NEW YORK, Nov. 29 (AScribe Newswire) -- Women played a critical role in the 2006 elections and are poised to grow in influence as political players -- as voters, elected leaders and contributors -- to drive progressive change now and as we move toward the 2008 elections. This Forum will look at what's different for women and political power in light of the results of the 2006 elections and spotlight the dynamics that will be important for 2008. The discussion will be led by leading pollster, Ethel Klein, Principal of EDK Associates and author of several books on the gender gap who will provide an analysis of the women's vote. Panelists will look at issues of concern to women as voters, including: the political positioning of women as candidates, Asian women's concerns, women as powerful fundraisers, the challenge of communicating issues women care deeply about in an election season and pressing for greater accountability from politicians. Linda Tarr-Whelan, Demos' Distinguished Senior Fellow for Women's Empowerment will set the stage.
The panelists will include:
- An Analysis of Women and the 2006 Election Results - Ethel Klein, Principal, EDK Associates
- Issues Impacting Asian Women Voters - Courtney Chappell, Policy and Programs Director, National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum (NAPAWF)
- Women as Candidates and Political Leaders - State Senator Liz Krueger, New York State Senator 26th District
- Unfinished Business: Women's Issues - Anna Wadia, Consultant to the National Council for Research on Women
- Women and Money - Sarah Kovner, Advisor to non-profits and political candidates
WHO:
ETHEL KLEIN is currently president of EDK Associates, a strategic research firm. Dr Klein has designed strategic education campaigns for non-profit organization and foundations on issues of women's rights, low-income housing, environmental protection, gay and lesbian rights, work and family policies, health education, and tax reform. Prior to starting her own firm Dr. Klein, a long-term analyst of American Politics, was a professor at Harvard University (1979-1984) and Columbia University (1984-1990). She is also the author of GENDER POLITICS (Harvard University Press, 1984). The New York Times called this groundbreaking book "lucid and convincing" in explaining why men and women approach politics in different ways. Her analysis of public opinion trends during the 1988 campaign is published in ELECTIONS OF 1988: REPORTS AND INTERPRETATIONS (Co-author Barbara Farah, Chatham House). Most recently, she is the primary author of ENDING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: CHANGING PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS / HALTING THE EPIDEMIC (Sage Publications, 1997), which outlines the importance of public education in reducing violence against women.
COURTNEY CHAPPELL is the Policy and Programs Director at the National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum (NAPAWF). NAPAWF is dedicated to forging a grassroots progressive movement for social and economic justice and the political empowerment of Asian Pacific American (APA) women and girls. At NAPAWF, Courtney develops policy positions, publications and briefs, and performs legislative advocacy on reproductive justice issues. Prior to her position as Policy & Programs Director, Courtney served as a legislative staff attorney with NAPAWF and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund. She is a recipient of a New Voices Fellowship and a Georgetown Women's Law and Public Policy Fellowship. Courtney is on the board of the Third Wave Foundation and the Asian/Pacific Islander Domestic Violence Resource Project.
STATE SENATOR LIZ KRUEGER was first elected to the New York State Senate in a Special Election in February 2002. She is currently the Chair of Minority Program Development and the ranking Democratic member of the Senate Standing Committee on Housing, Construction and Community Development. She is also a member of five other committees: Banking, Consumer Protection, Finance, Higher Education, and Rules. Senator Krueger is a strong advocate for tenants' rights, affordable housing, improved access to health care and prescription drug coverage, social services more open government and campaign finance reform, more equitable funding for public education, including higher education, and animal welfare. As Chair of the Senate Minority Task Force on Legislative and Budgetary Reform, Senator Krueger has been a leader in the effort to develop a more democratic and deliberative legislative process. In her first term in the Senate, Liz Krueger was a leader in the successful fight to pass the Women's Health and Wellness Act. Senator Krueger's legislative initiatives include: a bill to support recycling and expand the bottle bill; a bill which would repeal the Urstadt Law and restore local control over New York City housing policy; legislation that would expand access to the Senior Citizen's Rent Increase Exemption; bills that would require a voter-verified paper trail for any new voting technology and eliminate the full-face ballot requirement; and legislation expanding access to food stamps and safety net assistance for needy families and individuals. Senator Liz Krueger has dedicated her career to issues relating to poverty, and she is a nationally recognized expert on the problems of hunger and homelessness, and the lack of affordable housing, healthcare, and job training.
