 Jennifer Barton is the 2018 Solano County Woman of the Year. Barton was honored March 23 at the Joseph Nelson Community Center in Suisun City during the Solano County Library Foundation’s 11th Annual Women’s History Luncheon.
Women's History Month
In Solano County, we are fortunate to
have strong women in leadership roles, from local government, to our schools,
nonprofit organizations and local business.
These are women who have persevered
through hardship, worked tirelessly on behalf of others and been an example for
one another to follow. Each year in March, we celebrate these women leaders in
recognition of Women’s History Month and pause to honor and reflect on the
contributions women have made to society.
This all culminates with the
announcement of Solano County’s Woman of the Year, as part of the Solano County
Library Foundation’s Women’s History Luncheon. The program follows the
theme set by the National Women’s History Project, “Nevertheless She Persisted: Honoring
Women Who Fight All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.”
Nearly 300 people attended the 11th
annual Women’s History Luncheon on March 23 at Suisun City’s Joseph
Nelson Center for a powerful and uplifting program that honored a longtime
friend of mine, Jennifer Barton, as Woman of the Year.
Jennifer is Chief of Staff for
Assemblyman Jim Frazier, District 11, and the founder of the Women’s History
Month Committee. Her father, Tom, a carpenter and contractor, instilled a
strong work ethic in her at a young age, preparing her for the hard work ahead.
Former Yolo County Supervisor and State Assemblywoman Helen Thomson gave
Jennifer her first job in politics. She would go on to work for Senator
Lois Wolk and Congresswoman Ellen Tauscher.
In addition to a 20-year career in
politics, much of which has been spent assisting women legislators and helping
advance policy that supported and enriched women, Jennifer has made a huge
impact on the lives of countless women in Solano County through her work with the
Girl Scouts of America and Soroptimists International.
The Women’s History Luncheon is
always a powerful and uplifting event, and this year was no exception. The sold
out crowd had the privilege of hearing from keynote speaker and local author Pati
Navalta Poblete, who shared a passage from her forthcoming book, “A Better Place,” which recounts the
anguish of losing a child to gun violence. Pati’s story is one of acceptance
and not giving in to grief. She has persisted by channeling her pain, forming a
foundation that seeks to take unwanted guns off the street.
Keeping with the theme of
“Nevertheless She Persisted,” Genea Brice, the City of Vallejo’s first poet
laureate delivered an inspired reading of her poem, “High Time.” Genea’s poem
is a tribute to the strength of women. Women who had the courage to speak not
just for themselves, but for others, changing the course of history.
The event also serves as a fundraiser
for the Solano County Library Foundation. Proceeds, which have reached nearly $50,000
since Jennifer started the event just over a decade ago, support the library
foundation’s women’s history and literacy programs.
Previous Solano County Women of the Year:
Holly Brown - 2017
Liz Niedziela - 2016
Nancy Meadows Trigueiro - 2015
Deb McGuire & Carolyn Wold - 2014
Patsy Van Ouwerkerk - 2013
Nancy Rossi & Mayrene Bates - 2012
Ruth Gardner Begell & Audrey Hefner - 2011
Jan Hewitt & Ann Cousineau - 2010
Birgitta Corsello - 2009
Jeannette McCree-Goudeau - 2008
Congratulations to 2018 Solano County Woman of the Year
Jennifer Barton and all those who continue to advocate on behalf of women
everywhere. Our communities are stronger, richer and healthier for the work you
do, day in, day out.
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Since 2003, Supervisor John M. Vasquez has had the privilege to represent the 4th Supervisorial District covering Northern Solano County. The district includes portions of Vacaville and Dixon. |
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