womenconf blog

This Memorial Day, Remember Our Military Families

Fri, 22 May 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Suzanne Hogan is a military wife and daughter. In this piece, she honors the families that have sacrificed their sons and daughters -- reminding us that it is because of their sacrifices that we can honor Memorial Day this Monday.

I saw a mom today, with her boy. There she stood letting go of his hand as he walked towards uncertainty. There he stood looking back at his life and all things familiar. I saw a mom today with her boy.

I saw a boy today with his mom. He moved forward, one small step at a time, turning every few seconds, to look at her. He offered her a smile that she most certainly has seen a thousand times before, yet this time…. that smile will be imprinted in her memory… forever.

I saw a mom today, with her boy. She waved to him as if to signal…see you later. Yet… there was a hesitation in the motion…a tremble in her hand. There is no confidence or exuberance within her grasp today. Her boy is leaving her behind, in the middle of an airport, at the rope line, with security and thousand of travelers; travelers who gripe and snarl and snipe at the added layers of questions and metal detectors and sentinels and interrogators and strangers that enter into their lives, requesting odd things like… remove your coat, take off your shoes, empty your pockets…. I saw a mom today with her boy.

I saw a boy today, with his mom. He is flying away to take care of the things that irritate us at airports. He is flying away to a life he most likely never dreamed of when he was a little boy, just five years younger ago; a boy who played Wii and Guitar Hero, and shot paintballs…a boy who listened to Kanye, Coldplay, and Green Day on his Ipod…and who dreamed of Britney and Beyonce and Giselle.

I saw a mom today, with her boy. She solemnly watched him fly away from his “souped-up” car and his PDA and his room with all of the posters, and that worn-out cozy comforter that she stitched for him three years ago…

I saw a mom today, with her boy. There she stood letting go of his hand and holding on to the last glimpse of him as he passed out of her sight, and out of her arms. There she stood, almost silent, trying to speak his name but the tears and pain would not release her words. Her boy is gone…to do a man’s job; yet, he will always be her boy.

* * *

…I saw a mom today, with her boy. She was leaving for work with a cup of coffee and a backward glance towards her boy asleep on the couch…home from his college books and last night’s party. My boy is home…and her boy is not. I do not know her name, but I will never forget her face.

Yes, I saw a mom today with her boy; there she stood, letting go of his hand...

Give her strength and keep him smart, give her hope and keep him safe, give her peace and keep him strong.

I saw a Mom today with her boy’s picture. Bring him safely home.

* * *

During this Memorial Day weekend, Moms will continue to take their sons and daughters to the airport to leave for distant and hostile sands. As we celebrate our freedoms and embrace a respite from our work week, let us never forget our troops and the families who helped to make this weekend possible.

Taking Back the Power of Self-Worth

Fri, 01 May 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Does someone else need to acknowledge our worth to make it real? Do we crave outside affirmation of our value because we are insecure by nature?

If women are insecure as a gender, we’ve been given reason to be.

A woman’s culture – our upbringing, our environment, social cues, and our own strongly held beliefs that nuance our experience – defines female status. And though it’s quite obvious that women have made enormous gains in terms of rights and participation, the global picture of the status of women and girls is not so rosy. When a governing power holds stubbornly to rigid stereotypes, cultural mores, and antiquated mindsets, there may not be much wiggle room for women to discover and express their worth.

Imagine that you’re a woman living in a country and society which denies you freedom of travel, forbids you to possess your own passport, complicates or denies your access to education and female-centric healthcare, restricts your participation in government, your ownership of property, your ability to obtain loans, to work outside the home, drive a car, or have custody of your children. Wow. Seems to me that this lack of freedom and autonomy could easily impact a woman’s feelings of worth, could it not?

And then there’s the prickly issue of how crime investigations – particularly in rape cases – have been handled in the U.S. The recent outrage at the backlog of unprocessed rape kits is well deserved. Rape kits can provide investigators with the evidence they need to find and prosecute rapists, but yet, for some inexplicable reason, many kits are languishing, unprocessed. How could this be allowed to happen? Does this say something about how we are valued and respected?

Yet, perhaps it’s not that simple.

Tough as it may seem, we need to realize our worth in order to actualize it. And step-by-step, we are making changes. Women are being called upon to take on even more challenges in the current economic environment, and we are clearly up to the task. Now we need to build our community and support each other. Those of us who have rediscovered our voices, who can expose and express our self-worth, need to help clear the road for those among us who still struggle.

The Dalai Lama said, “According to Buddhism, individuals are masters of their own destiny. And all living beings are believed to possess the nature of the Primordial Buddha, Samantabhadra -- the potential or seed of enlightenment, within them. So. Our future is in our own hands. What greater free will do we need?”

Indeed. Perhaps as young girls and women, we will be able to express that free will once more of us are able to model that behavior.

