful unionization effort across three of Verve’s cafes. Pavy has organized coworkers, helping to reshape workplace culture and empowering fellow employees to seek collective solutions and representation.
Hilda Yadira Cortez Mendez, an eleventh grade student and youth leader with United Way Santa Cruz County Jovenes Sanos program supports peer wellness and promotes mental health awareness through Watsonville High School’s Hope Club. She is also participating in Youth Participatory Action Research in partnership with UC Santa Cruz. Through balancing academics, leadership and family responsibilities she uses her empathy and resilience to advocate for youth well-being.
The HERstory Celebration at the MAH offers more than recognition; it is a reminder that Santa Cruz County’s strength lies in the leadership of women across generations. From people whose legacy is felt across generations to rising change-makers, these ten women reflect and highlight the power of community driven impact through the past, present and future. Come join us at the MAH on March 6th from 5:30 – 7:30 pm and celebrate these amazing women!
Galicia Stack Lozano is a student at UC Santa Cruz and an intern at Lookout Santa Cruz through the Humanities EXCEL program led by the UC Santa Cruz Humanities Division with strategic support from The Humanities Institute