Mountain Views News, Sierra Madre Edition [Pasadena] Saturday, March 31, 2018

SECTION B

SATURDAY, MARCH 31, 2018

AROUND SAN GABRIEL VALLEY


CONGRESSWOMAN GRACE NAPOLITANO 

AND DR. GENEVIEVE CLAVREUL:

TWO TRAILBLAZERS OF THE 21ST CENTURY

By Joan Schmidt

 Recently the Los Angeles County Commission 
for Women held its annual Woman of the Year 
awards. Fifth District Supervisor Kathryn 
Barger chose two very special ladies as her 
honorees.

 Her first honoree was our Congresswoman 
Grace Napolitano who I met a few years ago 
when she joined Congresswoman Judy Chu in 
Chu’s annual Domestic Violence Victims’ Annual 
Clothing Drive. Immediately I liked Napolitano; 
she was so warm and down to earth. As time went 
by, I admired her more: she supported so many of 
my causes, such as working for Veterans and those 
with mental illness. 

 Supervisor Barger began by saying what 
an honor and privilege it was to recognize 
Napolitano…that when Barger first 
met Napolitano, they shared an instant 
connection…there was so much to like and 
respect about this dedicated public servant…
she is passionate, dedicated, enthusiastic, loyal 
and kind, but most importantly, a collaborator 
who makes strides for her community and 
constituents. Barger went on to say that 
Napolitano has been an inspiration…to not 
define issues within party lines and partisan 
politics…to effectively work across the aisle 
to reach common ground and find solutions…
she brings so much empathy in partnering with 
others to accomplish great things…has been 
a remarkable mentor for me and for young 
women pursuing a career in public service, 
public policy, healthcare and the military…
she continues to stay connected to her roots 
and served as a member and former chair of 
the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute. 
And so Supervisor Barger ended with, “For so 
many reasons, I am proud to recognize her as 
the Fifth District Woman of the Year, but even 
prouder to consider her a friend.”

 Supervisor Barger’s second Honoree was 
Dr. Genevieve Clavreul. I am ashamed to say 
I didn’t know anything about Dr. Clavreul. Just 
go on line, type in her name and expect to be 
blown away. I just printed ONE link and found 
out she was born in France, came to the US in 
1959, and became a citizen in 2001. In 1975, 
she divorced her husband of fifteen years, 
and with four children and her own mother 
to care for, she created a new life for her and 
her family. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in 
Psychology and a Masters in Education, while 
working full-time as a head nurse of a pediatric 
intensive care unit at a local hospital!

 Supervisor Barger introduced Dr. Clavreul 
as someone very familiar to the Board of 
Supervisors. When a tragic accident forced 
Clavreul to stop working, she attended the 
weekly Board of Supervisors’ meetings…
she speaks on health and nursing issues, 
especially concerned with those living with 
HIV/AIDS and the barriers they face, and 
ongoing consideration for the diligent use 
of public funds. During Dr. Clavreul’s long 
career of nearly forty years in the health field, 
she has served in a variety of roles. Some of 
her most notable accomplishments incude 
developing a quality assurance program for 
Stanford Hospital, and completely overhauling 
the UC Irvine Medical Center which had 
a $3 million deficit at the time. Her most 
important work began in the mid 1980’s when 
she was at the frontline of the AIDS epidemic 
while conducting a field study at UCLA. 
(She contacted Dr. Gallo here and Professor 
Montagnier in France and as behind the scene 
negotiator was in the forefront of the HIV/
AIDS crisis.) She was an original member of 
Act UP in Los Angeles and has continued her 
involvement in grassroots activism. Currently 
she is working on a book about her experience 
in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Supervisor 
Barger ended with, “Congratulations Dr. 
Clavreul for your tireless-and I mean tireless-
work on behalf of those in Los Angeles County.

PLEASE DON’T SELL YOUR CAR OR TRUCK 
TO THE CORPORATE GIANTS!!! 

Consign or sell to us. 

We are a small hometown dealer with a big heart !


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com