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 Women of valor
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Lauren Muzinich, Linda Correia, Danielle Merollo, Rebecca Hollander, Pamela Baxter, and Kimberly Affronte |
| This past Friday at the home of Simone Levinson in Southampton, DIOR hosted a luncheon to benefit Southampton Center for the Arts. |
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Christine Mack, Nina Rennert Davidson, Heather Mnuchin, and Jennifer Creel |
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Andrea Glimcher, Jackie Siegal, and Natalie Kaplan |
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Cristina Cuomo and Fernanda Niven |
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Cricket Burns |
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Jennifer Creel and Christine Mack |
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Avis Richards, Pamela Baxter, and Debra Black |
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Diana DiMenna, Sharon Cardel, and Rory Tahari |
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Erica Karsch |
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Louise Camuto and Rory Tahari |
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Lauren Muzinich |
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Whitney Fairchild |
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Dorian May, Marjorie Harris, and Lauren Geller |
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Arden Wohl and Lisa Anastos |
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Hannah McFarland, Alexia Hamm Ryan, and Tiffany Moler |
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Josephine Meckseper, Kim Heirston, Lisa Anastos, and Simone Levinson |
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Lea Brokaw and Jennifer Creel |
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Kristi Avram, Mara Manus, Diana Di Menna, and Robin Avram |
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Linda Correia, Rebecca Hollander, and Danielle Merollo |
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Lisa Konsker and Brenda Axelrod |
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Pamela Baxter, Stephen Hamilton, and Karen Watkins |
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Louise Camuto and Rory Tahari |
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Dayssi Orlarte de Kanavos and Angela Barco |
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Lisa O'Kelly and Erica Karsch |
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Steve Funsch, Jennifer Mesiano, and Tom Knight |
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Mayor Mark Epley, Jean Shafiroff, Pamela Baxter, and Siamak Samii |
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Alexia Hamm Ryan and Tania Higgins |
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Karen LeFrak |
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Judith Giuliani and Melanie Wambold |
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Thea Wedepohl and Kate Phillips |
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Mary Katherine Navab, Catherine Dunn, and Anne Nordeman |
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Yung Hee Kim and Lorry Newhouse |
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Gloria Steinem “In Her Own Words”
The New Documentary from HBO
Jill Lynne for NYSD: I first met Gloria Steinem during the heyday of the women’s movement. I was an early-divorced single “mum” raising my wee daughter in NYC. I was also the daughter of a feminist New York mother (with two master's degrees from Columbia and NYU, who ran one of Manhattan’s first birth control clinics), so the “battle-cry” was in my blood.
After several “Consciousness-Raising” sessions, I became an organizer – first with NOW (The National Organization For Women) and then New York Radical Feminists, doing abuse-counseling at a women’s center, running a women’s food coop and becoming a spokesperson for the women’s art movement.
So, although younger and of a different generation, during the women’s movement, our paths crossed on many an occasion ...
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(c) Annie Leibovitz, 2010, Chez Gloria. |
My brownstone is located next to the former residence of the late beloved Bella Abzug – a marvelous character, Congresswoman, social activist and leader in the women’s movement. In 1977, President Gerald Ford and President Jimmy Carter appointed her as Chairwoman of the National Women’s Conference - part of the United Nation’s sponsored, International Year of The Woman. I joined her in organizing this momentous project.
Gloria was our “Star” – in 1972, creating “Ms Magazine” – the first publication to solely (soul-ly) focus on women’s issues – The “Ms" representing Women’s refusal to be categorized by their marital status – as in “Mrs.” or “Miss." She aptly noted, men were just “Mr.” with our any specific designation of marital status. There was – and persists – a gender-bias against “women of a certain age”…
As the movie chronicles, in 1934, Toledo, Ohio, Gloria was born a beauty – a fact against which she always struggled – for women of her era were primarily judged by their looks, almost never by brains and other important qualities. Raised in the Midwest, she attended Smith College, and then emigrated to NYC to become a journalist.
She modeled her streaked blonde hair, lithe figure and liberty-loving style after Holly Golightly in Truman Capote’s novel-turned-film, fabulous “Breakfast At Tiffany’s”. Holly responds to a possible marital proposal with the resounding statement, “People do not belong to other People! I’ll never let anyone put me in a cage!”
Gloria notes that the humiliation and distress of an early “secret” abortion, and her subsequent discovery of the plight of women having “illegal” desperate abortions in distressing in disease-riddled and death defying conditions, led to her activism for women.
In 1862, ESQUIRE Magazine Features Editor Clay Felker gave Steinem a break – her first serious assignment regarding “Conception." Then in 1963, Huntington Hartford assigned her to an expose on Playboy Bunnies for his SHOW Magazine. Gloria went underground, masquerading as a Bunny – proceeding through a month of training and “hard work." This not only led to the controversial editorial, but the acclaimed 1985 film, “A Bunny’s Tale." When in 1968, Felker founded NEW YORK Magazine, he added Gloria to the roster – and she finally had that real journalistic position.
