“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
This last April, over 250 women from diverse backgrounds and ages, traveled across the state to attend See Jane Do’s second annual Passion Into Action Women’s Conference at the Holiday Inn in Grass Valley.
If you missed this transformative convergence, See Jane Do will host a series of encore video presentations of the conference’s individual keynote speaker’s talks, the conference's panel discussion featuring all four keynote speakers and a lively discussion on passion, purpose and action.
This weekend we'll feature Kathy LeMay's presentation on Saturday May 14th with a discussion to follow around funding your passion and philanthropy and on Sunday May 15th, Tiffany Dufu, President of The White House Project with special guest Councilwoman Yolanda Cookson.
Where: The Magic Theater, 107 Argall Way, Nevada City, CA
When: Saturday, May 14, 4-6pm - Kathy LeMay on Funding, Passion and Philanthropy. For more info on Kathy go to http://www.thegenerosityplan.com/ When: Sunday, May 15th, 1-3pm - Tiffany Dufu’s talk on women’s leadership in business, politics and media followed by a discussion led by Grass Valley City Councilwoman Yolanda Cookson. For more info on Tiffany go to http://www.thewhitehouseproject.org/
With an emphasis on rural communities and small towns, the Passion Into Action conference showcased real women with real solutions, mixing local and non-local female leaders, visionaries, writers and activists to celebrate female empowerment in all its forms.
World renowned keynote speakers Nina Simons of Bioneers, Kathy LeMay the CEO of Raising Change and author of “The Generosity Plan”, Tiffany Dufu president of the White House Project, and feminist icon Jean Shinoda Bolen, along with over a dozen workshop leaders addressed topics such as how to fund your passion to create social change; the need for women’s leadership in politics, business and the media; and simple steps and solutions every person can take to live a more sustainable life.
List of upcoming screenings
Saturday, May 14, 4-6pm - Kathy LeMay on Funding, Passion and Philanthropy. For more info on Kathy go to http://www.thegenerosityplan.com/
Sunday, May 15th, 1-3pm - Tiffany Dufu’s talk on women’s leadership in business, politics and media followed by a discussion led by Grass Valley City Councilwoman Yolanda Cookson. For more info on Tiffany go to http://www.thewhitehouseproject.org/
Sunday, May 22nd, 1-3pm - Jean Shinoda Bolen’s talk on the power of circles and how women, trees and tree people will save the planet. Marilyn Nyborg of Gather the Women will be the special guest for this program. For more info on Jean go to http://www.jeanshinodabolen.com/
Monday, May 23rd, 7:35-9:35pm - Nina Simon’s talk on igniting your passion and redefining leadership. For more info on Nina go to http://www.bioneers.org/
Tickets - $12 at the door. Seating limited to 60. Please rsvp to [email protected]
"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 [email protected].
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 [email protected].
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.
Today on Earth Day we honor the extraordinary women who are doing their part for the planet. The See Jane Do team feels fortunate to have connected with and interviewed incredible women who have united their passion with environmental action.
We are inspired by the actions of women like Ursula Sladek one of the 2011 Goldman Environmental Prize winners who founded a citizen-owned renewable energy company as a result of the Chernobyl nuclear meltdown. We are moved by women like shrimp boat captain Diane Wilson who put everything on the line to prevent chemical companies from pouring toxins into her water source. We are motivated to help others when we hear the stories of women like Beth Terry of Fake Plastic Fish, Melinda Kramer of the Women's Earth Alliance, Lydia Olympic, tribal activist, and Erin Switalski of Women's Voices for the Earth.
We are thrilled to feature several of these "Extraordinary Janes" at our 2nd Annual Passion Into Action, women who are environmental action heroes in every sense.
PIA keynote speaker, Jean Shinoda Bolenauthor of Like A Tree: How Trees, Women, and Tree People Can Save the Planet believes that we are on the edge of either evolution or extinction and it's up to us, as women to be visionary activists and feminine feminists.
