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THOMPSON HONORS KAREN TAYLOR AS SOLANO COUNTY’S WOMAN OF THE YEAR

March 22, 2015

One woman from each of the five counties that make up our Congressional District recognized

Washington, D.C. – In recognition of Women's History Month, U.S. Reps. Mike Thompson (CA-5) recognized Karen Taylor as Solano County's Woman of the Year. Taylor was one of five women recognized. One woman from each of the five counties that make up the Fifth Congressional District was honored.

"I regularly have the privilege to work with extraordinary women across our district. It's important that they are recognized – and what better time to do it than Women's History Month," said Thompson. "Karen is a fixture in her neighborhood and our Vallejo community. She's always strived to help young people in Vallejo have the best experiences possible and to see the best in themselves. She is an extraordinary individual who volunteers her time to help others. It's my honor to recognize her as Solano County's Woman of the Year."

Taylor is a considerate woman with a loving and giving heart, and is always seeking to help the less fortunate in our community, especially youth, homeless, and elders. From block parties that she put on as a teenager to field trips to take kids to Lake Tahoe to see snow for the first time, she has been a fixture in her neighborhood and the Vallejo community. She has helped young people in Vallejo by forming activity groups, such as Karen's Tiny Tots and Karen's Girls Clubs for kids and teenagers.

Taylor has strived to improve our community for more than thirty years. She has worked with kids to perform plays, has hosted meetings on pregnancy prevention for teenage girls, and has devoted countless hours of work to the Solano AIDS Coalition.

The origins of Women's History Month begin in Thompson's district. Until the late 1970's, women's history was rarely included in K-12 curriculum and was virtually absent in public awareness.

To counter this, the Education Taskforce of the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women initiated a "Women's History Week" celebration in 1978 centered on International Women's History Day. With the help of the National Women's History Project, founded in Sonoma County, thousands of schools and communities joined in the commemoration of Women's History Week.

In 1981, Congress responded to the growing popularity of Women's History Week by making it a national observance and eventually expanding the week to a month in 1987.

Earlier this month, Thompson introduced H. RES. 525, a bipartisan resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives honoring March as Women's History Month.

The women recognized were:

· Cynthia Guzman – Napa County Woman of the Year

· Pamela Phillips – Lake County Woman of the Year

· Gaye LeBaron – Sonoma County Woman of the Year

· Karen Taylor – Solano County Woman of the Year

· Maureen Toms – Contra Costa County Woman of the Year

Congressman Mike Thompson is proud to represent California's 5th Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma Counties. He is a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee. Rep. Thompson is also a member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition and chairs the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Wine Caucus.

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