[International Women's Day Panel: "For All Women & Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment."]
[00:00:10]
MY NAME IS SAHAR AL PAAN, AND I'M SERVING AS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATION.
HOUSTON, IT IS TRULY AN HONOR TO GATHER WITH YOU AS WE CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY A DAY DEDICATED TO RECOGNIZE THE ACHIEVEMENTS, RESILIENCE, AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF WOMEN ALL AROUND THE WORLD.
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MAYORS, OFFICE OF TRADE, INTER INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS AND WORLD FEDERATION, UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATIONS.
ALSO, OUR PROGRAM IS SPONSORED WITH, UM, BY MR. NAS RUTINS, ANI AND ANI FOUNDATION'S CHAIRMAN.
AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. ANI, FOR DELICIOUS FOOD AND YOUR GENEROSITY THIS YEAR.
OUR THEME IS FOR ALL WOMEN AND GIRLS RIGHTS, PERIOD, EQUALITY PERIOD AND EMPOWERMENT PERIOD REMINDS US OF OUR COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY TO CHAMPION GENDER, GENDER EQUITY, AMPLIFY WOMEN'S VOICES, AND BUILD A FUTURE WHERE EVERY WOMAN AND GIRL HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO THRIVE.
RIMA ADELE, THE PRESIDENT OF UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATION, HOUSTON, AND VICE CHANCELLOR OF STUDENTS SERVICES AT HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
AADE HAS BEEN A DRIVING FORCE FOR GENDER EQUALITY AND EDUCATION IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR HER LEADERSHIP IN OUR CHAPTER.
THANK YOU SAHAR, AND THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE.
WHAT A WONDERFUL GROUP OF LADIES HERE.
SO HONORED AND HUMBLE TO BE AMONG WITH YOU ALL.
THERE COULD NOT HAVE BEEN A BETTER WAY TO SPEND THIS TIME AND CELEBRATE THE THIS INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY.
UM, SO TODAY WE COME TOGETHER NOT ONLY TO CELEBRATE THE REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENTS OF WOMEN AROUND THE WORLD, BUT ALSO TO REFLECT ON ONGOING JOURNEY TOWARDS GENDER EQUALITY.
WE WANNA GET THE PROGRAM STARTED VERY QUICKLY.
I KNOW WE HAVE OTHER COMMITMENTS, BUT WE HAVE, UH, BEFORE WE START, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE SOME VERY, VERY IMPORTANT INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS WITHOUT WHOM THIS EVENT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE.
SO FIRST AND FOREMOST, I EXTEND MY DEEPEST GRATITUDE TO THE UNA HOUSTON BOARD MEMBERS FOR THEIR DEDICATION AND SUPPORT.
IF YOU ARE HERE IN THE ROOM BOARD MEMBERS, PLEASE STAND.
WE ARE THANK YOU FOR ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND LEADERSHIP.
WE ARE ALSO INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL FOR THE CONTINUED COLLABORATION OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW, AND THE OFFICE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF TRADE AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, WHOSE LEADERSHIP HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN MAKING TODAY'S EVENT A REALITY.
A SPECIAL THANK YOU ALSO TO THE WORLD FEDERATION OF UNITED NATIONS FOR THEIR GLOBAL ADVOCACY OF THE UN'S CORE PRINCIPLE, INCLUDING GENDER EQUALITY.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE ALL THE ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THE ROOM.
IF YOU'RE ELECTED OFFICIALS, PLEASE STAND AND BE ACKNOWLEDGED.
WE ALSO HAVE NUMEROUS MEMBERS OF OUR COUNSELOR CORP REPRESENTATIVE.
UH, WE ALL KNOW THAT HOUSTON IS KNOWN FOR THE BIGGEST COUNSELOR CORP.
IF YOU ALL ARE HERE, PLEASE STAND.
I HAVE SEEN YOU, YOU ALL LOOK BEAUTIFUL AND COLORFUL TODAY.
YOUR LEADERSHIP PLAYS AN ESSENTIAL ROLE IN ADVANCING GENDER EQUALITY AND CREATING POSITIVE CHANGE.
I KNOW HOUSTON COUNSELOR CORP HAS ALSO STARTED A WOMEN'S CHAPTER.
SO THANK YOU TO ALL LADIES WHO ARE INVOLVED IN THAT CRITICAL WORK.
UM, AND LET US NOT FORGET TO THANK ALL THE MEN WHO ARE HERE TODAY SERVING AS CHAMPIONS FOR WOMEN'S SUCCESS THIS WEEK.
I HAVE SAID IT A COUPLE OF TIMES.
BEHIND EVERY SUCCESSFUL WOMEN,
[00:05:01]
OFTENTIMES THERE IS A MAN STANDING BEHIND HER.YOUR SUPPORT IS VITAL
I THANK YOU FOR STANDING WITH US.
KEEP SUPPORTING WOMEN LOUDLY BECAUSE WHAT IT DOES, IT INSPIRES OTHERS TO DO THE SAME.
ADDITIONALLY, I WANT TO EXTEND A HEARTFELT THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS, UH, ANI FOUNDATION.
UM, THEY PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN A ADVANCING THESE CONVERSATIONS.
AND OF COURSE, A BIG THANK TO OUR PANEL OF LADIES.
I KNOW THEY'RE VERY, VERY BUSY LADIES, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.
WE CANNOT WAIT TO HEAR MORE FROM YOU.
UM, THE REAL QUICKLY MISSION OF THE UNA HOUSTON IS TO PROMOTE THE WORK OF THE UNITED NATIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
BASICALLY, WHAT WE DO IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WE THINK GLOBAL, BUT WE WORK LOCALLY AND WE ADVOCATE FOR THE 17 SUSTAINABLE GOALS THAT UN HAS PUT ASIDE FOR US.
UM, TODAY WE GATHER TO HONOR THESE ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND TO HIGHLIGHT THE ONGOING NEED FOR GREATER EQUALITY.
AND LET ME JUST SAY, WHEN WOMEN RISE, WE ALL RISE.
SO LET'S GET IT GOING AND I'M GONNA INTRODUCE YES, CAN YOU, I'M GONNA INTRODUCE OUR COUNCIL MEMBER, LET PLUMBER FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
YOU HAD A PRACTICE SCHEDULE TODAY.
UH, BUT COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMBER REPRESENTING DISTRICT F WITH THIS STRONG FOCUS IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, PUBLIC SAFETY, AND ECONOMIC GROWTH, SHE HAS WORKED TIRELESSLY TO IMPROVE INFRASTRUCTURE, SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES, AND ADVOCATE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WITH A BACKGROUND IN BUSINESS AND PUBLIC SERVICE, COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMBER IS PASSIONATE ABOUT CREATING A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL RESIDENTS.
PLEASE WELCOME COUNCIL MEMBER LATINA PLUMBER.
IT IS SUCH A PLEASURE TO BE HERE TODAY.
I'M GONNA DO A SMALL CORRECTION.
SO I'M YET LARGE MEMBER FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
UM, I REPRESENT THE ENTIRE CITY.
I'M A DOCTOR BY TRADE AND SO REALLY FOCUSED ON QUALITY OF LIFE.
AND I'M REALLY PROUD TO SAY THAT I'M THE FIRST AND ONLY WOMAN, FEMALE WOMAN THAT SERVES ON CITY COUNCIL IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
SO, UM, IT'S REALLY, I BELIEVE AN ACCOMPLISHMENT, UM, THAT I'M PROUD OF.
BUT IT'S ODD WHEN I SAY IT BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THERE SHOULD BE MORE OF US.
UM, MY BACKGROUND, MY MOTHER IS YEMENI AND PERSIAN.
UM, MY DAD AND MY MOM MET IN MOMBASA, KENYA WHEN MY DAD WAS IN THE PEACE CORPS.
A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ABOUT WHY THIS IS SO SPECIAL TO BE IN FRONT OF YOU ALL TODAY, BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE IT'S MY CHARGE TO REPRESENT WOMEN INTERNATIONALLY, BUT WOMEN ALSO JUST GENERALLY, UM, IF I DON'T READ WHAT MY CHIEF OF STAFF HAS WRITTEN FOR ME, I'M GONNA GET IN TROUBLE.
SO I'M GONNA STAY ON POINT HERE.
UM, TODAY WE GATHER AND TO CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY.
THIS IS A DAY OF REFLECTION OF ACTION.
AND INSPIRATION IS A DAY THAT WE HONOR THE INCREDIBLE ACHIEVEMENTS OF WOMEN ACROSS THE WORLD.
AND WE RECOGNIZE OUR CHALLENGES THAT STILL EXIST, BUT WE COMMIT OURSELVES EVERY SINGLE DAY TO BUILD A MORE EQUITABLE FUTURE.
RIGHT HERE IN HOUSTON, WE ARE SO PROUD TO HAVE WOMEN THAT HAVE MADE DELVED MARK IN OUR COMMUNITY, FROM CONGRESSWOMAN BARBARA JORDAN AS A TRAILBLAZER IN CIVIL RIGHTS TO US.
REPRESENTATIVE SYLVIA GARCIA, WHO'S THE FIRST LATINA TO SERVE IN THE SENATE.
THEY HAVE FOUGHT TIRELESSLY FOR WOMEN'S RIGHTS FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE.
BESSIE COLEMAN, A WOMAN BORN IN TEXAS, TRAINED AS A PILOT IN HOUSTON AND BECAME THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN AND NATIVE AMERICAN WOMAN TO HOLD A PILOT'S LICENSE.
TODAY IS NOT JUST ABOUT THE FAMOUS NAMES THAT I MENTIONED, BUT IT'S ABOUT EVERY WOMAN WHO HAS DEFIED THE ODDS, WHO HAVE SHOWN THE RESILIENCE IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY, WHO HAVE LIFTED EACH OTHER, OUR FAMILIES, THE ONES WE LOVE, OUR COMMUNITIES.
