Waukesha Answers: Readers Name City's Influential Women

WAUKESHA, WI — Patch asked readers over the weekend to name an influential woman in their lives, and Waukesha delivered.

Patch asked, "Tell us about an influential woman in your community who left a positive impact on you." Out of 12 comments, Julie Valadez received six mentions from local commenters.

Valadez sought a divorce from her husband Ricardo Valadez in 2017 when he was charged with domestic abuse. Valadez filed a temporary order to restore the custody of her children in February after a state appeals court found that the judge presiding over her case wasn't taking her concerns seriously, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.

Here's what Waukesha readers had to say about influential women in their lives.

"A woman who’s had an impact on me would be Whittier Elementary PTO President Amanda Anderson. Amanda wears so many hats within not only Whittier but also Hadfield schools. She works so hard to manage many aspects within Whittier and she is a substitute teacher in both schools. Watching her as a fellow PTO member I was inspired to do more as a parent. She is tireless, focused and gets things done. I admire her greatly and her advocacy for kids and their learning is second to none." — Jana Goodman

"Ruth Bader Ginsburg famously said "Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you." A true influencer, Julie Valadez of Waukesha is doing just that. In a short amount of time she has bravely spoken up against domestic abuse and the continued abuse of women in the Family Court system. Her story has made the paper and has even gone international. Her resiliency and strength allows her to continue to push for important decisions within the court system to help make change. Julie has also created a state-wide organization for other women who have experienced or are still experiencing this type of gender discrimination within the courts." — Amy Stysma

"My late mother-in-law, Sandy Herman Sommers. She worked for the Waukesha, WI Women's Center for 30+ years. She has helped thousands of abused women and children her whole life. She passed away a short time ago doing what she loved. And that's helping people. That is a commendable accomplishment." — James Nielsen

Which influential woman has had a positive effect on your life? Tell us in the comments or join the conversation on Facebook.