Assemblymember Rudy Salas (D-Bakersfield) and the California State Assembly honored Mary Gonzales-Gomez as the 2017 Woman of the Year for the 32nd Assembly District. Assemblymember Salas recognized GonzalesGomez during the annual Assembly floor ceremony for her long-standing community service throughout Kings County. The ceremony was held Monday.
“For years, Mary has been a fixture in the community. Through her volunteerism, mentorship, and more than fifty years of experience working with communities, Mary has consistently shined as a compassionate, kind, and selfless leader,” said Assemblymember Salas. “She uplifts so many lives in our community and I am proud to recognize her leadership and unwavering commitment to serving Kings County.” “Community service is something I do routinely simply because I find a sense of personal fulfilment in extending my hands and my heart to help others in need,” said Gonzales-Gomez. “I invite all women to take a small step and offer one hour of their time once a week to address a common cause in their community to create positive change. I share my award with all women who have answered the call of volunteerism to give back to their communities through community service.” Mary currently serves on the board of Kings County Office of Education where she builds strong community relationships and helps advance quality education programs and support services to families in Kings County. She previously worked with migrant education programs and was employed by the Corcoran Unified School District for twelve years as a Crisis Intervention Services Coordinator and a Primary Case Manager. Mary helps to keep communities safe through her leadership roles in multiple programs and task forces that deal with substance abuse, prevention, and treatment. Mary also served on the Kings County Boards of Family Preservation and Support and Behavioral Health working directly with families. In addition to serving in various volunteer roles, she remains actively involved in her
church and community. Mary received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology with a minor in Criminal Justice from the University of the Pacific, and Associate of Arts Degree from San Joaquin Delta College. For all of her efforts, Mary has earned a number of awards and recognitions, some of which include: Latina of the Year Award, the Outstanding Professional Achievement Award by Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, LULAC Professional of the Year, and the Kings County Excellence in Community Collaboration Award. The annual Woman of the Year event has been a Capitol tradition since 1987 to highlight the achievements of outstanding women throughout the state during Women’s History Month. Assemblymember Salas represents part of the City of Bakersfield, the cities of Arvin, Avenal, Corcoran, Delano, Hanford, Lemoore, McFarland, Shafter, Wasco, and the communities of Armona, Buttonwillow, Home Garden, Kettleman City, Lamont, Lost Hills, Stratford and Weedpatch