Jean Shinoda Bolen is a psychiatrist, Jungian analyst, and an internationally known author and speaker who draws from spiritual, feminist, Jungian, medical and personal wellsprings of experience. She is a major advocate for a United Nations 5th World Conference on Women, a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. a former clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of California at San Francisco, and past board member of the Ms. Foundation for Women and the International Transpersonal Association.
Click hereto listen to Jean's interview on KVMR with Elisa Parker and Michael Stone.
Bioneersco-founder Nina Simons returns to Passion Into Action this year as a keynote speaker. She'll share tools to take our passion into action as a collective. Nina emphasizes the power of story and admits that it took her some time to define her own story. A turning point for Nina was when she viewed the film, The Burning Times. She has since united her passion for the planet with restoring the feminine. In addition to co-leading Bioneers Nina offers her program Cultivating Women’s Leadership to strengthen women’s effectiveness to create positve change in their community.
Click hereto listen to Nina's interview on See Jane Do on KVMR.
In addition to the keynote speakers, the Passion Into Action workshop presenters will harness their personal stories and environmental triumphs in order to empower and train others to do the same.
Kim Stravers is traveling from Mammoth to lead the workshop, Unite & Ignite Communities Around Green Issues.Kim is the co-founder and community engagement director for the Mammoth Lakes Trails & Public Access Foundation (MLTPA), a nonprofit that advocates for and actively participates in the planning, implementation, and stewardship of outdoor-recreation opportunities in Mammoth Lakes, California, and neighboring areas. Within one year of moving to this small ski town, and in light of the then-boom private-development climate, she and fellow citizen John Wentworth successfully brought much-needed attention to local issues regarding the protection and enhancement of access to the public lands that completely surround their town.
Jessica Reeder and co-leader Amber Clisura are two extraordinary young women who have challenged the belief that happiness and success are not determined by how much new stuff we have. Their passions have led to projects that demonstrate it's possible to make something out of nothing.
Jessica started the blog UpRooted, a sustainable travel project about her two-year journey around the U.S. to promote the dual practices of sustainability and volunteerism. Following her travels when Jessica settled in Reno, Nevada rather than blog about eco adventures she created Love and Trash a "Do It Yourself" site that would help people live more sustainably and live better on less in their community.
Amber Clisura is a fashion designer who isn't wearing pants for the next 365 days. Following a car accident and a deep depression Amber was in need of some inspiration. She had been designing women's denim jeans (at one point she owned over 40 pairs) for the Eco-Premium line Del Forte Denimand that's pretty much all she wore. Looking at the lighter side of life (and going green) Amber went shopping in her closet and discovered clothes she hadn't worn in years. Rather than throw them out, she began to upcycle her pants into skirts. Upcycling is taking something you were going to toss and turn it into something else. Amber said, "down with pants and up with skirts" and launched NO PANTS 2011.
Don't miss their workshop, Upcycle Your Life and learn how social media can take your passion to the next level.
A common theme on our program is the purchase power women hold. With women influencing 85% of what's bought or purchased in the United States women have the ability to create a dramatic shift in the kinds of products we want or don't want.
As the co-founder of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics Stacy Malkan has enabled a national movement to shift the $50 billion beauty industry away from harmful chemicals and toward safer products. Stacy Malkan discovered that beauty isn't just skin deep. Many women expose themselves to over 200 chemicals daily through their personal care products. Stacy first learned about the toxic beauty industry when working as a reporter in Colorado. Her curiosity soon led to concern followed by activism. She is the author of the award winning book, Not Just a Pretty Face: The Ugly Side of the Beauty Industry.
Utilize the power of your purse in Stacy Malkan's workshop, The Girlcott: 5 Strategies for How Women Can Change the World in 2011.