IT IS ABOUT YOU, YOUR MOTHERS, YOUR SISTERS, YOUR DAUGHTERS, YOUR FRIENDS, YOUR COLLEAGUES.
AND EVERY WOMAN SITTING IN THIS ROOM RIGHT NOW HAS KNOWN AND MENTIONED ONE EXPERIENCE, ONE CHALLENGE THAT HAS PUSHED US FORWARD.
[00:10:01]
LET US CELEBRATE THE PROGRESS WE'VE MADE.LET US RENEW OUR COMMITMENT TO EQUITY, TO JUSTICE, TO OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL WOMEN.
IT IS STRONGER WHEN WE ALL RISE UP TOGETHER.
IT IS MOTHERS, IT IS AUNTIES, IT IS GRANDMOTHERS, IT IS GODMOTHERS, IT IS COUSINS.
I JUST STAND HERE SO FULL BECAUSE THE WOMEN IN MY LIFE ARE THE REASON I'M STANDING HERE.
AND I KNOW THAT WE ALL SUPPORT EACH OTHER.
WE ARE A LINKED CHAIN OF SUCCESS.
IT IS SUCH A PLEASURE TO BE IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO HAVE THE LEADERSHIP PLEASE COME JOIN ME.
I WOULD ALSO, UM, LIKE TO REP, UM, PRESENT A PROCLAMATION FROM THE MAYOR.
AND I'M NOT GONNA READ THE WHOLE THING 'CAUSE I KNOW WE'RE TIGHT ON TIME, SO I'M GONNA JUST KIND OF GIVE US SOME HIGHLIGHTS HERE.
UM, THIS PROCLAMATION IS FOR 2025 INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY IN HOUSTON.
WHEREAS WOMEN'S INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY CELEBRATED EVERY MARCH 8TH IN A GLOBAL OKAY, A GLOBAL OCCASION TO HONOR SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, CULTURAL AND POLITICAL ACHIEVEMENTS OF WOMEN.
WE ARE SERVING THE CALL TO ACTION FOR ACCELERATING GENDER GENDER EQUALITY.
WHEREAS IN 1975, DURING INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S YEAR, THE UNITED NATIONS BEGAN COM COMMEMORATING INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY AS A MOMENT TO REFLECT ON THE PAST STRUGGLES AND THE SUCCESSES, WHILE ALSO ENVISIONING THE OPPORTUNITIES AND POTENTIAL FOR THE FUTURE GENERATIONS OF WOMEN.
WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON RECOGNIZES THAT EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN AND GIRLS IS NOT ONLY A FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHT, BUT ALSO A CRITICAL DRIVER OF ECONOMIC GROWTH, SOCIAL PROGRESS, AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT.
WHEREAS ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY, WE CELEBRATE AND ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST GENDER BIAS AND INEQUALITY.
IN ALIGNMENT WITH UNA HOUSTON 2020 FIVES THEME FOR ALL WOMEN AND GIRLS, RIGHTS, EQUALITY, AND EMPOWERMENT, THIS THEME EMPHASIZES THE URGENT NEED TO ADVANCE EQUAL RIGHTS, UNLOCK OPPORTUNITIES, AND BUILD A BETTER FUTURE, LEAVING NO ONE BEHIND.
WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON STANDS UNITED IN THE COMMITMENT TO PROMOTE JUSTICE, FAIRNESS, AND EQUITY FOR ALL WOMEN AND GIRLS, ADVOCATING FOR INCLUSIVE POL POLICIES, FOSTERING EDUCATIONAL AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES, AND ENSURING THAT EVERY INDIVIDUAL HAS THE POWER TO REALIZE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.
WE URGE ALL RESIDENTS TO OBSERVE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY AND TO JOIN IN RECOGNIZING THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF WOMEN AND GIRLS, REAFFIRMING OUR SHARED COMMITMENT TO GENDER EQUALITY AND TAKING ACTION, ACTION TO CREATE A MORE JUST AND EQUITABLE WORLD FOR EVERYONE.
THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF HOUSTON, HEREBY RECOGNIZE MARCH THE EIGHTH, 2025 FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY.
COUNCIL MEMBER LETICIA PLUMMER FOR INSPIRING SPEECH AND PROCLAMATION.
NOW I'M THRILLED TO INTRODUCE YOU HONORARY DR.
TDA BANKS, CHAIR OF WORLD F FEDERATION, UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATIONS.
DR. BANKS IS A DISTINGUISHED LEADER WITH A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE IN DIPLOMACY, EDUCATION, AND ADVOCACY.
DR. BANKS HAS SERVED IN NUMEROUS LEADERSHIP ROLES, INCLUDING CHAIR OF U-N-A-U-S, A NATIONAL COUNCIL AND COUNCIL GENERAL OF THE REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA.
SHE MA SHE HAS MADE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT IN BOTH HER COMMUNITY AND ACROSS THE GLOBE.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING HONORARY DR.
GOOD MORNING EVERYONE, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING OUT FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY HERE IN HOUSTON.
AND I SEE MANY OF MY FRIENDS HERE BECAUSE WE STARTED THIS CELEBRATION WITH UNA OVER 15 YEARS AGO.
SO I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE TIMS, UH, DAVID AND SARAH AND RUPA GEAR, IF YOU CAN STAND.
SO, UM, IN OUR UNA HOUSTON, WE STARTED DURING THE CELEBRATION HERE AT CITY HALL.
[00:15:01]
DR.NOELLE BETTE FLORES, UH, WAS ONE OF THE KEY PEOPLE THAT DID THAT.
AND WE WERE THE FIRST ONES TO HAVE, UH, OUR CITY LIT UP THAT EVENING OF INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY.
SO IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE AND CERTAINLY TO TO SEE HOW IT HAS GROWN OVER THE YEARS.
UH, THE WORLD FEDERATION OF UNA UNA'S, UH, UNS IS THE FEDERATION OF ALL UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATIONS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
SO WE HAVE OVER 100 COUNTRIES THAT HAVE U A'S, AND OF COURSE, U-N-A-U-S-A IS ONE OF THEM.
SO WE'RE VERY PLEASED ABOUT THAT.
UH, AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME, IT'S EVEN MORE CRITICAL THAT OUR U NAS AND OUR NGOS AND OUR CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS STEP UP.
'CAUSE WE SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE ASSISTANCE AND THE WORK THAT WE DO, ASSISTING OTHER COUNTRIES, EVEN ASSISTING OUR OWN COMMUNITIES.
SO AS THERE'S RETRENCHING BY OTHERS, WE AS NGOS AND CSOS HAVE TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT MORE AND DO A LITTLE BIT MORE.
AND SO WE ARE, WE ARE UP FOR THE CHARGE FOR THAT.
SO I'D LIKE TO, UH, PRESENT THE STATEMENT THAT WAS PREPARED BY THE WORLD FEDERATION OF S.
WE HAVE OVER 150 COUNTRIES THAT ARE MEMBERS OF THE UNAS.
WE ARE BASED IN NEW YORK AND GENEVA.
OKAY, TODAY, INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY, THE WORLD FEDERATION OF UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATIONS, AND THE WORLD RECOGNIZED 30 YEARS OF PROGRESS AND ACHIEVEMENTS SINCE THE LANDMARK UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE IN BEIJING.
THIS TRANSFORMED THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN AND REAFFIRMED THOSE RIGHTS AS HUMAN RIGHTS.
SINCE THEN, WOMEN AND GIRLS HAVE SHATTERED BARRIERS, DEFIED STEREOTYPES, AND DEMANDED THEIR RIGHTFUL PLACE.
THIS YEAR'S THEME FOR ALL WOMEN AND GIRLS, RIGHTS, EQUALITY, EMPOWERMENT, CALLS FOR ACTION THAT CAN UNLIKE EQUAL RIGHTS, POWER, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL IN A FUTURE WHERE NO ONE IS LEFT BEHIND TODAY IS A RALLYING CRY TO TAKE A ACTION IN THREE KEY AREAS, ADVANCE WOMEN'S AND GIRLS RIGHTS, PROMOTE GENDER EQUALITY AND FOSTER EMPOWERMENT.
THE BEIJING DECLARATION AND PLATFORM FOR ACTION ADOPTED AT THE FOURTH WORLD CONFERENCE ON WOMEN IN 1995 IN BEIJING, CHINA, BY 189 GOVERNMENTS REMAINS THE MOST PROGRESSIVE AND WIDELY ENDORSED BLUEPRINT FOR WOMEN'S AND GIRLS RIGHTS WHILE WORLDWIDE.
AND THERE WERE REPRESENTATIVES FROM, UH, HOUSTON AND UNA HOUSTON, AS WELL AS U-N-A-U-S-A THAT ATTENDED THAT BEIJING CONFERENCE.
AND I KNOW SOME OF YOU ATTENDED THAT BEIJING CONFERENCE.
THE PLATFORM GUIDES, POLICIES, PROGRAMS, AND INVESTMENT THAT IMPACT CRITICAL AREAS OF OUR LIVES, SUCH AS EDUCATION, HEALTH, PEACE MEDIA, POLITICAL PARTICIPATION, ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT, AND THE ELIMINATION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS.
ADDRESSING THESE ISSUES IS URGENT WITH JUST FIVE YEARS LEFT TO ACHIEVE THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS.
WE'RE NOW IN THE DECADE OF ACTION, 2020 TO 2030.
WE'RE FIVE YEARS AWAY FROM IT, AND WE'VE HAD SETBACKS, UH, BOTH MANMADE AND NATURAL AND OTHERWISE.
THE UNDYING THEME THIS YEAR IS ACCELERATE.
THIS IS CRITICAL GIVEN IN 2025.
