On August 24, 2025, in West Hollywood, the City’s Women’s Advisory Board hosted its annual Women’s Equality Day celebration. This day honors the movement for gender equity and calls us to keep building systems that include every voice.

I had the honor of moderating Women & The Way Forward, a panel featuring Kat Calvin of Spread The Vote + Project ID, Emiliana Guereca Zeidenfeld of Women’s March Foundation, Rati Gupta of 5 Calls Civic Action, and Deborah Lee Smith of More Than You See. Together, we explored how to advance civic participation, protect voting rights, and create leadership spaces where all women—especially those too often left out—are seen and heard.

Each panelist left us with a challenge:

“Commit to ensuring ten people get to the polls.” – Kat Calvin
“Personalize your politics and make it real for those around you.” – Rati Gupta
“Ask three women when they last felt unequal and create space for dialogue.” – Deborah Lee Smith
“Look at the world through a woman’s lens—and speak up when you see who’s missing from the table.” – Emiliana Guereca Zeidenfeld

As Judith Heumann reminded us, equality is about who’s at the table—and whether that table is accessible. The way forward begins with action. Are you in?