What do you think about self-worth? We are all part of this important narrative. Share your thoughts with me.

Project to Paint the Modern Portrait of the American Woman

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0700

On Tuesday, April 15, 2009, Maria Shriver announced a new project called, "A Woman’s Nation", which will take a new, empirical look at American women, who for the first time in our nation’s history, make up half of all workers and are becoming the primary breadwinners in more families than ever before.

This is a multifaceted project in partnership with the Center for American Progress and the University of Southern California’s Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership and Policy. TIME magazine will also be involved in research and reporting, as well as co-presenting discussions and roundtables around the country.

“We will take a hard look at how women are doing in the United States today and consider the central question of the role government, business, and faith organizations, as well as individual women and men should play in supporting women’s role now in the workforce and the U.S. economy,“ said John Podesta, president and CEO of the Center for American Progress. “We look forward to teaming up with Maria Shriver on this important work.”

A Woman’s Nation will include roundtables, a national poll, and interviews with icons of the women’s movement and other prominent leaders. The preliminary report will be released in the fall, to be followed by a book.

“Examining ways to improve the lives of women in this country is a noble cause, and I congratulate Maria Shriver and CAP on launching this new venture,” said White House Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett. “As a true leader in this area, Maria brings the perspective of a professional journalist, a working mother, and a caretaking daughter. Maria’s contributions to better understanding American women today are invaluable, and we look forward to the results of this work.”

Read Maria Shriver's blog on The Huffington Post.

View press release.

What does your Woman's Nation look like? Discuss now.

WE Connect families to resources during hard times

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0800

On Saturday, February 21, First Lady Maria Shriver highlighted her groundbreaking WE Connect Campaign efforts and presented key elements of the initiative to our nation’s Governors during the National Governors Association’s (NGA) Winter Meeting.

Maria's appearance before the NGA comes at a time when our worsening national economic climate makes it more important than ever to help families across the nation connect to a variety of support services, including the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), Food Stamps, the Child Tax Credit, Child Care Credit and Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC). As the nation’s leaders are discussing solutions to our economic crisis, Shriver has asked them to join her in a national effort to increase the number of people who use the EITC and other existing federal resources to help lift families out of poverty.

“The state of the economy and the difficult challenges so many people face in our country is of great concern to us all. We are living at a time when, across our nation, unemployment, home foreclosures and poverty are all on the rise,” said First Lady Maria Shriver. “Now more than ever, it is so important that we collaborate to reach families and connect them to available resources that can truly make a difference in their lives.”

If you or someone you know is going through unemployment, foreclosure, bankruptcy, or just can't make ends meet, go to http://www.weconnect.net, to find resources that can help you or your loved one during this difficult time.

Tell us your story here.

WE CONNECT MESSAGE FROM FIRST LADY MARIA SHRIVER
AND FRIENDS OF THE WOMEN'S CONFERENCE

Recommend a Remarkable Woman Today

Thu, 05 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Hi, it's Maria.

I am gearing up for March and a hectic schedule during National Women’s History Month. As usual, it’s making me reflect on the incredible women who have raised me, mentored me and supported me throughout my life. I don’t know where I would be without them, but as time passes, I have learned that I need to express my gratitude to them whenever I can, while I still can. It’s an important issue to me as First Lady, too, which is why I developed the Minerva Awards to thank extraordinary women for their service to our communities, our state and our world. The Awards are handed out at The Women’s Conference in October and are named after the Roman goddess, Minerva, who is on our state seal. She is the all around total woman: goddess of peace, wisdom, a warrior, a peace-maker—like so many women, she does it all!

The award goes to women who toil on the front lines of humanity day in/day out in service to others. A Minerva extends a helping hand to lift someone else up. I was raised to believe this kind of work is the highest calling in life, and I love nothing more than recognizing the efforts of people who are often silent heroes. They aren’t out promoting themselves, but promoting the empowerment of others through action.

This year we’re trying something new to help find the 2009 Minervas, and we could use your help. We’re asking you to go online and suggest a woman you may know in your community—a woman who’s rolled up her sleeves and tackled a problem that helps other people improve their lives. Check it out, read about the women who’ve won this recognition in the past. See if you know anyone like Betty Chinn or Sweet Alice Harris or Christy Porter… I know that incredible as they are, there are many more amazing women changing California. Let us know if you know one of them. And then let’s give her a big hand for stretching out hers!

Thanks,

Maria

President Obama featured on the cover of Ms. Magazine

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Many people are looking to Barak Obama as the 44th President of the United States with hope and high expectations that he will be able to pull our country out of economic disaster and out of the war, save us from global warming, put an end to discrimination…the list is endless and goes on to include issues such as women's rights, civil rights and human rights.

