See Jane Do...

250 Women Unite at Passion Into Action

 

"Be the kind of woman who, upon getting up in the morning, places her feet upon the ground and the Devil says, 'Oh crap. She's up!" ~Kathy LeMay Passion Into Action keynote speaker

 

It began to the beat of one drum as over 250 women joined together at the 2nd Annual Passion Into Action Women's Conference in Grass Valley, CA. From the moving performance by the Feather River Singers, to opening up with Nina Simons, crying & laughing  with Kathy LeMay, being authentic and ready to lead with Tiffany Dufu, bringing women into circle with Jean Shinoda Bolen plus 17 amazing presenters, we are forever changed by this experience & thank each of you who participated in the event.

 

Nina Simons' passion for cultivating women's leadership and enhancing the planet is contagious and inspiring.  She did an incredible job of engaging the participants and providing a safe space for them to open up and share.  We so appreciate her ability to listen, her honesty and her sincerity.   

Kathy LeMay wowed us with her presentation.   We especially loved how she engaged the participants through her personal stories, out-of-the box thinking and sense of humor.  She has redefined philanthropy and how we can utilize our passion to be of service to each other.  While she has raised over $500 Million dollars for organizations she reminds us that giving to the greater good doesn't require millions.   

 

Tiffany Dufu, new President of The White House Project is striving to train 8,000 women to take the lead in the United States and there is no doubt that she will achieve that goal!  We especially appreciated her attention to authenticity and action in her presentation. It was such an honor to include Tiffany and two of her incredible team members, Liz Johnson and Nevada Littlewolf in the Passion Into Action line-up.  Liz and Nevada were extremely inspired and moved by the energy, enthusiasm, and passion of the attendees.  We hope to collaborate with The White House Project again in the future.

 

Activist and author Jean Shinoda Bolen is gathering women together and empowering them to create social change. Her personal stories around bringing women into circle, activism and her efforts to spearhead a 5th World Conference on Women are encouraging and hopeful.  Jean speaks from the heart and  inspires women to do what they love and share it with the world.  

 

We are extremely grateful to the 17 talented and powerful women who took the time to share their passion and lead 15 workshops at the conference including: Patt Lind-Kyle, Kathleen McIntire, Sonika Tinker, Elizabeth Johnson, Jessica Reeder, Shawn Tuttle, Amber Clisura, Kim Stravers, Stacy Malkan, Carole Carson, Linda Joy Myers, Lisa Schrader, and to our Boston friends, Alexis Schroeder, Jeanne Dasaro, and Jennifer Cohen.  We wish Chameli Ardagh a quick recovery and look forward to partnering with her on future events.   

 

A year of planning goes into organizing this conference and we couldn't do it without your support.  A sincere thanks to our fantastic volunteers, sponsors, exhibitors, Gather the Women, David Nicholson, Kial James, Haute Trash, Summer Thymes, Briar Patch, the Center for the Arts, Friendship Club, Sierra Mentoring Partnership, Sugar & Oats, Suzie Daggett, APPLE, Women Worldwide, Blossom Organics, Veritea, Nana's Baked Goods, Mayor Jan Arbuckle, Council Member Reinette Senum, Dawn Lorraine, Oberon, KVMR, Stephanie Camp, Jennifer Hall, Sadie Wight, supporters, friends, family and extraordinary participants who helped to create the magic of Passion Into Action.

 

So, what's next?  We are developing the next plan of action to continue the synergy from the event and support each others work and passion.   

 

Keynote Speakers:

Did you miss Passion Into Action?  We are hosting a special screening of the four keynote presentations and panel discussions at the Magic Theater Sat. May 14th at 4:00 PM, Sunday May 15th at 1:00 PM, Sunday May 22nd at 1:00 PM, and Monday May 23rd at 7:00 PM.  This will include special guests who will share tips and tools on how to put your passion into action.   More info to come! 

 

We look forward to aligning our work with the extraordinary presenters of Passion Into Action and will keep you posted. 

 

 

Share the Passion

DVDs of keynote presentations including: Nina Simons, Kathy LeMay, Tiffany Dufu, and Jean Shinoda Bolen are available for purchase.  The cost is $9 per DVD and also includes the panel discussion.  To order your DVD contact us at info@seejanedo.com.   