THE GLOBAL LANDSCAPE FOR GENDER EQUALITY IS SHAPED BY COMPLEX AND INTERSECTING CHALLENGES, ESCALATING CLIMATE EVENTS, RISING CONFLICTS, THE DIGITAL GENDER DIVIDE, AND THE RAPID EMERGENCE OF TRANSFORMATIVE TECHNOLOGIES.
UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY GENERAL ANTONIO GUTIERREZ NOTED THAT ALTHOUGH PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE IN SOME AREAS, WOMEN'S RIGHTS ARE BEING ABUSED, THREATENED, AND VIOLATED AROUND THE WORLD, AND GENDER EQUALITY WON'T BE ACHIEVED FOR 300 YEARS ON THE CURRENT TRACK, THIS PROGRESSION MUST BE ACCELERATED TODAY.
THERE ARE 112 COUNTRIES WITH NATIONAL ACTION PLANS ON WOMEN PEACE AND SECURITY.
A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE FROM ONLY 19 IN 2010, WHEN THE DOORS OF EQUAL OPPORTUNITY ARE OPEN FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS, EVERYONE WINS.
EQUAL SOCIETIES ARE MORE PROSPEROUS AND PEACEFUL, RESULTING IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT.
UN WOMEN EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS, SIMA PAHU, SAID FULL DEMOCRACY NEEDS THE EQUAL PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN IN ALL ITS PROCESSES.
WOMEN'S COLLECTIVE ACTION IS KEY TO THE ACHIEVEMENT OF SUBSTANTIVE EQUALITY.
IT IS MOST EFFECTIVE WHEN WOMEN'S RIGHTS ADVOCATES IN GRASSROOTS AND CIVIL SOCIETY.
ORGANIZATIONS THINK TANKS AND UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENTS CAN BUILD STRATEGIC ALLIANCES WITH GOVERNMENTAL AND NON-GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES.
AND WE ARE PLEASED THAT SO MANY OF OUR UNIVERSITIES ARE INVOLVED IN OUR UNA HOUSTON PROGRAMS, SUCH AS, UM, HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, UH, DOWNTOWN WITH
[00:20:01]
DR. FLORES, UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP, AND CERTAINLY WITH DR.FARUK TABBAN AT NORTH AMERICAN UNIVERSITY, WHO'S WITH US TODAY.
THE WORLD FEDERATION OF UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATIONS, ALONG WITH ITS SUPPORTERS AND PARTNERS, SUPPORT THE UNITED NATIONS PAC FOR THE FUTURE AND THE GLOBAL DIGITAL COMPACT THAT OFFER BLUEPRINTS TO GUIDE THESE ACTIONS.
THE WORLD FEDERATION OF UN A'S CALLS ON OUR ORGANIZATIONS TO STRENGTHEN PROTECTIONS OF WOMEN AND GIRLS AGAINST GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE.
WE URGE THEM TO RECOGNIZE AND SUPPORT THE VITAL WORK OF ALL WOMEN HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS, AND TO IMPLEMENT CONCRETE MEASURES TO PROTECT AND EMPOWER THEM.
ALL OF OUR PARTICIPATION IS KEY TO WHAT MUST CONTINUE IN EVERY ARENA IN OUR SOCIETIES AND ACROSS BORDERS AND CONTINENTS.
AS WE WORK TOWARDS THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS AND THE PACT FOR THE FUTURE.
IN SPITE OF CURRENT CHALLENGES, WE TOGETHER HAVE GREAT EXPECTATIONS AND GREAT DETERMINATION TO CHANGE THE PARADIGM FROM INEQUALITY TO EQUALITY, FROM SUPPRESSION TO PROGRESSION, AND FROM TRIALS TO TRIUMPHS, WE MUST REMEMBER THAT WHAT AFFECTS ONE DIRECTLY AFFECTS ALL INDIRECTLY, AND THAT WE ARE ALL INEXTRICABLY BOUND.
THE CLARION CALL 30 YEARS AGO BY HILLARY CLINTON STILL RESONATES TODAY AT THAT CONFERENCE.
IF THERE IS ONE MESSAGE THAT ECHOES FORTH FROM THIS DAY, IT IS THAT HUMAN RIGHTS ARE WOMEN'S RIGHTS AND WOMEN'S RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS.
THUS, THE WORLD FEDERATION OF UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATIONS AND ITS MEMBERS IN ALL COUNTRIES ARE COMMITTED TO THE WORK THAT MUST BE DONE AND THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS GLOBALLY.
NEXT IT'S MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE TRUSTEE EVA LAREDO, THE BOARD CHAIR OF HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE HAS BEEN OUR BIG SUPPORTER AND PARTNER OF UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATION HOUSTON, AND WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THEIR GENEROSITY.
TRUSTEE LAREDO PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE IN PROMOTING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND HER LEADERSHIP HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN MAKING HOUSTON A HUB OF EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING EVA LAREDO, TRUSTEE OF HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
UM, ON BEHALF OF HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE, I LIKE TO SAY WELCOME.
AND THEN, AND ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, I LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE.
AND, UM, I HAVE A SPEECH HERE WRITTEN, BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF REPEATING WHAT EVERYONE HAS SAID, BUT MY PART THAT I ADDED WAS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ALL HAD SOMEONE HELP US GET HERE.
ALL OF US, YOU KNOW, I REMEMBER, UM, IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, MY MOTHER ALWAYS MAKING SURE THAT I WAS READY AND BE IN SCHOOL ON TIME.
AND MY DAD SAYING, UH, YOU JUST DON'T TAKE UP THAT SEAT.
YOU JUST MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE LEARNING AND YOU'RE GROWING BECAUSE YOU'RE GONNA BE SOMEBODY.
SO THAT'S, UH, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, YOU GO THROUGH SCHOOL AND THEN THE TEACHERS THERE ARE HELPING YOU, PUSHING YOU, MOTIVATING YOU, AND YOU KNOW, JUST DOING GREAT THINGS TO ENCOURAGE YOU.
AND THEN YOU GO ON TO HIGH SCHOOL AND THEN THERE'S PEOPLE THERE ALSO THAT ARE HELPING YOU.
THEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE FROM THE CHURCH.
THEY'RE A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF HELPING US, NURTURING US, AND MAKING US GROW.
SO THERE'S MANY PEOPLE ALONG THE WAY, AND I SAY, IT'S LIKE US.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE WERE THAT SCULPTURE THAT WAS MADE, AND WE HAVE SO MANY WOMEN HERE, AND YES, GENTLEMEN, YOU TWO THAT, UM, THAT YOU'RE HERE IN THE CITY.
AND THIS ROOM IS SO FULL OF SO MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE MADE IT, THAT ARE SUCCESSFUL.
AND AGAIN, IT'S NOT BECAUSE WE DID IT ALONE, IT WAS BECAUSE SOMEONE HELPED US.
AND IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT ON THIS INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY THAT WE REMEMBER, AND WE CONTINUE AND WE LINK HANDS AS WE CONTINUE TO GROW AND HELP OTHERS AS WE KEEP MOVING UP THE LADDER,
[00:25:01]
WE HAVE A SAYING IN SPANISH THAT SAYS, SO WE'RE SAYING, YES, WE CAN DO IT, YOU CAN DO IT, WE CAN ALL DO IT, BUT WE NEED THAT SUPPORT AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE GROWING AND MOVING.AND HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE HAS HELPED MANY, MANY WOMEN, UH, ALONG THE WAY.
THERE'S PROGRAMS AVAILABLE NOW.
WE HAVE SOME THAT ARE IN THE AI PROGRAM.
THEY, WE EVEN HAVE WELD WELL WELDERS, ENGINEERS.
BEFORE THAT WAS AN ALL MALE ROLE, BUT NOW IT'S SO GREAT TO SEE WOMEN IN THOSE PROGRAMS. UH, YESTERDAY I WAS AT A GRADUATION THAT WE HAVE, WE HAVE A PUBLIC ACADEMY, UH, WHERE WE HAVE A FIRE SCHOOL, AND WE ALSO HAVE A POLICE ACADEMY AND ENT.
SO I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF ATTENDING A GRADUATION, UH, YESTERDAY FOR OUR FIRE SCHOOL.
I WAS AMAZED THAT OUT THE 25 GRADUATES, 10 WERE FEMALES.
AND SO, AND IT'S BECAUSE SOMEBODY ENCOURAGED THEM.
AND I JUST WANNA SAY, THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY AND LET'S KEEP ON GOING FORWARD AND MOVING AND GROWING AND SAYING THAT WE CAN DO IT.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND GOD BLESS YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, TRUSTEE LARDO.
NOW IT'S MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE HONORABLE ANNA DE PAOLO NASCIMENTO, THE COUNCIL GENERAL OF ANGOLA IN HOUSTON.
ANNA HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN FOSTERING DIPLOMATIC AND ECONOMIC RELATIONS BETWEEN ANGOLA AND THE UNITED STATES.
HER WORK IS HELPFUL TO CREATE MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLABORATIONS IN TRADE, CULTURE, AND EDUCATION.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN A WELCOMING, HONORABLE ANNA DE PAULA.
I'M REALLY PLEASED TO BE HERE WATCHING FOR A LOT OF GREAT HUMANS EMPOWERED WOMEN, AND THAT IS OUR FIGHT, AND THAT WE ASSURE THAT WE WILL WIN IT.
BEFORE I START, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF, UH, HIS EXCELLENCY SILVE TANANA.
IT IS WITH DEEP SORROW THAT WE EXPRESS OUR CENSORS CONDO CONDOLENCES FOR HIS PASSING.
MR. TANANA WAS A REMARKABLE PUBLIC SERVANT AND LEADER DEDICATING HIS LIFE TO ADVOCATING FOR JUSTICE AND EQUALITY.
HE WORKED TIRELESSLY IN SUPPORT OF WOMEN'S RIGHT.
AND, UH, HIS LEGACY WILL CONTINUE TO INSPIRE GENERATIONS TO COME.
