Women's Leadership Forum featuring Academy Award Winning Producer, Geralyn White Dreyfous on Sunday, October 2, 2016

On Sunday, October 2, 2016 the first Women’s Leadership Forum entitled Honoring Our Past, Empowering Our Future will be held at Leamy Hall at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy (USCGA) in New London, CT. Registration begins at 9:00 a.m., and the main event runs from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. For more information and to purchase tickets go to www.cgaalumni.org/WLF.

Southeastern Connecticut (SECT) Women’s Network member, Lisa Giordano is the founder of the Women’s Leadership Forum and is co-chairing the event with Commander Erica Mohr of the U.S. Coast Guard Women’s Leadership Initiative (WLI). Besides the two co-chairs, a Planning Committee of women from both SECT Women's Network and U.S. Coast Guard WLI have helped to organize the event including:

Tara King, Emily Herbette, Jean Wilczynski, Andrea Marcille, Brook Millard, Millie Devine, Connie Plessman, Emma Palzere-Rae, Kathy Greene, Victoria Gurtler, Susan Pochal, Susan Bibeau, Tamara McKenna, Richelle Johnson, and Corinna Fleischmann.

The morning program will begin with a brunch in recognition of the 40th anniversaries of women being accepted into the USCGA, the founding of the SECT Women’s Network and the founding of Safe Futures. Presentations by SECT Women’s Network founder, Millie Devine as well as a Coast Guard alumna will be followed by table discussions on women’s leadership – past, present and future.

Academy Award winning producer, Geralyn White Dreyfous will be the keynote speaker during the afternoon program. The title of her address is Evidentiary Truths and Cultural Beliefs: Film As A Tool For Social Change. Dreyfous's independent executive producing, and producing credits include the Academy Award winning Born Into Brothels; Emmy nominated The Day My God Died, Academy Award nominated and Emmy Award winning The Square, Academy Award nominated and Peabody Award winning The Invisible War, and multiple film festival winners such as Miss Representation, Meet the Patels, Anita, In Football We Trust, The Hunting Ground, Dreamcatcher and Alive Inside. Her works in production include: Wait for Me and Be Natural. The International Documentary Association honored Dreyfous with the Amicus Award in 2013 for her significant contribution to documentary filmmaking, and Variety recognized her in their 2014 Women’s Impact Report highlighting her work in the entertainment industry.

After Ms. Dreyfous gives the keynote address, a Panel of Trailblazers will lead a discussion on the topic Ethical Leadership for a Sustainable Future. Panelists include: USCG’s Vice Admiral Sandra Stosz, the first woman superintendent of a U.S. military academy; Grace Jones, President Emerita of Three Rivers Community College; Maryam Elahi, President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Eastern CT; Attallah Sheppard, National Award-winning poet and Leadership Teacher, and Chris Soto, Founder and Director of Higher Edge in New London.

Additionally, a Resource Fair of organizations from the area that support leadership initiatives for women and girls will be held throughout the day.

Students from the area are invited to attend the afternoon program free of charge, and high school senior and junior girls will have the opportunity to apply for a college scholarship sponsored by the Women’s Leadership Forum. Freshmen and sophomore girls, and junior high school girls may apply for book scholarships as well.

Sponsorships and donations are being accepted to support the Forum, and college and book scholarships for students. Net profits will be split to support the fund, Pathway to a Safe Future to help survivors of domestic violence, and the U.S. Coast Guard Women’s Leadership Initiative. If you would like to be a sponsor go to www.cgaalumni.org/WLF and click on the sponsorship link. You can purchase tickets and make a donation on the website as well.

Tickets are $55 for the entire day, $35 for the afternoon program only, and $30 for the brunch only. Students are welcome to attend the afternoon program free of charge, but must register for the event. For more information please go to www.cgaalumni.org/WLF or call (860) 442-2683.

KEY DATES AND INFORMATION:

What: Women’s Leadership Forum – “Honoring Our Past, Empowering Our Future”

When: Sunday, October 2, 2016 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Where: U.S. Coast Guard Academy, Leamy Hall, 31 Mohegan Ave. Pkwy, New London, CT 06320

How: Tickets are $55 for entire day, $30 for Brunch Only and $35 for the Afternoon Program Only and are available online at www.cgaalumni.org/WLF or call (860) 442-2683. Please purchase tickets before 10/2/16. All students can attend the Afternoon Program free of charge and may register the day of the Forum on October 2, 2016.

Photo Credit: Scott Peterson