The Passion Into Action experience extends beyond speakers and workshops. The event includes one of the hottest fashion troupes in the country. Haute Trash takes fashion to another level. Members take throw-away items and turn trash into fashion. This creative collaborative will walk the Passion Into Action runway showing off recycled couture and one of a kind upcycled designs. Founded over 20 years ago Haute Trash has put on 100's of shows and leads educational programs in recycled fashion. They are fun, inspiring and truly "wow" the audience with their phenomenal garments. Trash bags, bottle caps, and duct tape take on an entirely new meaning when Haute Trash is involved.
Also from Nevada County, Reinette Senum co-founder of APPLEand Mali Dyck of the APPLE Center will be available to connect with attendees and share their latest projects to create sustainable communities including, the Alpha Building.
These women represent just a sampling of the environmental action heroes who are participating in Passin Into Action. In order to create a substantial shift to enhance the planet it is imperative that we connect and work together. Passion Into Action is the event to cultivate the relationships and develop a plan in order to make the change possible.
We look forward to seeing you there! Click here to register for the conference.
"It's an extraordinary experience, Passion Into Action, and I've never seen or felt a gathering quite like it." ~Nina Simons
The 2nd Annual Passion Into Action Conference will not only mirror the synergy and excitement of last year's event but will include new features to enhance your experience.
track will focus on Power, Passion, and Philanthropy. Part of the proceeds of the conference will support these workshops.
The White House Project
TWHP is a nonpartisan and nonprofit organization working to advance women in business, politics, and media. They've rarely worked in California and are excited train women to lead in our community. In addition to a keynote address by president, Tiffany Dufu TWHP is leading 3 workshops at Passion Into Action this year including Plate to Politics (designed specifically for the foodies and farmers), Raising Money in Rural Communities, and Blueprint for Change.
Opening Night Reception
Not everyone could participate in the one day event last year so we've expanded the conference to include a kick-off reception and a special evening with Nina Simons of Bioneers Friday, April 29th. Nina will lead the attendees through an experiential experience including tools and tips to activate the group into action as a collective. Friday night will also feature The Feather River Singers and a special greeting by Nevada Littlewolf, the youngest women and first American Indian to be elected to city council in her town.
Passion Into Action After Party
Celebrate the day and connect with friends at our first ever after party. We'll wrap up the conference with a special performance from Fishtank Ensemble and MaMuse at The Center for the Arts. Click here to purchase tickets. Passion Into Action attendees receive a discount.
Food and Beverages
This year your Saturday admission includes a delicous boxed lunch and drink from Summer Thymes and a continental breakfast. VeriTea by Keri Kemble is providing an afternoon tea and local goodies. Keri is debuting her new brand of organic and Fair Trade teas at the event. Friday night will include appetizers provided by Briar Patch and a no-host bar.
Visit the See Jane Do Beauty Bar featuring natural and organic beauty products by Sugar & Oats Day Spa, Oberon Cosmetics, Dawn Lorraine Conscious Skincare and Blossom Organics. Enjoy aromatherapy scalp and hand massages, plus mineral makeup application on cheeks and eyes by Sugar & Oats Day Spa and Oberon Cosmetics. Discover Dawn Lorraine's Conscious Skincare products and be sure to check out her Pomegranate Crisp Body Creme which she is donating a portion of her sales to See Jane Do. And pick up a sample from Blossom Organics' Intimate Care Collection.
Too Good To Change:
Like last year we're offering 15 hands-on workshops featuring workshop leaders from the community and several presenters from the Bay Area and even Boston.
Keynote speakers; Kathy LeMay, Jean Shinoda Bolen, Tiffany Dufu and Nina Simons are bound to motivate and inspire you. Unlike conferences that host thousands of attendees, the Passion Into Action Conference is unique in that it provides an intimate space to connect with these incredible speakers and extraordinary attendees.
Tickets are still available but are going fast. You can purchase your tickets and register for the conference here or go to www.seejanedo.com .
In addition to an incredible line up of world renowned keynote speakers that includes Nina Simons of Bioneers, feminist icon Jean Shinoda Bolen, author and social change agent Kathy LeMay and Tiffany Dufu of The White House Project we also have 15 workshops and 17 workshop leaders that will not only inspire and motivate you, but give you tips, tools and the plans to help kick start your own projects, organizations and communities.
