Rep. Adam Schiff Recognizes Echo Park and Silver Lake Women

Yesterday, at a luncheon in Hollywood, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) honored inspiring women from communities in the 28th Congressional District – Hollywood, West Hollywood, Burbank, Pasadena, Silver Lake, Echo Park, Elysian Valley, Los Feliz, Sunland–Tujunga, Glendale, Atwater Village, La Cañada Flintridge and La Crescenta. This recognition is made each year during Women’s History Month.

Below is a full list of all the honorees this year:

• Alexandra Helfrich (Burbank)
• Alice Steere Coulombe (Pasadena)
• Barbara Ferris (Los Feliz)
• Blaire Lennane (Elysian Valley)
• Cheryl Davis (La Crescenta)
• Christy Schilling (Glendale)
• Drian Juarez (Hollywood)
• Martha Burns (La Cañada Flintridge)
• Nadine Trujillo (Silver Lake)
• Elizabeth Garo (Echo Park)
• Ruth Williams (West Hollywood)
• Shelli-Anne Couch (Atwater Village)
• Sonia Tatulian (Tujunga)

“It was an honor and a pleasure to meet with the 2014 ‘Women of the Year’ awardees, and to recognize their outstanding work and community leadership,” said Rep. Schiff. “Each woman honored today has demonstrated an ability to help others, to work tirelessly for a cause important to us all, and to make our communities a better place. They serve as a shining example of service throughout the 28th Congressional District, and it was wonderful to recognize their extraordinary work and capabilities.”

Every year, during Women’s History Month, Rep. Schiff honors one outstanding woman from each of the communities in the 28th Congressional District. These women come from all walks of life and represent the thousands of women who make a positive impact in our region. While there are no specific criteria for nomination, Rep. Schiff looks for women who — through their work or volunteerism — have improved the quality of life for our community 

A Tribute to Nadine Trujillo – 28th Congressional District Woman of the Year 

I rise today in honor of Women’s History Month. Each year, we pay special tribute to the contributions and sacrifices made by our nation’s women. It is an honor to pay homage to outstanding women who are making a difference in my Congressional District. I would like to recognize a remarkable woman, Nadine Trujillo of Silver Lake.

Ms. Trujillo has lived in Los Angeles since 1956. In 1993, Ms. Trujillo launched her own business and opened a Mexican restaurant. She is the proud owner and operator of the Alegria on Sunset, where she also serves as its Executive Chef, and can still be found cooking for the daily lunch crowd in addition to fulfilling her CEO duties.

Ms. Trujillo first got involved in her community by providing local schools, charitable organizations and churches with discounted menus for teachers as well as donations to school events. She has continued to give back by volunteering her time and sharing her knowledge of catering and event planning. She has organized Hollywood Sunset Free Clinic’s annual fundraisers and continues to support HSFC by providing pozole to over two hundred “Pilgrims” in the annual observance of the traditional Mexican Christmas Posada. 

In 2010, Ms. Trujillo joined the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council after she completed Level One Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training. She has served as Co-Chair of the Public Safety Committee and today serves as an at large board member. Ms. Trujillo recently organized the first annual “September is National Preparedness Month” Expo. Ms. Trujillo and her two daughters are residents of Silver Lake.

I ask all Members to join me in honoring an exceptional woman of California’s 28th Congressional District, Nadine Trujillo.

A Tribute to Elizabeth Garo – 28th Congressional District Woman of the Year

I rise today in honor of Women’s History Month.  Each year, we pay special tribute to the contributions and sacrifices made by our nation’s women.  It is an honor to pay homage to outstanding women who are making a difference in my Congressional District.  I would like to recognize an exceptional woman, Elizabeth Garo, of Echo Park.

For more than two decades, Elizabeth Garo has worked both inside and outside of the music industry.  Her love, curiosity and interest in music have been a focus throughout her career, where she has held positions as a band manager and tour manager.  Since 2002, she has been a Senior Talent Buyer for the venues Echo and Echoplex in Echo Park and Spaceland Presents.  Ms. Garo also curates the music programming for the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County’s First Fridays series, the Getty Center’s Saturdays Off the 405 Series and is part of the booking team for the Santa Monica Pier’s Twilight Concerts series.

In 2008, Elizabeth and her business partner opened Stories Books and Café in Echo Park, where they sell new, used and rare books.  Since then, it has become a central gathering spot for the Echo Park community. In addition to literature and fiction, they have strong sections in music, poetry, non-fiction and astrology.  They also hold launch parties for small literary publications, storytelling events every month, and showcase art by local artists.

In 2011, Elizabeth and other individuals started the neighborhood festival, Echo Park Rising.  Echo Park Rising is launching its fourth year with a strong sense of celebrating the Echo Park neighborhood, its people, music, art and small businesses.  Ms. Garo is a member of the Echo Park Chamber of Commerce, and also serves on the Board for Dublab, which is a non-profit web radio collective, devoted to the growth of positive music, culture and arts.

I ask all Members to join me in honoring an exceptional woman of California’s 28th Congressional District, Elizabeth Garo.

—Release from the office of Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank)