April 2026 Round-Up

Image of Lt. Gov. Kounalakis with a group of parade goers, many of whom are dressed in Greek clothing and waving Greek flags.

April derives its name from the Latin word aperire, meaning “to open,” and likely refers to the opening of flower buds in the month. As flowers bloom and bees feed on their nectar and collect pollen, we see the beginnings of life, the beauty of nature, and a gentle reminder that we are all interconnected and dependent on this beautiful and complex ecosystem for our lives. April began with the Jewish celebration of Passover and the Christian celebration of Easter, and both speak to the renewal and the rededication to doing good.

This month also included Holocaust Memorial Day and Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day. Throughout history, there have been countless examples of hate and prejudice toward specific groups of people, resulting in the unthinkable. To ensure history does not repeat itself, we must remain vigilant in our pursuit of dignity and justice for all people.

Dolores Huerta Day, celebrated each April, reminds us of the power of individual courage and the lasting impact one person can have by inspiring others, including me. Having known Dolores for many years, I have witnessed firsthand her deep passion for helping others. She is a living embodiment of what the ancient Greeks called philia, standing alongside your community in shared sacrifice and collective pursuit of justice.

As your Lieutenant Governor, I remain steadfast in my commitment to bring a voice to the underserved and underrepresented, and I will continue to pursue policies and causes that advance justice, protect our Earth, and elevate those whose voices have been marginalized or ignored for too long.

Image of Lt. Governors signature

Eleni Kounalakis
Lieutenant Governor of California

Meeting with the First Lady of Greece and Common-Sense Media

On April 6th, I met with Mareva Grabowski-Mitsotakis, the First Lady of Greece, and Jim Steyer, the founder and CEO of Common Sense Media, to discuss what the government’s responsibility is to protect children in the current social media environment. Following this meeting, Greece announced a social media ban for children under 15, citing studies showing that social media can be harmful to their mental and social well-being during these developmental years.

Image of Lt. Gov. Kounalakis with the First Lade of Greece and another man.

Modesto Town Hall with Leaders from Modesto and Stanislaus County

On April 10, I met with community and business leaders from Modesto and Stanislaus County. Like so many communities throughout California, they are proud of their growth and success but are also worried about the impact of rising costs on their constituents as they try to balance efforts to invest in schools, roads, renewable energy, and water. These meetings between state elected leaders and community leaders are critical for understanding how state policies will impact local communities and the people who live there, and how we can better advocate for their needs at the state level.

Image of Lt. Gov. Kounalakis at a conference table looking at the other attendees during the town hall meeting.

Meeting with the Catalan Minister of European Union and Foreign Action

On April 15, I was honored to meet the Catalan Minister of EU & Foreign Action, Jaume Duch. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the California–Catalonia sister state relationship and the 10th anniversary of our Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Meetings like this help strengthen trade and economic development for both signatories.

Image of Lt. Gov. Kounalakis with Catalan Governor with the Bay Bridge behind them.

Earth Day at ECOS

This Earth Day, I visited the headquarters of ECOS, one of the world’s largest brands of environmentally friendly cleaning products. They opened their first plant in California in 1977, and 49 years later, they have manufacturing plants worldwide and are the first company to produce in carbon-neutral, water-neutral, and TRUE Platinum Zero Waste facilities.

Image of Lt. Gov. Kounalakis at ECOS speaking with ECOS staff members and looking at ECOS products.

San Francisco Hosts Evzones for the Very First Time

Evzones are a special unit of the Greek armed forces that guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Presidential Mansion. These brave men began as a unit of the Hellenic Army during the Greek War of Independence, fighting against the Ottoman Empire from 1821 to 1829. San Francisco had the distinct honor of hosting the Evzones as they marched in celebration and recognition of Greek independence. It was wonderful to see them parade through our streets and to be reminded of the resilience, pride, & unbreakable commitment to democracy of our Greek American community. Sas efcharistoúme!

Image of Lt. Gov. Kounalakis speaking from a podium at the Evzones Event in San Francisco

Denim Day

This month wrapped up with Denim Day, an important reminder that survivors of sexual assault need and deserve our support. Every year on April 29, we wear denim to stand with survivors of sexual violence and reaffirm a simple truth: clothing is never an invitation, and consent is never unclear. On this day, denim serves a statement of solidarity, challenging harmful myths, and reaffirming a culture grounded in respect and justice.

Image of Lt. Gov. Kounalakis standing.