Date & Time: October 26, 2024 | 3:00 - 4:30 PM

Event Title: Annual Student/Alumni Roundtable: Education and Women's Rights in Afghanistan

Location:  In-person on the Harvard University campus OR virtually via Zoom.  

Event Overview: This event marks the culmination of Harvard GlobalWE's 10th Anniversary celebrations, It will focus on the pivotal role of education in advancing women's rights. Lauryn Oates, Executive Director of Right to Learn Afghanistan, will share her experiences advocating for girls’ education amidst severe restrictions by the Taliban.

Register here: https://tinyurl.com/WEAlumniRoundtable

Speaker:

Lauryn Oates, PhD, Executive Director           

Dr. Lauryn Oates, Executive Director of Right to Learn Afghanistan, formerly known as Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan, holds a BA Honours in International Development from McGill University, an MA in Human Security and Peacebuilding from Royal Roads University, and a PhD in Language and Literacy Education from the University of British Columbia. Lauryn has worked with a variety of development organizations, multilateral agencies, and governments designing, planning, evaluating, or implementing programming in education and in gender equality, particularly in war-affected countries. She authored UNICEF’s 2012 Afghanistan Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (AMICS) and is the recipient of multiple awards and distinctions including a Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal awarded by the province of British Columbia.Dr. Lauryn Oates, Executive Director of Right to Learn Afghanistan, formerly known as Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan, holds a BA Honours in International Development from McGill University, an MA in Human Security and Peacebuilding from Royal Roads University, and a PhD in Language and Literacy Education from the University of British Columbia. Lauryn has worked with a variety of development organizations, multilateral agencies, and governments designing, planning, evaluating, or implementing programming in education and in gender equality, particularly in war-affected countries. She authored UNICEF’s 2012 Afghanistan Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (AMICS) and is the recipient of multiple awards and distinctions including a Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal awarded by the province of British Columbia.

Discussion Moderator: 

Julie Palmer 

Founder and President Emerita of GlobalWE

Q&A Moderator:

Sajida H. Shroff

President Emerita of GlobalWE

Other Details 

Questions: If you have any questions or would like further information, please contact us at info@harvardglobalwe.org

Views: Harvard Alumni For Global Women's Empowerment Harvard GlobalWE is a shared interest group of the Harvard Alumni  Association. We are dedicated to the empowerment of women through education, dialogue and connection among individuals working for women's rights and freedoms worldwide. Harvard GlobalWE does not advocate a specific ideology or political or cultural agenda. We are an inclusive organization with membership open to and comprising all genders.

While membership is free, Harvard GlobalWE accepts donations from members to support its programs and initiatives. To become a member of Harvard GlobalWE, please JoinWE. To learn more, please visit our website and our Facebook group.

The views expressed during our events are solely those of the speaker(s) and participating audience and do not imply endorsement by Harvard GlobalWE and/or Harvard University.

Join GlobalWE on August 25th for a discussion on the movie "Hidden Figures" (2016), which is available on Netflix. Please register for the event below and join us for the discussion via Zoom at 11 am EST on August 25th.

Registered Participants

Upon completion of Zoom registration, you will receive a confirmation email with a link to join the Zoom meeting. Please be sure to watch the film prior to the live discussion.

Hidden Figures will be the second one in our 2024 Movie Club series. The first was Below the Belt.

Hidden Figures is a 2016 American biographical drama film directed by Theodore Melfi and written by Melfi and Allison Schroeder. It is loosely based on the 2016 non-fiction book of the same name by Margot Lee Shetterly about three female African-American mathematicians: Katherine Goble Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer), and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monáe), who worked at NASA during the Space Race. Other stars include Kevin Costner, Kirsten Dunst, Jim Parsons, Mahershala Ali, Aldis Hodge, and Glen Powell. *wikipedia

Support the GlobalWE mission while in the comfort of your home! 
Every quarter GlobalWE announces a new film that is widely available on platforms. We ask that you watch the film at your leisure from the comfort of your home and then join us online, on the given date, for a lively discussion. In our virtual gathering, we will discuss the film, raise questions, and advance the mission of GlobalWE: the empowerment of women through education, dialogue, and connection among individuals working for women's rights and freedoms worldwide. We hope to see you then!

