The celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Feminist Majority/Feminist Majority Foundation at our Women Money Power Summit and Luncheon was a major success. Over 400 guests attended our event on December 6, 2017 at the National Press Club in Washington DC.
The Summit & Luncheon brought together an inspirational combination of feminist leaders, thinkers, speakers and activists, as well as top political leaders. Highlights included new strategies to fighting for War on Women’s Rights, fascinating perspective on our current political climate, and saluting feminist trailblazers. Having had a year to reflect on the 2016 election and grapple with the chaos of the Trump administration, this event came at the perfect time.
With the Trump administration and anti-woman Congress coming after everything from healthcare to education equity to reproductive rights, we came together to recharge our batteries, exchange ideas, and chart the course for moving forward together. Enjoy these memories from our cutting-edge, feminist event.
We opened the day with two energizing panels: Fighting for Feminism & Taking on Misogyny and Maximizing the Women’s Vote & Stopping Vote Theft. You can watch the recording of the panels on our Facebook page here!
One of our inspirational panel members was Charniele Herring, Minority Chair of the Virginia House of Delegates, who discussed the importance of recruiting candidates to challenge incumbents and how Democrats fought to gain over a dozen seat sin the Virginia state house in the November 2017 election. “Real leadership as elected officials is demonstrated through serving your constituents. It means establishing trust,” said Herring. “Serving your constituents, no matter their party affiliation, is what’s important.”
Kelli Musick, the National Campus Coordinator for the Feminist Majority Foundation, discussed how millennials are looking forward to future elections and seeing themselves in government. “Millennials care about seeing themselves reflected in policies and politicians leading this country,” said Musick. “When we believe that change is possible, that we can achieve great things, that’s what gets millennials to turn out to vote.”
We were selling our amazing swag, which is always available here at our Feminist Store.
At our luncheon we honored incredible feminist trailblazers Senator Dianne Feinstein, Senator Mazie Hirono, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, and Congresswoman Niki Tsongas. You can watch a video of the luncheon program on our Facebook page here.
Peg Yorkin, Board Chair of the Feminist Majority, opened up our 30th anniversary luncheon!
Marzia, Advocate for Afghan Women and Girls at the Feminist Majority Foundation, introduces our first honoree, Congresswoman Niki Tsongas. “Feminism knows no borders,” said Marzia.
Congresswoman Niki Tsongas has had an outstanding career in the U.S. House of Representatives as an advocate for women and girls, both in the United States and around the world. As a Member of the House Armed Services Committee, Congresswoman Tsongas has been a champion for Afghan women and girls and has traveled to Afghanistan six times. She has worked tirelessly to increase the safety of and decrease violence against women and girls in Afghanistan by supporting women’s rights, contraception, education, political leadership, and peacekeeping. Congresswoman Tsongas has fought to eradicate sexual violence in the military by calling out the institution’s systemic and deeply-rooted cultural failures, and pushing for accountability at every level. She has also been a steadfast advocate for increasing women’s representation.
“Whether in Afghanistan or the United States, when women have opportunities, the country succeeds,” said Congresswoman Tsongas.
“Women are leading the resistance,” said Katherine Spillar, Executive Director of the Feminist Majority.
Lorraine Sheinberg, Board Member of the Feminist Majority, introduces honoree Senator Dianne Feinstein.
Senator Dianne Feinstein has dedicated her life to public service, serving as the first woman Mayor of San Francisco before being elected to the U.S. Senate in 1992, where she became the first woman U.S. Senator to serve on the Senate Judiciary Committee. Throughout her career, she has consistently championed the fight for common sense gun reform, for women’s rights, reproductive rights, and the fight to end torture. In 1994, Senator Feinstein authored and successfully led the movement to pass the Federal Assault Weapons Ban, which prohibited the use and manufacture of assault weapons and large capacity magazines. Senator Feinstein currently serves as the ranking member on the Senate Judiciary Committee and a member of the powerful Rules, Appropriations, and Intelligence Committees. She is a vocal advocate for abortion rights, raising the minimum wage, combating violence against women worldwide, and eliminating torture.
“I am old enough to remember Roe, Anita Hill, and the year of the woman. And I think next year is going to be another year of the woman,” said Senator Feinstein. “We are seeing a cultural shift with women coming forward and speaking the truth. We can’t go back.”
Bonnie Thornton Dill, Ph.D, Dean of the College of Arts and Humanities at the University of Maryland, College Park, introduces honoree Senator Mazie Hirono.
Senator Mazie Hirono made history in 2013 when she became the first woman U.S. Senator from the state of Hawaii and the first Asian-American woman elected to the U.S. Senate. Senator Hirono is a leader in the movement to protect and advance Title IX. She marked the 45th anniversary of Title IX by introducing the Patsy T. Mink Gender Equity in Education Act, which would increase federal resources so that education institutions across the country can fully combat sex-based discrimination in schools. Senator Hirono has been a fierce advocate for the Affordable Care Act, bravely sharing the story of her personal fight with cancer to help save healthcare for everyone. Senator Hirono has also been a vocal supporter in the global fight to end gender-based violence and has pushed for the United States to ratify the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, a treaty that would work to prevent violence against women, promote women’s rights, and empower women and girls worldwide.
Gaylynn Burroughs, Director of Policy and Research at the Feminist Majority Foundation, pays tribute to honoree Congresswoman Maxine Waters, who at the last minute was unable to attend the event due to a surprise vote in the House of Representatives.
Congresswoman Maxine Waters has served as a dedicated public official for over 40 years, first in the California Assembly and then for fourteen terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. Congresswoman Waters has been a lifelong champion for women’s rights and civil rights. In 1998, she created the Minority Aids Initiative to increase access to HIV and AIDS care for minority communities. As former Chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus and ranking member of the House Financial Services Committee, Congresswoman Waters has worked to increase the participation of minority and women owned businesses. She authored the provision of the Dodd-Frank Act that mandates the Office of Minority and Women Inclusion in the federal government’s financial services agencies. Congresswoman Waters is also a powerhouse in the Resistance movement, and her use of the phrase “reclaiming my time,” which went viral on social media, made it clear that women refuse to be bullied, intimidated or silenced.
Alice Cohan, Political Director of the Feminist Majority, closed out the event by paying tribute to the amazing new women who were just elected to the Virginia House of Delegates!
Thank you to everyone who attended, contributed to, or tuned in online to our 2017 Women Money Power Summit and 30th Anniversary Luncheon!