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See Jane Do Soiree into Action! Guiding Signs 101: Intuition and Authenticity

Join us for a delightful evening with Kathleen McIntire as she shares the recently launched Guiding Signs 101. Find your way back to you through the power of intuition, authenticity and living a life or heart and meaning. Let 2012 be the most joyous year of your life- simply being you! Please join us for this free event and invite friends to share the experience. Catered appetizers and drinks will be served.  

January 26^th 6-9pm. Haven Underground, 226 Broad St. Nevada City, CA FREE EVENT! Register Here!

Jennifer Siebel Newsom: Miss Representation

“If you can see it you can be it” ~Jennifer Siebel Newsom

When I met Jennifer Siebel Newsom in San Francisco she was captivating the attention of hundreds of girls with the trailer of her new film Miss Representation.  She was the host of the Professional Business Women of California’s Young Women's Summit and generously offered her time for an interview in between mentorship sessions.  Jennifer had gathered some of her powerful female friends together to share their insight and wisdom with the young attendees.  To my one side was Kristi Yamaguchi, on the other side was a film producer and next to her a prominent lawyer.  The mentors had about 10 minutes per session to share their personal stories and answer questions from the dozen or so teen girls who sat at their table. 

According to Ms. Newsom, the Young Women's summit provides opportunities for a healthier image of what one can be in the world.  It was the ideal event to screen the highlights of her film Miss Representation (at the time the film had not yet been completed).  One look at the film trailer along with the enthusiasm of her audience and it was apparent that Jennifer's passion to empower women in the media was about to take off. 

Jennifer is no stranger to the media industry.  Following her graduation at Stanford University and working overseas, she starred in an array of films and television programs.  She was also the First Lady of San Francisco and most recently her husband Gavin Newsom was elected as California’s Lieutenant Governor.  It's safe to assume that she knows a thing or two about the influence of media and power in America.

Miss Representation is a powerful film that features extraordinary change-makers in the industry including: Gloria Steinem, Jane Fonda, Geena Davis, Rachel Maddow, Condoleezza Rice, Nancy Pelosi, Katie Couric and more.  As the writer and director of the film Newsom does an incredible job of breaking down where media industry leaders went wrong.  The film exposes how mainstream media contributes to the under-representation of women in positions of power and influence in America.

During our interview Jennifer Siebel Newsom shared her personal passion, her message to women around the world, the impact she hopes her film will have for women and girls and whether or not she would consider running for office.  When I conducted this interview Jennifer was currently the First Lady of San Francisco.

What is the overall intention of your film?

The motto of my film, Miss Representation is “if you can see it you can be it”.  We’re providing the girls with alternate messages and role models from the ones they just get from the media.

Where does your own passion around this topic stem from?

I think when I was younger I didn’t know who I could be when I grew up.  I was an athlete so I was always on that track.  But there weren’t really any women I was exposed to via the media who inspired me...they're out there but you just have to find them.  The inspiration for this film is really the lack of gender equity in our culture and the lack of women who are represented in some of the highest, most powerful and influential industries.  Also, I’m the mother of a daughter and being a new mom I’m petrified of the world that she’s growing up in.  I’m concerned for all young women.  I want them to have healthy role models, to be inspired and to know that they can attain whatever it is that they desire. 

What do you think about the power we have as women and girls and how do you think we are going to use that power to change the world for the better and reach the tipping point?

I think we have incredible power.  There is power within us that we don’t even recognize we have.  In terms of achieving the tipping point (30% representation) I believe there is a movement right now, a sisterhood around the globe that we will achieve and attain this (30 %) but I think it’s going to require a hard look at institutional sexism that stems historically on how America was founded.  If the United States, known as a great leader in the global economy, is disrespecting women, degrading and demeaning women in the media then what message is that giving to the rest of the world on how we should treat women? 

I think that we need to start here.  We need to not just accept the status quo but actively work towards affecting change.  We need to bring men of consciousness into the discussion, educate our young boys and show them that men are not more important or have more value than women. 

