Democratic Activists for Women Now

    It has been an honor to serve as DAWN President for almost 7 years, since March of 2002.  During that time we re-built the club from near-insolvency (after a grand theft of our funds was discovered) into the effective, respected, financially healthy organization it is today.  Many strong female leaders who served on our board have gone on to elective office: among them Pearl Cheng, Margaret Abe-Koga and Buu Thai.  DAWN has been blessed with a wonderful Treasurer, Lee Sturtevant, who is a fountain of institutional knowledge and expertise. I hope to be just like her when I grow up. Willie Wool, founding member and President Emeritus was a wonderful role model and mentor to me, helping me develop my leadership potential and the confidence needed to lead our club. Many more women leaders have served or are currently serving with me on the DAWN board, making it a very influential grassroots organization for Democratic women in our valley.    

    Since its inception in 1993 DAWN has endorsed countless Democratic men and women candidates. We give additional financial support to our endorsed women candidates.  Here are some of our recent accomplishments:

• Partnered with Planned Parenthood Mar Monte locally to successfully fight 3 anti-choice propositions placed on the ballot in the last five years.

• Publicly supported and honored 3 young women who rescued an underage rape victim in what is known as the DeAnza College Rape case (2007).  

• Last year we endorsed our first woman candidate for President of the United Sates. Though we fell short, 2008 was truly a historic year of firsts for women and people of color and I for one am very proud of our country.  

• In ’08 DAWN reached past the boundaries of Santa Clara County to help change a traditionally red Assembly seat blue with the election of Joan Buchanan.

• Started our first mentorship workshop for women interested in running for office. This evolved into a partnership with Assemblymember Joe Coto wherein we created a scholarship program for Democratic women living in Santa Clara County. Our first scholarship recipients who are now attending the Emerge political leadership program are Darcie Green and Papia Gambelin.

• Currently we have thrown our support behind DAWN member San Jose Councilmember Madison Nguyen, who is facing an unjustified recall campaign.  Many of us have already walked precincts or made phone calls to try to dispel some of the half-truths, rumors or outright lies the opposition has spread about this wonderful woman leader.  I challenge all DAWN members make the time to walk, phone, or volunteer in other ways before the March 3rd election and help defeat this misguided, mean-spirited campaign.  

    Noelani Sallings is DAWN’s newly appointed President. Prior to that she served as Vice President in charge of Candidate Endorsements. Noelani is a graduate in Psychology from Santa Clara University. She is working toward her Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology from Notre Dame de Namur University.  I for one am confident that Noelani will be an excellent leader of DAWN, bringing new vitality and interest to the organization.  Please join me in welcoming Noelani Sallings at our Sunday March 29 potluck brunch, featuring San Jose City Council and DAWN member Madison Nguyen.