But the conference doesn't stop there. We have an exciting schedule that also includes book signings and a beauty bar in the Expo Area plus a very special Haute Trash Fashion Show during lunch.
In between keynote speakers and workshops be sure to check out the Expo Area located in the lobby of the conference. Here you will find over a dozen non-profit organizations that are committed to working towards the advancement of women, the environment and for social justice.
Keynote speakers Nina Simons, Jean Shinoda Bolen and Kathy LeMay, workshop leaders Patt Lind-Kyle, Stacy Malkan, Linda Joy Myers, Carole Carson plus Kathryn McCamant author of "Creating Cohousing: Building Sustainable Communities"among others will be signing their latest books in the Book Store at Passion Into Action. The book store only accepts check or cash so please plan accordingly.
A Haute Trash Creation
Visit the See Jane Do Beauty Bar featuring natural and organic beauty products by Sugar & Oats Day Spa, Oberon Cosmetics, Dawn Lorraine Conscious Skincare and Blossom Organics. Enjoy aromatherapy scalp and hand massages, plus mineral makeup application on cheeks and eyes by Sugar & Oats Day Spa and Oberon Cosmetics. Discover Dawn Lorraine's Conscious Skincare products and be sure to check out her Pomegranate Crisp Body Creme which she is donating a portion of her sales to See Jane Do. And pick up a sample from Blossom Organics' Intimate Care Collection.
Haute Trash, the ridiculously talented group of women artists that create beautiful fashion out of trash will present a fabulous runway fashion show for Passion Into Action attendees during lunch time. Join in the fun and volunteer to be one of the models! If you'd like to take part, contact Kathi Griffis (aka Prima Debris) at [email protected]. All sizes and ages are welcome and encouraged!
Tickets are still available but are going fast. You can purchase your tickets and register for the conference here.
The Passion Into Action "Green Living" track specifically helps women by providing tools, resources, and networks to enhance the planet. Following we've listed the top six ways to go green at the conference.
1. Connect with Nina Simons, co-founder of Bioneers. Nina is kicking off the conference Friday, April 29th and will spend the evening sharing tools to take our passion into action as a collective. Click here to listen to Nina's interview on See Jane Do on KVMR.
2. Learn tools to bring food advocacy to the table at The White House Project workshop, From Plate to Politics. What key ingredient can stir up change in our food system? More women in leadership roles that influence agriculture and food policy change, from rallying for school lunch reform to launching new organic farming enterprises. Come for a crash course in issues and opportunities that face women in agriculture and together sow seeds for cultivating this inspiring movement. Click here to learn more about this workshop.
and learn how you can take something useless and make it into something amazing with Jessica Reeder & Amber Clisura. Jessica is the founder of Love and Trash a DIY blog for people who do things differently. Amber is an Eco fashion designer who is known for her NO PANTS 2011 project. Click here to learn more about this creative duo.
5. Listen to author and activist, Jean Shinoda Bolen discuss her latest book, Like A Tree: How Trees, Women, and Tree People Can Save the Planet. Click here to listen to Jean's interview on KVMR with Elisa Parker and Michael Stone.
6. Utilize the power of your purse in Stacy Malkan's workshop, The Girlcott: 5 Strategies for How Women Can Change the World in 2011. Stacy Malkan is the author of Not Just a Pretty Face and founder of the Safe Cosmetics Campaign. Click here to read about Stacy's exceptional work.
To participate in these workshops and meet these extraordinary women click here to register for the conference.
"Coming together with women who care deeply and purposefully about transforming this world is the most sacred and important thing I can imagine to do right now." ~Nina Simons
We are thrilled and honored that Nina Simons is returning to participate in the 2nd Annual Passion Into Action Conference! We've invited Nina to kick-off the event and work with the attendees to take their passion to the next level and provide tools to support their endeavors in working together to create positive change.