In your film Miss Representation you feature several politicians including The White House Project that is training women to take the lead and run for office.  Would you ever consider running for office?

I’m not sure.  I never really thought about it.  I’m inspired by all of these incredible women and think they are doing a great job.  Right now I want to focus on the film and hopefully create a social impact and be the best mom I can be. 

What is your message to women around the world?

My message is to know your power, your purpose and your passion in life, to be the change that you wish to see in the world.  Make championing girls and women’s rights and empowerment first and foremost on your agenda.

What was the biggest surprise in creating your film Miss Representation?

The biggest surprise was recognizing and learning that a lot of us have this internal sexism that is deep in our self conscience that we haven’t yet addressed.   The other surprise was the acceptance of the status quo and complacency with the inequities in our society.

As your husband continues in his own political career how do you think he might help support the advancement and empowerment of women in taking on leadership roles?

He’s done a lot already and works continuously on behalf of women.  I think there is a lot of pillow talk and there is a lot of educating, communicating and conversations we have about this with each other.  Being the father of a daughter and by making this documentary he is well aware of the inequities.  He was raised by his mother and his sisters and respects and values women.  I feel like we’re both on that same line of focus.  If he continues in politics I think we will see some change.

What do you hope is the biggest takeaway for all of the girls who participate in the Young Women’s Summit and see your film?

I hope they realize that they can be anything that their heart desires and that they won’t feel limited by the messages that the media is portraying and communicating to them.

For more information about Miss Representation and to join the campaign to empower women in the media go to www.missrepresentation.org. 

A special screening of Miss Representation hosted by the Friendship Club is showing at the Nevada Theatre in Nevada City, CA Monday November 28th at 6:00 PM.

Click here to listen to Elisa Parker’s interview with Jennifer Siebel Newsom.

The Friendship Club presents "Miss Representation"

The Friendship Club and The Sierra Mentoring Partnership presents the award-winning documentary film 'Miss Representation" - Monday, November 28th, at the Nevada Theatre, followed by a panel discussion with students, educators, and members of the media. This one night only event is a must-see for families, educators, students, civic leaders, community organizers and more.

 "

Newest Miss Representation Trailer (2011 Sundance Film Festival Official Selection) from Miss Representation on Vimeo.

Written and directed by Jennifer Siebel Newsom, Miss Representation exposes how mainstream media contribute to the under-representation of women in positions of power and influence in America. The film challenges the media's limited and often disparaging portrayals of women and girls, which make it difficult for women to achieve leadership positions and for the average woman to feel powerful herself.

Miss Representation includes stories from teenage girls and provocative interviews with politicians, journalists, entertainers, activists and academics like Condoleezza Rice, Lisa Ling, Nancy Pelosi, Katie Couric, Rachel Maddow, Rosario Dawson, Jackson Katz, Jean Kilbourne, and Gloria Steinem. The film offers startling facts and statistics that will leave audiences shaken and armed with a new perspective. www.missrepresentation.org

"We are thrilled to have so many outreach opportunities for Miss Representation. This film was made to be a change agent in our culture, to inspire both women and men to recognize women's collective voice, leadership capacity and equal rights," says Newsom.

In a society where media is the most persuasive force shaping cultural norms, the collective mes-sage that our young women and men overwhelmingly receive is that a woman's value and power lie in her youth, beauty, and sexuality--and not in her capacity as a leader. While women have made strides in leadership over the past few decades, the U.S. is 90th in the world in terms of women in national legislatures, women hold only 3 % of clout positions in mainstream media, and 65% of women and girls have an eating disorder.

Miss Representation was selected from the Sundance line-up to be part of the OWN Documentary Film Club. "Through personal stories and provocative interviews, Jennifer crystallizes the relevance of the media and its portrayal of women in today's society," said Lisa Erspamer, Chief Creative Officer for OWN. In addition, ro*co films will distribute Miss Representation to educational institutions and libraries for classroom use and university screenings beginning in August 2011.

The distribution of the film Miss Representation will coincide with a social action campaign led by MissRepresentation.org.