So when Ms. magazine placed President Obama in a superman pose on the cover of their special inauguration issue, speculation arose as to whether or not President Obama considers himself a feminist, or rather, should be considered a model for feminism. It’s not just the pose or the presence of President Obama on the cover of the historic feminist magazine that has people talking, but the proclamation on his shirt that "this is what a feminist looks like."

Being raised by an independent mother, married to a strong woman and raising two daughters, President Obama is a "woman's man" and believes in the importance of women's rights. He has run his campaign offering hope and the promise that if all of the people in our country unite, we can bring change to our country in this time of turmoil. Yet it remains unsettling to many left and right wingers alike that for a man who has been influenced by so many strong women while growing up, why does he only have five women on his presidential cabinet?

One of our Minerva Award winners at The Women’s Conference 2008 is Gloria Steinem, feminist forerunner and co-founder of Ms. Magazine. Steinem wrote an empowering article raising question to the republican vice president candidate Sarah Palin's presence in the election as a women leader and an advocate for feminism, while pointing out her opposition to "just about every issue that women support by a majority or plurality." Steinem has been a supporter of Hillary Clinton and Barak Obama, and closed the article expressing her satisfaction that American women finally have the support of male leaders who now understand the need for men to be equal in the home, before women can be equal outside of it.

With the inauguration today, we are excited to move forward. What do you think? Tell us, we hear you.

More Work To Be Done

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Women hold only 10.9% of board seats and executive positions in California's 400 largest public companies, according the fourth annual UC Davis Study of California Women Business Leaders.

Although the number has steadily increased over the past four years, from 10.2% in 2005 and 2006 to 10.4% in 2007, the shift is slow and incremental.

The study also found that half of those companies do not have women in top executive offices -- and almost half don't have any women on their Boards of Directors. A third of the companies surveyed had no women in either a top executive post or on their governing board.

The percentage of companies with a female CEO has, since 2005, stayed at 3 percent. Women held approximately ten percent of the 3,280 board seats of the surveyed companies, up from 9.4% in 2007.

The findings of the study indicate that some progress has been made towards gender equality in the boardrooms and corner offices of California. Unfortunately, that progress has been small. We at the Women's Conference are encouraged by the steady increases, but the lesson of this study is clear: there is much more work to be done.

To find out more about the survey's methodology and findings, visit the UC Davis site[1] or read their column[2] about the survey.

1. [http://www.gsm.ucdavis.edu/Faculty/index.aspx?id=3224]
2. [http://www.news.ucdavis.edu/search/news_detail.lasso?id=8833]

Please share your workplace experiences and your thoughts about the survey in the comments section!

Legendary Women Among Hall of Fame's 2008 Inductees

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0800

The California Museum's California Hall of Fame, created in 2006 by First Lady Maria Shriver, held a ceremony last week honoring its inductees for the year of 2008. The Governor and First Lady hosted a star-studded event on December 15th to welcome twelve new Californians into the 2008 Hall of Fame.

Among those honored were several women whose inspiring stories are a testament to the values that we at The Women's Conference hold dear. Acclaimed actress and activist Jane Fonda was at the ceremony, both to present other honorees and to accept her own award.

Also at the red carpet ceremony was Alice Waters, creator of the famous Chez Panisse restaurant in Berkeley, CA and one of the world's leading activists for sustainable food practices. Founder of the Yale Sustainable Food Project and Sustainable Food Project at the American Academy in Rome, Ms. Waters is the author of eight books and the vice president of Slow Food International, a nonprofit that promotes local food traditions.

Honored as well were two women who, though no longer with us, have left behind inspiring legacies for Californian women. Julia Morgan, one of the first female architects in the nation -- and the first in California -- was honored for her long and illustrious career. Over the course of forty-seven years, Ms. Waters designed over 700 buildings, including California's most magnificent building, William Randolph Hearst's home at San Simeon.

Dorothea Lange, whose impact upon the art of photography and work for social justice made her an American icon, was the fourth woman honored in 2008. Her visual documentation of 20th century American society captured the national imagination and brought attention to the plight of the disadvantaged or ignored -- her photographic essays of displaced Dust Bowl-era families, of Native Americans living in poverty, and interned Japanese Americans during World War II reminded the country of those who needed its help most.

These women will continue to serve as inspirations to all of us in the years to come. Their important work is rightly commemorated by the California Hall of Fame and we congratulate all of the 2008 inductees for their awards.

Other inductees included Dave Brubeck, Theodor "Dr. Seuss" Geisel, Robert Graham, Quincy Jones, Jack LaLanne, Jack Nicholson, Linus Pauling, and Leland Stanford.

Survey finds despite economy, California women remain optimistic about economic opportunities

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0800

A survey conducted by FedEx at The Women's Conference 2008 found that a majority of women are planning to cut back spending and travel this holiday season. Nonetheless, the survey also found that women are generally optimistic about economic opportunities.

