Celebrating 125 Years of the National Council of Women of the U.S.

Friday, March 28, 2014, 9am - 5:30pm

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UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Exploring New Horizons for Societal Change

The National Council of Women of the U.S. celebrates its 125-year history with a day-long conference that looks back at the 19th century and ahead into the 21st century, recognizing that, though much may have been accomplished, there is still much to do! The NCWUS returns to the Great Hall of The Cooper Union, where is was founded by Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton 125 years earlier. Join emerging and established leaders in business, technology, social media, journalism, economics, banking, finance, education, health, philanthropy, law, politics, academics, activists, students and all industries in general.

The conference begins at 9:00 AM and ends at 5:30. It is open to the public. High school and college students may attend for free, as may faculty and staff of The Cooper Union. Members of the general public must pay an admission fee. Registration is required. You must register by March 27.

Morning Keynote Address: Unfinished Business: The Power of the Vote
Dr. Martha Burk, reknowned feminist and author, will be interviewed by Rita Henley Jensen, Managing Editor of Women’s eNews. Dr. Burk's book Your Voice, Your Vote: the Savvy Woman’s Guide to Power, Politics and the Change We Need points to the progress made for women as a result of the right to vote, what women might lose and why, and addresses access to registration and voting, the women’s vote, and specific issues affecting women's advancement.

Afternoon Keynote Address: Unfinished Business: Looking Back, Guiding Progress
Sally Roesch Wagner, PhD, a recognized author and one of the first women in the US to receive a doctorate for work in Women’s Studies will look at women’s history and point out where and how we need to go forward.

Susan B. Anthony Award: Dr. Eleanor Baum, dean emeritus of The Cooper Union's Albert Nerken School of Engineering, who, upon her appointment as dean in 1984, became the first woman to hold such a position at an engineering school. The Award, given only one other time in the history of the organization, recognizes outstanding women for their remarkable contributions to society. The Award is uniquely created for Dr. Baum, recognizing the 125th Anniversary of the Council's founding by Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and their suffragist colleagues in 1888. Dr. Baum will be introduced by Dr. Teresa Dahlberg, the current dean of the Albert Nerken School of Engineering

Panels

Unfinished Business: Women’s Studies - Changing the future?
Angela Clark-Taylor, Program Manager at the Susan B. Anthony Institute for Gender and Women's Studies at the University of Rochester, NY

Unfinished Business: Slavery and Violence against Women
Patricia Latona, UN Representative, Zonta International; Catherine Cerulli, J.D., PhD, Director, University of Rochester Susan B. Anthony Institute; Nancy Rivard, President and Founder, Airline Ambassadors; Cecilia Gaston, Executive Director, Violence Intervention Program; Karen Hill, Director, Harriet Tubman House (invited).

Unfinished Business: The Business Case for Women’s Economic Empowerment
Wendy Amengual Wark, Founding Partner of Inclusion Strategy; Dr. Patricia Flynn, Professor, Bentley University and former Dean of the McCallum Graduate School of Business; Carmen Oveissi Field, Principal, Deliotte Discovery; Lauren Gula, Manager, Social Sustainability & Women's Empowerment, UN Global Compact.

Unfinished Business: Giving Back to Support Women’s Progress
Dr. Jacqueline Plumez, psychologist and writer; Marianne Virgilio, University of Rochester Trusts and Estates; Lori Blaker, President of TTi Global and committed to Women of Tomorrow Mentorship & Scholarship Program. Featuring Mary Singletary, President of the National Council of the US.

Unfinished Business: Challenges for the Next Generation
Dr. Teresa Dahlberg, Dean of Albert Nerken School of Engineering, Cooper Union; Nancy Ploeger, President, Manhattan Chamber of Commerce; Gloria Feldt, Co-founder and President, Take the Lead; Quentin Walcott, Co-Executive Director, Connect.

About The National Council of Women of the U.S.

Initiated by Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton in 1888 and founded in The Cooper Union's Great Hall, the National Council continues to address the issues challenging women and girls today. Its mission is to address the diverse concerns of women in pursuit of social, economic and political equality while serving as a united voice and forum to promote progressive ideas and influence policy decisions that affect human rights. The Council is the oldest nonpartisan, nonsectarian, voluntary women's organization in the US.

Located in The Great Hall, in the Foundation Building, 7 East 7th Street, between Third and Fourth Avenues

  • Founded by inventor, industrialist and philanthropist Peter Cooper in 1859, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art offers education in art, architecture and engineering, as well as courses in the humanities and social sciences.

  • “My feelings, my desires, my hopes, embrace humanity throughout the world,” Peter Cooper proclaimed in a speech in 1853. He looked forward to a time when, “knowledge shall cover the earth as waters cover the great deep.”

  • From its beginnings, Cooper Union was a unique institution, dedicated to founder Peter Cooper's proposition that education is the key not only to personal prosperity but to civic virtue and harmony.

  • Peter Cooper wanted his graduates to acquire the technical mastery and entrepreneurial skills, enrich their intellects and spark their creativity, and develop a sense of social justice that would translate into action.