Celebrating International Women's Day 2025
/In recognition of the inherent value and strength of the women in our community, Bayside is proud to celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8, 2025.
Women are the backbone of Bayside, making up 75% of our Board of Directors, 86% of our staff, and an estimated 70% of our clientele base. We regularly work to empower the women of Linda Vista to be leaders in the community to acquire the long-term skills to become active and engaged in their community as they address systemic challenges facing the neighborhood (e.g., food insecurity, affordable housing, park safety and security). For other clients, the road to empowerment begins with assistance in meeting basic physical, emotional, and social needs (e.g., case management, food distributions).
As we gear up for International Women’s Day, we’d like to share the experiences of women who have benefited from Bayside’s services, educational programs, and advocacy.
SERVICES
According to the American Center for Progress, women are more likely to live in poverty than men and these patterns are exacerbated by race, ethnicity, and age. Here in Linda Vista, women make up 70% of Bayside clients who utilize various social service programs.
Irene is one such client who says, "I like coming to Bayside because of the services that they make available to address whatever need people have."
Food insecurity is a problem that has a disproportionate impact on women. According to the American Medical Women's Association, "Among the women who reported more severe abuse (51% of the sample), the investigators compared recent reporters (abuse in 12 months prior to interview) and past reporters, and found that 35.7 and 26.5 %, respectively, reported food insufficiency in the past year. The results of this study presented a principal correlation between food insufficiency and domestic violence."
Thi is just one of the hundreds of Linda Vista women who have made use of Bayside's emergency food distribution as a means of addressing food insecurity. She says, "it's very important to have Bayside's food distribution program, especially for low-income families. Without the food distribution they couldn't afford to buy good, healthy food for family and we'd have to eat whatever we could afford."
The challenges that women face are exacerbated with age. For example, a 2021 Census Bureau study found that women 75 years or older were 30% more likely to be widows than men of the same age. This often results in increased emotional, mental, and financial hardships.
Dinh is one of many Bayside seniors who enjoys hot, nutritious meals at Bayside alongside the invigorating company of other community members. Regarding her experiences with Bayside's senior programs, Dinh says, “I would be very sad if I did not join the Senior Lunch at Bayside. I would not have the motivation to eat healthy and nutritious food if I did not join Senior Lunch, too. Coming to Bayside, I am welcomed warmly and taken care of like a family member. My health has improved and I feel more optimistic about life. Thank you, Bayside, for having healthy lunches every day for the seniors.”
EDUCATION
According to the World Literacy Foundation, "Girls face a greater risk of illiteracy than their male peers. Approximately 496 million adult women worldwide cannot read and write – this is 2/3 of the illiterate population around the world. The long-term impact of this is staggering. From reducing infant mortality, increasing women’s agency, leadership skills, and employment, it is imperative that girls access literacy. "
Sherleen entered our Academic Club afterschool program reading below grade level and, within months was able to not only close her reading level gap but actually began reading above her grade level!
Regarding her experiences in the English as a Second Language (ESL) classes hosted at Bayside, Tinh says, "I joined Bayside's ESL class because I wanted to learn English well and communicate with other people. I really wish there were more English classes so everyone could have the opportunity to learn English well."
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, "Women are responsible for roughly half of the world’s food production, and in many countries they produce between 60 and 80 percent of the food. Yet globally, the prevalence of food insecurity is higher among women than men." Bayside is proud to help local women learn the skills necessary to overcome these challenges.
Diana, a Linda Vista resident, mother, and graduate of Bayside's Tiny Garden program says, "Tiny Gardens is an important program because it gives you the guidance and confidence that, no matter what your space is, you can grow your own food. Bayside gave us the supplies that opened our world to new crops and new possibilities."
She adds, "before the class I never knew about different soil types, I just thought that dirt was dirt. I knew I could start the plants but I didn't know what to do next, I didn't know how to harvest them or what signs to look for so I wasn't able to really benefit from them. It was really nice to come full circle and see the products of my labor."
ADVOCACY
According to Forbes magazine, while the call for female leadership has increased, "Women remain underrepresented in political offices, particularly at the local government level. Despite making up more than half the U.S. population, women account for only 31% of state legislative seats, less than 30% of mayoral positions and hold just 26% of elected county offices nationwide, according to the Center for American Women and Politics,"
Meet Tomasa who graduated from Bayside's Resident Leadership Academy in 2013 and who says, "This program is important because you learn how to be a leader, how to work with the community, and most importantly you make connections with representatives that you couldn't make otherwise." Since 2020, Tomasa has worked as a Community Advocate for Bayside Community Center and has been instrumental in developing projects throughout the neighborhood including but not limited to community clean-up events, community gardens, and the re-establishment of the Linda Vista Farmers' Market. Tomasa was also recognized by the City of San Diego as a Public Health Champion in 2024. Learn more about Tomasa's development as a Linda Vista leader here.
Forbes magazine also reports, "More women are starting businesses, but they still face challenges operating their businesses. The number of women entrepreneurs is on the rise. Regardless of the positive outcomes, women are struggling to survive in the business environment given the challenges they face."
Nadia, founder and lead instructor of Ballet Folklorico El Tapatio states, "If it wasn't for Bayside, I don't know what would have happened with my business. I started with five dancers and Bayside Community Center helped me, guided me, and gave me the tools to enhance my business." Nadia's business has now grown to include two locations, over 56 individual dancers of all ages, and has gained much recognition for performances throughout San Diego County. Learn more about Nadia's development as am entrepreneur and leader here.
.png "Launch Recite Me")