 

Soiree Into Action

We will continue to hold our quarterly Soiree Into Action events with a specific focus around uniting our community of women and sharing tools to put our passion into action.  We are also looking to include teleseminars and webinars to include communities of women across the country.  Do you have a topic you'd like to share or learn more about?  Please contact us at info@seejanedo.com.

 

Your Voice

Within the next couple of days Passion Into Action participants will receive an online survey.  As we look to possibly expand Passion Into Action in other small towns and rural communities we look to you for suggestions in order to enhance the PIA experience.     

 

Connect with Us

Our radio program continues to feature the stories of everyday extraordinary women.  We appreciate the support of our host station, KVMR as we move towards syndicating See Jane Do this year on other stations across the country.    

 

You can also read about extraordinary women in our column in The Union Newspaper.

 

We are excited to speak at the Green Life Eco Fest May 21st-22nd and the National Federation of Community Broadcasters annual conference June 1st-4th.   

 

Passion Into Action is a success because of your commitment to invest in "you", doing your part, sharing your stories, and following your heart.   We appreciate your support and can't wait continue the momentum and energy this coming year.

 

All the best,

 

Elisa and Jesse

Taking Care of You with Carole, Sonika and Shawn

"Every time we empower, give permission, facilitate, support, and celebrate each others talents, we make it easier for women everywhere to take the courageous step of singing the song of their own truth. We have solutions. We have brilliant ideas. We have outstanding talent. Now is the time for women to do together what we cannot do alone."  

~Shawn Tuttle 

 

We are thrilled to feature three extraordinary women at Passion Into Action who will lead workshops around living your best life and Taking Care of You.  Through their own personal triumphs, Shawn Tuttle, Carole Carson, and Sonika Tinker are transferring their success stories in ways of tools, exercises and support systems.  

 

Carole Carson is presenting the workshop, Fitness Made Simple: Three Steps to a Healthier You. When Carole Carson tipped the scale at 182 pounds with a 5 foot-one inch frame, Carole took the initiative to change her lifestyle and regain her health. The success of her fitness transformation was based on getting fit along with others, changing her eating habits, and having fun.  

 

Carole's experience inspired the creation of the Community Meltdown, which was featured in the media worldwide.  Following the success of the event she wrote the book, From Fat to Fit: Turn Yourself into a Weapon of Mass Reduction so that others might choose to get fit in their own communities.  Carole was named "An Apostle for Fitness" by The Wall Street Journal and has been seen on NBC's Today Show, CBS's Early Show, and MSNBC's Countdown.

 

She hopes that participants take away three principles that guide her work with individuals and communities.  She's summarized them in the acronym FIT:  

 

F: Fun. Find fun ways to exercise that made you feel like a kid again. Find foods that you enjoy eating that won't pack on pounds.

 

I: Individualized.  Design a way to eat and a way to exercise that are appropriate for your age, habits, locale, preferences, budget, medical issues, resources and so on. Make sure they are just right for you so you can sustain them indefinitely.

 

T: Team.  Team up with others. Don't try to reach your goals on your own. You will need supporters-getting fit on your own is too difficult, perhaps impossible. Plus, giving your teammates a helping hand when they need support will reaffirm your own commitment.

 

Click here to read more about Carole Carson's personal story.

 

Relationship guru, Sonika Tinker inspires the best in each of us and the best in our most sacred relationships. She is presenting the workshop, The Possibility of Relationship!

 

Following a battering relationship when she was 18 years old Sonika had an awakening experience and made the decision that she was going to take 100% responsibility and learn how to consciously create a loving, mutually empowering relationship.  

 

Sonika Tinker, MSW, is a Relationship Expert, Transformational Coach, Certified NLP ProfessionalTM, Certified Enneagram Teacher, National Speaker and Author of Seize Your Opportunities: Living a Life Without Limits. She is the Founder of LoveWorks, a relationship training company and has over 30 years experience helping couple and singles shift the current relationship paradigm from blame and resignation to joyful, expansive, delightful co-creation. She is recognized for her deep loving presence, her authentic, candid honesty, her laser insight, cutting-edge content and practical tools for change. She works with her husband, Christian Pedersen, offering experiential relationship trainings and customized coaching sessions.