The campaign seeks to empower women and girls to challenge limiting labels in order to fully realize their potential, and ultimately transform our culture for the betterment of all. A portion of the film proceeds will be donated to women's leadership initiatives led by partnership beneficiaries that include Girls for A Change, Girls Inc., The International Museum of Women, Step Up Women's Network, The Women's Media Center, and The White House Project. Together with these partners, MissRepresentation.org is organizing hundreds of thousands of individuals to participate in a series of small actions that will ultimately lead to a cross-generational revolution to eradicate gender stereotypes and create lasting cultural and sociological change that will benefit not only women, but the world at large. Join the campaign - visit www.missrepresentation.org.

About Girls' Club Entertainment

Girls' Club Entertainment was founded by Jennifer Siebel Newsom - actress, filmmaker, and former First Lady of San Francisco. It was formed as an umbrella entertainment company to develop and produce independent films with strong social, political, and cultural significance focused primarily on empowering women.

About The Friendship Club

The Friendship Club engages, educates and empowers girls at risk. Founded in 1995, The Friendship Club is a prevention program designed to reach at-risk girls before they engage in unhealthy behaviors. We teach the girls life skills, personal responsibility and the value of hard work through a year-around program of educational activities, emotional support and community involvement. The Friendship Club guides girls to bright futures and helps them to become valuable members of their community. The Friendship Club receives no public funding and is sup-ported by the generosity of the community and private grants.

About The Sierra Mentoring Partnership

SMP is the gateway to mentoring in Nevada County, dedicated to strategically expanding quality youth mentoring. For those who want to become a mentor, find a mentor, or improve their program, we act as mentoring consultants. To achieve our mission and fulfill our vision, we are committed to:

• Raising public awareness and community relations regarding the importance and impact of mentoring.

• Helping to create, expand and sustain high quality mentoring programs. As an umbrella agency for regional mentoring programs, we provide training, technical assistance, networking, advocacy, recruitment support and resources.

• Recruiting caring mentors to work with our youth and efficiently connect them to mentoring programs.

• Facilitating collaboration between mentoring agencies, local government, schools, the courts, faith-based organizations, and the community.

This event is sponsored by The Magic Lantern Film Society, producer of the Nevada City Film Festival and committed to bringing top independent cinema to the Sierra Nevada Foothills.

KNOW & GO

When: Monday, November 28th

Where: The Nevada Theatre, 401 Broad Street, Nevada City, CA 95959

Time: Doors 530pm, Film 6-730pm, Guest Panel Discussion 730-830pm

Tickets: General Admission $10/ADV, $15/Door, 21 and Under $5, available at BriarPatch, Yabobo, BookSeller and online at http://missrepfriendshipclub.eventbrite.com/

More Info: Call The Friendship Club at (530) 265-4311

Fashion Farmers and Growing Trends

This episode the "must have" See Jane Do program of the month and it will make any women or girl feel good about herself.   See Jane Do features 4 trend setters who are not only fashion forward thinkers but they are giving a boost to the planet and empowering women and girls. 

 

Today on See Jane Do on KVMR 89.5 from 1:00 PM-2:00 PM we'll feature author, educator and textile farmer Rebecca Burgess, fashion farmer Sally Fox and the next generation of fashion forward trendsetters for girl power, Allyson Ahlstrom of Threads for Teens and Tavi Gevinson of Style Rookie. 

 

The power of fashion and style is often determined by knowing who you are and what image you want to project.  But do you know who your clothes are?  Who made them?  Or where they come from?  Our first guest  educator and textile artist, Rebecca Burgess was disturbed to discover that most of her clothes traveled far distances to reach the rack and many are loaded with chemical dyes.  Rebecca founded Fibershed, a "wear only local "challenge.  Upon realizing that she couldn't find clothing from local sources Rebecca set out to make her own and partner with local farmers.  She is now growing her own dyes, including an indigo patch for denim and establishing a business that will connect fashion designers with local fashion farmers.  She is also the author of the newly released book, Harvesting Color.

