NOW National Conference 2002: Speakers

Share/Save

Send

Print Shop Amazon

NOW National Conference 2002: Speakers

Eleanor Smeal
Congresswoman Patsy T. Mink
Rep. Loretta Sanchez
Beverly Watts
Susan Phillips
Hon. Sharon Sayles Belton
Captain Brenda Berkman
JoDee Flockhart
Ana Grossman and Emma Peters-Axtell

Eleanor Smeal

Eleanor Smeal is recognized throughout the nation and the world as a women's rights leader. President of the Feminist Majority Foundation and a former president of NOW, Smeal appears frequently as an expert on television and radio and before Congress, and speaks on a broad range of feminist topics. For three decades, she has played a leading role in national and state campaigns to win critical legislation, and in several landmark court cases for women's rights. In 1997, Smeal expanded her activism to a global level, launching the international Campaign to Stop Gender Apartheid in Afghanistan to counter the Taliban's brutal abuse of women. This visionary campaign helped stop the U.S. and the U.N. from officially recognizing the Taliban and continues working to increase aid and ensure the inclusion of women in the Afghan government.

Congresswoman Patsy T. Mink

Congresswoman Patsy T. Mink has represented Hawaii in the U.S. House for 23 years – 1965-1976 and 1990-present. She was the first woman of color to serve in the Congress and throughout her career she has been a steadfast advocate for the rights of minorities, women, and children. A true visionary, Mink was co-author of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which prohibits sex discrimination in all educational institutions receiving federal funds. This law, which she cites as one of her greatest accomplishments, has had a dramatic impact in opening up opportunities for girls and women in the professions and, most visibly, in athletics. During a lifetime of service, Mink has served as Assistant Secretary of State and as president of Americans for Democratic Action.

Rep. Loretta Sanchez

Rep. Loretta Sanchez inspired progressives everywhere with a political coup in 1996 – narrowly unseating right-winger "B-1 Bob" Dornan in Orange County, California. Then she beat him again in 1998 -- in a landslide! Rep. Sanchez may soon be part of the first "Sister Act" in the U.S. House, as her sister, labor leader Linda Sanchez (also endorsed by NOW PAC), has already won her primary in California. Sanchez is a strong supporter of women's rights and civil rights, and has distinguished herself as a fighter by battling repeatedly to restore reproductive rights to military women serving their country overseas. As a leader on education issues, she successfully saved our national gender equity in education programs. Among her many affiliations, Congresswoman Sanchez is a member of the Hispanic Caucus, the Congressional Human Rights Caucus and the Women's Congressional Caucus.

Beverly Watts

Beverly Watts is President of the International Association of Official Human Rights Agencies (IAOHRA), a non-profit organization of nearly 200 human rights and human relations agencies with authority to enforce human and civil rights laws in their jurisdictions. Watts serves on the Stennis Center Southern Women in Public Service Leadership Council and received their Pacesetter Award two (2) consecutive years. In 1992, she was appointed Executive Director of the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights. Previously she served as Regional Director of Civil Rights, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture; and as Executive Director, Illinois Minority and Female Business Enterprise Council. Among many honorsare the the Business and Professional Women-Kentucky Woman of Achievement Award and the National Council of Negro Women Bethune Legacy Award.

Susan Phillips

Susan Phillips was elected as an International Vice President of the 1.4 million member United Food and Commercial Workers Union in July 1998, and serves as director of the UFCW Working Women's Department. She first became active in the labor movement in 1980, and joined the UFCW staff in 1984. A tireless coalition-builder, Phillips serves as National Treasurer of the Coalition of Labor Union Women; a member of the Board of the National Committee on Pay Equity; a board member for the Alliance of Retired Americans; Treasurer of the Elderly Housing Development and Operations Corporation, supported by the AFL-CIO; and represents the UFCW and the AFL-CIO on the women's committees of several international labor organizations. She also is a NOW member.

Hon. Sharon Sayles Belton

Hon. Sharon Sayles Belton was elected mayor of Minneapolis in 1993 and served until January 2002. Prior to becoming mayor, she served on the Minneapolis City Council for 10 years and was council president for four of those years. As a community leader and activist, she led efforts to improve services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. She was a co-founder and President of the Harriet Tubman Shelter for Battered Women and served as President of the National Coalition Against Sexual Assault. Sayles Belton has served as a board member or chair of many prominent organizations, including the American Bar Association, the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the National League of Cities, and has received countless awards of honors in recognition of her leadership and service.

Captain Brenda Berkman

Captain Brenda Berkman is the founder and current president of United Women Firefighters in New York City and has led the national organization of women firefighters, Women in the Fire Service, as a trustee and President of the Board. A noted writer and speaker on issues relating to women in nontraditional employment, Berkman was profiled in the PBS special, "Sex, Power and the Workplace." In 1996-97, Capt. Berkman became the first and only professional firefighter to serve as a prestigious White House Fellow, and she is currently an instructor for the U.S. National Fire Academy. A NOW member for more than 20 years, Capt. Berkman has received countless awards recognizing her achievements.

JoDee Flockhart

JoDee Flockhart spent eleven years enduring a job where verbal and physical abuse were commonplace. She went to court to make sure other women would be protected, and she filed suit against the Iowa Beef Processors for fostering a work atmosphere of harassment and gender bias. After years of courageous litigation and tireless persistence, her efforts finally came to fruition on December 21, 2001. Judge Michael Mellow of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa ruled in favor of her claims of sexual harassment and she received punitive damages against the company! A true woman of courage, JoDee Flockhart set an example of bravery that will result in the protection of thousands of other women in non-traditional jobs. Thank you JoDee!

Ana Grossman

Emma Peters-Axtell

Ana Grossman and Emma Peters-Axtell, both from Duluth, Minn., represent the Girls Editorial Board (GEB) of New Moon, the Magazine for Girls and Their Dreams — as well as the future of our movement. Ana, age 14, has been a finalist at the State Science Fair for two years running and is involved in many activities. She wants to be an attorney, and would love to run for president someday. Ana joined the GEB when she was 11 and will retire in August when she turns 15. Emma is an Honor Roll student and very active in her school. She hopes to attend Harvard to study law or law enforcement, and is a member of Girls International Forum, a non-profit to include girls’ voices in public policy. Ana is a former member of the GEB (being too old now at age 15), having joined the board at age 6. Ana and Emma co-authored an essay about Girls and Feminism for Robin Morgan new anthology. They’ve been friends since they met in childcare.

National Conference 2002 Information

Share/Save Send Print