 

Sonika hopes that the biggest take-away for participants in her workshop is that they will be "inspired by how much power they have to consciously create relationships that are uplifting and fulfilling. They will see that what they think they want is not what they REALLY want, what they are upset about is not what they are upset about, and what they do to improve their relationships makes them worse.  They will discover a brand new way to view themselves and their partners that opens a new possibility for relating."       

 

Click here to read more about Sonika Tinker's personal story.

 

Shawn Tuttle a.k.a. Simplifier, reminds us that as we take care of the world we must also take care of ourselves in order to lead the best life possible. She is presenting the workshop How to Kick Ass Without Kicking Your Own Ass.  

 

In her 20s Shawn often found herself giving in to others vision and wanting so badly to do the right thing instead of the wrong thing that she often did nothing.  A year and a half later she abandoned old habits and beliefs and reconnected with her dream with the realization that we each hold the answers to realize our "best life".

 

She is now the Super CEO of Project Simplify, a company that helps people be their best and get stuff done. Drawing on her experiences as an Organizer, Productivity Coach, Yoga practitioner, and sauerkraut maker she writes a column for the Nevada City Advocate, publishes The Simplifier bi-weekly newsletter, leads workshops, and works with clients one-on-one. Shawn's work is guided by her passion for connecting the light of inspiration to the practicalities of daily living. The result is a way of life captured by the name of her program: The Natural Professional. 

 

Shawn hopes the biggest take-away for participants is "whether we are clear on what our individual purpose is or not, it's important to make space and take time to nurture it. As a Simplifier, I understand that the best way to grow our purpose is to be practical about creating a life that honors it. When the rubber hits the road, we consider: "Do my daily routine, commitments and workflow support my vision?" My intention is for attendees to be inspired to nurture their own personal vision and to identify several practical ways to root that commitment in a healthy way. Doing this will enable them to have even greater impact in their projects while still having quality time for themselves and their loved ones."

 

Click here to read more about Shawn Tuttle's personal story. 

 

We hope you'll take the time to Take Care of You and participate in the 2nd Annual Passion Into Action.  You deserve it! Join extraordinary keynote speakers, Nina Simons, Tiffany Dufu, Jean Shinoda Bolen, and Kathy LeMay along with 17 workshop leaders April 29th and 30th in Grass Valley.

 

A limited number of tickets are available and are going fast.  You can register for the conference here or go to www.seejanedo.com .  

 

We look forward to seeing you all very soon!

 

Shawn Tuttle: How to Kick Ass Without Kicking Your Own Ass

"Every time we empower, give permission, facilitate, support, and celebrate each others talents, we make it easier for women everywhere to take the courageous step of singing the song of their own truth.  Now is the time for women to do together what we cannot do alone." ~Shawn Tuttle

 

Shawn Tuttle is Super CEO of Project Simplify, a company that helps people be their best and get stuff done. Drawing on her experiences as an Organizer, Productivity Coach, Yoga practitioner, and sauerkraut maker she writes a column for the Nevada City Advocate, publishes The Simplifier bi-weekly newsletter, leads workshops, and works with clients one-on-one. Shawn's work is guided by her passion for connecting the light of inspiration to the practicalities of daily living. The result is a way of life captured by the name of her program: The Natural Professional.

 

Shawn Tuttle returns to Passion Into Action this year to lead the workshop, How to Kick Ass Without Kicking Your Own Ass in the "Taking Care of You" track.  Shawn's work reminds us that as we take care of the world we must also take care of ourselves in order to lead the best life possible.  She provides support and tools to not only discover our purpose but expands our space and capacity to nourish that passion.

 

Workshop Description: 

Let's be honest. Providing service to the world and doing right by your family make for a busy day. Burning out or sacrificing your well-being are counter productive to being the powerful woman you were born to be. In this session, we'll discuss strategies and tools of the Natural Professional--keeping you strong in your work, true to yourself and living your best life.

 

Shawn shares how she discovered her dream, the importance of supporting each other, and what it means to be a Simplifier.

 

1.  What is your personal mission or passion that is helping to shape the future?

 

I believe that everyone has the ability to live in alignment with her highest potential, her purpose. My mission, and that of my program, The Natural Professional, is to support people in reconnecting with and making space for their purpose in day-to-day practical ways. The ultimate goal of wide-spread, meaningful living being to refocus our society on the highest good for everyone.