MAY HIS MEMORY AND HIS EXAMPLE OF DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT REMAIN ALIVE IN OUR HEARTS AS WE MOVE FORWARD TODAY.
ON BEHALF OF, UH, THE CONSULAR CORP, I'M REALLY HONORED TO BE HERE AS WE GATHER TO CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY.
A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE THE REMARKABLE CONTRIBUTIONS AND DURING STRUGGLES AND, UH, AND DENIABLE TRIUMPH OF WOMEN AROUND THE WORLD.
THIS DAY SERVES AS A REMINDER OF THE STRENGTH, RESILIENCE AND, AND WEARING DETERMINATION THAT WOMEN BRING TO EVERY ASPECT OF THE SOCIETY ACROSS VARIOUS SECTORS.
AS SUCH AS, UH, EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE, AND POLITICS, WOMEN HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT STRIDES, BREAKING BARRIERS, AND DRIVING PROGRESS.
GLOBALLY, EDUCATION SYSTEMS HAVE EVOLVED TO CREATE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN TO ASSESS HIGHER LEARNING AND PURSUE THEIR DREAMS. PROGRAMS, PROMOTING INCLUSION, MENTORSHIP AND SCHOLARSHIP FOR YOUNG GIRLS.
CONTINUING TO SHAPE A FUTURE WHERE MANY WOMEN HAVE THE CHANGE TO DRIVE.
HEALTH DISPARITIES LIMITED ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL SERVICE, AND SOCIAL SIGMAS STILL HANDLE WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT.
THE WHITE IN ANGOLA, WOMEN FACE HEALTHCARE CHALLENGES RELATED TO HEALTHCARE, ASSESS AND
[00:30:01]
MATERNAL HEALTH ISSUES, ESPECIALLY WOMEN IN THE RURAL AND ADVERSE AREAS.EFFORTS LIKE THE ANGOLA'S NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 20 23, 20 27, AIM TO BRIDGE THESE GAPS BY IMPROVING INFRASTRUCTURES, EXPANDING PRIMARY CARE, AND FOSTERING COMMUNITY EDUCATION.
SUCH INITIATIVES REFLECT A GLOBAL COMMO COMMITMENT TO ENSURING EVERY WOMAN, REGARDLESS OF OUR BACKGROUND, SO THAT THEY CAN LIVE A HEALTHY AND EMPOWERED LIFE.
IN POLITICS AND LEADERSHIP, WOMEN ARE MAKING A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT, HOLDING POSITIONS OF POWER, SHAPING POLICIES, AND DRIVING CHANGES FROM LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO GLOBAL PLATFORMS. THEIR VOICES ARE FOSTERING A MORE INCLUSIVE AND EQUITABLE WORLD.
ANGOLA'S POLITICAL LANDSCAPE ACKNOWLEDGES THE VITAL ROLE OF WOMEN IN BOTH THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS, IMPLEMENTING POLICIES AND PROGRAMS TO PROMOTE THEIR INCLUSION AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT.
FROM LEADING THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, WOMEN CONTINUING TO INSPIRE PROGRESS, ACHIEVING TRUSS GENDER EQUALITY REMAINS AND ONGOING EFFORTS FROM NOW.
THE CONSULAR CORP LAUNCHED NOT TOO FAR LAUNCHED THE SUBCOMMITTEE FOR WOMEN IN DIPLOMACY.
AND WE ARE HERE TO REPRESENT THOSE WOMEN.
AND WE ARE HERE TO EXPRESS OUR VERY BIG SENTIMENT OF GRATITUDE FOR ALL THE WOMENS WHO ARE, UH, IN THE DIPLOMACY, MAKING THE BIG EFFORTS AND FIGHTING FOR THE EQUALITY AND EMPOWERMENT DESPITE THESE ONGOING STRUGGLES.
THIS PROGRESS, WE'VE BEEN SPEAKS TO THE UNHEALTH SPIRIT OF WOMEN ALL OVER THE WORLD.
WOMEN CONTINUING TO SHAPE SOCIETIES, INSPIRE CHANGES, AND PAVE THE WAY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
TODAY WE HONOR WOMEN'S LEGACY, WE CELEBRATE WOMEN'S ACHIEVEMENTS AND RENEW OUR COMMITMENT TO BUILD A WORLD WHERE ALL WOMEN CAN THRIVE, CAN LEAD AND LIVE WITH DIGNITY AND EQUALITY.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL GENERAL ANNA DE PAULA, FOR YOUR INSPIRING WORDS AND FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
NOW WE HAVE AMONG US, UH, MR. AAR HAMANI, UM, WHO IS OUR MODERATOR TODAY.
HE HAS GRACIOUSLY JOINED US TO MODERATE THIS PANEL.
MR. HAMANI, THIS IS AN INTERESTING FACT OF TODAY.
HE TOOK A FLIGHT EARLY TO JOIN US TODAY, SO PLEASE GIVE HIM A BIG HAND AS I
MR. HAMANI IS SERVED AS, AS THE FORMER UNITED STATES ATTORNEY FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS, LEADING ONE OF THE LARGEST US ATTORNEY'S OFFICES IN THE COUNTRY.
HE HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED FOR HIS EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP IN COMBATING ORGANIZED CRIME, HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND CORRUPTION, EARNING NUMEROUS AWARDS FROM GOVERNMENTAL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.
THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER, MR. HAMANI HAS BEEN A KEY FIGURE IN ADVANCING PUBLIC SAFETY AND JUSTICE.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING MR. HAMANI.
YES, I WOKE UP AT TWO 30 THIS MORNING, CENTRAL TIME, UH, TO GET HERE ON TIME.
AND SO IF ALL OF A SUDDEN I FALL DOWN, YOU KNOW WHY, UM, IT IS GOOD TO BE HERE.
UM, IT IS GOOD TO BE HERE AT INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY.
I AM HONORED TO BE HERE ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY.
UM, AND LET ME JUST SAY THIS, I HAVE JUST LEFT PUBLIC SERVICE ABOUT SIX WEEKS AGO.
I'VE JUST ENTERED, UH, THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
I SPENT 17 YEARS IN PUBLIC SERVICE.
I MOVED FROM HOUSTON TO KENTUCKY, KENTUCKY TO DC DC BACK TO HOUSTON.
I LIVED ON A GOVERNMENT PAYCHECK, AND I SEE SOME GOOD GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES HERE.
AND SO BASICALLY, I LIVE LIKE A POPPER FOR 17 YEARS, PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK.
[00:35:01]
ONLY HAPPENED BECAUSE AS, AS, AS DR.OTTO SAID, BECAUSE OF THE WOMAN WHO SUPPORTED ME, RIGHT? MY, MY, MY, MY WIFE, MY SIGNIFICANT OTHER, THE ONE WHO BELIEVED IN ME AND SAID, ALL RIGHT, I'LL MOVE WHILE I'M EIGHT MONTHS PREGNANT FROM HOUSTON TO KENTUCKY.
ALRIGHT, I'LL MOVE AGAIN TO DC ALL RIGHT, I'LL MOVE AGAIN TO HOUSTON.
SO IT IS, UM, UH, FOR, AS YOU SAID, EVERY, FOR EVERY PERSON, EVERY MAN, THERE IS A WONDERFUL AND INCREDIBLE WOMAN BEHIND HER.
WHAT'S ALSO IMPORTANT IS THAT REPRESENTATION MATTERS.
I SEE A WONDERFUL ARRAY OF NOT ONLY WOMEN, BUT WOMEN OF ALL COLOR, OF ALL PROFESSIONS, UM, AND WOMEN WHO, OF COURSE ARE THE TOP OF THEIR PROFESSION.
SO, WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, LET ME, LET ME TALK ABOUT THREE OF THOSE WOMEN, AND I'M GONNA INTRODUCE, UM, EACH ONE, AND I'LL ASK 'EM TO COME UP TO THE STAGE AFTER I FULLY INTRODUCE THEM.
SHE'S THE CHANCELLOR OF THE SAN, UH, JACK SAN JACINTO COLLEGES.
UM, AND LET ME, UH, SHE SERVED AS THE SAN CHANCELLOR OF SAN JACK.
SHE SERVED IN THAT VARIETY IN A VARIETY OF ROLES AT THE COLLEGE, INCLUDING THE EXECUTIVE VICE VICE PRESIDENT FOR RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT, THE VICE CHANCELLOR FOR FISCAL AFFAIRS, AND EXECUTIVE VICE CHANCELLOR BEFORE ASSUMING HER ROLE AS A CHANCELLOR IN 2009, SHE'S HELD THIS POSITION THAT LONG.
I GOTTA BELIEVE THERE'S NOT MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE HELD IT THAT LONG.
AND PRIOR TO JOINING SAN JACK, COME ON UP.
HELLER WORKED IN THE CORPORATE WORLD IN ACCOUNTING, AND AS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, SHE HOLDS A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN ACCOUNTING FROM FORT HAYES STATE UNIVERSITY AND MBA AND A DOCTORATE IN EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE LEADERSHIP FROM THE GREATEST COLLEGE IN THE UNITED STATES, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS WELCOME
AND YOU'RE GONNA SEE A THEME HERE.
ALL OF THESE FOLKS COULD HAVE GONE ON AND MADE A LOT MORE MONEY, BUT THEY COME BACK AND THEY'RE DOING PUBLIC SERVICE IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
OUR NEXT PANELIST IS RICH, IS BRENDA RICHARDSON.
NOW, MS. RICHARDSON IS THE FOUNDER OF HEALTH CO PHARMACY AND THE SEASONED PROFESSIONAL WITH OVER 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN THE PHARMACY BUSINESS.
NOW AFTER RETIRING FROM A WELL-KNOWN CHAIN PHARMACY, BRENT'S GOAL WAS TO WORK FOR HERSELF WHILE CONTINUING HER PASSION FOR HELPING PATIENTS IMPROVE THEIR HEALTH.