 

One of the farmers Rebecca is partnering with is Sally Fox.  For over 20 years Sally has been growing organic cotton and farming sheep.  Sally is know world-wide as the Colored Cotton Queen.  Did you know that cotton actually grows in different colors, that it's not only white?  Neither did we.  The Incas used colored cotten in their textiles and in the United States, slaves grew brown and green cotton in their own gardens, since they were forbidden from growing white cotton.  Sally is the cotton revolutionary of the 21st century!  Unfortunately it has been an uphill battle in dealing with mills who don't want to produces small quantities.  Also large cotton farmers who don't want their white cotton "contaminated" have forced Sally to move her farm to elsewhere.  Now in her partnership with Rebecca they are looking at the possibility of building their own eco-friendly mill.

 

Our third guest is literally farming out fashion to girls who otherwise wouldn't be able to afford it.  16 year oldAllyson Ahlstrom is the founder of Threads for Teens a non-profit that helps young, less-fortunate girls build their self-esteem, confidence and gives them hope. Threads for Teens is an actual retail "store" that gifts  clothing and offers support and education. Allyson has created an actual store-front for her organization but the girls pay nothing.  Her clients actually receive a full head to toe ensemble of brand new designer clothes, all donated from high-end designers.  Allyson thinks that if you feel your best you're going to act your best.  She is truly an inspiration.

 

Our last guest has set out to grow her own trends and has become a fashion sensation.  Teen blogger Tavi Gevinson started her site and making her mark in the industry when she was only 11 years old.  Now at 15, her blog Style Rookie is moving forward as a magazine and she has been featured in the New Yorker, New York Times, Harper Bazar among other well known publications.  What we love about Tavi is that she is all about Girl Power.  She is redefining media and fashion that empowers women and girls.  Go Tavi!

 

Tune in today to hear these inspiring stories on KVMR 89.5 from 1:00-2:00 PM.

California Celebrates 100 years of Women's Right to Vote

 

9:30 am

Gather at the California Museum

– 1020 “O” Street  Site to assemble for the stroll and craft corner.  Sign making and storytelling for all ages. “American, the Beautiful” with alternative lyrics song by Rev. Janice Steele   

10:30 am

Celebration Stroll

– Stroll in a lively procession on the sidewalks down 10th Street to the North Steps of the Capitol (L Street side) with banners, signs and lusty voice. 

11:00 am

Capitol Steps program

– Welcome– Centennial Co-Chairs “Star Spangled Banner “ sung by Belinda Liu.  Elected officials and invited guests and California Suffrage Singers

12 Noon

All Activities inside the Capitol

must enter “L” Street security doors   

12:15, 1:15, 2:15pm

Intermittent Living History Presenters

–California Suffragists (Cynthia Arella as Maud Younger, Linda Milliken as Caroline Severance, Leslie Ragsdale as Clara Shortridge Flotz, Andrea Riggs as Selena Solomon and Chuck Arella as John Braly)

12:15 & 2:15pm

“The Girl from Colorado or the Conversion of Aunty Suffridge,” a short play.

(Peter Bassford as Reverend, Alida Hinton as Constance, Kiki Arnaudo as Aunty Suffridge and Chuck Arella as Professor)

1 pm

Suffrage Singers

– Ground Floor Rotunda (Katie Riggs, Kiki Arnaudo, Elsa Schafer, Cathy Foxhoven and Jan Robertson)

1-3 pm

Have your photo taken if dressed in period clothes or suffrage colors (free in Eureka Room in the Capitol basement cafeteria)

1:30 & 2:15pm

Dramatic Reading of Proposition 4

– (for and against permitting women to vote) Presented by law students from McGeorge School of Law

2:30

– 6 pm

Meet the Authors & Book signing - California Museum in the Secretary of State Complex– Robert P. Cooney, Claire Rudolph Murphy Claire Noonan and Mae Silva

4-5 p.m.

Presentations

– “The Sixth Star Suffragists” with actors in earlier roles and Valerie Purnell as Naomi Talbert Anderson and Jim Holmes as Senator A. SargentEncore: performance: “We Did It for You!”

