Women Leading Change: Power, Policy & Purpose

Change does not begin with institutions. It begins with people.

In honor of Women’s History Month, Commonwealth Club World Affairs convenes an extraordinary panel of women whose leadership has shaped San Francisco’s civic, community and policy landscape.

Connie Chan, supervisor for District 1 and candidate for California’s 11th congressional district, has served at every level of local government, from community organizer and legislative aide to chair of the Board of Supervisors Budget Committee. An immigrant who arrived in San Francisco at age 13, she has championed environmental justice, immigrant protections, and safeguards for healthcare, housing, and food security.

Tracy Gallardo is a native San Franciscan and longtime community organizer who has dedicated decades to advancing equity for Latino and marginalized families. From youth development and juvenile justice reform to co-founding the Latino Task Force on COVID-19, her work reflects steady, relationship-driven leadership that strengthens neighborhoods from within.

Sherrice Dorsey-Smith, executive director of the San Francisco Department of Children, Youth and Their Families, has led historic citywide grantmaking and cross-sector initiatives, including the Community Hubs Initiative during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her leadership centers a whole-child, systems-based approach to supporting young people and families.

Patsy Tito, Ph.D., has served the Samoan and Pacific Islander community for more than 25 years through the Samoan Community Development Center. By integrating cultural preservation with clinical mental health practice, she has worked to normalize conversations about wellness and strengthen intergenerational resilience.

Together, these leaders embody the intersection of power, policy and purpose. This conversation will explore how identity shapes leadership, how women navigate institutions not originally built for them, the unseen labor that holds communities together, and what policies they would implement if given the power to act immediately.

From the visible chambers of government to the quieter work of community building, this program highlights the wisdom, courage, and determination required to lead change and what it will take to build a more representative and equitable future.

Join us for an evening of insight, reflection, and civic dialogue.

The appearance in Commonwealth Club World Affairs programs of candidates for office are not a recommendation or endorsement of their views or candidacy; the Club does not take positions on candidates or ballot measures.

The Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California is a nonprofit public forum; we welcome donations made during registration to support the production of our programming.

A Social Impact Member-led Forum program. Forums at the Club are organized and run by volunteer programmers who are members of The Commonwealth Club, and they cover a diverse range of topics. Learn more about our Forums.

Commonwealth Club World Affairs is a public forum. Any views expressed in our programs are those of the speakers and not of Commonwealth Club World Affairs.

Organizer: Virginia Cheung 

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