2.  Describe a significant moment or experience that inspired your personal mission or passion to make a difference?

 

 All through my 20s I had, what you might call analysis paralysis. I wanted so badly to do the "right" thing and to make a difference in the world that I was terribly afraid of making the wrong decision—and thus made no decision. Floundering and desperate for answers that I was looking for in all the wrong places, I fell into a situation in which I gave myself completely to another person's vision. What began as magnanimous intent soon turned into a complete annihilation of my sense of self as well as denial of my own intuition and truth.

 

A year and a half later, practically crawling out of that experience, I knew that there must be another way to live a meaningful life. It had to be easier than this. Throughout the process of rebuilding my life, reconnecting with my own dream, and allowing my own vision to be my guiding light, the understanding settled deep within that we each have the answers to realize our Best life. We each have the choice and the ability to take full responsibility for our life. The challenge in realizing my purpose became clear: How can I make meaningful contribution (i.e. kick ass) in a way that supports my well-being (i.e. without kicking my own ass)?

 

3.  What do you hope will be the biggest take-aways for the attendees who participate in your workshop?

 

 Whether we are clear on what our individual purpose is or not, it's important to make space and take time to nurture it. As a Simplifier, I understand that the best way to grow our purpose is to be practical about creating a life that honors it. When the rubber hits the road, we consider: "Do my daily routine, commitments and workflow support my vision?" My intention is for attendees to be inspired to nurture their own personal vision and to identify several practical ways to root that commitment in a healthy way. Doing this will enable them to have even greater impact in their projects while still having quality time for themselves and their loved ones.

 

4.  How do you see women and girls in the local and global communities affecting the future?

 

 As Albert Einstein said, “You cannot solve a problem from the same consciousness that created it. You must learn to see the world anew.” What is needed——and is already happening—to halt the injury and heal the wounds caused by a paradigm of exploitation and narrow interests is a groundswell of collaboration, respect, compassion, personal responsibility, nurturing and caring. Project by project, relationship by relationship, story by story, women and girls are providing positive role models for everyone we touch.

 

5.  Why is it so important to participate in groups and events that connect women and feature their talents, ideas and solutions right now?

 

Support! Encouragement! Inspiration! Permission! Our crazy world has not been adequately encouraging us to bring forth our inherent gifts and skills. We somehow know that we want to live in alignment with our Best Selves but to do so has been to risk going against the grain. Every time we empower, give permission, facilitate, support, and celebrate each others talents, we make it easier for women everywhere to take the courageous step of singing the song of their own truth. We have solutions. We have brilliant ideas. We have outstanding talent. Now is the time for women to do together what we cannot do alone.

 

 6.  What is your message to women around the world?

 

 As the Hopi Elders have so prophetically spoken: "We are the ones we've been waiting for."

Take action daily to get inspired.

Take action daily to support You.

Take action daily to support a friend.

Take action daily toward your dreams, even if your courage hesitates.

Your action make a difference.

 

To participate in Shawn's workshop click here to register for Passion Into Action.

Passion Into Action: A Women's Conference Tickets On Sale Today

 
Be Inspired, Be Motivated, Be Moved

Passion Into Action, Friday & Saturday, April 29 & 30, Holiday Inn Express, 121 Bank Street, Grass Valley, CA featuring special guests Nina Simons of Bioneers, Marie Wilson of the White House Project, Jean Shinoda Bolen, Kathy LeMay and many more.

"The most incredibly evolved group of women I have ever met in my life!" - Gloria Feldt

"Passion Into Action is like falling in love.  If you fall in love deeply enough with that which really matters to you, everything opens from there." - Chameli Ardagh

"You could see what the outcome of this conference is...it's a way for women to voice what the issues of the day are, how we can improve our community, the nation, our planet.  It provided me with inspiration, but also tools." - Elaine Sierra

Join today’s leading women’s speakers and activists at See Jane Do’s 2nd Annual Passion Into Action: A Women’s Conference. See Jane Do will host world renowned speakers and over a dozen workshop leaders on self development, green living, health & wellness, leadership and the value of you.

This inspired gathering of hearts and minds was realized after an exciting year traveling across the nation to capture the incredible stories of everyday women who were doing extraordinary things for the planet, for our monthly radio show and website.

We wanted to design a conference that specifically served women in rural communities and small towns. These are places where small steps can lead to bigger changes at a rapid pace and community members are vested on a personal level in taking care of each other and the area in which they live.

