YHER honors women leaders in Los Angeles with 2026 awards

YWCA Greater Los Angeles hosted the second annual YHER event at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles on April 28, recognizing women leaders in business, government, philanthropy and the arts. Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Maria Salinas and Monique Brown were named 2026 honorees as the program pushed women’s empowerment and community leadership forward.

Why it matters: - YHER is designed to spotlight women’s leadership and strengthen women’s empowerment efforts in Los Angeles. - The event connected recognition with community-building, aiming to expand visibility, support and opportunity for women across sectors. - The honorees represent leadership in business, government and philanthropy, underscoring the range of influence women hold in public life.

What happened: - YHER honored women leaders across business, government, philanthropy, sports and the arts on Tuesday, April 28, at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles. - YWCA Greater Los Angeles hosted the afternoon event. - Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove received the Trailblazer Award. - Maria Salinas, CEO of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, received the Woman of Excellence Award. - Monique Brown, president of the Amer-I-Can Foundation, received the Empowering Impact Award. - The event was the second annual YHER celebration. - YHER launched in 2025. - The program was created to Honor, Elevate and Respect the contributions women make in their workplaces and communities. - This year’s theme was “YHER: Celebrating Every Woman’s Magic.”

The details: - A panel discussion included the honorees and Kymberly Garrett, board chair of YWCA Greater Los Angeles. - Sharalee Hazen, general manager of X Games Club Los Angeles, moderated the discussion. - The panel focused on leadership, equity and pathways for the next generation of women. - The event included a live performance by PENG PENG, a former UCLA gymnast and Olympic team captain who later became an actress and singer. - Guests moved through interactive stations centered on reclamation, connection, growth and reflection. - Culinary offerings came from Wolfgang Puck. - Empowerment sponsors included Ring and Meridith Baer Home. - The event was built as an immersive environment around celebration and reflection.

Between the lines: - YHER is positioning itself as more than an awards program by combining recognition, dialogue and experiential elements. - The event’s structure suggests a focus on building community around women’s leadership, not just honoring individual achievement. - The emphasis on visibility, healing and collective power points to a broader advocacy message tied to YWCA Greater Los Angeles’s mission. - Lori Carmona, CEO of YWCA Greater Los Angeles, said the gathering was about creating space for visibility, healing and collective power.

What's next: - YWCA Greater Los Angeles is expected to continue using YHER as a platform for women’s empowerment and leadership recognition. - The organization will likely build on the second annual event as it expands its community outreach and advocacy efforts. - YWCA Greater Los Angeles says it serves more than 15,000 individuals annually through programs for youth, families, seniors and survivors. - The organization has operated for more than 125 years and says its mission is to eliminate racism, empower women and promote peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.

The bottom line: - YHER is becoming a visible annual platform for celebrating women leaders while reinforcing the YWCA Greater Los Angeles mission of equity and empowerment.