REEDLEY – The second annual Reedley Women’s Conference brought together women and teenage girls from around Fresno County to reflect on what strength means to them — and where they can find it.
Following the success of last year’s women’s wellness retreat, the Selma and Reedley Rotary Clubs partnered once again to bring the conference to life at the McClarty Center for Fine and Performing Arts at the Reedley College campus on April 10. This year, the clubs also worked closely with Reedley College staff, aiming to offer inspiration to residents from all walks of life.
“There’s a strong belief that there is not enough professional development in our community — or even at our college — for women, and we wanted to definitely make sure that this one included our students and young women and women of all ages,” said Sarina Navarro, one of the main event organizers and a Reedley College employee.
Under its theme of “unveiling strength,” the conference touched on the areas of wellness, endurance and personal growth.
In addition to a keynote speech, the conference featured three breakout sessions intended to help attendees walk away with practical, useful skills for managing stress in a variety of ways. It also included a panel of five local women leaders sharing their life experiences and the ways they were able to overcome challenges and help their community do the same.
The morning opened with remarks from Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp, who introduced keynote speaker Rachel Baskin. Baskin is a deputy district attorney in Fresno County and a survivor of domestic violence.
Smittcamp first met Baskin when she prosecuted the case against Baskin’s ex-husband, who was ultimately convicted for attempted murder of Baskin, her mother and her brother. Smittcamp said one of the first things Baskin said to her when they met was that she had always wanted to be a lawyer.
“It was just so bizarre, you know, that this is what she was saying; she wasn’t asking me anything about the procedures or anything like that,” Smittcamp said. “So I said, ‘Well, let’s talk about the case first, and then we can talk about you going to law school later.’”
Baskin was a single mother in her 20s and a paralegal at that time, but with support from family, friends and Smittcamp, she eventually earned her bachelor’s degree and her law degree and was sworn in as a prosecutor in 2021. Smittcamp said that while she has given Baskin a lot of support and encouragement over the years, it “pales in comparison” to what Baskin has given her.
“The most important thing that I think you can do as a woman is to empower other women, whether they are your sisters, whether they are your daughters, whether they are your neighbors, whether they are your colleagues — empower each other,” Smittcamp said. “Give to each other, because when you give, you get back, and when you fill each other’s cups, it is amazing.”
In sharing her own story, Baskin spoke about the many times she did not believe in herself, whether it was after failing a course in law school or not passing the California State Bar exam on the first, second or even third try.
However, Baskin said that over time, and with the support of so many in her life, she began to trust herself again. She said she realized that courage is not the absence of fear but choosing to continue forward despite it.
“That’s what I want every woman in this room to understand,” Baskin said. “Strength is not about having it all together. Strength is not about never falling. Strength is about rising, again and again, over and over, no matter what happens.”