Passion Into Action creates a space for the women in their community to meet, network and explore ideas on how to work together on one another's projects and strengthen their community. Most important, the content of the event will hopefully transfer ideas into action. The event showcases real women with real solutions; mixing local and non-local leaders & visionaries, artists & musicians, mothers & grandmothers, teachers & students, homemakers & business owners among others.

Whether you’re seeking tools to fund your passion and business, connect with a group of like-minded women to support the good work you’re doing, or finding your voice and simplifying your life, we hope you find Passion Into Action to be an investment in your and our collective futures.

Friday, April 29, 2011
Passion Into Action Opening Night "A Special Evening with Nina Simons of Bioneers" plus Feather River Singers and special guests
630pm Reception, 7pm Show

Saturday, April 30, 2011
All-Day Conference with Keynote Speakers Dr. Jean Shinoda Bolen, Marie Wilson of The White House Project, Kathy LeMay and Nina Simons plus Workshop Leaders: The White House Project featuring Elizabeth Johnson & Nevada Littlewolf, Kim Stravers, Linda Joy Myers, Jennifer Cohen & Gina LaRoche, Sonika Tinker, Shawn Tuttle, Carole Carson, Chameli Ardagh, Kathleen McIntire, Jessica Reeder, Patt Lind-Kyle, Jesse Locks & Elisa Parker, Stacy Malkan, Alexis Schroeder & Jeanne Dasaro.
830am Registration, 930am-530pm Conference

Tickets

Save & Buy the Full Conference Pass - Friday "Opening Night With Nina Simons" & Saturday Conference (includes Continental Breakfast & Lunch) $95adv/$105 door

Friday "Opening Night Only With Nina Simons, Feather River Singers and Nevada Littlewolf" $35adv/$45door

Saturday Conference Only with Dr. Jean Shinoda Bolen, Kathy LeMay, Marie Wilson & 15 workshops (includes Continental Breakfast & Lunch) $70adv/$80door (Please add $3 for service and handling fees)

Click Here to Register & Purchase Tickets!

See Jane Do's Top Seven Take Aways from 2010

2010 was definitely a roller coaster ride. The year’s top news stories included fierce acts of Mother Nature such as the earthquake in Haiti, the Icelandic Volcano, the Chilean earthquake and tsunami; man-made disasters like the Gulf Oil Spill; historic legislature that included President Obama signing the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and health care into law; plus Elana Kagan was sworn in to Supreme Court the fourth ever female Supreme Court Justice. In California, Meg Whitman and Jerry Brown went head to head for governor. American hiker Sarah Shourd was released by Iran after being detained for 13-months for crossing an unmarked border and Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi was also released after years of detention by Burma’s Junta.

In some ways these national and international news stories mirrored the twists and turns of our communities and our own lives. 

With See Jane Do we are striving to uncover those stories that fly under the radar even though they affect all of us.  We are redefining information sharing for women through bridging of traditional media with new media; streaming radio, linking video to webisodes and connecting people from a virtual world back to a regional one. 

Unlike other programs geared towards women, which mostly covers entertainment, beauty and some women’s issues, See Jane Do takes current news topics we are concerned about and creates a personal story with a reason to care and a solution to do.  Our programs are organized around the media, social justice, power of the purse, environmental action, health & wellness, politics and leadership.

It’s our hope that See Jane Do provides a platform for you and other everyday women to speak from and hear from real women with real solutions.   

Today we will feature some of our biggest take aways from 2010; the stories, events and experiences that reaffirmed this movement is a lot bigger than we thought and yes, you and I are the one’s we’ve been waiting for.  It is our time. 

Take Away 1 - Don’t underestimate the power of your story, it might just change the world.

"A movement isn't a movement unless it's moving" ~ Gloria Feldt

We kicked off 2010 with the first annual Passion Into Action Conference.  Over 300 women braved the snowy conditions and traveled from all over Northern California to attend this sold-out conference, which featured Nina Simons of Bioneers, best-selling author and activist Gloria Feldt, and former US Ambassador Linda Tarr-Whelan.  We wanted to create a space for women to share their story with others in addition to meeting, networking, and exploring ideas on how to work together and strengthen our communities, with the intention to transfer ideas into action. In addition to our incredible keynote speakers the conference included seventeen workshop leaders.

