On Wednesday, June 1st, 2016, the International Center of the Capital Region, in conjunction with Global Ties U.S. and the U.S. Department of State, will be hosting a Women’s Empowerment Diplomacy summit in Albany.
With the goal of empowering women in all walks of life, organizers say the summit will offer an in-depth understanding of U.S. diplomacy and foreign policy. They expect the event will be an incubator, with the potential to foster better connections with business, local government, international exchange and the Department of State. In addition, a professional development component will also be provided that will allow participants to expand and develop their own skills.
Summit-goers will have the opportunity to network and engage with respected leaders from various fields, including WAMC's Hudson Valley Bureau Chief, Allison Dunne, host of the weekly 51% program, who will participate in a panel on media, gender and journalism.
Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul is keynote speaker at the event luncheon. Hochul says Albany is one of four American cities chosen by the U.S. State Department to host the summit. She adds it's a "real honor" for the area to be the epicenter of the conversation about the importance of women's empowerment in diplomacy and international affairs. "This is an opportunity to bring together experts, but also more important in my mind, it's an opportunity for young people to have their imaginations sparked and possibly see themselves playing a role on behalf of their government in a diplomatic position."
Although women have made great strides in leadership in the past decade, Hochul says there's much more work to be done. "Summits like this really are going to put a spotlight on not just people in career diplomatic positions, but what I plan to talk about during my address, is to really encourage women to know how important their voices are in elective office as well. We're meeting in our state capitol. In Albany we have 25 percent of the state legislature is now women. Now, the good news is that' sup from 22 percent, but at that rate it's probably going to be about 80 years before we have parity with men."
Congressman Paul Tonko will deliver the summit's dinner address. Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan and Pride Center of the Capital Region CEO Daquetta Jones will also be on hand to network with participants. International Center of the Capital Region Diane Conroy-LaCivita: "It's really a wonderful opportunity for people to choose a session or two sessions, and learn, maybe go a little more in depth in regard to women's empowqerment and keys to leadership. You know, what have these women done that has worked well, where have they struggled where they would recommend others not to do so."
Over 200 women and men have signed up. Programs will be held at Albany Law School, the Sage College of Albany and Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Registration will remain open on the day of the event.
Participants of the summit will have the opportunity to network and engage with respected leaders from various fields such as:
- Rebecca Berman – Program Associate with World Learning’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP)
- Erin Cole – President for Global New York
- Alicia Oullette – Dean and President of Albany Law School
- Susan Scrimshaw – President of the SAGE Colleges
- Kathy Sheehan – Mayor of Albany
- Rosemary Queenan – Associate Dean for Student Affairs of Albany Law School
- Lea Vacca Michel – Associate Professor of Biochemistry at Rochester Institute of Technology
- Stephan Brand – Senior Director of Business Programs of Bay Path University
- Josephine Perini – Rochester Global Connections
- Mark Perry – Customer Service Manager of Buffalo Passport Agency
- Mary Buszuwski – CEO of Girl Scouts of NENY
- Daquetta Jones – Executive Director and CEO of the Pride Center of the Capital Region
- Michael Weidrich – Executive Director and CEO of the Pride Center of the Capital Region
- Elain Spaull – Executive Director of The Center for Youth
- Susan Arbetter – Producer and Host of the Capitol Pressroom/Director of News and Public Affairs for WCNY, Syracuse
- Angela Beddoe – Publish and Editor in Chief of HerLife Magazine/Co-Founder and Principal in GreenForce Energy LLC/Strategic Advisor for Carter’s Kids
- Tracy Ormsbee – Senior Editor of the Times Union
For more information about the summit and registration fees go to: www.globaltiesUS.org/diplomacybeginshere
