Woman of Empowerment 2025
Meet our 2025 Woman of Empowerment Honoree, Rosette Garcia — a leader whose journey reflects courage, purpose, and the power of lifting others. During our Empowered WE Rise celebration, Rosette delivered a heartfelt speech that moved the room and reminded us why women like her are at the core of our mission.
Her message centered on the idea that meaningful change happens when we come together –– that it’s the small, collective actions of many that create the biggest impact.
Below are passages of Rosette’s inspiring remarks, a powerful reminder of what we can achieve when we unite for a shared purpose.
“I want to thank someone who isn’t here—my dad who kept coming to mind as I was planning my remarks. And particularly something that he always used to say to me—and my siblings–when we were kids. We’d have done something we shouldn’t have—say missed a curfew, and in explaining the misdeed I might say, Dad, I couldn’t help it. Sorry. And my father –who was a gentle but real figure of authority–would gently rebuke me, saying, you can help it. Don’t tell me you can’t help it. You can always help it.
That phrase, you can always help it, and his refusal to accept that excuse taught me a lot. I learned that claiming futility or powerlessness was not an excuse. I still hear that voice—often– telling me that I can help it—that I can do something. His words come to me not just when I’m running late, even as I offer an excuse. I know that I could have helped it; I just should have left earlier, planned better! But I also hear them when I’m confronted with things in the world that just aren’t okay—that aren’t fair. What if I –if we– can help it?”
I don’t think he meant that I could help alleviate poverty, as WE set out to do. Or ensure women’s right to bodily autonomy. Or guarantee justice and equality. But I have always found it difficult to do nothing when I see something that is unfair, unjust. It’s so obvious when injustices occur and equally obvious what fairness would look like. And it seems to me that we should demand it—no excuses, no I can’t help it. So, my dad’s gentle admonishment, you can help it, reminds me that futility is not the answer and it subtly nudges me to do something.
I met many women and visited several communities where our funds have improved lives, but beyond that WE funds have given these young women a reason to hope and dream and have ambitions. I think of Carla, the 25 year-old young woman who was able to start a small grocery store in her living room with a $200 loan funded by WE, who told us of her dreams to own a real supermarket one day. It could happen!
The power of this organization lies not just in its mission, but in their belief that women are the drivers behind change—when you help a woman, you help not only her, but her family and her community, improving many lives in the process. I’m a long-time believer in the power of women and I’ve poured a lot of my energies into ensuring women and girls enjoy fairness and freedom.
Certainly, when we think about the many, profound problems we are facing, so many that seem to be going in the wrong direction, it is easy to feel powerless and wonder if our efforts are futile. I’d like to quote Dorothy Day, the amazing early 20th century social justice activist, who pondered this same question. She said, “What can one person do? What is the sense of our small effort?” Her response says it all: “They cannot see that we can only lay one brick at a time, take one step at a time.”
She (DD) reminds us that change doesn’t happen in one fell swoop, but slowly, excruciatingly slowly. I look out and I see a room of people, all who are making one “small effort” that is leading to lasting change. Who are taking that one step, laying that one brick. Who are undaunted by the magnitude of the challenges and continue to show up.”
