Tania Estrada is the Executive Director of The Women’s Building.
How has The Women's Building contributed to equity in women's health?
The Women's Building (TWB) has not just contributed to equity in women's health; we have fundamentally redefined it by addressing the root causes of inequity that traditional healthcare systems ignore. For us, health is inseparable from a woman's right to a safe, joyous, and economically stable life.
Our contribution is delivered through an interconnected, holistic approach that recognizes a woman’s well-being is determined by her cultural, political, and economic realities. Addressing the Root of Trauma and Insecurity: We serve a large community of Latin American immigrant women whose economic insecurity and trauma are rooted in the historical and ongoing exploitation of their home countries' lands and resources. When these women arrive in the Bay Area, this systemic exploitation is compounded by low-wage work, lack of legal protections, and limited access to healthcare. TWB plays a crucial role by providing essential support—from job readiness to legal aid—to confront and dismantle this cycle of economic vulnerability.
We recognize that one cannot thrive without stability, which is why our Wellness programs are just as crucial as our job training. By offering culturally and linguistically appropriate mental health support, we help women process profound trauma and isolation caused by migration, language barriers, and severed family ties. We provide a vital network of trust that combats social isolation, which is a major determinant of poor health.
Our most profound contribution is our dedication to empowerment. TWB is a symbol of women’s strength, providing a platform for progressive social change. We actively help women believe and work toward leadership roles for themselves, ensuring their voices guide the services they receive. Women define their own needs, we provide the support and resources when needed. When a client expresses and identifies their needs, we tailor our resources to best accommodate. This is why both our Information and Referral program and Job Search program have been designed to be flexible and expansive, to meet all needs, at any stage. This shift from being a recipient of aid to being a community leader is the highest form of support, fostering the long-term resilience and advocacy needed to close the systemic equity gaps in our communities.
In essence, TWB contributes to health equity by treating the whole woman, navigating her toward stability and empowerment, and affirming her right to lead regardless of status. We are building a foundation of economic security, mental wellness, and community strength—the true pillars of lasting women's health.
What misconceptions about women’s health do you encounter most often, and how does your organization address these?
One of the most persistent misconceptions we see is that women’s health is limited to reproductive health alone. While reproductive justice is essential, women’s health is multifaceted, it includes mental health, chronic illness, access to preventive care, trauma recovery, and safe access to culturally competent healthcare.
For many of our clients, especially immigrant women, trans and nonbinary folks, and survivors of violence, their health is deeply shaped by their lived experiences, systemic barriers, and socioeconomic conditions. Furthermore, they often carry learned trauma over generations, which creates an underlying cycle that is sometimes difficult to identify and unlearn. Considering new strategies for healing this generational trauma is critical to shaping women's futures and the lives of many girls to come. When we fully understand and address this deep, inherited impact, we can truly form a different future, changing not only the lives of today's women but also the generations that follow.
At The Women’s Building (TWB), we work to broaden the narrative and access points. Our holistic approach is designed to meet this complex reality, connecting clients with a range of critical services: from legal advocacy and trauma-informed counseling to food security and financial empowerment. By offering resources in multiple languages, fostering peer-led leadership, and working in collaboration with community partners, we strive to empower women and gender-expansive individuals to reclaim agency over their health in the broadest, deepest sense. However, addressing these deep-seated misconceptions is not the responsibility of one organization. We actively refer clients to outside organizations because our ultimate goal is for these issues to be universally addressed, not for TWB to be the sole solution. We need every institution and individual to understand our struggles and misconceptions and join the process to rectify them. Ultimately, we advocate for the future where women's health is a public priority for the country and the world, ensuring collective responsibility for the well-being of all women.
What future do you wish to see when it comes to women's health, accessibility to resources and support?
Our vision for the future of women's health, accessibility to resources, and support is one where the word 'equity' becomes a lived reality, not just an aspiration. We envision a future where a woman's health and wellness are not a luxury she sacrifices for her family's survival. This means eliminating the systemic economic vulnerabilities that force women—particularly immigrant women—into perpetual low-wage cycles without benefits. The future of women's health must include guaranteed economic security where access to quality, culturally relevant healthcare, paid leave, and job protection is a non-negotiable right, not a privilege tied to corporate employment.
We wish to see a healthcare and support system that truly meets women where they are. This means a future where culturally and linguistically appropriate mental health support is the standard, not the exception. The trauma carried by many migrant women will be acknowledged and addressed within the community, ensuring that services are delivered by trusted partners and peer-mentors, not just impersonal, inaccessible institutions. Wellness will be defined holistically, recognizing the profound link between a woman's emotional and financial well-being.
Our ultimate goal is a world where organizations like TWB, while still vital, are primarily focused on leadership development and advocacy, rather than crisis intervention. We want women to be fully integrated, respected, and leading within the political and economic systems that affect their lives. The future must be one where women, having moved from recipients of aid to empowered drivers of change, ensure that resources flow equitably, locally, and nationally.
We look forward to a world where our interconnected approach—valuing a woman's job training, financial literacy, and mental wellness equally—is the universal standard for how society supports every woman to live a safe, joyous, and creative life.
What advice would you share with aspiring healthcare professionals, especially when working with women?
If you aspire to truly serve women and their communities, start by letting purpose and passion guide your work, anchoring it to a deep commitment to social justice. A powerful first step is to visualize your goal for equitable care and then use that vision to structure your entire approach.
Only 1.9% of overall country funds are allocated to women's organizations and issues. This staggering disparity means your advice and support must be intentional and of the highest quality. To focus on serving women with excellence is not just a professional goal, it is an act of public, economic, and safety for our entire humanity.
It is absolutely vital to cultivate cultural sensitivity and awareness; effective care demands that we look beyond the clinic to acknowledge the diverse, often systemic, factors impacting a woman's health. Furthermore, you must advocate for yourself and others—speak up, take up space, and actively uplift other women and marginalized groups in decision-making roles to build lasting trust. Always be prepared for the unexpected; in this complex field, adaptability and problem solving are far more valuable skills than following a rigid plan. Lastly, embrace resilience and patience. Systemic change is a long process, but rest assured: your consistent dedication, even when results are invisible, is making a profound and necessary difference.
Inspira Advantage is proud to interview experts like Tania Estrada to help pre-med students understand the importance of culturally responsive care and inclusive support for diverse communities.
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