4 - 6:30 pm

Reception and Closing Ceremony with Secretary of State Debra Bowen. Official half hour program starting at 5:30 pm include remarks from Secretary of State Bowen and elected officials reading of SCA 4 pro and con. Program concludes with passing of banner to the next state.

The California Museum. 

To commemorate the opening of suffrage-enhanced updates to "California's Remarkable Women 2011," FREE admission will be offered at The California Museum in conjunction with this event all day long.

Program at Sacramento, CA

 

Monday, October 10, 2011 - Experience the Victory!

 

(Voters registration all day at the California Museum and 12-3 pm outside Capitol)

 
 

 

Kathryn Davis: A Passion to Heal

Kathryn Davis shares her Passion Into Action experience and the great work she is doing now to heal women who have breast cancer.

Passion became action for me after attending the Passion Into Action event.  I had relocated to the Grass Valley Area three years ago and had become pretty restless. Prior to moving I had been working in hospitals and cancer clinics in the Bay Area doing Healing Touch, an energy based healing art.   While I continued to work with folks in this area after my move, I was feeling at loose ends and that I could be doing a lot more, but I was having trouble getting something going up here.

The Passion Into Action event speakers, ALL OF THEM, had something important to say to me.  I was reminded of my talents, gifts and skills.  I was encouraged to take some risks and step out of my comfort zone, and I was blessed to get the gift of knowing that presence is at the core of anything we might aspire to do.

At the end of the conference I allowed myself to set my intention for getting back to work that gives back and is rewarding.  It was only a few weeks before I got the call, and I never hesitated knowing that it was what I had asked for.  I'm now managing a non-profit Healing Partners program for Women's Health at Stanford.  The program matches volunteer Healing Touch Practitioners with Breast Cancer Patients, who receive free weekly sessions of Healing Touch for a minimum of three months.  It is a great program, six years old and more than 250 matched pairs of partners.  I'm working in the beautiful foothills and visiting the happening Bay Area once a month.

What a gift.  It all came about because of the "openings" and "bridges" that Passion Into Action created.  All of my milestones and growth have come with the support of circles of women.

In gratitude

Love, Light & Blessings.
Kathryn

5 Things You Can Do Today to Protect the Wild!

“There is an emotion and visual story that needs to be told. If we have a healthy cheetah population we have a healthy eco-system.” ~Marcy Mendelson

As a young girl Marcy Mendelson would spend hours plopped in front of the TV watching National Geographic.  She especially loved the cheetah and dreamed of being a photographer on the savannah.  While it’s taken her over 30 years to actualize that dream, Marcy is now one of the few photojournalist covering the cheetah and yes, in October 2011 she is going on safari and she wants you to come along.

I caught up with Marcy following a photo shoot she was doing in Reno, Nevada at the Animal Ark, a sanctuary for non-releasable wildlife.  She had photographed their cheetah at a speed of 70 miles per hour.  Upon meeting Marcy my ideas of a wildlife photojournalist, sun drenched, natural and rugged, were quickly abandoned.  Her long dark hair, petite frame, fair complexion and urban fashion sense were surprising and intriguing.  Her enthusiasm and passion for the cheetah was contagious and I immediately liked her and for a moment I even contemplated hopping on a plane to join her safari. 

As a social media guru and art major Marcy has done a 360 over the last two years and is now coupling her passion with photojournalism and social media to help the cheetah and raise awareness of wildlife conservation.  She is hoping through her work that she will promote the co-existence of the cheetah, the most fragile of the largest cats. 

Marcy had forgotten her dream to document the wildlife in Africa up until a recent job with The Sierra Club where she was managing the company’s social media platform.  It was the incredible visual images and stories at The Sierra Club that re-ignited her passion for photography coupled with her love for animals.  Within the year Marcy identified a funder, met with cheetah experts and started laying her path to lead a safari to Africa. 