THIS LED TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF HEALTH CO PHARMACY, A BUSINESS BUILT ON A PATIENT CENTERED APPROACH TO HEALTHCARE WITH A DEEP COMMITMENT TO HER COMMUNITY.
BRENDA'S MADE IT HER MISSION TO OFFER COMPASSIONATE, INDIVIDUALIZED CARE THAT FOCUSES ON THE WELLBEING OF EACH PATIENT.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING MS. RICHARDSON TO THE STAGE.
AND FINALLY, IT IS MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE JULIETTE STEPPE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE GULF COAST WORKFORCE BOARD AND DIRECTOR OF HUMAN SERVICES AT THE HOUSTON GALVESTON, UM, AREA COUNCIL.
SHE GRADUATED FROM RICE UNIVERSITY, AND THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT, IMPORTANT PART OF HER RESUME.
SHE EARNED HER JD FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT LAW HOOK HORS
SHE BECAME THE DISTRICT EIGHT TRUSTEE FOR H-I-S-D-R-I-P, UM, WHERE SHE SERVED AS BOARD PRESIDENT IN 2014.
JULIETTE LATER SERVED AS HOUSTON'S FIRST DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, DEVELOPING PROGRAMS LIKE HIGH HOUSTON YOUTH AND LEADING EFFORTS TO EXPAND ACCESS TO EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS THE CITY.
SINCE HGAC IN 2022, SHE HAS LED WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS, GULF COAST AND HOUSTON GALVESTON AREA AGENCY ON AGING, FOCUSING ON ECONOMIC RESILIENCE, WORKFORCE PREPAREDNESS, AND REGIONAL GROWTH FOR OVER 7.2 MILLION RESIDENTS.
AND WITH THAT, I WANNA WELCOME A WONDERFUL GUEST.
YOU'RE ONE OF CALL ME, BRENDA.
UM, WELL, BRENDA, YOU KNOW, HOUSTON IS UNIQUE.
WE'VE GOT TWO WONDERFUL FEMALE CHANCELLORS IN THIS CITY, AND YOU ARE ONE OF THEM.
AND SO, UM, AND I'M SURE YOU'VE SEEN A LOT OF SIGNIFICANT STRIDES IN HIGHER EDUCATION OVER YOUR 22 YEARS, I BELIEVE.
AND, UH, BUT WHAT AREA, BUT WHAT AREAS DO YOU
[00:40:01]
STILL SEE, UH, WHERE THERE ARE GENDER? OH, SORRY.ALRIGHT, WHAT AREAS DO YOU SEE WHERE THERE'S STILL GENDER EQUALITY GAPS? UH, AND WHAT'S YOUR VISION FOR CLOSING THOSE GAPS OVER THE NEXT DECADE? SO THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, AND I'M REALLY HONORED TO BE HERE.
SO, IN MY TIME AT SAN JACINTO COLLEGE, WHAT I HAVE SEEN IS WE ACTUALLY HAVE ABOUT 59% OF OUR ENROLLMENT IS WOMEN.
UM, AND, BUT WHAT I SEE ARE THE GAPS AROUND MAKING SURE THAT THEY SEE THEY CAN ACHIEVE ANYTHING.
AND THERE'S TREMENDOUS, TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY FROM, YOU KNOW, BUSINESS, THE BEING A TEACHER, THE BIOMANUFACTURING IT, THE CYBERSECURITY, AND THEN ALSO GETTING INTO AREAS THAT AREN'T TRADITIONALLY FOR A WOMAN.
AND I, I LOOK AT THAT IN THIS HOUSTON REGION.
THERE'S A LOT OF TECHNICIAN JOBS.
UM, AGAIN, I GO BACK TO BIOMANUFACTURING, COMMERCIAL AEROSPACE.
SOME OF THE WOMEN THAT HAVE BEEN THE REAL LEADERS, UM, IN OUR WORK AT SAN JACINTO COLLEGE HAVE BEEN LIKE VANESSA WES, WHO'S THE NASA DIRECTOR, UM, JUST GOT MOVED TO, TO BE IN THE HIGHEST LEVEL CIVIL SERVICE DIRECTOR.
AND THAT IMPORTANT, UM, ASSOCIATION WITH THE COLLEGE AND BEING A ROLE MODEL.
UM, THERE'S A LADY NAMED TIFFANY STILL, SHE'S A PLANT MANAGER WITH CHEVRON REFINERY IN PASADENA, UM, ENGINEERING.
AND SO WHAT YOU SEE THERE IS THIS INCREDIBLE SCIENCE BACKGROUND THAT I THINK A LOT OF TIMES WOMEN DON'T SEE THEMSELVES IN.
THEY DON'T SEE THEMSELVES NECESSARILY AS CIOS, CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICERS OR THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, OR THE CEO.
AND SO HELPING WOMEN TO REALLY SEE THOSE, THOSE ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.
I'M PROUD THAT WE HAVE 59% ENROLLMENT THAT ARE WOMEN.
BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT ENROLLMENT OF FIRST GENERATION TO COLLEGE.
UM, OUR ENROLLMENT RIGHT NOW IS ABOUT 43% FIRST GENERATION TO COLLEGE.
BUT WE HAVE A, A PROMISE PROGRAM, WHICH MAKES, UM, HIGHER EDUCATION AFFORDABLE.
IT'S FREE FOR EVERY STUDENT IN OUR TAXING DISTRICT.
THIS PAST YEAR WE HAD 3000 NEW SCH PROMISE SCHOLARS.
AND THEY CAN EARN THEIR CREDENTIAL IN THREE YEARS, 3000 NEW PROMISE SCHOLARS, 74% OF THEM WERE FIRST GENERATION TO COLLEGE, AND AGAIN, ABOUT 60% WOMEN.
AND SO, MAKING SURE WE HAVE THE SUPPORTS, IT'S GREAT TO START, BUT WE NEED 'EM TO COMPLETE.
UM, YOU KNOW, AS SOMEBODY MYSELF WHO WAS THE FIRST PERSON TO GO TO COLLEGE, UM, IT'S HARD ENOUGH IF YOU'RE A MAN TO DO THAT, BUT TO BE A WOMAN TO DO THAT, AND LET'S SAY TO BE EVEN A WOMAN OF COLOR TO DO THAT IS EVEN MORE DIFFICULT.
SO YOU PROVIDE AN INCREDIBLE SERVICE WHEN YOU'VE GOT 60% OF YOUR ENROLLMENT AS, AS WOMEN.
THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S A SERVICE.
UM, AND SO SPEAKING OF SERVICES, MRS. RICHARDSON, MS. RICHARDSON, YOU'VE HAD AN INCREDIBLE CAREER AT THE HELM OF A MAJOR CORPORATION.
UH, WHAT RIGHTS OR POLICIES DO YOU NEED, DO YOU THINK, NEED TO BE IN PLACE TO ENSURE THAT WOMEN ARE EQUALLY REPRESENTED AT THE EXECUTIVE LEVEL IN INDUSTRIES LIKE PHARMACEUTICALS? ONE OF THE FIRST POLICIES THAT I WOULD IMPLEMENT OR THAT I DO IMPLEMENT SCO OF HEALTHCO IS EQUAL PAY FOR EQUAL WORK FOR WOMEN.
WOMEN SHOULD BE COMPENSATED THE SAME PAY THAT MEN ARE OTHER POLICIES THAT I WOULD IMPLEMENT.
UH, ONE WOULD BE, UM, ANTI-HARASSMENT AND DISCRIMINATION POLICIES, UH, PAID LEAVES, PAID FAMILY LEAVES.
UM, A LOT OF WOMEN FALL OUT OF THEIR CAREERS BECAUSE OF FAMILY OBLIGATIONS.
SO IF WOMEN ARE SUPPORTED, UH, WITH PAID FAMILY LEAVES, THIS IS ALSO FOR MEN TOO.
IT WILL HELP CREATE A WORK LIFE ENVIRONMENT.
SO THEY'RE ABLE TO STICK WITH THOSE CAREERS.
UH, ANTI-DISCRIMINATION AND ANTI-HARASSMENT POLICY SHOULD BE FULLY ENFORCED.
THERE SHOULD BE LEGISLATION THAT, UH, ACTUALLY ENFORCES THESE POLICIES AS FAR AS PAY IS CONCERNED.
UH, ONE WAY THAT WE COULD ASSURE THAT IS TO HAVE AN OPEN POLICY AS TO PAY STRUCTURES AND, UH, REGULAR AUDITS THAT WILL HELP US TO STAY IN LINE WITH, UH, WAYS THAT WE CAN HELP WOMEN TO EXCEL IN THEIR CAREERS.
I THINK THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE SUGGESTIONS THAT IT, IT ASTOUNDS ME THAT EVEN TODAY IN 2025, THEY STILL HAVE TO BE SAID OUT LOUD, BUT THEY DO.
[00:45:01]
MS. STEPPE, IN YOUR EXPERIENCE, WHAT RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS DO WOMEN NEED IN THE WORKFORCE TO THRIVE IN LEADERSHIP ROLES? AND, AND HOW CAN EMPLOYERS PLAY A BIGGER ROLE IN ENDURING THOSE RIGHTS, ENSURING THAT THOSE RIGHTS ARE PROTECTED? AND I CAN TELL YOU, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THOSE THINGS I THINK PEOPLE CAN DO IS GO TO THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS.BUT BEYOND THAT, BRENDA'S ANSWER, JUST ENCAPSULATED THE VERY THINGS THAT THE WORKFORCE NEEDS IN ORDER FOR WOMEN TO BE ABLE TO SUCCEED.
RIGHT? THE ISSUE OF FAIR PAY ANTI-DISCRIMINATION LAWS, BUT ALSO ONE THING THAT I'D LIKE TO SHARE, ESPECIALLY SINCE WE ARE AT CITY HALL AND IN MEMORY OF DEAR MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER, WE ALSO NEED THOSE GREAT MENTORS AND ROLE MODELS THAT'LL TAKE A CHANCE AS WELL.
