Reconsidering Rosita Tabasa: Watsonville’s Revered Matriarch provides an in-depth look at the life and work of Rosita Dionisio Tabasa-Estrada, a beloved member of the Filipino community of Watsonville. I present Rosita as a cultural, civic, and business leader in Watsonville. She had a strong desire to fill gaps she identified in the community’s life and supported the most underserved. She utilized her position as a well-respected woman in the community, her familial and political connections, and her business-savvy to enhance the lives of others. She identified gender inequalities in the community and also wrestled against gendered expectations for herself. This exhibition analyzes the balance Rosita attempted to maintain between her roles as a mother and a community leader. As I show, she struggled to hold positions of leadership while battling patriarchal gender norms. This exhibit displays Rosita's hard work, resiliency, and unstoppable drive to support others. It also reckons with the sacrifices she made to achieve her goals.

Please view the exhibiton here: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/fa463a6a8e3c4e90b2850932c85fa039