Event Details 

Film: Hidden Figures

Date: August 25th
Time: 11 am EST

Location: Virtual (online) event.

Cost: FREE for Harvard College students, Harvard University graduate students, alumni, affiliates, staff & guests

While membership and most of our events are free, GlobalWE is grateful for donations from members to support its programming and initiatives. Please consider making an accompanying donation here: 

Other Details

Questions: If you have any questions or would like further information, please contact us at info@harvardglobalwe.org.

Views: Harvard Alumni For Global Women's Empowerment Harvard GlobalWE is a shared interest group of the Harvard Alumni Association. We are dedicated to the empowerment of women through education, dialogue, and connection among individuals working for women's rights and freedoms worldwide. Harvard GlobalWE does not advocate a specific ideology or political or cultural agenda. We are an inclusive organization with membership open to and comprising all genders.

While membership is free, we appreciate donations from members to support GlobalWE's programs and initiatives. To become a member of Harvard GlobalWE, please JoinWE. To learn more, please visit our website and our Facebook group.

The views expressed during our events are solely those of the speaker(s) and participating audience and do not imply endorsement by Harvard GlobalWE and/or Harvard University.

GlobalWE highly encourages our members to do their own research before getting involved in any organization unaffiliated with Harvard. Harvard GlobalWE does not advocate a specific ideology or agenda; the views expressed and actions taken by the organizations listed on this page are independent of Harvard University and Harvard GlobalWE.

This event took place on May 19, 2024. Registration is no longer available.

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Harvard GlobalWE's fourth Discussion Circle will highlight the impact of the mass suffering of women through starvation, displacement, and acute lack of medical care because of the ongoing conflicts in Gaza, Sudan, and Haiti. We will discuss the tragic loss of basic human rights for women in these areas and its long-lasting impact on peacebuilding and post-conflict reconciliation. A panel of experts will share their research and analysis on this topic, followed by small group discussions.

Discussion Circles are an initiative of GlobalWE to discuss current, pressing news. We work to empower women by addressing fundamental hindrances to their equality and well-being; in the same vein, we want to offer a space to discuss respectfully pressing topics of the day.

We hope you will be able to join us and participate in a robust and meaningful discussion with other people passionate about women’s empowerment.

If you have any questions, please contact info@harvardglobalwe.org.

Ground Rules

• Themes and broad ideas can be shared, but personal stories stay within the room.

• The expectation that this event is not recorded or to be shared in any way.

• Share air time and share responsibility for the group's success and well-being. 

• Treat participants with respect and consideration.

• Highlight the value of a diversity of perspectives as an essential part of the process.

• Everyone has come here to learn, grow, and share.

• Come up with ideas to share on resources about the discussion topics.

Event Details 

Date: May 19, 2024

Time: 12 pm EST

Location: Virtual (online) event. Meeting info will be in your registration confirmation email. Click here to Register.

Cost: FREE for Harvard College students, Harvard graduate students, alumni, affiliates, staff & guests

Other Details 

Questions: If you have any questions or would like further information, please contact us at info@harvardglobalwe.org

Views: Harvard Alumni For Global Women's Empowerment Harvard GlobalWE is a shared interest group of the Harvard Alumni Association. We are dedicated to the empowerment of women through education, dialogue, and connection among individuals working for women's rights and freedoms worldwide. Harvard GlobalWE does not advocate a specific ideology or political or cultural agenda. We are an inclusive organization with membership open to and comprising all genders.

While membership is free, Harvard GlobalWE accepts donations from members to support its programs and initiatives. To become a member of Harvard GlobalWE, please JoinWE. To learn more, please visit our website and our Facebook group.

The views expressed during our events are solely those of the speaker(s) and participating audience and do not imply endorsement by Harvard GlobalWE and/or Harvard University.