AND SO I TELL FOLKS, I WAS SERVING ON THE HISD SCHOOL BOARD, AND I LOST MY REELECTION.
I WAS SAD, DEVASTATED, BUT I SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT? I WANNA BE ABLE TO SUPPORT MAYOR IN THE RUNOFF.
SO I MADE CALLS AND HAD DIFFERENT MEETINGS BECAUSE I WANTED, I KNEW THAT HE'D BE A GREAT MAYOR FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND I REMEMBER THAT I WAS AT A, AT A FUNCTION AND I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE A FEW WORDS.
AND I SAT DOWN AND THE MAYOR SAID, JULIET, YOU MIGHT HAVE LOST, BUT YOU REALLY WON.
I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT HE WAS SAYING AT THAT TIME, BUT LATER HE ASKED ME TO JOIN HIM AS THE CITY'S FIRST DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION.
AND IT'S BECAUSE OF FOLKS THAT TAKE THAT TIME TO LISTEN AND TO GIVE WOMEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE IN POSITIONS OF POWER AND AUTHORITY.
AND HE BUILT A GROUP HERE IN HIS ADMINISTRATION OF MANY DIFFERENT WOMEN WHO ARE IN THIS AUDIENCE TODAY.
AND IT'S BECAUSE OF THOSE LEADERS THAT BELIEVE IN JUSTICE, EMPOWERMENT AND EQUALITY, THAT OPEN DOORS TO OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US.
WE LIVE IN A CITY THAT IS EXTRAORDINARILY INTERNATIONAL.
WE HAVE A DYNAMIC ECONOMY, AND YET WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE DISCONNECTED.
WE HAVE FAMILIES THAT LIVE NEXT TO THE PORT OF HOUSTON, AND YET THEY DO NOT KNOW OF THE OPPORTUNITY THAT EXISTS IN THEIR OWN BACKYARD.
THE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY THAT IS HERE, THE SCHOLARSHIPS, THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF ACCESS TO A STABLE, LOVING FAMILY LIFE THAT CAN BE JOINED WHEN YOU HAVE THAT EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY AND THAT EXPERIENCE, THE CONNECTION TO DEAR EMPLOYERS WHO CARE.
BUT IT TAKES EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US TO BE COMMITTED TO THOSE RIGHTS, TO THOSE VALUES.
IT'S A TRANSFORMATIVE, RADICAL COLLABORATION THAT'S NEEDED FOR US TO SAY, WE'RE NOT GONNA WAIT 300 YEARS.
YOU KNOW, AND I WILL, I WILL MAKE A CALL OUT TO EVERYBODY HERE, RIGHT? I, I'M THE SON OF A CAB DRIVER.
I DID NOT BECOME THE US ATTORNEY BECAUSE OF ANYTHING SPECIAL, BUT BECAUSE PEOPLE LIFTED ME UP.
I WILL SAY THIS, IF YOU ARE A WOMAN WHO IS IN LEADERSHIP, YOU HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO MENTOR, YOU HAVE AN OBLIGATION WHEN SOMEBODY EMAILS YOU OUTTA THE BLUE AND HAS THE COURAGE TO SAY, WELL, YOU TALK TO ME, THAT'S THE PERSON YOU PUT AT THE TOP OF YOUR LIST.
NOT THAT CLIENT, NOT ANYBODY ELSE BUT THAT PERSON.
'CAUSE 60% OF, OF THOSE KIDS, RIGHT? WHO, WHO COLLEGE IS THEIR FIRST TIME.
I CAN TELL YOU I WAS LOST IN COLLEGE.
WHAT WOULD'VE GIVEN ME DIRECTION WHERE THOSE MENTORS.
SO THAT'S A CHALLENGE TO EVERYBODY AS WELL AS MYSELF.
NOW, LET ME GO BACK TO YOU, DR.
NOW, WHAT'S THE ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU'D GIVE TO YOUNG WOMEN AND GIRLS LOOKING TO STEP INTO LEADERSHIP ROLES IN EDUCATION AND BEYOND? THE ONE PIECE OF ADVICE I'D GIVE IS TAKE THE OPPORTUNITIES EVEN WHEN YOU DON'T THINK YOU CAN DO IT.
UM, BE WILLING TO TAKE THAT RISK AND DON'T LET THAT IMPOSTER SYNDROME KICK IN.
IT'S EASY TO CONVINCE YOURSELF THIS ISN'T GONNA WORK.
UM, BUT TAKE THAT RISK EVEN WHEN YOU'RE, YOU'RE REALLY UNSURE AND THEN YOU SEEK THAT GUIDANCE FROM OTHERS TO HELP YOU.
UM, AND I, I LOOK AT IT EVEN FROM A STANDPOINT OF WORKING AT SAN JACINTO COLLEGE AND THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT I'VE BEEN GIVEN, THERE WAS ALL ALONG THE WAY, I WASN'T SURE I COULD DO THIS AT ALL.
AND IT WAS BECAUSE OF PEOPLE THAT INSPIRED AND REACHED OUT TO ME AND TOLD ME I COULD.
UM, AND YES, A LOT OF MEN, BECAUSE I WORKED WITH A LOT OF MEN WHEN I FIRST STARTED, BUT MY, MY BOARD CHAIR, UM, MARIE FLICKINGER WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN, IN GIVING THAT EXTRA PUSH.
BUT WOMEN, WE CAN TALK OURSELVES OUT OF DOING SOMETHING.
[00:50:01]
MM-HMMAND WE CAN'T DO THAT ANY LONGER.
WE'VE GOTTA TAKE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AND JUST KNOW YOU CAN DO IT AND FIND THE STEPS.
IF YOU MAKE A MISTAKE, YOU BACK UP AND FIX IT.
YOU'VE GOT TO TAKE THE STEPS AND YOU BRING UP A GOOD POINT.
MISTAKES, YOU KNOW, UM, AS THE FIRST OF WHATEVER I WAS, WHEN I WAS A US ATTORNEY, I WAS AFRAID IF I MADE A MISTAKE, THERE'LL BE, THERE WON'T BE ANOTHER ONE OF ME.
RIGHT? WE'VE GOTTA GET A BEYOND THAT.
AND YOU'VE GOTTA GIVE YOURSELF THAT BREATHING ROOM, OTHERWISE YOU WON'T TAKE THAT RISK.
UM, BRENDA? YES, I, IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME AND GIVE YOUR YOUNGER SELF ONE PIECE OF EMPOWERING ADVICE, WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY? I WOULD TELL MYSELF TO TRUST MY INSTINCTS.
DON'T BE AFRAID OF TAKING RISK BECAUSE EVEN IF YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE IN THE ROOM WHO SEES THE POTENTIAL, TAKE THAT RISK.
NOW I'LL SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT RISK TAKING.
AND WHAT I DO IS I PLAN FOUR DEEP PLAN.
ONE IS I'VE GOT THIS GREAT IDEA AND IT'S GONNA MAKE ME A LOT OF MONEY.
I'M GONNA BE SUCCESSFUL, I'M GONNA DO WHAT I LOVE AND THE MONEY WILL FOLLOW.
BUT THEN THERE'S MURPHY'S LAW.
WHATEVER CAN GO WRONG, WILL GO WRONG.
A LOT OF TIMES I WILL SHARE MY IDEAS WITH OTHERS AND OFTENTIMES I'LL BE TOLD THAT YOU CANNOT DO THIS AND WHY IT WON'T WORK.
BUT I'M NOT DISCOURAGED BY THAT BECAUSE THEY MIGHT HAVE GIVEN ME IDEAS OR PERSPECTIVES THAT I HADN'T THOUGHT OF.
AND THAT'S WHERE PLANS B, C, AND D COME IN.
SO EMBRACE FEAR, FACE FEAR DOWN BECAUSE FEAR CAN BE STIFLING AND IT CAN KEEP US FROM DOING THE THINGS THAT WE WANNA DO.
ALSO, YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT OBLIGATION.
ONE THING THAT I THINK THAT ALL OF US, ALL OF US IN THIS ROOM SHOULD DO IS PLANT SEEDS.
AND I'LL GIVE YOU A BRIEF STORY ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO ME.
UH, AN AFRICAN AMERICAN PHARMACIST AND HER HUSBAND OWN THE ONLY PHARMACY IN LUBBOCK, TEXAS.
AND SHE ASKED ME, SHE SAID, WELL, WHAT DO YOU WANNA BE? I SAID, WELL, I THOUGHT ABOUT BEING A LAWYER AND I THOUGHT ABOUT BEING A SCHOOL TEACHER.
AND SHE SAID, WHY DON'T YOU BECOME A PHARMACIST? SHE SAID, GIRL, YOU'LL BE IN NO TIME
I THOUGHT, REALLY? SO EVERY TIME SOMEBODY ASKS ME WHAT I WANTED TO BE, I WANNA BE A PHARMACIST.
SO MY ADVICE TO YOUNG GIRLS IS TO CHOOSE SOMETHING THAT YOU THINK YOU CAN DO AND STICK WITH IT.
DON'T BE AFRAID OF THE CHALLENGES BECAUSE THEY'RE ALL GONNA BE CHALLENGES.
AND ONE THING THAT, UH, I TELL YOUNGER PEOPLE IS THERE ARE TWO MORE THAN TWO, BUT MY MAIN TWO ONE IS DETERMINATION.
IF YOU ARE WILLING TO WORK HARD, WHAT IS, WHAT IS WORK? WORK IS ENERGY IN MOTION.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN ENERGY GETS IN MOTION? SOMETHING HAS TO MOVE.
SO IF YOU'RE WILLING TO WORK HARD AND PUT THE TIME IN THAT IT TAKES TO BE SUCCESSFUL, THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING YOU CAN'T DO.
YOU KNOW, UH, SO I REMEMBER I READ THIS BOOK, UH, BY THIS OTHER US ATTORNEY FROM THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK.
