The Womens Conference
The Nations Premier Forum For Women
Daily Blog
Your Ticket In! The Great Giveaway
We at The Women’s Conference are doing something exciting that we’ve never done before. We’re launching The Great Giveaway to give you and a friend the chance to be special guests at the nation’s premier forum for women this October. You could also win the chance to interview one of our amazing speakers and to meet and greet First Lady Maria Shriver.
Last October, 25,000 people gathered to experience an extraordinary lineup of national and international speakers – leaders, experts, authors, journalists and artists. This year we’re going to have the biggest and best conference yet! Once again, it will be a truly transformational event.
The Women’s Conference community is a powerful global network of women from all walks of life who gather at our annual two-day event as well, as 365 days a year here online - to share our stories, exchange information, create partnerships and, most important, to inspire one another. The Women’s Conference creates Architects of Change -- women who see a problem and seek to create a solution – be it in their homes, communities, their states or the world.
Together, we are working 24/7 on the front lines of humanity to finance dreams and invest in entrepreneurs, lift people out of poverty, help end the cycle of violence, send women to college, and honor courage, wisdom and strength. We also work to build community centers, playgrounds and gardens. We strive to make lasting change through the ongoing work of our programs.
Here at the Women’s Conference, we seek to empower women to see themselves for who they really are – smart, strong, capable and compassionate leaders who truly can change the world, one woman at a time.
We invite you to join our community and help build this movement here at WWW.WOMENSCONFERENCE.ORG. It's Time...to be an Architect of Change and Pass It On.
Learn how you can join the conversation and participate in The Great Giveaway.
Find out WHAT YOU WIN and HOW YOU WIN now!
Haiti Earthquake Relief: How You Can Help
January 12th's devastating 7.0 earthquake has left the already impoverished country of Haiti in shambles. As of January 18, the death toll has been estimated at nearly 200,000. The devastation has caused the collapse of basic infrastructures like hospitals, schools, and roads. The International Red Cross has said that a third of Haiti's 9 million people may need emergency aid.
The first wave of international aid began to arrive on Thursday, January 14 with planes from China, France, and Spain carrying food, medical supplies, and relief workers. The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson arrived on January 15 with helicopters to help shuttle relief supplies. Other countries have pledged their support in other ways and are currently in Port-au-Prince or on the way.
Contributions are continuing to pour in at a rapid rate. As of January 18, The Red Cross's social network and texting campaign has raised more than $21 million with more than $210 million in total aid being raised from all major charities. Bowing to pressure, major credit card companies American Express, Visa, MasterCard and Discover all announced they would waive the interchange fee they normally charge when cardholders donate to Haitian earthquake relief efforts. In addition to fee waiving, the credit card companies said they will make substantial corporate donations.
The US has agreed to relax the adoption rules normally associated with Haitian adoptions allowing the process to speed up dramatically. On January 19, 53 Haitian orphans arrived at a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, airport and were taken to Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, where they were greeted by adoptive parents.
Meanwhile, President Obama has pledged $100 million in relief aid. All major charitable organizations are stressing that they need continued financial support.
The January 22 "Hope for Haiti," all-star telethon for Haitian earthquake relief which was put together by George Clooney and featured performances by Justin Timberlake, Jennifer Hudson, and Wyclef Jean raised approximately $58 million.
The following is a list of charitable organizations you can contact to help:
American Red Cross or Text "HAITI" to "90999" to donate $10 to the Red Cross
Yele Haiti
The U.S. State Department Operations Center has set up a hotline for Americans seeking information about relatives in Haiti: (888) 407-4747.
Human Trafficking Awareness Day
Slavery persists in the United States today, almost 150 years after the Thirteenth Amendment outlawed it. Modern day slavery, or human trafficking, takes many forms. From forced prostitution to forced domestic labor, the majority of people trafficked are women and children.
In 2007 the U.S. Senate designated January 11th as a National Day of Human Trafficking Awareness in an effort to raise consciousness about the problem. As Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who proclaimed that January 11th is Human Trafficking Awareness Day in California, remarks, “Our own vigilance is crucial to rescuing those held captive.”
The facts:
- 50,000 people are trafficked across the U.S. borders annually, according to CIA estimates.
- The U.S., Japan and Australia are the three countries that receive the most victims of human trafficking. In the U.S., California is one of the most common destinations for those victims.
- Easy access to international borders, numerous ports and airports and large immigrant populations make California, Florida, New York, Nevada and Ohio prime destinations for trafficked persons.
- Los Angeles is one of the top three entry points into the U.S. for human trafficking because of its diverse communities and extensive geography, which make it easy to hide and move victims of human trafficking. In Los Angeles alone 10,000 women are in forced prostitution, according to immigration agents.
What you can do
- Educate yourself and your community about human trafficking.
- Encourage the men in your life to join The Defenders USA, recognizing that pornography and prostitution often prey on victims of human trafficking.
- If you witness suspicious activity, contact your local law enforcement agency.
- Become involved with agencies such as Shared Hope International (SHI) and CAST, which raise awareness about and fight against human slavery and trafficking.
Grow your awareness throughout this month. On January 4, 2010 President Barack Obama proclaimed that January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month.
It's A New Year
With the arrival of 2010, we are all looking ahead at the changes we want to make in our lives this year, setting the stage for the next decade.
If you, like us, are looking for some inspiration, take a look at The XX Effect, where we posed the question -- "What Tops your 2010 To Do List?" See what Maria Shriver, Linda Ellerbee, Elizabeth Gilbert, Pat Mitchell and other women across generations have to say about what they hope to accomplish in the coming year. You’ll find everything from building a nonprofit, to traveling to Thailand at the age of 86, to simply (and not so simply) just being.
After setting your own intention for 2010, learn how to achieve it. On Our Kitchen Table you’ll find out why it’s so hard to stick to your resolutions, how you can break out of your routine, what “self trust” means to your career and how to be healthier in the New Year. And make sure to check out our new video, where some of your favorite conference speakers tell us the best (and worst) career advice they’ve ever gotten.
So, in 2010, stay connected, explore our content and watch our videos. We’re always interested in what’s on your mind, so please join the conversation on our Community Forum and comment on our posts. And don’t forget to follow us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. We’re all looking forward to an amazing year.
