Dozens of Tucson women working to make a difference in the community sharpened their skills through workshops and networking at the YWCA of Southern Arizona’s 36th Annual Women’s Leadership Conference.

This year’s theme, “Courageous Leadership,” highlighted bold ideas, meaningful connections and strategies for overcoming challenges.

Sessions included a documentary screening with Pearlette Ramos, co-director and producer of “Three (Extra)Ordinary Women,” about three-middle aged women of color who took on the challenge of climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro to prove that women can achieve anything.

The film uses the Kilimanjaro ascent as a metaphor for overcoming life’s challenges. The women encourage viewers to ask themselves what is their Kilimanjaro, in order to inspire personal and social change. 

Each participant received a deck of storytelling cards featuring self-reflection prompts focused on systemic advocacy and change. The women used the imagery on the cards to create personal narratives, sparking conversations. 

Another session featured Paloma Santiago, district director for Junior Achievement of Southern Arizona, leading a workshop called “Fostering Resilience with a Positive Attitude.”

Throughout the session, Santiago shared her own journey of overcoming challenges, urging participants to reflect on their own values and achievements.

“I love the nonprofit sector. It fills me. It's my purpose,” she said. “I wake up every morning loving what I do, knowing I’m making a difference.”

Santiago stressed the importance of self-care, resilience and making choices that align with personal fulfillment.

She also opened up about the difficult decision to leave an abusive relationship.

During a difficult and intense situation with her boyfriend, which led to the police being called, her mother came to meet her and said, “I didn’t escape my own violence so that my daughter could do this.”

“She was heartbroken, and I felt like a failure,” Santiago said. “She came to this country for me, and all I could think was that I had disappointed her.” 

That moment was a turning point that fueled her decision to leave and find strength for herself and her son. She urged the participants to find something to hold on to that will get them through difficult times. 

After the workshops, participants engaged in a panel discussion that explored Indigenous women in leadership and the importance of self-care and shared power. 

Maria Molina, a clinical social worker and therapist for the Pascua Yaqui Centered Spirit Program, shared her experience in leadership roles. She talked about the duality Indigenous people face in navigating their cultural identity and the expectations of the Western world. 

“We have to adjust to be one way in our community, but when we step into the western world, we have to be different, sometimes because it’s not safe to express who we are or share our worldview,” Molina said. 

She told attendees that society places unrealistic expectations on women in their careers, especially within tribal systems. 

“I give myself permission to accept that some expectations are unrealistic and I only focus on what’s most important. This doesn’t mean I don’t feel stress, but I remind myself not to place those same expectations on my team,” she said. 

Anna Harper, CEO of Emerge! Center Against Domestic Abuse, told attendees about the pressures she faces as a woman of color in a leadership position, sharing how her organization embraces the concept of grace and compassion. 

Harper said modern systems are often steeped in violence and survival tactics. By recognizing these forces, she said we can work toward a more compassionate and supportive environment for all. 

“I’ve been thinking a lot about mercy and showing compassion for people who might not seem deserving. It’s about acknowledging that I don’t have all the answers and allowing others to step in and help,” she said. “It’s crucial to practice shared power and understand how violence permeates our communities.”

Isabela Gamez is a University of Arizona alum and Tucson Spotlight reporter. Contact her at gamezi@arizona.edu.

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