Marcy claims that the Cheetah’s story is often overlooked.  While many people love the fastest land mammal on earth many farmers view this cat as a threat to their livestock.  The human population has infringed on the cheetah’s land and the battle has become land vs. predator.  The Cheetah population has decreased by 90% over the last 100 years with only 10,000-12,000 Cheetahs remaining.  It is now the most endangered cat in Africa.  “The primary threat to the survival of cheetahs has been its loss of habitat due to agricultural expansion, poaching and game hunting for hides and trophies,” says Mendelson.  Marcy believes that “if we don’t have our top predators we don’t have a healthy eco system.” She and other conservationists think co-existence is possible and they have been somewhat successful in creating solutions to prevent the depletion of this beautiful animal.  Another important aspect of conservation is building awareness and creating a connection to the animal through story.  Marcy hopes to accomplish just that through her visual images and bringing others to the cheetah’s homeland to build an appreciation for this animal.

Fulfilling the second part of her dream, this fall Marcy is co-leading a safari in Africa with Peter Allison author of “Whatever You Do, Don’t Run” to photograph the cheetah in the wild, and document the conservation efforts of organizations as they work with the local farmers (ranchers) and communities. The goal is to raise awareness and affect change via the visual story across country borders of how conservation methods benefit humans to live in harmony with cheetahs.

 “We’re at a crucial point and we are all part of our world.  Even if the cheetah seems 1,000 miles away it’s an integrated part of our ecosystem and it’s important to do what we can,” states Mendelson.  She’ll be traveling to the Cheetah hot spots including South Africa, Botswana and Namibia.  In addition, she’ll be meeting with a couple of the leading cheetah advocates, many of whom are women.  She is bringing along a dozen conservation enthusiasts to join her on this journey and give back to cheetah conservation. She only has a couple of spots left and encourages others to join her for the adventure of a life time.  Updates from her adventure will be posted on National Geographic News Watch and National Geographic News Watch and Cheetah-Watch.com.

Whether your passion is driven by the cheetah, nature or wildlife Marcy encourages all of us to be persistent and passionate.  “Keep your eye focused on what you want,” insists Mendelson.  “If your goal means something to you, keep strong and go for it!”

Marcy recently launched a fundraising campaign on Kickstarter and could still use your help.  To contribute to her project go to:  http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cheetah/to-save-the-cheetah-a-documentary

If you’ve always had a dream to travel on the Savannah join Marcy on her expedition to protect the cheetah.  For more information go to: http://cheetah-watch.com/safari.   The safari is Oct. 5-16^th, 2011. Follow Marcy on Twitter @MendelsonImages.

Tune in to See Jane Do to hear Marcy’s inspiring story!

5 things you can do today to protect the wild!

1.  Come on safari!  Learn about the animals and habitat in their 'hood.  Seeing the animals in action is an experience like no other.  Go on trips with tours that give back... Cheetah Safari http://cheetah-watch.com/safari or volunteer!: Cheetah Conservation Botswana: http://www.cheetahbotswana.com/volunteers.php and Cheetah Conservation Fund in Namibia http://www.cheetah.org/?nd=volunteer both have volunteer programs.

2.  Purchase items that donate to wildlife conservation: http://www.wildlifefriendly.org/products By helping local economies, people will not have to rely on illegal poaching, and orgs can supply predator safe guard animals to help livestock farmers protect their goats and sheep.

1. (Example: Irbis Enterprises sells wool items from the Himalaya through Snow LeopardTrus including toy mice for cats:   http://www.snowleopard.org/shop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=6    

3.  Outdoorsy?  See a wild cat in your travels or on your regional hike?  Contact the conservation alliance associated with that animal.  Sightings are very important for their statistical reports and just ONE sighting can help preserve land for that cat to roam!

1. (Example: Bay Area Puma Project: http://bapp.org/, International: Tsavo Cheetah Project in Kenya: http://tsavocheetahproject.blogspot.com/ & Andean Cat Alliance in South America: http://www.gatoandino.org/en/default.asp)

4.  Give Give Give... the work on the ground is long term and they need your help!  You can help out with donations through organization such as Wildlife Conservation Network: http://www.wildnet.org/, Cheetah.org, Action for Cheetahs in Kenya http://www.cheetah.org/?nd=ccf_kenya, and many more.  

