WB E-News: Building on the Past, Envisioning the Future

E-News graphic, Latest Edition/July 2008 - Photos representing working women - Digital Imagery© copyright 2001 PhotoDisc, Inc.

The Art of Women's Lives

“Women have come a long way in our society, and the future holds even greater promise.” Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao

“Being a role model is the greatest privilege we can have in this world, because we can give back.” Marin Alsop, Music Director, Baltimore Symphony

“I felt I was being called to help women artisans in Guatemala, and I answered the call and put my passion and energy into linking them to the U.S. market. Be open to being called. It’s never too late -- you’re never too old to be called to a great mission to help others.” Ruth DeGolia, Executive Director and Co-Founder, Mercado Global

On March 4-6, 2008, the Women’s Bureau, in collaboration with Women Entrepreneurs Inc. (WE Inc.) hosted a Women’s History Month celebration, “Building on the Past, Envisioning the Future: The Art of Women’s Lives.” The three-day event included panel discussions and workshops on cutting-edge issues affecting women in the workforce.

On March 5, the Women’s Bureau hosted one of its most inspiring events, an evening panel and reception at the Carnegie Institution for Science.

Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao is introduced by Women's Bureau Director Shinae Chun (DOL photo)

Secretary Chao spoke at the reception:

“Our country is increasingly part of the worldwide economy. And the result is that our nation is transitioning to a knowledge-based economy, which places a greater emphasis on education and higher skills. Women are well positioned to benefit from this trend, because we appreciate the importance of education. Today, American women complete high school at higher rates than men. Women are more likely to enter and graduate from college than men. And a look down the road shows that women are positioning themselves for even greater gains over the next 20 years.”

An evening panel showcased the lives, work, and vision of two extraordinary women:

Ruth DeGolia (DOL photo)

Ruth DeGolia, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Mercado Global (Global Market). She is a young activist working to create sustainable livelihoods for rural indigenous Guatemalan women artists by linking their women’s cooperatives to the U.S. market. In 2006, Newsweek magazine named her one of the “15 People Who Make America Great.”

Marin Alsop (DOL photo)

Marin Alsop, dynamic new Music Director of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, made history last fall as the first woman conductor of a major American orchestra. She saw Leonard Bernstein conduct when she was nine and said, “That’s what I’ll do when I grow up!” She soon encountered resistance – “Girls can’t do that.” She says, “My vision is that it was tough for me, so I want to make it easier for you.” She hopes young girls will be inspired when they go to her concerts. “My goal is to reach kids early and give them an opportunity to partake in the arts.”

The March 4-6 event, “Building on the Past: Envisioning the Future,” also featured six working sessions:

Women and America’s Changing Work Culture;
Women in Nanotechnology: Community Collaboration to Expand the Workforce Pipeline;
Wi$ing Up Financially: A Multi-Generational Perspective;
Workplace Flexibility: Innovations across Sectors;
The Workforce Dimension; and
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)

The next two articles are based on these sessions. The Women’s Bureau thanks the following federal departments and agencies for their participation: the Departments of Commerce, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, and Labor; the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; the Government Accountability Office; the National Aeronautics and Space Administration; the National Endowment for the Arts; the National Science Foundation; and the Office of Personnel Management.

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Statements of or attributions to private sector speakers or participants may not necessarily reflect Department views.

For more information about the Women's Bureau, contact:
U.S. Department of Labor
Women's Bureau
200 Constitution Avenue, NW - Room S-3002
Washington, DC 20210
Telephone 1-800-827-5335 or (202) 693-6710
Fax (202) 693-6725