Gerald Picus

"I was the typical 1950s woman," says Picus."I had a child every other year and I stayed home with my children."

Picus remained involved in politics, however, working with the League of Women Voters as the Los Angeles local action chair through the late 1960s and early 1970s.But she soon grew tired of merely trying to influence decision-makers , she wanted to be one herself.In 1977, she ran for and won a seat on the Los Angeles city council.

During the next sixteen years, Councilwoman Picus earned a reputation for effectiveness.She chaired the human resources and labor relations committee, which sets policy for the city's 35,000 employees, and sponsored an initiative for a comprehensive childcare policy.Her efforts on behalf of working families prompted Los Angeles to name the Joy Picus Child Care Center in her honor in 1996.She has also received recognition from Ms. Magazine, which named her a Woman of the Year in 1985, and the YWCA, which gave her its Athena Award in 1994.

Since leaving elective office in 1993, Picus has continued her career of public service.Currently, she works on behalf of the Friends of the (Griffith) Observatory, California State University at Northridge, United Way, and the Los Angeles County Children's Planning Council.She was a member of the board of the UW Foundation and remains active with its Women in Philanthropy group.She worked with WAA on its volunteerism task force, where her insight has helped improve the ways in which the association organizes its alumni volunteers, and she aided WAA as a founding member of its Cabinet 99 women's forum.Picus has also been active with the boards of visitors for the Center for Jewish Studies and the La Follette School of Public Affairs.
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A photo of Picus is available online at www.uwalumni.com/daa.