Nina Simons shared the importance of owning our story, the relationship we hold with the earth and the potential women have to enhance our planet together.  

Gloria Feldt challenged us to think about power and the importance of Sister Courage.  She has been a tremendous advocate for See Jane Do and we were extremely honored that she included us in her new book, "No Excuses, 9 Ways Women Can Change How We Think About Power". 

"See Jane Do's unique multimedia platform holds exciting promise as a new model for civic engagement and leadership in today's fast-paced, fragmented world." ~Gloria Feldt

Extraordinary Janes:  Nina Simons, Gloria Feldt, Linda Tarr-Whelan, Chameli Ardagh, Reinette Senum, Marilyn Nyborg, Mary-Elizabeth Young, Kathleen McIntire, Nancy Shanteau, Robin Mallery, Patt Lind-Kyle, Wendy Van Wagner, Robyn Martin, Cathe' Fish, Christina Hills, Susanna Dimmitt, Molly Fisk, Rachel Barge, Shawn Tuttle, and Sonika Tinker.

Take Away 2 – You cannot be what you cannot see.

One of the most powerful mediums to amplify women’s voices and perspectives and ultimately transform culture is through film.  See Jane Do traveled to the SXSW Film Festival in Austin, Texas, to interview women filmmakers and film festival organizers.  Later that month we headed to New York City to cover The White House Project’s EPIC Awards and host their Media Lounge.  While there we met with the Women’s Media Center to get a clear picture of where women stand in the media.  We were shocked to learn that only 7% of the stories we watch at the movies, are told by female directors. This means that 93% of the films (even the ones about women) were interpreted through a man's perspective.  Women hold 3% of decision-making positions in all forms of media.  We also celebrated Kathryn Bigelow’s Academy Award for best director for the film Hurtlocker, the fourth time a woman had been nominated for the award and the first time a woman had won in the history of the Academy.

Extraordinary Janes:  Fay Ann Lee, Georgina Lightning, Janet Pierson, Katie Aselton, Carol Dysinger, Marie Wilson, Jehmu Greene, Beth Brooke, Alison Teal Blehert Koehn, Kimberlee Bassford, Barbara Bridges, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, Katie Goodmanand , and Katie Madonna.

Take Away 3 - Speaking up, Speaking out, Taking Action – When enough is enough.

We met several environmental action heroes that were risking life and limb for environmental and social injustices this year including Diane Wilson, an award winning activist, author, co-founder of CODEPINK and shrimp boat captain.  Diane made national news as a result of her outburst during Tony Hayward's hearing (CEO of BP). The activist was awakened in Diane over twenty years ago when she discovered that she lived in the most toxic county in the United States. 

We also interviewed Goldman Environmental Prize Winner Lynn Henning a family farmer who exposed the polluting practices of livestock factory farms in rural Michigan.  Her efforts to require CAFO's (basically animal factories that confine thousands of livestock) to clean up the toxic brew that is contaminating ground water, lakes and streams, has gained the attention of the EPA. 

"Are you seeking approval of the world or seeking to change the world?"~Eve Ensler

Elisa covered The Women's Conference in Long Beach, California and spoke with powerful change makers like Donna Karan, Rosario Dawson, Lisa Ling and Eve Ensler.  Eve described the event as her coming out day since it was her first public speech having recoevered from uterine cancer.  She is playing a tremendous role in working to end violence against women and stressed that changing the world is not about being liked or seeking approval.  We must be brave and step up to create a better world.

Extraordinary Janes: Diane Wilson, Lynn Henning, Eve Ensler, Donna Karan, Stacy Malkan, Nicole Edmison, Fran Visco

Take Away 4 – There is Hope in Healthcare.

A growing number of women are taking their health into their own hands, changing policy, setting deadlines, and creating hope in healthcare. Whether you're for universal healthcare or not, pro-choice or anti-choice, most might agree that women's health needs often take the back seat in the America.  As a result, many women are standing up and moving forward for their healthcare rights.  This also includes changing policy to expose and ban the toxic chemicals contained in many of our home and beauty products and setting a deadline to end breast cancer.