Of those women surveyed, 87% of women said that their household financial situation was the same or worse this year than in previous years. 73% said that they were spending less this year on holiday shopping, and more than half said that they planned to both travel less and spend less.

Among those who said that their financial situation was improving, 50% cited shopping at low cost stores and 45% said that they were driving less because of high gas prices.

Despite the challenges posed by the current economic climate, most of the women surveyed were excited about opportunities available to them. More than two-thirds of them agreed that American women have more economic opportunities available now than they did five years ago. Thirty-six percent said that higher education was the most important foundation for creating those opportunities, while 27% cited "inspirational factors" such as more women in leadership positions (17%) and programs that encourage success in young women (10%.)

Taken as a whole, the survey revealed that even in a rough economy, women believe that progress and opportunity are increasing and they remain optimistic in the long-term.

The survey was conducted Oct. 21-22, 2008 at The Women's Conference and sponsored by FedEx. More than 1,800 women responded to questions regarding the economy -- including its effect on their households, economic opportunities for women and the upcoming holiday season.

To listen to the podcast about the survey please click on the files below:

California Audio Podcast

National Audio Podcast

In Memory of Minerva Award winner Jane Alexander

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Minerva Award winner, Jane Alexander, 86, died Sunday, December 14, 2008, in Greenbrae, Calif. She was diagnosed with kidney cancer in October of this year. A leading advocate of victim's rights and a tireless fighter for reform of the criminal justice system, Mrs. Alexander co-founded the nonprofit organization Citizens Against Homicide.

Mrs. Alexander was honored by The Women's Conference with a Minerva Award in 2006. Citizens Against Homicide is an organization that provides support for thousands of people who have suffered the loss of a loved one and the emotional trauma of the criminal justice system. Her own personal efforts to bring her aunt's murderer to justice inspired the book Citizen Jane and had earned national attention from the press and the public.

Mrs. Alexander is survived by her six children, twelve grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. We at the Women's Conference offer our deepest condolences to her family and friends.

The Women's Conference 2006: Minerva Award Winner Jane Alexander

Join us for a journey on the new Remarkable Women Legacy Trail!

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0800

On Monday, Nov. 17, 2008, the California Museum launched the new Remarkable Women Legacy Trail. The Legacy Trails highlight points throughout California that make our state truly unique. Go to http://www.californiamuseum.org/trails/ and join us for a journey!

Celebrating Our Veterans

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Today we celebrate the service of those who have defended our country. President Woodrow Wilson first proclaimed Armistice Day on November 12, 1919.

On May 13, 1938, Congress officially approved the 11th of November of each year a legal holiday honoring those who fought in World War I . A shoe store owner named Al King along with The Emporia Chamber of Commerce campaigned to change the holiday to be a more inclusive celebration of all military veterans. On May 26, 1954, President Dwight Eisenhower signed an amendment changing the word "Armistice" to "Veterans."

104th birthday for female veteran

Congratulations to President-elect Barack Obama!

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0800

We hope that you excercised your right to vote on Tuesday, Nov. 4. Now, please join The Women's Conference in congratulating Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States of America. Find on this post a YouTube video of his election night speech and a link to the transcript. President-elect Obama addressed the crowd on election night and said, "Change happens -- change happens because the American people demand it, because they rise up and insist on new ideas and new leadership, a new politics for a new time. America, this is one of those moments."

>>> Click here for President-elect Barack Obama transcript from NYTimes.com.

President-Elect Barack Obama in Chicago - Election Night Speech

Empower through your Vote!

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Let's remember that the struggle for women's voting rights in America lasted for144 years and 94 years for African Americans. Let's not take our rights and freedom for granted! Provided on this post are links to resources about voting. Also, watch a video from KCAL-9 on the differences of political opinions in the California Governor and First Lady household.

Links and Resources

>>> Click here for more information on your polling place

>>> Should you have any questions or problems in casting your ballot, you can call Election Protection, administered by the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, at 866-OUR-VOTE, or go to their website.

>>> If you Twitter, send updates on the conditions of your polling center to Twitter Voter Report by using the #votereport tag.

>>> Watch KCAL-9 news segment on Political opinions in the California Governor and First Lady household.

Empowering live blogger video of conversation featuring Michael J. Fox, Russell Simmons

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700

On the day of The Women's Conference, many empowering conversations happen at the same time. This year, the conference created a team of volunteer bloggers to cover the breakout sessions live from the audience level. What was captured was an authentic perspective of once-in-a-lifetime conversations full of insight and inspiration. You can view a video shot by live blogger Christina Gagnier of the extroaordinary presentation, "Men We Love Who Use Their Voices."

During the session, one of our other live blogger Calley Nye wrote, "[Michael J. Fox said] he needs to recognize and face fear, you can't ignore it. He tried to when first diagnosed, but now he realizes he's afraid and that way you can measure it and deal with it. He's not 'me minus what was taken from me, it's me plus what it's given to me.'" The conversation also featured Laird Hamilton and Russell Simmons. Deborah Norville was the moderator.