UM, AND I READ IT AS I BECAME THE US ATTORNEY AND WAS LEADING THIS OFFICE.
AND HIS ONE PIECE OF ADVICE WAS, DON'T BE AFRAID TO ASK THOSE QUESTIONS.
AND HE SAID, WHEN YOU ASK THE QUESTION AS A LEADER, YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE ON THE EDGE OF A WINDOW SILL ABOUT TO JUMP OFF.
BUT BECAUSE YOU ASK THOSE QUESTIONS, YOU GET THE ANSWER JUST AS YOU DID.
YOU TAKE THOSE RISKS AND YOU ASK THOSE QUESTIONS.
SO WONDERFUL PIECES OF ADVICE.
NOW, JULIET, 'CAUSE I'VE HEARD IT'S THE FIRST NAME HERE.
WE'RE DOING, UM, HOW DO YOU ENSURE THAT GENDER EQUALITY IS EMBEDDED INTO WORKFORCE POLICIES? AND WHAT ARE SOME INITIATIVES YOU'VE CHAMPIONED TO PROMOTE GENDER PARITY WITHIN YOUR REGION? SO AT THE GULF COAST WORKFORCE BOARD AND AT THE HOUSTON GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL, I WANNA SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, OUR WORKFORCE IS VERY INCLUSIVE OF THE COMMUNITY.
[00:55:01]
ARE SO PROUD TO HAVE MANY WOMEN MEMBERS LEADING SO MANY INITIATIVES THAT ARE DEEPLY IMPACTFUL.ONE, FOR INSTANCE, IS OUR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAM, WHICH IS ABOUT $370 MILLION THAT WE ALLOCATE FOR CHILDCARE SCHOLARSHIPS THROUGHOUT THE REGION.
AND IT'S LED BY JENNIFER STARLING, WHO HAS COME FROM OUR SYSTEM, KNOWS THE SYSTEM, AND HAS BEEN ABLE TO CREATE A SYSTEM THAT IS SO RESPONSIVE THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO REDUCE THE WAIT LIST SIGNIFICANTLY.
WE'RE SERVING ABOUT 40,000 CHILDREN.
AND, BUT THERE'S STILL A WAIT LIST.
AND I TELL FOLKS, AT LEAST NOW WITH MY STRONG TEAM OF WOMEN LEADERS, INCLUDING CHRISTIE RUN HILL, WHO USED TO WORK HERE AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, SHE HAS WORKED WITH THIS GROUP OF, OF WOMEN TO DESIGN AND DEVELOP A SYSTEM WHERE WE CAN SAY, THIS IS EFFICIENCY.
AND NOW WE KNOW THAT THERE IS A STRONG NEED FOR EVEN MORE INVESTMENT IN FUNDS FOR CHILDCARE SCHOLARSHIPS BECAUSE FAMILIES NEED THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR ACCESS TO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.
SO THEY CAN GO TO WORK, THEY CAN STUDY, AND THEY HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR WHILE THEY'RE EARNING AND LEARNING, THEIR CHILDREN ARE ABLE TO BE IN A SAFE, NURTURING, SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY'RE LEARNING AS WELL.
AND SO I TELL FOLKS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO BE VERY CONSCIENTIOUS IN OUR, IN OUR HIRING PRACTICES AND HOW WE TREAT OTHERS IN OUR ENVIRONMENT AND HOW WE RESPOND AND REACT TO THE SITUATIONS THAT OUR EMPLOYEES ARE EXPERIENCING AS WELL.
AND SO THOSE ARE THINGS THAT ALLOW US TO ATTRACT, RECRUIT, AND RETAIN TALENT.
AND IT TAKES A VERY CONSCIENTIOUS EFFORT ON THE PART OF ALL THE LEADERSHIP, THE SENIOR MANAGERS AND THE DIRECTORS IN OUR DIVISION TO BE ABLE TO SAY, THIS IS AN INVESTMENT IN TIME EFFORT.
SO THAT WAY, AS WE ARE STRONG, WE CAN HELP OUR COMMUNITY SUCCEED AS WELL.
WHAT I HEARD THERE IS YOU HAVE TO BE PURPOSEFUL.
I'M NOT GONNA SAY BRENDA ONE OR TWO 'CAUSE I DON'T WANNA GIVE ANY PRIMACY.
UM, NOW WHO'S BEEN YOUR MOST INSPIRING, UH, WOMAN ROLE MODEL AND AND, AND HOW HAS SHE INFLUENCED YOUR CAREER AND LIFE CHOICES? SO THIS GOES WAY BACK.
UM, BUT I I, I GREW UP IN KANSAS.
I'M, I'M FIRST GENERATION TO COLLEGE.
MY, MY DAD WAS A TRUCK DRIVER.
I KNEW I WAS SUPPOSED TO GO TO COLLEGE, BUT I REALLY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANT.
AND THE WOMEN ROLE MODELS I HAD, UM, LARGELY IN A FARMING COMMUNITY.
UM, THEY WERE HOUSEWIVES AND THEY, SO I HAD AN AUNT WHO WAS A NURSE.
UH, I KNEW I WASN'T THE NURTURING TYPE.
IT WAS PRETTY CLEAR
AND THEN I HAD HAD TEACHERS AND MY TEACHERS, UM, ALL THROUGH GRADE SCHOOL INTO JUNIOR HIGH, UM, FIRST YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL.
YOU KNOW, I JUST SAW THEIR COMPOSURE.
I MEAN, THEY WERE, I JUST THOUGHT THEY WERE AMAZING.
AND, UM, I WAS ACTUALLY INTIMIDATED AND NEVER THOUGHT I COULD, COULD DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AND, UM, AND AGAIN, THEY, THEY HAD THAT NURTURING PIECE, WHICH I KNEW WASN'T ME.
AND SO WHEN I WAS A SOPHOMORE IN, IN HIGH SCHOOL, IT WAS A MRS. BEAKER AND MRS. BEAKER WAS THE TYPING TEACHER.
AND I'M SURE NONE OF YOU, VERY FEW OF YOU HAVE OUT THERE, HAVE HAD THE TYPING CLASS.
BUT, UM, SHE ALSO TAUGHT ACCOUNTING.
AND, UM, THAT WAS MY FIRST TAKE OF, WOW, THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE.
I MEAN, I HAD NEVER FIGURED OUT THAT THERE COULD BE A DIFFERENT PROFESSION FOR A WOMAN OTHER THAN BEING A HOUSEWIFE HELPING WITH A FARM OR NURSING OR TEACHER.
AND, UM, I JUST LOVED ACCOUNTING.
AND, AND THERE MY HIGH SCHOOL, UM, ONLY HAD ONE ACCOUNTING CLASS, SO SHE TOLD ME, WELL, YOU NEED, YOU SHOULD GO TO THE SCHOOL BOARD AND GET ANOTHER ONE.
AND SO, UM, I DID, AND ACCOUNTING ENDED UP BEING MY WHOLE BACKGROUND.
MY, MY BACHELOR'S IS IN ACCOUNTING.
I WENT TO THE COLLEGE IN MY HOMETOWN.
UM, MY PARENTS DIDN'T BELIEVE IN A GIRL GOING AWAY TO COLLEGE.
AND MRS. BEAKER MADE SURE THAT I HAD THE CONNECTIONS I NEEDED.
UM, I WENT THROUGH COLLEGE ON SCHOLARSHIPS AND EVEN TO A POINT WHEN I GOT INTO PUBLIC ACCOUNTING AND IN DENVER, UM, HER BEING THAT THAT SUPPORT FOR ME AND MY ACCOUNTING FOUNDATION, MY BUSINESS FOUNDATION HAS REALLY LED ME TO, TO MY CAREER.
AND EVEN FROM A STANDPOINT ABOUT SMALL BUSINESS, THE FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES I'VE WORKED IN, AND MY ROLE AT SAND JACK, IT HAS BEEN THIS WHOLE FOUNDATION OF, OF ACCOUNTING
[01:00:01]
AND BUSINESS AND BEING ABLE, UM, TO REALLY STRETCH MYSELF.AND, AND SO I, I OWE IT TO MRS. UM, BEAKER BECAUSE I, I DON'T KNOW WHERE I WOULD'VE ENDED UP.
UM, THE OTHER ROLE MODEL I'VE HAD, I MENTIONED MY BOARD CHAIR, MARIE FLICKINGER, AND MARIE PASSED AWAY IN NOVEMBER.
AND MARIE WAS PROBABLY THE STRONGEST WOMAN I KNEW.
UM, AND WAS A PERSON, EVERY MAYOR LOVED HER.
SYLVESTER TURNER, UM, MAYOR WHITMEYER, MAYBE THEY DIDN'T LOVE HER, BUT THEY KNEW TO, THEY KNEW, UM, WHEN SHE CAME TO THE TABLE THAT SHE HAD A PRETTY BIG ISSUE AND THEY ALL LISTENED TO HER.
AND, AND SHE, SHE TAUGHT ME NOT TO BE THAT, THAT CAUTIOUS, QUIET PERSON AND TO REALLY TAKE RISK AND, AND TO LISTEN AND, AND TO RESPOND.
AND SO, UM, THOSE HAVE REALLY BEEN THE, THE WOMEN THAT MADE, MADE THE GREATEST IMPACT, I THINK IN HELPING GUIDE ME.
AND AS I THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE OF EVEN MY ROLE IN EDUCATION, IT IS ABOUT MAKING SURE WE'VE GOT THOSE, THOSE MENTORS, LIKE YOU MENTIONED, THOSE ROLE MODELS AT THE COLLEGE SO THAT WOMEN, GIRLS, YOUNG PEOPLE CAN SEE THEMSELVES IN CAREERS THEY NEVER THOUGHT WERE POSSIBLE.