Steinem took to public speaking when editorial refused to publish her statements, greatly expanding her audience, and leading to her iconic feisty image, as the “face” of the Movement.
For four decades Gloria Steinem has championed the rights of women, diligently working for social justice. A leader of the 1976 nationwide Women’s Strike For Equality – held on the 50th Anniversary of the enactment of women’s suffrage. Steinem actively campaigned for the Equal Rights Amendment.
She has founded and co-founded many strategic socio-political groups including the Coalition of Labor Union Women, the Women’s Action Alliance, the National Women’s Political Caucus, Choice USA, and with cohort Jane Fonda, the Women’s Media Center – the co-sponsor with HBO of the film screening.
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(c) Jenny Warburg, "Equality Now." |
The words of memorable “Address to the Women of America," delivered at the NWPB still echo today…
This is no simple reform. It really is a revolution. Sex and race because they are easy and visible differences have been the primary ways of organizing human beings into superior and inferior groups and into the cheap labor on which this system still depends. We are talking about a society in which there will be no roles other than those chosen or those earned. We are really talking about humanism.
The HBO film,” Gloria In Her Own Words”, produced by the vital Sheila Nevins of HBO, and Peter Kunhardt, revolves around archival interviews of Steinem by such notables as Barbara Walters, Helen Gurley Brown, Phil Donahue and Larry King. It also spotlights other Women’s Movement luminaries – Civil Rights advocate Flo Kennedy, NOW co-founder and author (“The Feminine Mystique”) Betty Friedan and Bella Abzug.
In many ways, the women’s movement succeeded!
Although there is still progress to be made – eg. Unequal pay (as in the recent Walmart case) and “Glass Ceilings” prohibiting women from rising to the top of that corporate ladder…women now have far greater choices and opportunities.
In Joy Behar’s recent Interview with Gloria Steinem, she aptly noted, that for many of our generation(s), we as Daughters lived out our lives – fulfilling the un-actualized dreams of our mothers – dreams that for cultural and socio-political reasons they sadly could not live out. Today our daughters (mine and more…Gloria decided to not have children) are freer to create their own unencumbered journeys and realize their very own dreams.
Although sometimes, as I regard young (and sometimes more senior) women tottering about in unhealthy stilettos or high wedgies (all too-reminiscent of ancient Chinese foot binding), or witness women still sweltering beneath burkas in sun-drenched heat, I am reminded that regression can happen and full feminine acceptance still needs to be won.
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| Feminist, activist & founder of Ms. Magazine, Gloria Steinem - looking good at 77 |
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| Gloria at the HBO Podium, during a Q & A, following the screening |
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At 77 years old, Gloria Steinem remains assertively involved. At this screening she had just returned from working with “Quilt," the organization developed by the women of South Korea to negotiate relations with the north.
As for tomorrow, Gloria warns against the danger of “cocooning." Although she acknowledges the critical nature of the Internet for giving more “voice” to women, she is concerned about speaking only to “the converted." In addition she emphasizes the real instrument in community building (vs. wired, virtual community) is to physically gather – viscerally, with “all five senses"!
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| Celebrated artist Barbara Nessim turns to focus on speaker (Gloria in background) |
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| President of the Women's Media Center, Julie Burton (forerly Executive Director, Voters For Choice) |
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| Jasmine Burnett (Sister Song NYC) |
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| Author and speaker Gloria Feldt (9 Ways Women Can Change How We Think About Power) and Vickie Costa |
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The New York based Women’s Media Center (www.womensmediacenter.com) monitors gender-bias in the media, advocates for equal positioning, and actively promotes women’s leadership, including critical Programs – Progressive Women’s Voices, Progressive Girl’s Voices, and SheSource. Following a few of WMC discerning statistics:
• Only 3% of decision-making positions in the media are held by women.
• Fewer than 25% of Op-ed pieces are written by women.
• Only 24% of people interviewed, heard, seen, or read about in mainstream broadcasting and print news are female.
“Gloria, In Her Own Words” premieres on HBO tonight, Monday August 15th, 2011, 9pm EST.
