Oakland mother channels grief over son's slaying into helping others

After 18-year-old Khadafy Washington was fatally shot in Oakland, his mother was awash in grief. She has since channeled her emotions into action, embarking on what would become a decades-long effort to help others navigate the aftermath of violence.

Warriors empower students with career exploration for Women's History Month

In honor of Women's History Month, the Golden State Warriors hosted high school girls from Girls Inc. of Alameda County for an empowering behind-the-scenes experience at Chase Center. The students shadowed employees, explored careers in sports and business, and gained mentorship from Warriors and Rakuten staff.

Warriors and Rakuten hold mentorship program for young women

The Golden State Warriors have been champions on the basketball court, but sometimes, it's what you champion off the court in the community that really matters.

Warriors and Rakuten inspire future engineers with STEAM experience

The Golden State Warriors and Rakuten hosted 20 middle school girls at Chase Center for a hands-on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) event, where they learned bridge-building fundamentals and explored careers in engineering. The event aimed to inspire young women to pursue careers in STEAM fields.

Oakland's First Fridays celebrates Women's History Month

Oakland's First Fridays festival rolled back around with the theme for March focused on Women's History Month.

Bay Area Women's History: The pioneering poet Ina Coolbrith

On a steep slope halfway up San Francisco's Russian Hill, neighborhood dog walkers and occasional tourists take in the spectacular views from a city park that bears the name of Ina Coolbrith, a once-famous San Francisco woman who many people don't know.

Ina Coolbrith, one of the Bay Area's literary pioneers
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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.

Women's wine collective pioneering path in the Livermore Valley
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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.

"Smarty Marty" breaks barriers in the sports world and beyond
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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.

Confronting sexism and gender bias in Silicon Valley
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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 report: Cost of being a woman in California
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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.

Woman helps Latinas navigate California's foster care system

Nancy Correa worked in the tech industry until she was laid off during the pandemic. She then focused her time and energy on her passion, creating a nonprofit to help at-risk youth.

Viral ad pushes back against misconceptions about Down syndrome
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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.

Empowering women in the workplace through body language and confidence
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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.

Bay Area woman celebrates helping more than 1,000 seniors find assisted housing
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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.

Empowered Voices: Women Leaders Shaping the Bay Area
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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.