Two Women's and Gender Studies majors have been profiled on the City of Santa Rosa's webpage as part of their Multicultural Roots Project. The Multicultural Roots Project was "created to increase visibility for Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) in Sonoma County, with a particular focus on Santa Rosa; and to recognize, through historical stories from BIPOC, contributions and impacts that have shaped Santa Rosa and Sonoma County. Working with local historians and community partners, Community Engagement staff gather stories and facts about local BIPOC leaders, as well as historical events and places that have shaped Santa Rosa and Sonoma County into what it is today. Each month, we will share five of these stories with the public through multiple communication channels, including the City’s website, social media and this newsletter."

Loren Smith: Student Activist and Changemaker

There are many phrases that describe how the youth are the future of their communities and we as adults need to build better communities for them to live, work and play. However, the work that youth do now is instrumental in changing the world for a better future. The courage, enthusiasm, and passion they exemplify shows their power and the richness in their experiences and voices. Loren Smith is an example of one of these youth. Read more...

Ashley Simon Alvarez: A Natural-Born Leader

Ashley Simon Alvarez is a natural-born leader passionate about the intentional use of language, diversity, and inclusion, and advocating for meaningful change. Ashley grew up in Santa Rosa and attended Sonoma State University (SSU) to study Women’s & Gender Studies and American Multicultural Studies. As a student at SSU, she worked tirelessly to advocate for meaningful change in the university. Read more...