A lifelong champion of women’s rights, Muriel Brounstein became a freelance journalist in her twenties, at a time when few women had access to the field.

“In those days, nice girls didn’t become journalists,” she recalls. In addition to freelance writing, she went on to a multifaceted career in business and politics, often working in male-dominated environments. “I found a good, strong backbone. I call myself a pitbull,” Brounstein says with a laugh. In 1987 she joined Kiwanis, just weeks after the organization became accessible to women. Although it wasn’t easy at first, she became a pioneer for women’s participation in the club, eventually founding the Folsom chapter and serving a term as president. Today, she continues to participate in Kiwanis and numerous other community outreach groups, including Soroptimist, a volunteer organization that works to improve the lives of women and girls locally and around the world.

Brounstein is also a strong advocate for continuing education. At 62 years old, she fulfilled her dream of finishing law school; now 70, her latest goal is to speak five languages—and she’s already halfway there. In her view, age and gender are only obstacles if you allow them to be—and we are happy to learn from her example.

For more about Muriel Brounstein and other local happenings and information, be sure to pick up this month's copy of Style – Folsom, El Dorado Hills edition. Click on the Get Your Copy link for some of our newsstand locations; click on the Subscribe link to become a regular subscriber, or to order a copy of this issue or one of our other back issues.