Nina is President and Co-Founder of Bioneers, and has co-produced the Bioneers Conference and guided the organization's growth since 1990. She teaches and lectures on Re-Inventing Leadership from the Inside Out, Restoring the Feminine and Organizations as Living Systems. She co-created Cultivating Women's Leadership - a five-day intensive for women of all backgrounds, ethnicities, ages and disciplines with a significant desire and capacity to effect positive change in their communities.
Nina's latest accomplishment is the release of her book, Moonrise: The Power of Women Leading from the Heart, co-edited with Anneke Campbell. "Moonrise" consists of a compilation of powerful women's stories who are re-defining leadership. Nina says the goal of "Moonrise" is to ignite the power and capacity within us all to create change by leading in ways that are joyful, healthy, and whole."
Join us today on See Jane Do on KVMR 89.5 from 1-2 PM for a conversation with Nina Simons. Nina shares the inspiration behind her passion, tools to discover your own "assignment" in life, examples of how women are leading the way across the country, and why it's so important for women to come together now.
In addition to presenting Friday night at the conference Nina is also participating in the panel discussion on Saturday. We hope you'll join Nina and the other extraordinary keynote speakers and presenters at the 2nd Annual Passion Into Action Conference.
Happy International Women's Day! Thousands of events are taking place today across the world to celebrate women. In fact, International Women's Day is an official holiday in over fifteen countries such as China and Russia.
On the 100th anniversary of this important day we acknowledge the women who came before us to ensure that as women, we have a voice. And we acknowledge the inspirational women who walk beside us today; our mothers, sisters, grandmothers, aunts, friends and advocates who strive to create gender parity, equality, and make the world a better place.
What is your message to women around the world today and who are the women you would like to recognize? Below we've listed three things you can do today to celebrate IWD.
1# Connect with other women, join them on a bridge and attend an IWD event.
Women, men, and children are connecting on bridges all over the world with the message that "Stronger Women Build Bridges of Peace". Click here to find other events in your community.
Please join See Jane Do in celebrating the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day hosted by Gather the Women.
2# Listen to Conversations on KVMR today for a special interview with author and activist, Jean Shinoda Bolen.
Elisa Parker of See Jane Do will join Michael Stone, host of Conversations to interview Passion Into Action keynote speaker, Jean Shinoda Bolen.
Jean recently released her book, "Like a Tree: How Trees, Women, and Tree People Can Save the Planet." Jean is also advocating for a 5th UN Women's Conference. Listen today on KVMR from 1-2PM.
3# Invest in YOU and register for the 2nd Annual Passion Into Action Women's Conference.
Be inspired, be motivated, be moved! Join guest speakers Nina Simons, Jean Shinoda Bolen M.D., Tiffany Dufu, and Kathy LeMay plus fifteen workshops, musical performances, a Haute Trash fashion show and more, Friday & Saturday, April 29 & 30, 2011. Tickets are limited. Click here to register.
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
Save & Buy the Full Conference Pass - Friday "Opening Night With Nina Simons" & Saturday Conference (includes Continental Breakfast & Lunch) $95adv/$105 door
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)
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
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.
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.
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.
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 andwomen 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 Eislerwho is creating ways to implement a new economy. We also hosted the Funding Your Passion Soiree Into Action.
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.
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.
Young Women's Track 
The White House Project
6. Utilize the power of your purse in Stacy Malkan's workshop, The Girlcott: 5 Strategies for How Women Can Change the World in 2011. Stacy Malkan is the author of Not Just a Pretty Face and founder of the Safe Cosmetics Campaign. Click 
Nina's latest accomplishment is the release of her book, Moonrise: The Power of Women Leading from the Heart, co-edited with Anneke Campbell. "Moonrise" consists of a compilation of powerful women's stories who are re-defining leadership. Nina says the goal of "Moonrise" is to ignite the power and capacity within us all to create change by leading in ways that are joyful, healthy, and whole." 
Elisa Parker of See Jane Do will join Michael Stone, host of Conversations to interview 
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