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Gloria, still mentoring |
| The Ninth Annual “Women of Valor” Awards Tea was held at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. Over 800 supporters attended this fundraiser which honored nine outstanding women from the Real Estate and Construction Industry to benefit St. Francis Food Pantries and Shelters. Veronica Kelly, Director of Special Projects at The Bowery Mission was the Honorary Chair and Keynote Speaker. Ms. Kelly was also presented a special award by Ernie Anastos from Fox 5 News. St. Francis Food Pantries and Shelters help feed over 9,000 poor families and serve over 1.5 million meals per year. |
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| Mt. Carmel Holy Rosary Violin |
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| Mt Carmel Holy Rosary Violinists |
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| Luis Valcarcel, Monica Larsen Wetherell, Michael Fahy, Nicole Lucarelli, Jacqueline Barr, Ted Moudis, Rosalie Mignano, Christopher Savoglou, and Lucy Carter |
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| Greg Tunic, David and David Mc Williams, Bob Rydstrom, and Susan Clamage |
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| Carol Malinchak, Sara Morgan, Lena Olhovsky, Richard Otom, and Norine Heyer |
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| Carmine Maratta, Fr. Tom Franks, Lydia Ruth, Fr. Francis and , Fr. Paul |
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| The Gap aka Grandparents Advocacy Project |
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| Joe Sano, Father Francis J. Gasparik, Ellen Blair, and Lorretta Walsh |
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| Pamela Caruso and friends |
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| Valerie Salembier, Margo and John Catsimatidis, and Joe Sano |
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| David Land, Brian Land, Bob Masucci, and Michael Chionchio |
Robin Fisher, Managing Director, Newmark Knight Frank, was the Guest of Honor. Humanitarian Award recipients included Liani Marie Rey, Senior Vice President, Jones Lang LaSalle, and Pia Silvestri, Director, Tishman Speyer.
Clarissa Award Recipients included Jody Brown, Corporate Real Estate Executive; Pamela J. Caruso, Senior Vice President, Real Estate Counsel, Vornado Realty Trust; Barbara E. Champoux, Esq- Partner, Crowell and Moring, LLP; Lisa Dimoulas, Senior Vice President, Corporate Real Estate, Neuberger Berman
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| Tyler DeBussey, Dr Stanley Brown, Honoree Jody Brown, Edie Brown, and Kyle DeBussey |
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| Peter Kahn and Gina Rizzo |
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| Suzanne Kaszynski, Helen Lowe, and Susan George |
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| Barbara Champoux, Jennifer Carrey, Pamela Caruso, and Robin Fisher |
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| Jody Brown and Lucy Carter |
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| Joseph Sano, Veronica Kelly, Father Francis J. Gasparik, and Police Commissioner Ray Kelly |
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| Pam Silvestri |
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| Veronica Kelly |
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| Ernie Anastos |
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| Tony Troiano and Lisa Dimoulas |
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| Les and Madeline Siegal |
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| Desmond Burke and Art Thomson |
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| Maggie Goldstein and Lia Gartner |
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| Mary Anne Fusco, Father Francis J. Gasparik, and other honorees |
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| Wendy Banks, Michele Gonzales, and Tiffany Alameda |
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| Michele Fiechter and Nora Fay |
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| Faith Hope Consolo and Police Commissioner Ray Kelly |
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| Jeff Mann and Joe Sano |
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| Peachy Deegan and Judy Sahagian |
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| Sarah Spool, Stephanie Rudman, and Debra Lanski |
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| Ellen Blair, Fran Weissler, and Veronica Kelly |
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| Doug Militzer, Mark Boccuzi, and Robert Vogliano |
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| Gary Dawes and Hugh O’Connell |
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| Jane and Paul Dietrich |
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| Michaela and Florence D’Urso, and Leila Larijani |
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| Mary Anne Fusco, Roxanne Romano, and Janice Gehret |
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| Honorees Barbara Champoux, Laini Marie Rey, and Jody Brown |
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| Ernie Anastos, and Veronica Kelly |
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| Margo and John Catsimatidis, and Tomaczek Bednarek |
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| Stephanie Tannenbaum, Kiana Groomes, Dina Byron, and Alicia Lopez |
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| Ted Finnerty, Bernie Diamond, and Jerry Rey |
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| Joanne Foulk and Phillip Leshinsky |
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| Theresa Fleming, Michele Medaglia, and Linda Alexander |
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| Lenny Koven, Jim Doran, and Larry Oxman |
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| Laini Rey, and Daniel Skip Hurley |
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| Steven Segure, and Les Hiscoe |
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| Julia Pandolfo, Jeff Mann, and Gerald Gisondi |
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| Laurie Malfa, and Ashley Predhomme |
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| Debra Razzano |
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| Greg Kelly and Ernie Anastos |
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| Andrew Hellerman, Patricia Taylor, and Ramon Gilsanz |
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| Constantino Sagobas and Eelodie Gora |
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| Ted Moudis and Ray Quartararo |
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| David Meberg and David White |
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| Father Francis J. Gasparik, Peter Troiano, and Honoree Lisa Dimoulas |
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| Gina Rizzo, Leslie Whatley, and Lucy Carter |
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| Donna Durso, Brother Eric Wandrey, and Father Micheal Brisson |
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| Father Joseph Granata, and Father Francis J. Gasparik |
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| Debra Cole and John Bennardo |
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| Joan and Len Glazier |
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