This event took place on Apr 13, 2024. Registration is no longer available.

Harvard GlobalWE is excited to announce its "10th Anniversary Summit." For the first time, we will combine our two flagship events, the Annual Alumni/Student Roundtable and the Women's Empowerment Expo, on the same day, Saturday, April 13th, at Boylston Hall on Harvard's Cambridge Campus! (The Expo will be in two parts, with the second part being held virtually on April 20th.) Registration details for both events are below. Please note separate registration is required for the Roundtable and for each part of the Expo.

Harvard GlobalWE invites you to "Innovating Equality: Women at the Forefront of AI," a distinguished Student/Alumni Roundtable scheduled for April 13th on Harvard's Cambridge campus. This event is dedicated to exploring the integral role of women in the advancement and ethical development of Artificial Intelligence, aiming to spotlight the transformative impact of female leadership in tech.
 

This engaging roundtable will convene a diverse group of speakers and participants, including industry leaders and emerging innovators, to delve into the multifaceted dimensions of AI. The discussions will focus on identifying and overcoming barriers to gender equality in AI, enhancing female representation in STEM fields, and leveraging AI for social good with a gender-inclusive perspective.

"Innovating Equality: Women at the Forefront of AI" aims to inspire a collaborative effort toward a future where the principles of inclusivity and diversity guide AI development. Join us for an inspiring day of dialogue and discovery as we envision an equitable future in AI-powered by women's innovation and leadership.
 

Saturday, April 13, 2024, from 12.30 pm - 2:00 pm ET

Location: Boylston Hall

Please note that the April 13th Expo is IN PERSON ONLY. Even though there is a Zoom registration, it will not be streamed via Zoom. The full virtual expo is on April 20th.

SPEAKERS FOR THE ROUNDTABLE:

RAMON TABTIANG

Ramon is a legal director at Google.  He leads a team of product counsels who advise Google Cloud, including its AI services, on privacy, regulatory compliance, and AI safety and principles.  He was previously counsel to Alphabet's Access unit and patent counsel to Google.  Before Google, Ramon was a patent prosecutor and litigator at Fish and Richardson PC.

LACY GARCIA

Lacy is the Founder & CEO of Willow. Willow is an award-winning WealthTech platform powering financial advisors’ acquisition, growth, and retention of tomorrow's investors. Through Willow's Certified Advisor for Women™ and Certified Advisor for NextGen™ certificate programs and marketing platform, advisors gain the knowledge needed to acquire and better serve these modern clients. Willow utilizes generative AI and semantic matching to match consumers with advisors based on multiple financial and personal characteristics. Lacy and Willow are frequently featured in the media, including The TODAY Show, Cheddar News, Think Advisor, Financial Planning, Business Insider, WealthManagement.com, Yahoo Finance!, and GoBankingRates.

CASS MATTHEWS

Cass joined Microsoft's Office of Responsible AI as Assistant General Counsel in late 2022. She previously spent 10 years at Google exploring socio-technical challenges as the Head of Legal for Jigsaw and helping build breakthrough technology as a product counsel at X. She taught media law for many years at the University of Melbourne and international business law at Cardozo School of Law in New York. 

CLARA MARIA BOZZO - Moderator

Senior Legal Executive with broad experience in technology and innovation and extensive work on compliance, Diversity, and Inclusion. Member of Women Corporate Directors (WCD), Argentina branch. Technology investor. Over 16 years as commercial Legal Director of Microsoft Argentina with responsibilities over Compliance and Corporate Affairs; LATAM-wide senior corporate counsel for the Financial Tech, AI, Defense, and Public Sector industries, leading Digital Transformation initiatives. Diversity and Inclusion Lead for LATAM for Microsoft is currently a member of the Harvard GlobalWE programming team.

Other Details

Questions: If you have any questions or want further information, please contact us at info@harvardglobalwe.org.

