For forty years, the El Paso Commission for Women has honored the achievements of local women one banquet at a time. This October, for the first time, the Commission is bringing that same spirit of recognition into a full day of learning, connection, and practical guidance, with the launch of its inaugural Women’s Conference, The Power Within: Women Shaping the Future.

The conference will be held Saturday, October 17, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the EPCC Administrative Service Center, Boardroom Building A, 9050 Viscount Blvd. Registration is $20 per person, with lunch included, and the deadline to register is October 12, 2026.

Three speakers will anchor the day. Ms. Cynthia D. Horton opens as keynote speaker, followed by Dr. Manuela Gomez, who will speak on empowerment, and Executive Assistant Chief Zina Silva of the El Paso Police Department, who will address leadership. Together, their sessions are built around the conference’s four pillars: inspire, empower, connect, and lead.

The day is designed to move past a single moment of motivation, giving attendees tools, connections, and practical footing they can put to use long after the conference ends.

That philosophy traces back to the Commission’s founding. The organization grew out of the 1961 Presidential Commission on the Status of Women, established under President John F. Kennedy and chaired by former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. Local advocates followed that lead in 1984, and on January 6, 1985, the El Paso Commission for Women was formed as an independent organization dedicated to equal rights and opportunity for women in the community. Its annual Hall of Fame Banquet has since recognized honorees in civic leadership, education, professional careers, and military service, with their names permanently displayed at both El Paso City Hall and the El Paso County Courthouse.

The Power Within builds on that legacy by turning recognition into training, connecting women across careers and generations for a day that’s meant to be worked, not just attended.

Registration and payment details are available at https://elpasocommissionforwomen.org/2026-womens-conference/.