Press Release

Senator Pérez honors Joy Chen as Woman of the Year during Senate Floor ceremony

SACRAMENTO – Senator Sasha Renée Pérez (D-Pasadena) has named Joy Chen, Executive Director of the Eaton Fire Survivors Network as her 2026 Woman of the Year for Senate District 25. 

Senator Pérez standing with Joy Chen and Senate leaders at front of Senate Chambers

During the March 16 ceremony on the Senate Floor, Senator Pérez presented Chen with a framed resolution to commemorate the recognition.

“Joy is a force of nature who has worked with endless energy to advocate for the survivors of the Eaton Fire. Whether holding the insurance industry or utility companies accountable to meeting their obligations during fire recovery, Joy has led with strength, resolve and compassion. She is fighting every day to create an equitable recovery for all fire survivors and has been an invaluable partner in some of my most critical legislation to support Altadena’s healing. Our community is immeasurably better because of Joy and the Eaton Fire Survivors Network,” said Senator Sasha Renée Pérez (D-Pasadena). 

“I’m deeply honored by this recognition and grateful to Senator Pérez for her fierce support for fire survivors. The work of EFSN exists because thousands of families refused to be invisible, and today more than 10,000 survivors and allies are standing together to demand a real path home. When families were exhausted and unsure where to turn, Senator Perez showed up and lifted up the voices of survivors fighting every day to rebuild our homes and lives. She has been a true champion for solutions that help families finally get back home,” said Joy Chen, Executive Director, Eaton Fire Survivors Network.

The Woman of the Year event was founded in 1987 in celebration of the contributions made by remarkable women throughout California. Each Senate and Assembly District invites one recipient to the Capitol to be honored. The Woman of the Year ceremony is sponsored and organized by the California Legislative Women's Caucus.

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Senator Sasha Renée Pérez is Chair of the Senate Education Committee and represents the 25th Senate District that includes the communities of Glendale, Pasadena, Alhambra, Altadena, Arcadia, Claremont, Glendora, La Cañada Flintridge, La Crescenta-Montrose, Monrovia, Monterey Park, Rosemead, San Gabriel, San Marino, Sierra Madre, South Pasadena, Temple City, Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga, Upland, and San Antonio Heights.