Views: Harvard Alumni For Global Women's Empowerment Harvard GlobalWE is a shared interest group of the Harvard Alumni Association. We are dedicated to the empowerment of women through education, dialogue, and connection among individuals working for women's rights and freedoms worldwide. Harvard GlobalWE does not advocate a specific ideology or political or cultural agenda. We are an inclusive organization with membership open to and comprising all genders.

While membership is free, we appreciate donations from members to support GlobalWE's programs and initiatives. To become a member of Harvard GlobalWE, please JoinWE. To learn more, please visit our website and our Facebook group.

The views expressed during our events are solely those of the speaker(s) and participating audience and do not imply endorsement by Harvard GlobalWE and/or Harvard University.

GlobalWE highly encourages our members to do their own research before getting involved in any organization unaffiliated with Harvard. Harvard GlobalWE does not advocate a specific ideology or agenda; the views expressed and actions taken by the organizations listed on this page are independent of Harvard University and Harvard GlobalWE.

This event took place on Mar 16, 2024. Registration is no longer available.

We are thrilled to announce our upcoming panel discussion on "Women in Leadership and Governance." This event will explore the myriad challenges and opportunities women face as they stride towards leadership roles and in governance arenas. Our commitment has always been to ensure that these conversations are enriched with diverse and exceptional perspectives.

Harvard GlobalWE remains steadfast in its mission: advancing the empowerment of women worldwide through education, dialogues, and networking opportunities. As part of the greater Harvard Alumni Association, we are resolute in promoting collaboration among those dedicated to championing women's rights and freedoms globally.

Speakers:

Asha Castleberry-Hernandez is a distinctive U.S. National Security & Foreign Affairs Expert. Asha served as a Senior Advisor in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs at the U.S. Department of State and a member of the Senior Executive Service. Her portfolio includes strategy, China, and the Middle East Region. She is a Major in the U.S. Army Reserves and currently serves with the Biden-Harris Administration. In addition to her work in government, she is a founder of Diversity in National Security Network, and Senior Associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Term Member of the Council on Foreign Relations and 2022 Forbes the Culture Member.

Chiara Corazza is the Private Sector Representative for France within the G20 EMPOWER Alliance, appointed by President Emmanuel Macron. She has been CEO and Special Representative to the G7 and the G20 at the Women’s Forum for the Economy & Society, the world’s leading platform to promote women’s voices and vision (2017-2021). She is the author of the report ‘Women at the heart of the economy’, as part of the mission she was entrusted by the French Government in the framework of the G7 2019 Summit in Biarritz, to propose some critical recommendations to foster the representation of girls and women in STEM education and in the jobs of the future.

Dr. Aarti Gupta is a seasoned investment strategist who has been at the helm of her family office (DM Gupta Family, Jagran Group) for the past 13 years. She is also the Chief Investment Officer at Anikarth Ventures, an angel-investing firm that invests in innovative early-stage start-ups with transformative solutions. 

In her commitment to women's entrepreneurship, Dr. Gupta serves as the National Head for FICCI FLO Start-ups, focusing on women founders and investors. She is also an independent director with Jindal Stainless Steels and contributes to the boards of several family-owned businesses and start-ups, leveraging her expertise in investment strategy. Furthermore, as the founder of the Anikarth Foundation, she champions initiatives for women's financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and job readiness.

Moderator:

Gaia van der Esch is a Dutch-Italian executive, policy expert & author, driving change & impact in the public and non-profit sectors through her strategic & thought leadership. Gaia has been recently appointed as the Managing Director of the 3Zero Foundation, comprising 8000 staff in over 45 countries - working to achieve a world with zero carbon, zero exclusion & zero poverty. Prior to this appointment, she served as the G20 EMPOWER Sherpa under the G20 Italian Presidency – leading the G20 private-public Alliance for the advancement of women’s leadership. Before this, Gaia spent 10 years working in Africa, the Middle East, Europe and the U.S. – holding executive roles with international NGOs and think tanks. Thanks to her accomplishments she was nominated by Forbes in its Europe 30 under 30 list (2017) as well as Supernova of the Year for Italy by Nova Talent (2022).

