Amanda Nguyen was just a month old when the YWCA Golden Gate Silicon Valley held its first fundraising luncheon in November 1991. But on Wednesday, she joined the ranks of speakers that have included Anita Hill, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jane Goodall, Ruby Bridges, Geena Davis and Erin Brockovich — and the story she shared was just as inspiring as any of them.
With nearly 800 people in attendance at the Santa Clara Convention Center, Nguyen talked about how her dream of being an NASA astronaut was derailed in 2013 when she was raped at Harvard. Her path then led her away from space and into the world of activism, where she fought to secure rights for sexual assault survivors. That took her to Washington, D.C., where Congress passed and President Obama signed the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Rights Act in 2016.
NBC Bay Area anchor Gia Vang, left, talks to Amanda Nguyen, who was the featured guest at the YWCA Golden Gate Silicon Valley’s 35th Inspire Luncheon at the Santa Clara Convention Center on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025. (Sal Pizarro/Bay Area News Group)
It even took her to the United Nations and to the Vatican, where she talked to then-Pope Francis about the issue — and about outer space. It turns out the late pope was also fascinated by space travel, and the two found a common bond there.
A bioastronautics research scientist, Nguyen finally saw her dream realized last April when she conducted experiments on a Blue Origin suborbital space flight. She told the rapt YWCA audience that every astronaut brought along a “zero-G indicator” that would float. Hers was a note that she had written after she left the hospital following her assault that read, “Never never never give up,” as well as her hospital admittance bracelet.
Astronaut and activist Amanda Nguyen, center, poses with employees from Cisco, which was the presenting sponsor of the YWCA Golden Gate Silicon Valley’s 35th Inspire Luncheon at the Santa Clara Convention Center on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025. (Sal Pizarro/Bay Area News Group)
Nguyen’s parents were Vietnamese boat refugees who met in the United States, and she said she was proud to have her family in attendance for her flight, especially since it happened 50 years after the Fall of Saigon.
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“Fifty years ago, when my family looked at the sky … they saw bombs. But this year, when they looked up at the sky, they saw the first Vietnamese woman in space,” she said. “And so to bridge that in a generation and to have my family there was deeply meaningful to me.”
PARADING IN SANTA CLARA: The Mission City is kicking off what will certainly be the city’s biggest sports year with the 56th Parade of Champions on Saturday. Of course, that means a full day of activities, including the Breakfast of Champions at the American Legion 419 Hall at 8 a.m. before a 10 a.m. opening ceremony and the parade at 11, starting from Market and Monroe streets.
New this year is a Sports Fan Zone at Franklin Square and Jackson Street, with lots of team activations, music, food and games. You can get the full lowdown on the parade at scparadeofchampions.org.
WHAT’S ITALIAN FOR PARTY?: For years, I’ve referred to San Jose’s Little Italy district as “burgeoning,” but with this Sunday’s 8th annual Little Italy Fest upon us, maybe the neighborhood is officially burgeoned.
The free festival — which runs from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. — will have rows of Italian sports cars, live music and enough food to make eating on Monday unnecessary. And it looks like the pull to Little Italy is so strong that even the venerable Original Joe’s will have a booth this year.
Speaking of new additions, Sunday will be an opportune time to check out the new street signs for Little Italy Way and Sharks Way, or as the Italian would say, “Via Dello Squalo.”
SANTA CLARA VALLEY FORGE?: When California was at the start of its statehood 175 years ago, you couldn’t go without a blacksmith in town. Nowadays, they’re about as rare as the milkman. But for anyone looking to step into the past, two blacksmiths will be demonstrating their craft Saturday at the Saratoga History Museum from 1 to 3 p.m. The museum is at 20450 Saratoga-Los Gatos Road, and admission is free.
