Four women whose work spans education, legal advocacy, nonprofit leadership and community organizing were honored Thursday at the Association for Women in Communications Santa Barbara’s 18th annual Women of Achievement Awards luncheon.
This year’s theme, “Powerful Voices, Purposeful Change — Women Leading Through Civic Engagement,” focused on the evolving needs of Santa Barbara County’s immigrant community and highlighted women using their platforms to expand access, strengthen communities and advocate for others.
The luncheon reflects AWC-SB’s broader mission of recognizing women whose work builds trust, creates opportunity and strengthens communities.
Held at Cabrillo Pavilion, the event recognized Teresa Alvarez, executive director of the Carpinteria Children’s Project; Primitiva Hernandez, executive director of 805UndocuFund; Viviana Marsano, assistant dean of civic and community engagement in UC Santa Barbara’s Division of Student Affairs; and Julissa Peña, executive director of the Immigrant Legal Defense Center.
“Leadership is not only about a title or position,” Women of Achievement Chair Katya Armistead said during opening remarks. “It’s about using your voice with intention.”
Armistead said civic engagement is also about “stepping forward when something matters” and described the honorees as women who “organize, educate, make systems more humane and communities more just.”
During a panel discussion moderated by News Channel 3-12 anchor Tracy Lehr, the honorees reflected on the personal experiences that shaped their work and the challenges immigrant families continue to face across the Central Coast.
Hernandez said her connection to 805UndocuFund began years before she became its executive director, when her own mixed-status family received support from the organization following regional disasters tied to the Thomas Fire and Montecito debris flow.
“My family was a recipient family, but now I get to lead the very organization that once supported us,” Hernandez said.
She emphasized the organization’s work is rooted in trust, lived experience and an understanding of the pressures facing immigrant families.
“We understand what they need at that moment because oftentimes it has been our own neighbors, our own family members, that have been impacted,” Hernandez said.
Hernandez now oversees the 805 Immigrant Rapid Response Network, a tri-county volunteer effort that monitors immigration enforcement activity, operates a 24-hour hotline and coordinates rapid response support, mutual aid and “Know Your Rights” training for families across Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.
Alvarez, who was born in Guanajuato, Mexico, and came to California as a child, spoke about the importance of creating stability for young children and families navigating uncertainty. The Carpinteria Children’s Project serves children ages 18 months to 5 years while connecting families with educational and support resources.
“Routine is so important at that age,” Alvarez said. “We wanted their families to feel safe.”
Alvarez, a first-generation college graduate, has spent more than a decade working in the nonprofit sector and has held leadership roles with organizations including Future Leaders of America, Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics and the First 5 Santa Barbara County Commission.
Marsano reflected on her work helping students engage in civic life through voter registration initiatives, community partnerships and language justice efforts at UCSB.
She also discussed co-founding Voices Translation and Interpreting Services to help expand access for non-English-speaking communities.
Born and raised in Argentina, Marsano came to Santa Barbara to attend UCSB and later completed a PhD in British history.
Before joining the Division of Student Affairs, she spent 15 years working at the UCSB MultiCultural Center, where she developed a deeper commitment to equity, inclusion and community engagement.
Marsano also helped establish the Language Justice Network, an initiative focused on expanding access and interpretation services for non-English-speaking families throughout the region.
Peña, whose organization provides free legal representation and community education for immigrants facing deportation proceedings, said uncertainty itself can become one of the greatest challenges for families.
“A lot of fear comes from uncertainty and misinformation,” Peña said. “People feel more supported when you treat them with honesty, dignity and compassion, even if you cannot promise them a specific outcome.”
Before leading the Immigrant Legal Defense Center, Peña worked with organizations including Border Angels and the Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights, supporting unaccompanied immigrant children facing deportation proceedings.
During the discussion, Peña shared the story of a young asylum seeker who fled persecution in his home country and later faced prolonged detention after complying with immigration check-in requirements in the United States.
Founded in 2006, AWC-SB supports women working across journalism, public relations, broadcasting, marketing, photography and related communications fields through networking, mentorship and educational events.
The annual Women of Achievement Awards serve as AWC-SB’s signature fundraising event and help support the organization’s professional development programming throughout the year.
