The Center for American Progress, working with American Women, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, and Service Employees International Union is launching a new women’s initiative focused on elevating public policy solutions and to demand action on the real challenges women face today – from economic security to health and reproductive rights to expanding opportunities for leadership and advancement.
Opening Speaker:
Valerie Jarrett, Senior White House Advisor
Panel 1: The Leadership Gap
One reason policies are developed without an understanding of their impact on women is because women should, but often do not, take part in key decision-making. This panel will focus on how we can expand opportunities for women to assume leadership roles and participate in the policymaking process, whether public or private.
Featured Speakers:
Andrea Jung, former CEO, Avon Products, Inc.
Sharon Meers, Head of Magento Enterprise Strategy, a division of eBay
Beverly Tatum, President, Spelman College
Judy Warner, Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress, moderator
Special Remarks: When Women Succeed, America Succeeds:
Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, (D-CA)
Panel 2: Economic Security
Women play a vital and increasingly important role in the overall economic stability of families, serving as sole or co-breadwinners in two out of three U.S. families. The Women’s Economic Security panel will focus on policies that ensure they are paid fairly, explore how to provide flexibility in work schedules without impairing productivity in the workplace, and highlight policies to ensure women and men are not forced to choose between caring for a loved one and earning a paycheck or risking losing their job.
Featured Speakers:
Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, (D-CT)
Jocelyn Frye, Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress
Judy Lichtman, Senior Advisor, National Partnerships for Women and Families
Joan Walsh, Editor at large, Salon, moderator
Panel 3: Women’s Health
A key component of any women’s agenda is making sure there are policies in place that ensure healthy families and protect reproductive rights. This panel will focus on fostering and developing policies that expand access to health care, require the availability of comprehensive health services, protect doctor-patient privacy and discussions, and extend health coverage to low-income and uninsured families.
Featured Speakers:
Assemblywoman Lucy Flores, (D-NV)
Marcia Greenberger, founder and co-president, National Women’s Law Center
Ilyse Hogue, President, NARAL Pro-Choice America
Dawn Laguens, executive vice president and chief experience officer, Planned Parenthood for America
Dr. Jamila Perritt, Gynecologist, Montgomery County, MD
Karen Finney, Host, “Disrupt with Karen Finney,” MSNBC, moderator
Closing Speaker:
Maya Harris, Vice President for Democracy, Ford Foundation