Women's History Month

Ina Coolbrith, one of the Bay Area's literary pioneers, gained fame as California's first poet laureate. She was Oakland's first public librarian who broke many conventions of her time. Considered a literary giant, she even mentored Jack London. See how Coolbrith is celebrated today as KTVU's Jana Katsuyama explores how her legacy lives throughout the Bay in quiet corners.

We shine the spotlight on some women winemakers who ware pioneering their own paths in the Livermore Valley. One entrepreneur says its all about leadership, communication, but most of all, teamwork.

Longtime San Francisco Giants sideline reporter Amy Gutierrez is out with the third installment in her children's book series: "Smarty Marty Takes The Field". The latest book is inspired by trailblazing Giants Assistant Coach Alyssa Nakken, the first female coach in MLB history. KTVU's Alex Savidge is joined live in studio by Amy G for more on her new book and what's next for both her and Marty.

The Bay Area is home to a number of tech giants and start-ups, attracting people from all backgrounds across the world. But the industry can also be notoriously cut-throat and presents an additional set of challenges for women navigating the often male-dominated field. In her new novel, creative writer Kyla Zhao chronicles the life of a Gen Z woman tackling gender bias, sexism and doubt in Silicon Valley. KTVU's Heather Holmes speaks with Zhao about how her own experiences influenced "Valley Verified" and the advice she has for any woman entering tech.

New research by Mount Saint Mary's University reveals the average monetary cost of being a woman in California and highlights the work that still needs to be done to address inequities, including but not limited to the wage gap. In its latest report on The Status of Women and Girls in California, data shows the wage gap has narrowed over the past decade but COVID slowed the progress down significantly, especially for women of color. KTVU's Alex Savidge and Heather Holmes are joined by Dr. Nicole Haggard, Director of the Center for the Advancement of Women at Mount Saint Mary's University for more on the report.

An ad released ahead of World Down Syndrome Day is sparking conversation and challenging assumptions about people with the condition. The ad stars Canadian actor and model Madison Tevlin and was produced by the advocacy group Coordown in partnership with the National Down Syndrome Society and other organizations. The conclusion: assumptions, both negative and positive, can become reality. KTVU's Heather Holmes and Alex Savidge are joined by Madison Tevlin and CEO of the National Down Syndrome Society Kandi Pickard for how they hope the ad will help shape public perception of Down syndrome.

A recent CNBC/SurveyMonkey survey found a lack of workplace satisfaction across the board for women, with 80% saying their career has not advanced in the last year and 17% saying they actually make less than they did the year prior. KTVU's Heather Holmes is joined by communication strategist and author of "A Woman's Guide to Claiming Space: Stand Tall, Raise Your Voice" for more on how women can break through communication barriers at work and advocate for themselves when it comes to pay, promotions and seniority.

A young woman who dedicated her life to helping older adults across the Bay Area is marking an important career milestone. Anita Varelas launched Neighborly Senior Placement two years ago in San Bruno and has helped more than 1,000 older adults find housing at various assisted care facilities across the Bay Area, free of charge. KTVU's Heather Holmes and Alex Savidge speak with Varelas about her years of experience with senior living facilities starting when she was just 15 years old.

Tonight a panel of women will be speaking at The Academy, an LGBTQ+ social club in San Francisco near the Castro about how they are making an impact in their fields of work. KTVU's Cristina Rendon is joined by one of tonight's panelists, San Francisco Pride Executive Director Suzanne Ford to discuss her experience as the first transgender woman to hold her office.

Coach Erin Ridley is the first woman to ever become head coach of a Major League Soccer Academy team. Ridley got into coaching with the San Jose Earthquakes' now-defunct Girls Academy before moving over to lead the Under-13 Boys team in 2020. She is now both the Under-15 Boys' head coach and assistant coach for the Under-17 team; both firsts in MLS history. KTVU's Heather Holmes is joined live in studio for a conversation with Ridley about the professional obstacles she faces that her male colleagues rarely share and the accomplishments she's most proud of.

Mountain biking is growing in popularity for young women across the country and one team from the East Bay shared its story of how they’re gaining more female members.