5.  All cat owners should be aware of the danger of flushing cat litter down the toilet.  (In the Monterey Bay, it's suspected to be a major carrier of toxoplasmosis - killing seals, sea otters, sea lions, etc.)

BONUS #6:  Talk Talk Talk... awareness is key.  We love nature programs but their stories don't stop when the credits roll... Share information with your friends, go see the new movies through Nat Geographic and Disney and tell the next generation.  

 

 

Global Girl Media: Their World, Their Voice

"Little girls with dreams become women with vision."
 
Who is telling your story?  What are the stories being told in the media that reflect your perspective as a girl or a woman?  It's surprising to learn that 93% of the content we see in film is directed by men or that 84% of the coverage heard on radio is told by men?  While See Jane Do primarily aims to cover important issues through a women's perspective, Global Girl Media covers news by girls for girls.

We recently connected with Amie Williams the co-founder and executive director of Global Girl Media and were immediately taken by her passion and vision to empower high school age girls from under-served communities through media, leadership and journalistic training to have a voice in global media. 

Amie has joined several other broadcasters and journalists including award winning filmmaker and co-founder Meena Nanji, to focus on the everyday experience of voices that typically go under the radar, young women.  Global Girl Media launched the Global Girl Media Academy, a 10-day workshop followed by the Global Girl Media News Bureau where teams of girls produce content in the form of videos, blogs, new media and print.  Recently they've organized trainings in Soweto, South Africa and Los Angeles.

Two participants from these communities recently covered the International Women's Media Conference.  Rocio Ortega, who recently won a Congressional Award and Teboga Tsotetsi of South Africa interviewed renowned female journalists at the event and discovered the the key elements that are both missing in mainstream media (a.k.a women) and how women can succeed in this field.  Many of the journalists stressed the importance of passion, courage and the importance of connecting with or developing networks. Watch their insightful video below.

Global Girl Media is an incredible organization and we hope to showcase more of their powerful work in the future.   Click here to learn more about Global Girl Media and how you can get involved.

*photos courtesy of Global Girl Media

 

 

WOMEN MAKING NEWS, RAISING THE BAR GLOBALLY from GlobalGirl Media on Vimeo.

Sexuality and Social Media: 5 Tips to Empower Girls

"What mothers need to know is that teens are testing the impact of their sexuality during these years. It is very possible that they are unaware of how powerful it is." ~Dr. Barbara Greenberg

Considering recent scandals around sexuality and social media and being the mother of two young girls I can't help but think, what are the parameters and guidelines I should create for my children when it comes to using sites like Facebook or Twitter?  And why are supposedly smart, intelligent young women posting cleavage shots and photos of themselves in bathing suits online? 

We recently connected with Dr. Barbara Greenberg and Jennifer Powell-Lunder of "Talking Teenage" and authors of "Teenage as a Second Language" and asked her "what is going on with girls, sexuality and social media these days and what can we do about it?"  Dr. Greenberg said it's really about girls understanding the power of their sexuality? 

We invited them to write a guest blog for See Jane Do and share several suggestions to empower girls to be savvy and safe social media users.

Sexuality and Social Media by Barbara Greenberg, Ph.D. and Jennifer Powell-Lunder, PsyD

YOU ARE NOT LEAVING THE HOUSE WEARING THAT! If you are the mother of a teenage daughter then you most likely have heard yourself saying these words. Your teens are trying to fit in and look trendy. They may be imitating celebrities who dress in skimpy styles.

Think back to your own teen years. I remember when my older brother's "cute" friends were coming over. I would race to the closet in search of flattering and enticing clothing. Looking back - I don't know if I was successful with what I thought was my lovely appearance. The boys certainly didn't give me feedback but I was nonetheless pleased with myself. Go figure!