Please note that we share this footage with you to offer a glimpse of what it was like to experience this conversation, but the video was shot in low light and the audio might be tough to understand. You can also read the "replay" of the live blogging coverage below.

Audience-level video of "Men We Love Who Use Their Voices"

Click on widget below to "replay" live blogging session.

Audio podcasts will be available soon on this site, or you can purchase the CD here.

Read all of the live blogs from The Women's Conference 2008 here.

***

About our live bloggers:

Christina Gagnier is the co-owner of Gagnier and Margossian, a firm dedicated to top-level research, strategic counsel and strategic communications. She is originally from Southern California and will be moving back from the Bay Area next week.

Calley Nye is an entrepreneur and blogger who founded the blog TechNews.LA. She is originally from Connecticut and lives in Los Angeles.

Relive First Lady Maria Shriver's Speech and more at The Women's Conference 2008

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Thank you for joining us last week for The Women's Conference 2008. If you missed the live webcast or would like to experience the inspirational and empowering speeches and conversations, you can view a replay of selected taped sessions. Stayed tuned this week and throughout the year, as we offer extra footage and individual segments of the leaders and visionaries who participated in this year's conference.

Click here to launch our on-demand video player of The Women's Conference 2008. Choose from the menu on the right of the player to watch each segment.

We offer the following live taped segments:

Opening Session
Featuring Jennifer Lopez, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Warren Buffett, Chris Matthews and Christiane Amanpour

Morning Conversations
Featuring Christiane Amanpour, Madeline K. Albright, Cecilia Maria Attias, Cherie Blair and Cerue Konah Garlo

Luncheon Session
Featuring Sister Joan Chittister, First Lady Maria Shriver, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Indra Nooyi and Campbell Brown

Afternoon Conversations
Featuring Lynn Sherr, David Sheff and Mary Tillman

Afternoon Session and The Minerva Awards - Coming soon!

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger Welcomes You to The Women's Conference 2008

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Please join us on Wednesday, October 22, for an all-day live webcast of The Women's Conference 2008 here on www.californiawomen.org. We are also offering live blogging coverage of all our conversation sessions. It is an honor to share the spirit of the conference with you on this virtual space. We hope that you "Feel it. Live it. Pass it on." and invite others to experience this day of empowerment as we rally One Million Women on the Web.

Watch Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's video message welcoming you to The Women's Conference 2008 and view more information on the webcast and Night at The Village, which begins tonight at 5 PM PDT. Make sure you follow us on our Twitter @thewomensconf!

>>> Click here for the full agenda of The Women's Conference 2008!

>>> Click here for Night at The Village information.

Watch the Governor's Welcome Message to You!

Live Webcast Schedule

8:00 – 10:00 AM PDT: Morning Session

• Jennifer Lopez, Actress, Singer and Entrepreneur
• Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger
• Warren Buffett, Chairman and CEO, Berkshire Hathaway Inc.
• Chris Matthews, Host of Hardball on MSNBC and The Chris Matthews Show on NBC
• Christiane Amanpour, CNN Chief International Correspondent

10:30 – 11:30 AM PDT: Morning Conversation
“It’s Your Voice: How You Can Use It To Change The World”

• Christiane Amanpour, CNN Chief International Correspondent
• Madeline K. Albright, Former Secretary of State
• Cecilia Maria Attias, Chief Executive Officer, The Experience Corp (USA)
• Cherie Blair, Human Rights Advocate and wife of former Prime Minister Tony Blair
• Cerue Konah Garlo, Executive Director, Women NGO Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL)

12:30 – 2:30 PM PDT: Lunch Session

• Sister Joan Chittister, O.S.B., Author, The Gift of Years
• First Lady of California Maria Shriver
• Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
• Indra K. Nooyi, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, PepsiCo
• Campbell Brown, News Anchor, CNN

3:00 – 4:00PM PDT: Conversation Session
“Life’s Biggest Hurdles: How to Overcome the Unimaginable”

• Lynn Sherr, Author, Outside the Box: A Memoir
• David Sheff, Author, Beautiful Boy: A Father’s Journey through His Son’s Addiction
• Mary Tillman, Author, Boots On the Ground by Dusk: My Tribute to Pat Tillman

5:00 – 7:00 pm PDT: Afternoon Session and The Minerva Awards™ Presentation

• First Lady of California Maria Shriver Presents The Minerva Awards – Recognizing Remarkable Women
• Bono, Lead Singer of U2 and Co-founder of the anti-poverty campaign ONE
• Musical Performance by Bonnie Raitt, Singer, Songwriter and Guitarist whose unique style blends blues, R&B, rock, and pop

Help Alleviate Hunger in California: Donate Non-perishable Food at The Women's Conference 2008

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700

During this economic crisis, many Californians are struggling to feed their families and provide life’s essentials. First Lady Maria Shriver is calling on all attendees of The Women’s Conference 2008 to help alleviate the food shortage in California.