See Jane Do examined the stuff in our stuff with Stacy Malkan, author of Not Just a Pretty Face, Erin Switalski, Executive Director of Women's Voices for the Earth, and Britta Aragon activist and blogger of Cinco Vidas.  We covered the health care reform town hall meetings and captured a personal perspective of women's heath with the Women's Health Specialists.  Finally we featured extraordinary women who are taking incredible measures to end breast cancer by setting a deadline and bringing women together to support the cause.  We walked with women in the Barbara Schmidt Millar Triathlon, founded by Cathy Anderson-Meyers and spoke with Fran Visco, breast cancer survivor and president of the National Breast Cancer Coalition who shared their strategy to setting a deadline to end breast cancer by 2020.

See Jane Do hosted four Soirees Into Action in 2010 including the Green Makeover Party. 

Extraordinary Janes:  Stacy Malkan, Erin Switalski, Fran Visco, Women's Health Specialists, Cathy Anderson-Meyers, Kayle Martin, and Britta Aragon.

Take Away 5 – Women’s Economic Influence – Becoming the CFO of Your Household

Women now make up over half of the work force.  Women are launching businesses at twice the rate of men but funding sources still tend to lean towards male-owned companies.  We control up to 85% of what's bought or purchased in the United States and women control 60% of the wealth.  Why is it then that most women don't feel economically powerful?  In fact, about 90% of women surveyed said they don't feel financially secure.  In order to make a difference and enhance the planet we need to feel comfortable with our level of influence and in this nation, money talks.  We interviewed Maddy Dychtwald, author of Influence:  How Women's Soaring Economic Power Will Transform Our World for the Better, award winning poet Molly Fisk, Jane Roberts, founder of 34 Million Friends, Teresa Delfin, founder of Mountain Mama, Gina Robison-Billupsand, founder of Moms Making a Million, Nevada State Treasurer Kate Marshall and best selling author, Riane Eisler who is creating ways to implement a new economy.  We also hosted the Funding Your Passion Soiree Into Action.

Extraordinary Janes:  Treasurer Kate Marshall, Maddy Dychtwald, Molly Fisk, Jane Roberts, Teresa Delfin, Gina Robison-Billupsand, and Riane Eisler.

Take Away 6 – Mentoring Girls for Social Change

Many youth today, especially at-risk teenage girls are lacking role models.  They are overwhelmed with the struggles of coming from broken homes where drugs and poverty are prevalent, survival is a constant concern, and options seem limited or non-existent.  Programs across the US, including right here in our hometown of Nevada City, are uniting these girls with mentors to build confidence, teach social change skills, provide authentic and positive relationships, and reshaping their and our future for the better.  These are the seeds for future social activism that need nurturing.

Extraordinary Janes:  Whitney Smith, founder of Girls For A Change, Jennifer Singer, co-founder of Friendship Club, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, and Stephanie Ramirez.

Take Away 7 – Definition of Community is a Common Goal

Last December, former Mayor Reinette Senum in her TEDxGrassValley talk raised the concept of community as a common goal and it got us thinking about the many community movements we covered this year and the need for collaborative leadership.  For many of these communities, they are on the frontline of environmental and social change and thusly being impacted the greatest.  It is essential to hear their stories first hand.  In our program on Transition Towns we traveled to Reno, Nevada. In the "wild west" where the attitude was once every "man" for himself, women are pioneering a gentler expedition and this time they are doing it together to create a sustainable city that isn’t dependent on peak oil.  We also attended the annual Bioneers conference in San Rafael, CA and the Women’s Conference in Long Beach, CA. 

Extraordinary Janes:  Reinette Senum, Molly Fisk, Chameli Ardagh, Ginny Woods, Suzie Daggett, Rainy Blue Cloud, Transition Reno founders, and the String Sisters.

Moving forward in 2011, we ask what will your story be?  What’s your legacy?

We’ve heard and met so many extraordinary Janes this year, all of which started out as everyday women, but because of a certain issue or a passion that struck home for them, something inside was ignited to do more.  Some did it alone and created a movement where others joined them, while some reached out to friends, family, and their communities to organize around something they felt passionate about and make a positive change. 

Passion into Action and Shawn Tuttle

"My work through Project Simplify has been fueled by the desire to help people fan their own flames, to remember that they, and only they, are the heroines of their lives."  ~Shawn Tuttle

Shawn Tuttle is a simplifier.  As the founder of Project Simplify she helps people live and work in the flow rather than the clutter.  Shawn enables her clients to take control of their experience and live organized and authentic lives. With email overload, social media, the demand for multi-tasking and gadgets galore, Shawn's timing couldn't be better. 

