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BARNARD HOSTS BIPARTISAN YOUNG WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
On Thursday, September 2, during the Republican National Convention, Barnard, the National Council of Women's Organizations and Lifetime Television will bring together 250 students for a bipartisan conference with female decision-makers to learn leadership skills and discuss public policy and the importance of the women's vote.
The Conference on the Barnard campus will feature keynote speeches from Ann Stone, Chair of Republicans for Choice, and Linda Paulmeno Sewell, Director of Communications for Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, Inc. Participants will also hear from a panel of women leaders that will include Martha Burk, Chair of the National Council of Women's Organizations, Geralyn Lucas, Director of Corporate Communications of Lifetime Television, Tracy Sturdivant, National Organizing Director of The White House Project, Lisa Maatz, Director of Public Policy and Government Relations for the American Auto Union of Workers, and Cheryl Cooper, Executive Director of the National Coalition of Negro Women. Jehmu Green, President of Rock the Vote, will present a voter registration workshop.
Barnard President Judith Shapiro said: "Barnard faculty and students have an extraordinary record of leadership and activism on important national issues, beginning with our founding more than a century ago and continuing today. Our alumnae are leaders in areas like health care and law. They are top political journalists and writers, and elected officeholders. We are therefore very pleased to join with the National Council of Women's Organizations as co-host of the Young Women's Leadership Conference that will involve 250 of our current Barnard student leaders. These are the young women who will surely make a big difference in the future, as activists and political office holders themselves. In the midst of this critical presidential campaign, we as educators must focus attention on building a new generation of politically active and engaged young women. We expect this conference to play an important part in that project.
"We are thrilled to support this Conference because of our commitment to the next generation of women leaders," said National Council of Women's Organizations Chair, Martha Burk. "NCWO is made up of 200 women's organizations representing 10 million women. Our slogan - one woman can change the world but it is easier when we work in groups -- is evidenced by the outstanding women's groups participating in this Conference."
A poll released in July by Lifetime Television and Rock the Vote, in partnership with the Conference, found that neither party's nominee, George Bush or John Kerry, is connecting with women -- especially young women -- on the issues they say are critical to gain their vote, such as prevention of violence and sexual assault, women's health, access to child care and equal pay. The poll also demonstrated that women have not been encouraged as much as men to run for elected office, a significant number of young women believe that a woman will never be elected president and women believe that female political candidates are held to higher standards than male candidates.
"Young women have the potential to change the course of American politics this year," said YWLC Executive Committee Member and former Appointee to President Clinton's White House Women's Office, Robin Leeds. "There is too much at stake for women and standing on the sidelines of democracy is not an option. This Conference will train young women to become effective leaders that will inspire the full participation of women in our nation's political process!"
"We are thrilled to present this Conference at Barnard College," said Kari Johnston, account executive at The Rendon Group, one of the organizing entities. "Our hope is that Conference participants will leave with a clearer understanding of the leadership roles women can attain and realizing their potential as leaders within their careers, schools and communities."
The Conference's are non-partisan and a similar event was held at Lesley University during the Democratic National Convention in Boston. The goals are to introduce young women to the electoral process and educate young women about the power of the women's vote. The conference aims to help participants develop leadership skills and relationships that will inspire them to strive for excellence and succeed in their professional lives.
The Conference is chiefly sponsored and supported by Barnard, Lifetime Television, National Council of Women's Organization, John Hancock, Dominion, DataTel, UNICCO, CISCO Systems Inc., United International Mortgage, Miss Clara's Certified Professional Services Inc., and Marlaw Systems Technology. Other partners include the Girl Scouts of America, American Association of University Women, The White House Project, Center for Public Leadership at Harvard University's Kennedy School, Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy at University of Massachusetts, Rock the Vote, Ms. Foundation, Ambassador Swanee Hunt, Winning Strategies and The Rendon Group.
For more information, visit: www.ywlc04.com or contact Suzanne Trimel in the Barnard Office of Public Affairs, 212-854-7583, strimel@barnard.edu.
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