Linda Hess, founder of Urban Harvester, which connects hungry people to surplus food, and M.D. Shelley, the Domestic Violence Chair of the South Pasadena Woman’s Club, will update attendees on how they can be involved in the fight to overcome hunger and domestic abuse at the Fall Conference of the Sierra Mar District of Business and Professional Women on Saturday, October 15, 2022 at the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 2009 S. Garfield Avenue, Monterey Park. Registration is at 8:45 a.m. with the meeting starting at 9:00 a.m. Hess will be speaking about 10:45 a.m. and Shelley about 12:15 p.m. The conference and luncheon is open to all interested people. Registration is $15, but there is no registration cost for guests. The cost of the box lunch is $10. Call Marie Clifton (626) 287-5306 or E-mail her at MarieClifton40@gmail.com to make a reservation or for questions.

In 2012 Hess founded Urban Harvester, a Los Angeles based 501(c)3, non-profit organization, whose focus is connecting untapped food resources to the nearest shelter, soup kitchen and pantry. All types of food suppliers are now involved – not just restaurants, food trucks, Starbucks, the South Pasadena Unified School District, a music festival, a temple, a Farmers’ Market, etc.

Shelley is the Domestic Violence Prevention Chair for the Woman’s Club of South Pasadena, has had training in domestic violence and sexual assault, is a human trafficking and hostage negotiator and has worked with the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department and other Police Departments. She will be talking about her work in this area.

The State Representative will be Rosemary Enzer, President of the California BPW Education Fund and a Past President of CFBPW. A retired educator Enzer worked as an elementary principal and teacher and as a university instructor. She has also served as a consultant to underperforming schools. Her credits include authoring an Independent Living curriculum manual for transition age youth. Her other volunteer activities include the Los Angeles League of Women Voters and Hillview Mental Health Center, where she is a member of the Board of Directors. Enzer joined BPW more than 30 years ago and has held numerous officers and chairs at the Club, District and State level including President of the California Federation of Business and Professional Women. Currently, she serves as President of the CFBPW Education Fund.

Mavis Hansen, President of El Monte BPW, will be the Presiding Officer for the meeting. Sierra Mar District is based in the San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys and is part of the California Federation of Business and Professional Women (CFBPW). The organization is a member of the National Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs

(NFBPWC) and BPW International. BPW has been advocates for women’s issues for more than 103 years.

The mission of Sierra Mar District of the California Federation of Business and Professional Women is “to promote and support equity for working women in all phases
of their lives and to promote personal empowerment and professional development.” Our objectives are “to advocate on state and national legislative issues of importance to women, to promote personal and professional development for women and to foster connections among women to promote BPW and its members.” Membership is open to both men and women who support this mission and these objectives. Those who are members also belong to NFBPWC and BPW International.