UM, YOU KNOW, YOU MENTIONED THE PORT, THE MAR, THE, WE'VE GOT THAT, YOU KNOW, AND, AND THE JOBS AND THE CAREERS AND THE OPPORTUNITIES AND JUST HELPING PEOPLE SEE, AND THE WOMEN SEE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.
I KNOW THERE'S A MRS. BEAKER OUT THERE FOR EVERYBODY.
IF YOU HAD A MAGIC WAND AND COULD INSTANTLY CHA MAKE ONE CHANGE TO IMPROVE THE FUTURE FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS WORLDWIDE, WHAT WOULD THAT CHANGE BE? IF I HAD A MAGIC WAND, I WOULD MAKE OUR FORMER VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS
UM, BUT THE OTHER THING THAT I WOULD DO IS I WOULD ENSURE UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO ALL WOMEN AND GIRLS WITH A FOCUS ON GENDER EQUALITY AND EMPOWERMENT.
UM, WE CAN ALL BE IN OUR COMFORT ZONES AND, AND GO WITH THE NORM, BUT WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO ENCOURAGE GIRLS.
UH, I WAS LISTENING TO HER, BRENDA, AND UM, IT REMINDED ME WE CAN DO SIMPLE THINGS LIKE MAKE SUGGESTIONS, PLANT THE SEEDS THAT I JUST SPOKE ABOUT.
I HAVE PARTICIPATED IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND WHAT I DO IS I TAKE A PILL TILE AND A SPATULA, AND I TAKE SOME M AND MS A VIAL WITH A LABEL, AND I HAVE CHILDREN COUNT BY FIVES, M AND MS, 30 OF THEM, PUT THEM IN A VIAL, PUT THE LABEL ON IT, PUT THE CAP ON IT.
AND THEN I TELL THEM, IF YOU CAN DO THIS, YOU CAN BECOME A PHARMACIST.
AND YOU WOULD BE SURPRISED AT THE LOOKS ON THEIR FACE.
BUT YOU WOULD BE EVEN MORE SURPRISED AT THE LOOK ON THE PARENTS' FACES.
SOME OF THESE, SOME WOMEN, SOME PEOPLE DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT THE THINGS THAT THEY CAN DO.
AND I THINK THAT YOU ADDRESSED THIS JUST A MOMENT AGO.
SO WE REALLY NEED TO DO SIMPLE THINGS.
IT DOESN'T TAKE HIGH TECH THINGS, IT DOESN'T TAKE A LOT OF EFFORT.
JUST THE WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT A LOT OF TIMES WILL EMPOWER WOMEN AND GIRLS TO SHAPE THEIR, THEIR LIVES, TO SHAPE THEIR FUTURES.
REMIND ME TO GET YOU THAT WAND
SO JULIET, WHAT'S THE MOST CHALLENGING OBSTACLE YOU'VE SEEN WOMEN FACE IN ENTERING THE WORKFORCE IN YOUR REGION, AND WHAT STEPS ARE BEING TAKEN TO HELP OVERCOME IT? I THINK THE, ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING THINGS, ESPECIALLY WE SAW THIS DURING COVID, WAS WHEN THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS CLOSED AND THERE WAS SUCH A SIGNIFICANT NEED FOR CHILDCARE.
AND SO IT JUST DEMONSTRATED THE ABSOLUTE IMPORTANCE OF, WELL, ONE, THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND THEIR SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE CONTINUITY OF THE ECONOMY THAT EVERYONE RECOGNIZED WHEN EVERYTHING SHUT DOWN.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, I REMEMBER BEING IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND TALKING TO WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS AND THE GULF COAST WORKFORCE BOARD AT THAT TIME AND SAYING, WE HAVE TO WORK WITH OTHER PARTNERS TO LAUNCH FINE CHILDCARE NOW.
BECAUSE EVEN THE ESSENTIAL WORKERS WHEN THEY WERE TRYING TO GO TO THE HOSPITALS, THEY NEEDED SOMEBODY TO WATCH THEIR
[01:05:01]
CHILDREN.AND SO ALL OF THAT JUST DEMONSTRATED THAT WE TOOK SO MUCH FOR GRANTED.
A LOT OF TIMES THERE ARE MANY WOMEN THAT OWN THESE CHILDCARE BUSINESSES.
THEY MIGHT RUN IT OUT OF THEIR HOMES, THEY DO IT WITH A SHOESTRING BUDGET.
AND, UM, AND IT'S THE BACKBONE FOR ALL THE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY THAT YOU SEE.
AND SO THAT IS ONE OF THE CHALLENGES IS TRYING TO SAY, HOW CAN WE STRATEGICALLY MAKE THE APPROPRIATE LEVELS OF INVESTMENT TO EMPOWER FAMILIES WITH A STABLE, UM, OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE ACCESS TO QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION? IT'S A BENEFIT TO THE PARENTS, IT'S A BENEFIT TO THE CHILDREN.
IT'S A BENEFIT TO THE FUTURE OF THIS COMMUNITY.
THEY SAY EVERY DOLLAR INVESTED IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, QUALITY, EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION HAS AS MUCH AS A 12 TO $16 RETURN.
AND YET IT DOES TAKE TIME TO SEE THAT COME INTO FRUITION.
AND SO IF WE LOOK AT THIS WITH OPEN EYES FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF WOMEN, FAMILIES, AND CHILDREN, THAT IS A CRITICAL BARRIER THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED.
UM, YOU KNOW, OTHER BARRIERS OF COURSE THAT WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, THINGS ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE.
UM, ANOTHER ISSUE THAT WE ALSO SAW DURING THE PANDEMIC WAS ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE AND SUPPORT AND SERVICES.
THOSE ARE THINGS THAT, UM, BUILD UP OUR RESILIENCY AND THAT HELP US AT A COMMUNITY REGARDLESS OF WHEN A CRISIS DOES COME SUCH AS A DISASTER, WE HAVE THAT GREATER CAPACITY BUILT IN PLACE AND WE DON'T HAVE TO SCRAMBLE IN AN EMERGENCY TO TRY TO PUT IT TOGETHER.
OTTO, I THINK, WE'LL THAT WAS, THAT'LL BE THE LAST QUESTION 'CAUSE I KNOW I WANNA STICK TO THE SCHEDULE.
SO LET ME KIND OF, LET KIND OF CLOSE OUT AND I'LL, I'LL I'LL TURN IT OVER, UH, TO DR.
UM, SO I STARTED OFF TALKING ABOUT THE WOMAN WHO SUPPORTED ME, WHO BROUGHT ME IN, WHO HAS BEEN, UH, THE STEEL IN MY SPINE.
UM, BUT YOU KNOW, I'VE GOT A 16-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER AND, AND I'VE GOT AN 82-YEAR-OLD, FOUR FOOT 10 INDIAN MOTHER WHO SCARES THE HECK OUTTA MY WIFE, UM, WHO LIVES WITH US.
UM, BUT BOTH, BOTH BOOKENDS OF MY LIFE WITH THOSE, THAT GIRL AND THAT WOMAN, UM, I THINK IS THE STORY OF EVERYBODY HERE.
AND SO WHEN YOU SAID WOMEN, FAMILIES AND CHILDREN, THAT IS A NUCLEUS OF WHO WE ARE, RIGHT? WOMEN, FIRST, FAMILIES AND CHILDREN.
WHEN WE FORGET THAT NUCLEUS, THE CELL FALLS APART.
SO WITH THAT, I WANNA SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING THE NEW PLEASE, DR.
LADIES, THE WORD OF INSPIRATION.
IT COULD NOT HAVE GONE ANY BETTER.
RIGHT? LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE ARE GONNA TAKE A QUICK PICTURE WITH ALL OUR SPEAKERS, BUT LET ME JUST QUICKLY SAY A, A CLOSING REMARKS.
UM, AS WE CLOSE OUR EVENT TODAY, I WANT TO EXPRESS MY DEEPEST GRATITUDE TO EACH OF YOU FOR BEING HERE AND FOR CONTRIBUTING TO THIS CRITICAL CONVERSATION.
YOUR PRESENCE TODAY HAS DEMONSTRATED THE STRENGTH OF OUR COLLECTIVE COMMITMENT TO ADVANCING GENDER EQUALITY AND SUPPORTING WOMEN RIGHTS.
AND IF YOU ALL ARE AWARE ABOUT THE UN SUSTAINABILITY GOALS AND YOU WANT TO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE, YOU CAN ALWAYS JOIN UNA HOUSTON CHAPTER AND BECOME OUR ACTIVE MEMBER.
UM, FOR TODAY, I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND MY SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR PROGRAM COMMITTEE AND ALSO ON BEHALF OF UNA HOUSTON, ONE MORE TIME.
I WANNA REALLY THANK AND BE GRATEFUL FOR OUR CITY OF HOUSTON TEAM HERE, UM, AND THE OF MAYOR'S OFFICE OF TRADE INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS.
WITHOUT YOUR COLLABORATION, NONE OF THIS WOULD'VE BEEN POSSIBLE.
AS WE LOOK FOR THE FUTURE, AGAIN, WE INVITE YOU TO BECOME MEMBER.
AND FINALLY, AS WE CLOSE TODAY, I WANT TO LEAVE YOU WITH ONE INSPIRING THOUGHT.
WHEN WE SUPPORT EACH OTHER, WE EMPOWER EACH OTHER.
TOGETHER WE CAN CREATE A WORLD WHERE EVERY WOMAN HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACHIEVE HER FULLEST POTENTIAL.
WE DO NOT NEED TO BE ON THIS STAGE TO SHOW OUR ACTION TODAY IN OUR DIALOGUE.
WE HEARD A LOT ABOUT MENTORSHIP AND SUPPORTING EACH OTHER, AND I KNOW THAT WE ARE VERY WELL
[01:10:01]
POSITIONED, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US.SO PLEASE CONTINUE TO DO THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING.
AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT, YOUR PASSION AND DEDICATION TO THIS CAUSE.
LET'S CONTINUE TO RISE TOGETHER.