What mothers need to know is that teens are testing the impact of their sexuality during these years. It is very possible that they are unaware of how powerful it is. It is probably not until a woman is older that she realizes the power of her sexuality. So what we have these days is the coupling of teenage girls testing their sexuality and the pervasive use of social media . This combination can be a recipe for trouble. What we have seen is teens sending provocative photos of themselves via social networking and new media. Just one click can send a single photo to hundreds if not thousands of unintended viewers. We know that we all feel more anonymous when sending messages that are not delivered in person. When teens feel anonymous they take greater risks. Hence, provocative messages and photos of teens are swarming around all forms of social media.

With these factors in mind, we have several suggestions for moms of teenage girls. 

1. We suggest that before you criticize their attire  you talk to them about the message that their appearance may be sending. Saying "that is probably a little too sexy" will likely go over better than "you'll leave the house wearing that over my dead body."

2. Explain to the girls that their male peers are more easily aroused than they are. This will be invaluable information for them to have throughout the course of their lives. 

3. Make sure that that they are aware of the speed and far reach of messages sent electonically. They may not be aware that a single posting of a photo can end up on the facebook pages of everyone in their high school in a matter of moments.

4. Learn about technology and social media yourself so that you can be in the know. Set parameters around the use of technology. 

5. Finally, ask your daughter how she would feel if her photo or message appeared on the cover of the local newspaper. YIKES!

Good luck. We have nothing but the greatest admiration for mothers of teens. It is probably the most tricky role there is. On the other hand, you have a wonderful opportunity to teach and be positive role models. Although it may not seem like it, these girls are both listening to you and watching you.

For more information about Talking Teenage visit their site at www.talkingteenage.com

Barbara R. Greenberg, Ph.D. is currently a professional consultant on teen issues at Silver Hill Hospital in New Canaan, CT. She also maintains a private practice in Fairfield County, CT. She served as a clinical administrator on an adolescent inpatient unit at a private psychiatric hospital for 21 years before dedicating herself to private outpatient practice and consultation work. Barbara is a voracious reader and an avid seashell collector.

Jennifer A. Powell-Lunder, Psy.D. is currently a clinical administrator on an adolescent inpatient unit in a private psychiatric hospital. She is an adjunct Professor of Psychology at Pace University and maintains a private outpatient practice. Jennifer enjoys interior design, reading, baking and playing with her 95lb black Labrador Retriever.

Kathy LeMay: Raising Change for Women

"Revolutionaries come in all different types of packages" ~ Kathy LeMay

Kathy LeMay is one of those women whom you instantly feel connected to.  She has the ability to bring out the authentic nature of "you" and models the essence of what a true sister should be.  She is humble, sharp and hilarious. We were fortunate to connect with Kathy last April at our 2nd Annual Passion Into Action Women's Conference.  We read about her inspiring story in Nina Simons' new book "Moonrise" and both agreed that we should to invite Kathy to speak at our conference."  I had never met her or spoken to her, I just had a feeling that she should come. 

Kathy is an extraordinary woman who at the young age of 41 years old is a true trailblazer for creating substantial social change.  Not only is she redefining philanthropy, recognizing that all of us have the ability to give and serve without millions, but she also established the organization Raising Change to help find funding for organizations and individuals who want to make a difference.  She has since raised 150 million dollars and has traveled across the world to help provide a platform for the voices of thousands of women. 

During her Passion Into Action keynote presentation she shared the inspiration behind her purpose, words of wisdom from two of her favorite women, her mother and grandmother and the lessons learned from her journey to Bosnia and the philanthropists she has partnered with.  Kathy's story enables us to look outside the box when it comes to people and fundraising.  She says that "what I learned in how to fundraise is that if I show up as me, I open up the possibility for the woman I'm sitting across from.  If I show up and want a check from her I am no different than any multinational corporation who has no regard for another person.  Either I see her humanity or I don't.  That is all on me.  Once upon a time people did not see my humanity because I had nothing and I was doing the same thing to people of wealth that had been done to me."

Join us on KVMR on See Jane Do Wednesday June 1st, 2011 at 1:00 PM PST to hear Kathy's life-changing speech. We'll also feature special guests who will share their Passion Into Action follow up including Alice Halford who will debut her new song, Permission to Proceed (inspired by the conference).

Kathy is the founder of Raising Change and the author of The Generosity Plan.