California's First Lady, Maria Shriver and The Women’s Conference partnered with The California Museum to celebrate National Women’s History Month with an extraordinary all-day free event – Day at The Museum yesterday in Sacramento.

Over 10,000 people came through the doors after it kicked off with A Breakfast Meet-and- Greet with Women Elected Officials, the day was packed with information and activity;

A tour of the State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Minerva Award Exhibit and Minerva Quilt Project Recognition, “If I Can Do It, So Can You,” panel on the rewards of being a compassionate citizen hero,  Chef demonstrations and book signings, “Only in California: A Celebration of California Creativity”,  Honoring Our Women in the Military and “I Did It My Way,” a Once in a Lifetime Conversation with  Astronaut and educator Dr. Sally K. Ride,  Environmental activist Erin Brockovich,  award-winning journalist Lisa Ling and award-winning actress, singer and entertainer Rita Moreno. 

Maria Shriver moderated a conversation with Astronaut Dr. Sally Ride (right), Lisa Ling (center) Rita Moreno and Erin Brockovish (shown below).

Sally Ride is the first American woman to fly in space.

Erin Brockovich was an unknown legal researcher and the impelling force behind the largest medical settlement lawsuit in history in 1996. It was because of Brockovich's unwavering tenacity that PG & E was exposed for leaking toxic Chromium 6 into the ground water, poisoning the small California town of Hinkley’s Water for over 30 years.

Lisa Ling, has covered a spectrum of issues and interviewed people ranging from global heads of state to Hollywood’s A-list. She is currently Oprah’s field correspondent and contributor to National Geographic’s award-winning series Explorer, CNN‘s Planet in Peril, and ABC‘s Nightline, and is a contributing editor for USA Today’s Weekend magazine.

Rita Moreno has managed to have a thriving career for the better part of six decades despite the institutional racism that has plagued the entertainment industry, particularly the anti-Hispanic bias that stereotyped Hispanic women as "spitfires" and sexpots. Moreno is one of the very few (and very first) performers to win an Oscar, an Emmy, a Tony, and a Grammy.

Maria and husband Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger introduced Brigadier General Mary J. Kight and other women in the military.

Kight is the first female adjutant general of the California National Guard and first African-American female National Guard Adjutant General in the nation.

Shriver flanks returning from active duty overseas veterans Monique Clifton, Senior Airman and Jessical Oliff, Sergeant, recipients of assistance fromTalbots clothing stores in obtaining civilian apparel to aid in finding a job.

An All Women’s Color Guard.

Dozens of children participated in the California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom.

Chefs  Cat Cora (above) and   Biba Caggiano below gave cooking demos and signed books.Maria Shriver officially recognized the Minerva Award Exhibit at The California Museum. Among the women warriors working on the frontlines of humanity throughout California present at the event were:
·    Betty Chinn, ’08 Minerva Award recipient, who works with the homeless in Eureka.
·    Ramona Delgado, ’06 Minerva Award recipient, co-founder of Sacramento’s WEAVE, the first domestic violence shelter in California.
·    Jennie Hernandez Gin, ’06 Minerva Award recipient, co-founder of WEAVE.
·    “Sweet” Alice Harris, ’07 Minerva Award recipient, founder of Parents of Watts.
·    Dr. Kathy Hull, ’09 Minerva Award recipient, Executive Director of George Mark House in San Leandro, the first free standing children’s hospice in the country.
·    Sister Jennie Lechtenberg, ’05 Minerva Award recipient, founder of  PUENTE Learning Center in Los Angeles.
·    Janice Mirikitani, ’05 Minerva Award recipient, poet and founder of Glide Foundation in San Francisco.
·    Ivelise Markovits, ’08 Minerva Award recipient, founder of Penny Lane in Los Angeles, which works with foster children and families.
·    Captain Maureen Pennington, ’07 Minerva Award recipient, United States Naval nurse and health advocate.
·    Christy Porter, ’07 Minerva Award recipient, Executive Director of Hidden Harvest, innovative poverty/food program outside Palm Springs.
·    Helen Devore Waukazoo, ’09 Minerva Award recipient, co-founder of American Indian Friendship House in San Francisco. Services for recovering substance abusers.

Dr. Kathy Hull (left), founded the George Mark Children’s House in San Leandro, CA, the first freestanding residential pediatric palliative care center in the United States, and Captain Maureen Pennington, a United States Navy nurse, managed a string of trauma centers located 10 minutes by helicopter from the front lines in Fallujah, Iraq.

Azure Antoinette, of Get Lit, read a poem at the end of the Minerva introductions of the  Minerva Award recipients and the Quilt Project recognition.

For more information and program updates, keep checking back at CaliforniaMuseum.org.

The California Museum, 1020 O Street • Sacramento, CA 95814 • (916) 653-7524

SacPress Photos | Kati Garner