The Women’s Conference Food Drive

14,000 of us will be gathering together at The Women’s Conference this year. Let us use the power of WE to help families in need.

Please bring one non-perishable item with you to The Women’s Conference on Wednesday, October 22.

We will make it easy for you to donate to the Food Drive. Collection barrels will be located at both entrances to the Long Beach Convention Center. Food donations will be collected from 7:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.

Please DO bring a can or non-glass package of any of the following foods:
•    Tuna, chicken or beef
•    Soup, vegetables, fruit, beans
•    Grains, rice or pasta
•    Peanut Butter (only in a plastic jar)

Please DO NOT bring anything perishable or in a glass container.

The Women’s Conference is partnering with the California Association of Food Banks and the LA Regional Food Bank in this effort.

Thank you for being a part of our WE.

Click here to download our food drive flyer.

Touched by the conference? Send us your video!

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700

We always like to hear from those who have attended The Women's Conference in the past. Now, we're making an open call for Online video testimonials. How has the conference empowered you?

Please send us a link to your video (you can use any service you'd like, such as YouTube or Viddler) to californiawomen@gmail.com. We'll choose some to present on our Webcast on Wednesday, October 22, and put other videos on our blog.

Many thanks to you for making The Women's Conference what it is today!

A world first: Female majority in Rwandan parliament

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Last week, we celebrated women firsts in American government; on Thursday, September 19, Rwanda became the first country to have a parliament where women outnumber men. The last Rwandan parliament elections occured in 1994, the year when at least 800,000 people died in the genocide. Rwanda continues the struggle of rebuilding a war-torn nation with women at the helm of healing a country weary from 60 years of violent conflict.

According to results released on Thursday, the last day of a four-day legislative vote in Rwanda, women won 20 of 53 seats, in what is called “direct elections.” In addition, 24 seats are saved for women in an “indirect vote” – this means a total of 44 seats reserved for women – at least 55 percent of this legislative arm, the lower chamber, will be women.

Even with its outgoing parliament, Rwanda had already topped the list with the highest percentage of women lawmakers at 48 percent; Sweden, a country known for its progressive gender relations, has a parliament where 47 percent are women; Cuba has 43.2 percent, according to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).

The IPU also says that the average percentage of women in parliament in the continent of Africa is only 17 percent. President Paul Kagame of Rwanda has been internationally recognized for opening up opportunities for women in politics.

Africa Uncovered: Rights & Reconstruction - Part 1

Rwanda is on the road to recovery, with annual economic growth more than six percent, and women who survived the genocide are driving this boom.

Africa Uncovered: Rights & Reconstruction - Part 2

Sources:

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hyYDRUBoyMv4qslVEi1H43kUVtEA

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rwanda

http://www.bythefault.com/2008/09/01/women-in-rwandan-politics-breaking-through-the-glass-ceiling/

Female First, Sarah Palin

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700

The Women’s Conference applauds women’s “firsts.” During the 2007 conference, we were honored to have the first female White House Press Secretary Dee Dee Myers, the first female vice presidential candidate Geraldine Ferraro, and the first female Governor of New Jersey Christine Todd Whitman. This year’s presidential election is certainly setting the bar for more glass-ceiling cracking newsmakers.

On August 29, Republican presidential candidate, Senator John McCain, announced his running mate, Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska. She’s a stunning woman and eloquent speaker, and the nomination has caused much discussion among voters and politicos, to no one’s surprise. Since it’s near impossible to talk about this topic on a blog in a non-partisan manner, let’s begin with a simple straightforward summary of Palin’s bio from the ever useful Wikipedia:

The Republican vice presidential candidate was born Sarah Louise Heath on February 11, 1964, in Sandpoint, Idaho, and raised in Wasilla, Alaska. While attending high school, she took on numerous leadership roles. In 1984, she participated in the Miss Alaska Pageant where she placed second runner-up and was awarded the title of “Miss Congeniality.” In 1987, Palin received a Bachelor of Science degree in communications-journalism from the University of Idaho. She eloped with her high school sweetheart, Todd Palin, in 1988. They now have five children and still live in Wasilla.

Palin began her political career as a member of the Wasilla city council. She served for one three-year term beginning in 1992, and was elected a second term in 1995. Palin ran for mayor in 1996 and defeated incumbent John Stein. In 2002, she made an unsuccessful bid for the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor. At the age of 42, Palin defeated Tony Knowles in the 1996 gubernatorial race and became Alaska’s youngest and first female governor.