ANNA WADIA has 20 years experience in domestic and international philanthropy, economic development and women's political participation. She has supported and documented strategies to improve low-wage jobs and increase opportunities for low-income women and their families, as well as efforts to encourage voter engagement and bring women's voices into policy debates. Most recently, Ms. Wadia has been working with the National Council for Research on Women on the design and analysis of a poll on women's priorities and perspectives leading up to the 2006 mid-term elections. Prior to launching her own consulting business, Ms. Wadia managed community and economic development programming for the Ms. Foundation for Women in the United States, and for the Ford Foundation and Catholic Relief Services in Africa. Ms. Wadia co-authored Kitchen Table Entrepreneurs: How Eleven Women Escaped Poverty and Became Their Own Bosses, published by Westview Press, as well as several reports on best practice in women's economic empowerment.
SARAH KOVNER advises non-profit organizations and candidates running for public office. She also serves on the board of both NARAL Pro-Choice New York and the High School for Environmental Studies. In 1988, Ms. Kovner co-founded the Community Capital Bank, a community development bank in New York City, and now serves as the director and a member of the board. >From 1993 to 2001, she was a Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, whom she represented at the United Nations, particularly in regard to women's issues. Ms. Kovner was a U.S. delegate to the 1994 Cairo Conference on Population and Development and to the 1995 Beijing Fourth World Conference on Women. In addition, she was the Department representative to the President's Interagency Council on Women and the Secretary's liaison to the National Action Plan for Breast Cancer. From 1974-1984, she was a founder and chairperson of the board of First Women's Bank. From 1985-1991, Ms. Kovner was active in developing affordable housing in New York. From 1972-1984, she was the president and a partner of Arts, Letters and Politics, a public affairs consulting firm that represented a wide range of non-profit organizations. Ms. Kovner was also a founder and board member of the New York Women's Foundation from 1988-1993, and in 1972, a founder of the National Women's Political Caucus. In 1971, she co-founded the Coalition for Free Choice, an organization that supported legalized abortion in New York State, and was the chairperson. She has directed and organized various New York State and national political campaigns, served as Elected Delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1976 and 1984, and served as a member of the New York State Democratic Committee. From 1991-1992, Ms. Kovner was deputy director of the New York State Clinton and Clinton-Gore campaigns. She began her career as a reporter for Newsweek and the Village Voice in the 1960s. Ms. Kovner graduated from Vassar College with a degree in political science.
LINDA TARR-WHELAN is a Distinguished Senior Fellow for Women's Empowerment at Demos. Ambassador Tarr-Whelan was appointed by President Clinton and served as the US Representative to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women from 1996-2001. She also served in high-level positions in the Carter White House, New York State government, the National Education Association and AFSCME. She is writing a book on the difference women's leadership makes in politics, the economy and caregiving and the need for men to partner with women to create a better future.
WHEN: The Demos Forum Thurs, Dec 7, 2006 12:15-1:45pm
WHERE: Demos 220 5th Ave, 5th Floor Between 26th and 27th Sts New York, NY
This event is being cosponsored by Demos and the National Council of Research on Women.
RSVP TO: PRESS@DEMOS.ORG
The Demos Forum: Ideas for Change features prominent authors, scholars and advocates who address the growing need for universally shared economic opportunity and eliminating structural barriers that prevent full political participation.
MEDIA CONTACT: Cole Krawitz, Demos communications & events,
212-633-1405 x461, ckrawitz@demos.org
NOTE TO EDITORS: To schedule a background briefing or an interview with Linda Tarr-Whelan, Ethel Klein, Courtney Chappell, State Senator Liz Krueger, Anna Wadia, Sarah Kovner or another member of the Demos staff, please contact Cole Krawitz.
Media Contact: See above.
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