Honorees
Valerie Merritt
Outgoing YWCA Glendale Pasadena Board Member & Persimmon Donor Leadership Circle
Valerie Merritt is a member of the baby-boomer generation, giving her some advantages over later generations. On the other hand, women and those of color were often disadvantaged by stereotypes that cut off opportunities. She was fortunate enough to evade some of the stereotypes that limited classes one could take. In contrast to the daunting debts students incur these days, the California State scholarship program made grants that did not need to be repaid. While she and her future husband Bruce were in college, the Vietnam war was increasingly calling up men to serve there and no longer allowed deferrals for graduate school. Bruce got to go to law school because of a sudden appearance of openings at an Army Reserve unit in Riverside. That meant Bruce could join the Army reserves and still go to Harvard Law School. Valerie graduated from Oxy, including studies that qualified her to teach school, and went to Cambridge, MA to find a job and housing. Teaching jobs were limited for women because male Vietnam vets had priority. Temporary jobs gave Valerie lots of exposure to bias against women, but she did find a job as a secretary. After Bruce finished law school and both had some short time in London, they returned to Los Angeles for UCLA Law for Valerie and a job waiting for Bruce in LA. Attending UCLA came with gender biases, but the older female students helped ease the way and started ad hoc recruiting women attending various colleges to encourage them to apply. Once Valerie started work at a law firm, she encountered a mix or support for women and resistance to change from some male colleagues. Undeterred, she worked diligently, gaining knowledge, giving presentations, joining community organizations and also seeking changes to laws. Over time, Valerie lessened volunteer legal work and increased volunteer commitments to local organizations, especially those to benefit women and children. At a YWCA Pasadena luncheon, four active members from YWCA Glendale recognized how Valerie could satisfy their needs. Eager to join them and help, Valerie accepted Susan Hunt's invitation and joined the Board July 1, 2006. She has worked through times of challenge over the years and continues to be deeply motivated by her dedication to the mission and well-being of YWCA Glendale and Pasadena.
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