BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — Building Healthy Communities Merced held their first "We Are Here" Women Symposium at Gateway Gardens on Saturday, which several guest speakers and approximately 120 women of all ages and ethnic backgrounds.

The event is meant to encourage and motivate the advancement of women in the Merced community while promoting the importance of alliance building and civic involvement.

Speakers included the President and CEO of IMAGEN LLC, Virginia Madueno andthe Professor of Sociology at UC Merced as well as the recipient of the Ford Postdoctoral Ward, Whitney Pirtle.