Contact: Will Shuck @ (916) 319-2054
Part of ceremony marking 100th year of women's suffrage in California.
SACRAMENTO – On Monday, March 21st, the State Assembly held its annual Women of the Year ceremony, which this year coincided with the 100th year of women's suffrage in California.
As is legislative custom, all 80 Assembly members selected a distinguished woman to honor. Assemblymember Bonnie Lowenthal, D-Long Beach, honored Maria Norvell as the 54th Assembly District's Woman of the Year 2011, citing her outstanding volunteer work in the Wrigley/Long Beach area. Mrs. Norvell has been an active volunteer in the Long Beach community since 1986.
Norvell is a founding member of the Wrigley Area Neighborhood Alliance, currently serving as the President of the organization. She has also chaired the Daisy Avenue Christmas Tree Lane & Parade for 21 years and serves in integral roles with the Long Beach's Veteran's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Cambodian New Year parades. Other activities include a long history of supporting law enforcement programs, including serving on Long Beach's Public Safety Commissioner for 12 years and currently being a member of the Police Chief's Executive Advisory Group for the Neighborhood Watch.
As Vice-Chair of the Legislative Women's Caucus, Lowenthal chaired the Assembly proceedings that included presentations by Attorney General Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Debra Bowen.
"Maria has such a long and varied history of involvement as a local activist and volunteer." said Lowenthal. "It was an honor to recognize her in today's ceremony as our Woman of the Year."
