Leaders from across San Pedro descended on the Dalmatian American Club on Thursday, March 26 to pay tribute to five women as part the Chamber of Commerce’s Women’s History Month celebration — including the Daily Breeze’s own Donna Littlejohn.
Littlejohn, who been writing for the Daily Breeze since 1998, was honored with the Chamber’s Legacy Journalism award for her decades of service to the community. She began her career as a reporter for a string of weekly publications in Culver City and was hired at the San Pedro News-Pilot in 1981 before joining the Daily Breeze.
Four other women were also given honors during the ceremony on Thursday evening. Each honoree was introduced by a member of the community and through a video message explaining their work and impact on San Pedro.
The Daily Breeze’s own Donna Littlejohn receives the Legacy Journalism Award as the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce honors community members during the organization’s Women’s History Month celebration at the Dalmatian Hall on Thursday March 26, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
The Daily Breeze’s own Donna Littlejohn receives the Legacy Journalism Award as the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce honors community members during the organization’s Women’s History Month celebration at the Dalmatian Hall on Thursday March 26, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
The Daily Breeze’s own Donna Littlejohn receives the Legacy Journalism Award as the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce honors community members during the organization’s Women’s History Month celebration at the Dalmatian Hall on Thursday March 26, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
The San Pedro Chamber of Commerce honors Lindsay Sochar during the organization’s Women’s History Month celebration at the Dalmatian Hall on Thursday March 26, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
The San Pedro Chamber of Commerce honors Lucrecia Jacobson (and her family) during the organization’s Women’s History Month celebration at the Dalmatian Hall on Thursday March 26, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
The San Pedro Chamber of Commerce honors Lucrecia Jacobson during the organization’s Women’s History Month celebration at the Dalmatian Hall on Thursday March 26, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
The San Pedro Chamber of Commerce honors Olga Chavez during the organization’s Women’s History Month celebration at the Dalmatian Hall on Thursday March 26, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
The Daily Breeze’s own Donna Littlejohn receives the Legacy Journalism Award as the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce honors community members during the organization’s Women’s History Month celebration at the Dalmatian Hall on Thursday March 26, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
The San Pedro Chamber of Commerce honors Lucrecia Jacobson, left, Donna Littlejohn, Diana Nave, Olga Chavez and Lindsay Sochar, right, during the organization’s Women’s History Month celebration at the Dalmatian Hall on Thursday March 26, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
The San Pedro Chamber of Commerce honorees, Donna Littlejohn, left, Diana Nave, Lucrecia Jacobson, Olga Chavez and Lindsay Sochar, raise their glasses during the organization’s Women’s History Month celebration at the Dalmatian Hall on Thursday March 26, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
The San Pedro Chamber of Commerce honors Olga Chavez during the organization’s Women’s History Month celebration at the Dalmatian Hall on Thursday March 26, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
The San Pedro Chamber of Commerce honors community members during the organization’s Women’s History Month celebration at the Dalmatian Hall on Thursday March 26, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
The San Pedro Chamber of Commerce honors Lucrecia Jacobson, left, Donna Littlejohn, Diana Nave, Olga Chavez and Lindsay Sochar, right, during the organization’s Women’s History Month celebration at the Dalmatian Hall on Thursday March 26, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
The San Pedro Chamber of Commerce honors Lucrecia Jacobson, left, Donna Littlejohn, Diana Nave, Olga Chavez and Lindsay Sochar, right, during the organization’s Women’s History Month celebration at the Dalmatian Hall on Thursday March 26, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
The San Pedro Chamber of Commerce honors Lindsay Sochar during the organization’s Women’s History Month celebration at the Dalmatian Hall on Thursday March 26, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
The San Pedro Chamber of Commerce honors community members during the organization’s Women’s History Month celebration at the Dalmatian Hall on Thursday March 26, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
The San Pedro Chamber of Commerce honors Diana Nave during the organization’s Women’s History Month celebration at the Dalmatian Hall on Thursday March 26, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
The San Pedro Chamber of Commerce honors Diana Nave during the organization’s Women’s History Month celebration at the Dalmatian Hall on Thursday March 26, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
The San Pedro Chamber of Commerce honors community members during the organization’s Women’s History Month celebration at the Dalmatian Hall on Thursday March 26, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
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The Daily Breeze’s own Donna Littlejohn receives the Legacy Journalism Award as the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce honors community members during the organization’s Women’s History Month celebration at the Dalmatian Hall on Thursday March 26, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Caroline Brady, the executive director of Friends of Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, described Littlejohn’s impact to the crowd on Thursday. The two first met when they both worked together at the San Pedro News-Pilot for ten years.
“Local newspaper reporters are different — they are part of the fabric of our lives. These are the people who write about the birth of our children and the deaths of our parents; they cover our everyday triumphs … and they cover our tragedies, too,” Brady said. “Tonight, we honor Donna for her decades of service to our community, and for telling stories that have defined San Pedro’s past, are defining it right now, and well into the future.”
Littlejohn, in the video played for the crowd, said that she’s more comfortable behind the camera than in front of it — and is more comfortable sitting conspicuously in the back of a room at the many community events, business openings, Harbor Commission meetings, and more, that she reports on every day — but was grateful for the honor nonetheless.
“It’s just been a great ride,” Littlejohn said to the audience upon accepting her award. “I live here now, it’s my hometown. Thank you all for being supporters.”
The evening’s other honors included Olga Chavez, the corporate social responsibility and public relations lead for Marathon Petroleum Corp, who delivers resources to nonprofits by day, and has also helped build local community from the ground up by personally volunteering, organizing and serving organizations like the Battleship USS Iowa Museum, Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, the Friends of the Rotary Club of Wilmington and the Long Beach Library.
“Olga gives her heart to everything that she touches because she truly believes that our communities deserve nothing less,” said Diana Medel, executive director of the Wilmington YMCA. “Tonight, we honor a true force of nature. We love you.”
Diana Nave, a community leader, environmentalist, and past president of the Northwest San Pedro Neighborhood Council, where she worked to beautify Peck Park Canyon through native plant preservation and hosting free monthly nature walks, was also honored on Thursday.
“Diana has lived, worked and contributed to San Pedro for many years. She’s clearly one of the people who helped make San Pedro the deeply caring community it is today,” said Liz Schindler Johnson, executive director of the Grand Vision Foundation. “I hope we can take inspiration from her as we go forward.”
The chamber also paid tribute to Lucrecia Jacobson, a longtime volunteer with the arts nonprofit Grand Vision Foundation and retired substitute teacher. Jacobson volunteers at performances, mentors students and hosts fundraisers for Warner Grand Theatre, the Boys & Girls Clubs of the L.A. Harbor, the San Pedro City Ballet and more.
“Lucrecia is the connective tissue of San Pedro. San Pedro the quiet force behind so many moments of joy, growth and possibility in this great community,” said Gabriela Medina, the event’s MC. “She doesn’t just believe in this community. She invests in it with her time, her home, her heart.”
Lindsay Sochar, an entrepreneur advocate and community leader, was given the chamber’s Rising Star ward.
Sochar, who is also an artist and manager of the Crafted at the Port of Los Angeles artisan market, connects local businesses with resources and opportunities, and organizes creative-driven charitable events and disaster relief efforts.
“She doesn’t just make art. She elevates spaces, uplifts most businesses and brings identity and culture into our community,” said Brenda Apolinar, founder of Salsas Chingona. “She is the kind of person who doesn’t just focus on her own business. She is always looking out for others, supporting fellow entrepreneurs like myself, and advocating to our community as a whole.”
To learn more about the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce’s Women History Month celebration, visit sanpedrochamber.com.