Third time’s a tradition: Glendale marks Women’s Equality Day at the Alex Theatre

Women gathering to celebrate their resources and expertise can empower one another. After three years of success, you can enjoy another event where you can network in a beautiful, historic building.

The City of Glendale will host its Third Annual Women’s Equality Day Celebration on Wednesday, September 30 at 6:00 p.m. at the historic Alex Theatre courtyard. The free event will bring together community professionals, business leaders, and community members for conversations and connection.

Building on the success of the City’s previous Women’s Equality Day celebrations, this year’s program will feature a panel discussion exploring challenges and opportunities women encounter in the workplace and beyond. Panelists will share their experiences and practical insights on imposter syndrome, allyship, contract and salary negotiations, and unconscious bias.

The evening will go beyond the panel discussion by creating opportunities for attendees to make meaningful connections. A facilitated networking session will help participants connect, exchange ideas, and build new professional and community relationships. Attendees will also have the opportunity to enjoy a social hour with refreshments and connect with organizations that offer resources and information.

The City of Glendale proclaimed August 26, 2026, as Women’s Equality Day, commemorating the 19th Amendment and honoring the generations of women whose leadership, advocacy, and contributions have advanced equality and strengthened our community. Glendale remains committed to creating opportunities for women and girls and recognizes the Commission on the Status of Women’s continued work toward a more equitable future for all.

Glendale’s Annual Women’s Equality Day celebration was launched in 2024 as an initiative of then-Mayor and current Councilmember Elen Asatryan, who wanted the City’s recognition of Women’s Equality Day to go beyond a proclamation or ceremonial observance and instead create a space that connected women with tangible resources, opportunities, and one another.

The inaugural event, “Mix, Mingle & Empower,” focused on economic empowerment and access. Programming included employment opportunities, City contracting and procurement, women-owned business certification, small business resources, and professional networking that was coupled with live music, food, and drinks- not your typical government-hosted event. The event brought together City departments, the U.S. Small Business Administration, Glendale’s Commission on the Status of Women, California Partners Project, and other community partners.

The response exceeded expectations. The first event sold out quickly and drew nearly 200 attendees, demonstrating an appetite for programming that not only celebrated women’s accomplishments but also provided practical tools and opportunities to help women advance professionally, economically, and civically.

Creating Women’s Equality Day was part of a broader focus on women and girls championed by Asatryan during her mayoral term and since her first election to the Glendale City Council. That work included making Glendale the seventh City in California to sign the California Equal Pay Pledge, advancing family leave policies, providing free menstrual products at City Hall, exploring childcare options for City employees, working to close gaps in support and resources for domestic violence survivors, and successfully restoring and strengthening the powers of Glendale’s Commission on the Status of Women.

From the beginning, Asatryan’s goal was to keep the celebration and the work surrounding it going beyond her mayoral term. At the inaugural event, she announced that she had secured a $15,000 contribution from Caruso to support the following year’s Women’s Equality Day programming. She also sought to institutionalize the event by bringing the Commission on the Status of Women into the planning process, expanding it from an initiative organized through the Mayor’s Office into a collaborative effort that could continue in future years.

The celebration returned in 2025 for its second year, co-sponsored by the Commission on the Status of Women, and sold out again. In 2026, Glendale is holding its third annual Women’s Equality Day celebration, turning what began as a new mayoral initiative into an annual City tradition.

“Equality isn’t achieved by celebrating women one day a year. It is achieved when women have equal access to opportunity, resources, economic power and a seat at every table where decisions are made. When women and girls are given every opportunity to claim the place that is rightfully theirs, our families, our economy, and our communities are stronger. That is the work, and it requires more than words. It requires action. I’m proud of our collective work to turn that commitment into something tangible, and even prouder to see what began as an idea three years ago continue to grow and become a tradition in our City,” said Councilmember Elen Asatryan.

Glendale Mayor Ardy Kassakhian said, “Women’s Equality Day is a moment to honor how far we’ve come and to celebrate the extraordinary accomplishments of women whose lives and leadership give our sisters, nieces, daughters, and granddaughters powerful role models to look up to.” He added, “It’s also a day to be honest about what remains unfinished. That includes the work still ahead on equality itself, including the Equal Rights Amendment, and a real commitment to seeing that work through. When we come together as a community to listen, learn from one another, and speak openly about the barriers women still face, we don’t just mark a date on the calendar. We help make sure Glendale is a place where everyone has a genuine opportunity to succeed, and where the next generation inherits more progress than we found.”

“The Commission on the Status of Women is proud to help create a space where women can connect, learn from one another, and leave feeling better equipped to advocate for themselves and others,” said Commission on the Status of Women Chair Carmen Arom. “By addressing topics like salary negotiations, unconscious bias, imposter syndrome, and allyship, we hope attendees gain practical tools, stronger connections, and the confidence to continue advancing equality in their workplaces and communities.”

The City’s Women’s Equality Day celebration creates a space for community members to network and share information and resources they can apply in their personal and professional lives.

Admission is free, but advance RSVP is required. Glendale’s Women’s Equality Day celebration reaches capacity each year, and we strongly encourage community members to reserve their tickets early.

DEETS

• Glendale Women’s Equality Day
• Wednesday, September 30, 2026
• Doors open at 5:30 p.m.; Event kickoff: 6:00 p.m.
• Alex Theatre Courtyard, 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale, CA 91203
• Register.