Here are a couple of links to articles on Palin:

Drawing Women’s Attention, Maybe Not Allegiance - New York Times

Palin: wrong woman, wrong message - Gloria Steinem opinion on Los Angeles Times

Now, let’s hear your voice. Post your comments: What do you think about Governor Palin as the Republican vice presidential nominee?

(Also, go to our discussion boards and tell us, "If you were Sarah Palin, would you have accepted the candidacy?")

Keep Going for Freedom

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700

On August 26, 1920, Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby certified the ratification of the 19th Amendment officially announcing women's right to vote. Now, 88 years later, discussions about women and the political process continue to resonate amidst the impending presidential election. When I began writing this blog post last night, the first woman to ever gain a majority party nomination for president, Senator Hillary Clinton, was onstage at the Democratic National Convention in Denver.

“My mother was born before women could vote. My daughter got to vote for her mother for president," Senator Clinton said. "This is the story of America, of women and men who defy the odds and never give up.”

The Women’s Conference 2007 featured a history-making conversation with the spouses of the presidential nominees that included Michelle Obama who spoke Monday night at the Democratic National Convention about improbable journeys. I can only imagine the struggle Americans faced during the suffrage movement fighting for what we now take as a basic and fundamental right.

I am touched by what past generations endured for freedom and equality because my personal journey epitomizes the American Dream. I immigrated to the United States at the age of 5 from the Philippines. I became nationalized at 14. I can’t even begin to tell you how much I value the public college education I received at Rutgers University. Now, I am helping build this website and Online community for an incredible organization that seeks to empower women.

There’s a lot to be grateful for, and at the same time, there’s a lot more left to do and contribute to make our nation the best that it can be. Senator Clinton urged that we follow the example of Harriet Tubman, who said, "If you hear the dogs, keep going. If you see the torches in the woods, keep going. If there’s shouting after you, keep going. Don’t ever stop. Keep going. If you want a taste of freedom, keep going.’”

Senator Hillary Clinton at the Democratic National Convention 2008

Conversation with Presidential Candidates' Wives at The Women's Conference 2007

The Olympics, Olympians and one Mommy Blogger

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700

The Los Angeles Times showcases a handful of Southern Californian athletes competing in the Beijing 2008 Olympics through a series of beautiful posters that you can download from a widget on their Olympics blog. The majority of the Olympians featured are women (although they do have one of Kobe Bryant). Official media coverage of the games in China are thorough and aplenty, but what's most interesting is the chatter among female bloggers whose comments more often than not offer a personalized take on the female Olympian.

On a post today, mommy blogger Lollipop Goldstein talked about swimmer and nine-time medalist Dara Torres' "openness in talking about IVF" -- in vitro fertilization. The blogger shares on her blog, "Stirrup Queens and Sperm Palace Jesters":

"My own infertility tie to the Olympics came from the premature birth of the twins. We were supposed to be watching the opening ceremonies at home. Instead, we were across the street from the hospital, in a hotel while our twins were in the NICU. Nothing was how I imagined it would be. It is impossible not to get emotional when the Olympics rolls around again and I see all of our legs tangled around each other as we lie as a family in a hotel bed on vacation, explaining Chinese brush painting to our four-year-olds. I'm sure I will still feel this rush of emotion, this memory of infertility, four years and eight years and twelve years down the line as each Summer Olympics is televised."

This blog post is a poignant glimpse of the kind of impact these Olympic games and Olympians can have on our lives beyond the sport and thrill of competition.

Seats will fill up quickly! Tickets on sale today.

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Online ticket registration is today, July 14, for The Women's Conference 2008, which will be held on Wednesday, October 22, at the Long Beach Convention Center. This year, we invite you to join us for not one, but two, days of empowerment and inspiration where you can, "Be Who You Are...An Architect of Change."

Conference attendees can expect the same empowering experiences, fascinating speaker pairings, and once-in-a-lifetime conversations that have become the conference’s trademark under First Lady Maria Shriver’s leadership.

Our growing roster of over 50 speakers and particpants this year include Christiane Amanpour, Lance Armstrong, Cherie Blair, Bono, Warren Buffet, Sister Joan Chittister, Marian Wright Edelman, Sally Field, Michael J. Fox, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Caroline Kennedy, Heidi Klum, Jack Kornfield, Jennifer Lopez, Chris Matthews, Jenny McCarthy, Indra Nooyi, Dr. Mehmet Oz, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Russell Simmons and Gloria Steinem.

We've even answered some of your requests for more book signings, networking, shopping, food and fun by adding a new pre-conference event called Night at The Village. Experience an evening for your Mind, your Body and your Soul with First Lady Maria Shriver and a conversation with Rachael Ray.

