2026 'Women Who Shape Santa Monica' Award Recipients Revealed

SANTA MONICA, CA -- The League of Women Voters of Santa Monica (LWVSM) has announced that four local leaders have been selected to receive the 2026 Yellow Rose Award.

The Yellow Rose Award symbolizes the roses worn by suffragists during the final push for the ratification of the 19th Amendment. The LWVSM presents the honor annually to women who have made significant contributions to the community and embody the spirit of civic leadership.

This year’s celebration, themed “Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future,” takes place Wednesday, March 18 at the Brookdale Ocean House in Santa Monica.

The 2026 Yellow Rose Honorees are:

• Carolyn Day: Founder and executive director of Growing Hope Garden, celebrated for her work in fostering local sustainability and community health.
• Gleam Davis: A veteran civic leader and past mayor of Santa Monica, recognized for her years of dedicated service to the city.
• Angela Scott: A past co-president of the LWVSM, honored for her tireless commitment to voter education, social justice, and community advocacy.
• Dr. Monika White: A seasoned educator with over 50 years of experience coordinating health and community service systems for older adults. A Holocaust survivor, past executive director of WISE Healthy Aging, and past president of the Rotary Club of Santa Monica, White is an authority on eldercare and a dedicated advocate for local women and girls.

“Our 2026 honorees represent the very best of Santa Monica—women who have spent decades building a more resilient and equitable future for all of us,” LWVSM President Maria E. Rodriguez said. “Their leadership serves as a powerful reminder of the impact one individual can have on our democracy.”

Event details:

• Wednesday, March 18
• Time: 6:30 p.m. arrival & refreshments | 7 p.m. Program
• Where: Brookdale Ocean House, 2107 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica
• Tickets: Available HERE