In addition to following her passion as a Natural Professional and a simplification coach Shawn is an accomplished speaker and writer.   We are thrilled that Shawn is leading the workshop, Live in the Flow in the Taking Care of You track at the Passion into Action Conference. 

Shawn shares the source of her spark and the true meaning behind passion.

1.    How are you putting your passion into action?

My passion is helping people live and work in the flow of their authentic selves (I call this being a Natural Professional). For the last several years, this has meant helping women organize the information that is making them feel ineffective, disorganized, and out-of-control. Expanding on this, the theme this year is the Natural Professional, and I'm on fire with it! I just launched a year-long participatory book project, and will be introducing a six-week online program in the spring.

 

2.    What do you love most about the work you are doing?

Empowering women to take control of their experience. Ironically, while we've become socially engrained to separate ourselves from our work, this is exactly the realm of our life where we can develop habits that transform our lives! Rather than settle for being tossed on choppy waves out at sea, we can learn to navigate back to peaceful waters. Whether one on one, writing or speaking, supporting women on this journey is incredibly satisfying.

 

3.    What were the motivating factors that inspired you to get involved and share your passion?

Passion is so interesting--consider it's Latin origin: to suffer. We each experience hardship in life. Once we've made it through a tough situation we realize that by sharing our experience, we might help make someone else's journey a little bit easier.

In my case, I got involved in a debilitating situation in which I completely lost touch with my Self--long story. Suffice here to say that once I got out of the situation, I felt like I was about as tall as an acorn. Actually, a pea. And yet, there remained the tiniest flicker of a spark that refused to be extinguished.

The next several years were dedicated to nourishing that spark into a roaring blaze. My work through Project Simplify has been fueled by the desire to help people fan their own flames, to remember that they, and only they, are the heroines of their lives.

 

4.    Who were the some female role models or mentors that inspired your work and passion?

The inspiring women in my life were, and continue to be, all who have the clarity and courage to sing their song. Looking back, in high school I read Jane Austen's books. Besides loving her writing, her choice not to marry despite the prevailing norms and legal status of women at the time made a huge impression on me.

The fact that women of that day (who didn't have the family support that Jane had) would join a convent instead of marrying in order to pursue their literary interests opened a door in my mind--one that led to an entirely different world where heart-based passion could prevail against confining societal standards. 

 

5.    Why is the work you are doing so important for everyday women?

Quite simply, if we don't learn how to navigate our own daily life, we will be pulled in a million directions. While they may seem minor, effectively dealing with email, handling interruptions, and getting clear on priorities is the way to make space for what's important to us.

I encourage women to allow the possibility that it can be done differently. That their intuition isn't just an inner sense that pops up every once in a while, it's an essential ingredient for creating the world we've dreamed possible.

These hint at the values of the Natural Professional, values we don't get from the mainstream workforce… yet.

 

6.    Why is it so important for women to participate in an event like the Passion into Action Conference?

Making dreams come true in this world can be really tough! What better way to support and be supported, celebrate our journey, and remember that we are working towards common dreams than to get together with this same intention? Big kudos to See Jane Do for planting the seed and holding the space for this event. The energies of every single participant, from attendees to speakers to organizers, will nourish this vision to bloom.

 

7.    What are you hoping will be the biggest take-away for women at the Passion into Action Conference?

My desire is for women to give themselves permission to sing their song a little bit (or a lot!) louder. Whether an idea is sparked, a relationship developed, or determination solidified, may each and every woman gather what she needs to take the next step on her journey.

8.    What is your message to women around the world?

Give yourself permission to follow your dreams!! Big steps, small steps, hops, crawls, and jumps--all are good, just keep moving. The world will be richer for it. No need to wait until it's perfect. Now is the right time. Dream. Do. Be. 

The See Jane Do Passion into Action Conference takes place on Sat. January 23rd, 2010 at the Holiday Inn in Grass Valley, CA.  The event includes keynote speakers, Nina Simons, Gloria Feldt, and Linda Tarr-Whelanplus over fifteen workshop leaders.  For tickets go to www.seejanedo.com or BriarPatch Co-op in Grass Valley.