The Pima County/Tucson Women's Commission marked its 50th anniversary last week at a Women's Equality Day celebration, honoring decades of local advocacy for women while acknowledging how much work remains.

That message was underscored by the presence of the commission's newest member, a 17-year-old high schooler already shaping its next chapter.

The commission's mission is to advance equity and equality for women and girls by advising local government, fostering leadership, promoting wellness, and connecting the community to vital resources and support.

Over five decades, it has advised the mayor, Tucson City Council and the Pima County Board of Supervisors on issues shaping women's lives, from domestic violence services and economic equity to childcare, housing and civic representation. Organizers say that work has helped make Arizona one of the strongest states in the nation for women in elected office, where women now hold nearly half of all legislative seats.

Community members gathered at the YWCA of Southern Arizona Aug. 26 to honor this year's Arizona Women's Hall of Fame inductees, inlcuding Tucson legacy honoree Dr. Laura Noble Banks Reed, along with contemporary inductees Paula Cullison, Daisy Jenkins and Alison Hughes, the commission's first executive director.

The evening featured remarks from local officials, including Tucson Mayor Regina Romero, Pima County Administrator Jan Lesher, and a surprise appearance from former U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords.

"My recovery is daily fight but fighting makes me stronger," Giffords told attendees. "Words once came easily. Today I struggle to speak but I'm not losing my voice. America needs all of us to speak out, even when you have to fight the words."

As part of the celebration, the commission also launched a "50th Anniversary Legacy Book," inviting former commissioners to contribute their own page: their years of service, a photo and the story of what they worked on.

Though the event was a celebration, it carried an underlying message: even after 50 years, there's still progress to be made in supporting women, not just in Pima County but everywhere.

"History reminds us that changing the status quo requires organizing, persistence, and often agitation. Rights are not simply given. Progress is unfortunately not inevitable. And when people challenge those in power, the people in power often push back," said Pima County Board of Supervisors Chair Jen Allen. "However, here we are, 106 years later. Women make up more than half the population. But we are still fighting for our fair share of decision-making and power."

The event's organizers echoed that same tension between progress and unfinished work.

"Tonight's event really highlighted where we were but also highlighted how far we have to go," said board coordinator Kimberely Fitch.

The Women's Commission began in 197 and now meets the first Wednesday of every month at 6 p.m. at their downtown center, 240 N. Court Ave. The meetings are open to the public and can be attended virtually.

Since the meetings are open to everyone, Fitch said she's excited to get more young women involved, noting the commission has already recruited a high schooler for its board.

"It's been so awesome there are so many amazing women that I've never seen, the kind I see on YouTube or TikTok that I never thought I would shake their hands," said 17-year-old Zoey Dzieman, a student at Connections Academy online school. "I first got involved in the beginning of 2026, in January I went to my first meeting."

Dzieman said her future looks like continuing to advocate for women's rights.

"I'm more interested in medicine and there's a huge gender gap in that field," she said.

For Fitch, the event's significance goes beyond one field.

"It's a huge milestone to show how much women have come along and improved their lives but it also shows us that we have a lot of work to do," Fitch said. "Tonight's event really highlighted where we were but also highlights how far we have to go."

Fitch also reflected on what has changed the most in the last 50 years.

"Everything was done in person, there was no technology. We had to print a domestic violence resource guide and pass it around," she said. "We're now working on a Domestic violence resource guide that we will pass out (that) are business cards that will take you directly to the site. Technology is huge."

Fitch also highlighted the progress that still needs to be made.

"The fact that women (still hold) only 2% of business loans in Pima County is honestly horrific, so we need to be able to help women raise capital in order to grow their business and start their business in Pima County," she said.

For Fitch, that work starts at the ballot box.

"Women's Equality Day to me means I can vote, I can use my superpower which is voting," Fitch said. "I am trying to get every young person, every young woman I know to vote. Every time we have a change in registration it affects women and girls much more expeditiously than it does men and minorities even more so."

Even though she's still in high school and not yet able to vote, Dzieman recognizes the power it holds.

"I've seen so much sexism in my life and other people's lives, and to see that women can vote and make a difference in politics is amazing to me," she said. "I've done a lot of research on sexism and women's role in politics."

Fitch wants the commission equipped to keep that work going.

"I hope in the next 50 years that we are able to maintain our building, have grants and funds to have paid staff so that we can manage our programs better," Fitch said. "Right now all of the commissioners are volunteers, so that means everything we do is out of love, blood, sweat and tears. If we had hired staff we would be so much more effective."

Macy Hernandez is Tucson Spotlight's social media manager and a journalism and business administration major at the University of Arizona. Contact her at macyhernandez@arizona.edu.

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