DOWNEY – COVID can’t stop the Soroptimist of Downey from living their mission: women helping women, to make the world better for women and girls. They work all year raising money, and meet by Zoom when they can’t come together in person. Like the Energizer Bunny, they never stop.

Twenty members, all active or retired business or professional women, gathered at Geezers Restaurant to celebrate the recipients of the Soroptimist Live Your Dream Award, given to single moms who provide the primary financial support for their families. Most have overcome enormous obstacles including poverty, teen pregnancy, and drug or alcohol addiction

“I did this for my son,” said Rosemary Ibarra, of her boy James, 6. “He is the one who inspires me.”

Rosemary, 34, had brought James to the dinner. “I want to continue at the City College of Santa Ana,” she said, “and specialize in the occupational therapy field. I work in it now, with special needs kids.”

Scholarships abound at graduation time for high school seniors, but for women at this stage of their lives, few opportunities exist. These Soroptimists can help transform the lives of these three young women.

What makes the Soroptimist grant unique is that it can be used not just for tuition, but to offset any costs associated with their efforts to attain higher education, such as books, childcare, and transportation. Child care alone is such a huge expense that, lacking it, most women cannot leave home to attend classes, workshops, and labs, and therefore lose out on their employment prospects.

The honorees were poised and focused on using this award to turn their lives around. Maria Landeros had brought her twelve year old daughter Samantha.

“I want to be a surgical technician,” said Maria, 37. “I live in South Central and I work at The Little Company of Mary Hospital in Torrance.”

When I asked if they had a car, each of the women assented. It’s impossible to get around the Los Angeles Basin without one.

That focus was ratcheted up several notches when first place winner Talia Martineez spoke.

“I will put this scholarship money with what I already have,” she said. “I want to be a nurse practitioner, and I have figured that will cost me $36,000. And that’s cheap.

I have worked and studied for two years already,” Talia added. “And I have six more to go.”

Talia, 25, who lives in Lynwood, had brought her son Ishmael.

“He’ll be 5 on the 25th,” she said. “I left my one-year old boy Akiko with a sitter.”

Talia already is half-way to her goal, in prizes and grants she has received. As the local-level award recipient she is eligible for a Soroptimist regional-level award, and then the possibility of an international-level award of $10,000.

“I was in foster care with seven other children,” Talia said. “When we got to be 18, and we weren’t adopted, we were essentially homeless. I was angry when I became homeless and I had to live in my car for two years, with my son. But I knew that I had a choice, and I chose to help others.”

“Now only two of us are still alive, and the other girl is on drugs and going downhill. I think a lot about the seven of us,” Talia said, “and our stories. But I remember that you always have that choice.”

Soroptimist spends all year putting on fund-raising projects, like their famous Roaring Twenties costume party with a silent auction, that was held shortly before COVID shut down indoor events. They welcome new members, and inducted a new member that evening, realtor Georgette Solano.

Soroptimist president Linda Haines introduced the speaker Christina Alatorre from the Camino Real Region.

“The women and girls we serve,” Christina said, “are some of the most courageous, powerful and inspiring people you’ll ever meet. Each and every one of them is a superhero.”

The atmosphere was warm and encouraging, a safe place for these women to share their stories. All the honorees received big cellophane-wrapped bouquets of pink roses and mums, made by Mia Zimmerman.

That night, February 17th, was my birthday, and I got a bouquet too.

“Thank you for the honor,” Rosemary Ibarra had said. That should be, “Thanks to the three of you, for giving us the chance to honor you and your dreams.”