Watch the video below and see the memories we've made together as we embark on our fifth year here at The Women's Conference:

Find more on The Women's Conference 2008:

Vanity Fair Blog announcement

The New York Times announcement

Official Press Release

CONFERENCE MAKES HISTORY - SELLS OUT IN RECORD TIME

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700

As you probably know by now, full-day passes to The Women's Conference 2008 were sold out in less than three hours, an incredible record for the conference and impressive by even the standards of a stadium rock concert. In fact, so many people rushed to buy tickets first thing this morning that it momentarily overwhelmed our ticket registration servers!

Every year at The Women's Conference, we experience tremendous growth, but along with that are some growing pains. We sincerely apologize to those of you who were unable to buy tickets this morning. Please understand that we appreciate your support and enthusiasm, and we've taken the following steps this year to meet this surging demand and make The Women's Conference even more accessible to you:

- You asked us for more time for book signings, networking, information gathering, shopping, food and fun -- in other words, more time to just be -- and we've answered your call! This year, we're offering a new "opening night" event called Night at The Village that will be held on Tuesday, October 21 at the Long Beach Convention Center beginning at 5 PM. We hope you wil join us for an evening for your mind, your body and your soul.

- Again this year, we are reconfiguring the arena floor seating to allow for more people to experience the Afternoon Session featuring the 5th Annual Minerva Awards presentation hosted by Maria Shriver, remarks by Bono and Caroline Kennedy, and a special musical performance by Grammy Winner Bonnie Raitt. Tickets for the conference's Afternoon Session on Wednesday, October 22 are still available.

- This brand new website was built for you so that you can be a conference participant all year round. Technology has enabled us to take the content of the conference beyond the convention walls. We'll also be streaming live video on the day of the conference so you can be inspired and empowered by today's leaders and visionaries wherever you live, work or play. We invite you to tell us what empowers you and how you empower others by sharing your thoughts on the blog and discussion boards. Take advantage of this, and make The Women's Conference your own.

We look forward to building this community with you.

In Memory of Tim Russert

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Beloved journalist Tim Russert, 58, died Friday, June 13, 2008. Best known as the moderator of NBC's "Meet the Press", Russert spoke at The Women's Conference in 2006. "Time is a precious commodity," Russert said on the main stage.

At the time of his death, Russert was also NBC News’ Washington bureau chief. Acccording to a breaking news article on MSNBC, "Russert was recording voiceovers for Sunday’s 'Meet the Press' broadcast when he collapsed."

In an official statement released today, First Lady Maria Shriver said, "Tim Russert was one of my closest friends and he was like a brother to me. He was not only a professional confidant but a personal one. He was always the first person to call me whenever anything happened with my family. And he always called me just to check in and see how I was doing and to encourage me. My heart goes out to his son Luke, his wife Maureen, his father, sister and entire family. They were his joy in life; family and faith were everything to him. He was one of a kind to me and I was lucky enough to have had him as a best friend," said.

MSNBC also said that Russert had recently returned from Italy where he and his family were celebrating the college graduation of his son, Luke. When Russert addressed the crowd at The Women's Conference he told a story about the time he learned that his son Luke got a tattoo — of the letters "T.J.R.", the initials of Russert and his father. Russert said in his speech that Luke explained, "Now you and grandpa will always be by my side."

Russert was born and raised in Buffalo, New York, and graduated from John Carroll University. He then went on to complete his law degree at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law at Cleveland State University.

A best selling author, Russert published two books: Big Russ and Me in 2004, which chronicled his life growing up in a predominantly Irish working-class neighborhood, and Wisdom of Our Fathers: Lessons and Letters from Daughters and Sons in 2005, which showcased some of the 60,000 letters that Russert said he received from people in response to his first book. More information on Russert's career and personal life is outlined on Wikipedia.

Russert is survived by his wife, Maureen Orth, and their son, Luke.

Our condelences to Tim Russert's friends and family. It was an honor having him share his time and wisdom with us. You can watch his speech on the main stage below.

Knocking down conference walls

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Welcome to the new web site for The Women's Conference and its WE Empower Community. We began this web site redesign many months ago with the goal of taking what happens at The Women’s Conference – all the extraordinary inspiration, education and empowerment – and creating a similar experience online, accessible to anyone, anywhere, anytime.

With this new site, we are taking the conference event beyond the walls of the convention center to give everyone an opportunity to experience its world-class main stage speeches, once-in-a-lifetime conversations and unique seminar sessions.

The Women’s Conference truly is, as we like to say, “more than just a day.” The conference organization supports many important programs and initiatives throughout the year, and this web site will give you an opportunity to learn about how we are impacting our world and, more importantly, how you can get involved.

The mission of The Women’s Conference is to empower women to see themselves as "architects of change" in their lives, homes, workplaces, communities and the world at large. This web site will empower you daily with fresh insights, uplifting stories, opportunities for service, useful resources, and tips for change. Together, let us build this site into a vibrant, interactive online community space to empower ourselves and connect to others.

We can start here today by taking a few simple actions:

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