Event Details 

Date: Saturday, March 16th 2024
Time: 11 a.m. EST

Location: Virtual 

Cost: FREE for Harvard College students, Harvard graduate students, alumni, affiliates, staff & guests

Other Details 

Questions: If you have any questions or would like further information, please contact us at info@harvardglobalwe.org

Views: Harvard Alumni For Global Women's Empowerment Harvard GlobalWE is a shared interest group of the Harvard Alumni Association. We are dedicated to the empowerment of women through education, dialogue and connection among individuals working for women's rights and freedoms worldwide. Harvard GlobalWE does not advocate a specific ideology or political or cultural agenda. We are an inclusive organization with membership open to and comprising all genders.

While membership is free, Harvard GlobalWE accepts donations from members to support its programs and initiatives. To become a member of Harvard GlobalWE, please JoinWE. To learn more, please visit our website and our Facebook group.

The views expressed during our events are solely those of the speaker(s) and participating audience and do not imply endorsement by Harvard GlobalWE and/or Harvard University.

This event took place on Feb 10, 2024. Registration is no longer available.

Please click here to view the recording or continue reading below for an event debrief. 

A Debrief of the Discussion Circle - Sexual Violence as a Weapon of War and Terrorism

On February 10, Harvard GlobalWE hosted the third event in its Discussion Circle Series titled “Sexual Violence as a Weapon of War and Terrorism” following the sexual atrocities committed by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023.  Adhering to its core mission, GlobalWE focused on a topic that brings people together around women’s rights as human rights, across politics and culture. GlobalWE members and friends came together with empathy and compassion for violated and subjugated women globally, regardless of where these GlobalWE affiliates stand on any other issue. A recording of the panel discussion can be found at the link below: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sjw-9N_AyW0

We heard from speakers who were knowledgeable about various circumstances:

1. Ruth Halperin-Kaddari, Professor, Bar-Ilan University, on the atrocities perpetrated by Hamas on October 7th,

2. Heather Tasker, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Queen’s University, on women in Africa who are forced into conjugal slavery during war,

3. Charu Lata Hogg, Founder and Executive Director, All Survivors Project, on the way patriarchal societies use sexual violence to feminize even male victims in the Midle East and Africa, as feminization is see to be the ultimate humiliation during conflict, and

4. Annie Pforzheimer, Senior Fellow (Non-resident), Center for Strategic and International Studies, on the subjugation of women in Afghanistan under what is seen internationally as a kind of peace, even though the current state is not peaceful for women.

From our panelists and also from our attendees, we learned that sexual violence against women and girls (and men and boys) during war and for purposes of creating terror is an ongoing, widespread problem across the globe, with so many examples that we could devote an entire SIG just to the problem of sexual violence against women.

After the event, GlobalWE vowed to continue to shine a light on these horrors, and proposed establishing a GlobalWE initiative that will continue to focus on sexual violence in different contexts, as a regular and repeating part of our programming.  

In one breakout room, a participant pointed out that women in the US should understand they are operating from a place of great privilege and that they have the power to help, especially by using technology to shine a light on sexual atrocities against women around the world. This is even more true of Harvard Alumni, men and women, many of whom have the privilege, power, networks, and influence to make a difference. GlobalWE is committed to alerting fellow Harvard alumni and the rest of the world to the many contexts in which women are subjugated, violated sexually, and otherwise used,in the hopes that educating GlobalWE members and friends about these dire problems will lead to change and freedom from sexual violence for women and girls around the globe. We will also continue to introduce our membership to organizations and initiatives who work with and for these women, for those who might want to take action and support their efforts.

If you have ideas for a future Discussion Circle topic or GlobalWE program, please reach out to info@harvardglobalwe.org.

​​

Our third Discussion Circle will discuss sexual violence against women as a weapon of war and terrorism, including different forms of sexual violence and why they occur, the impact of these acts, and how perpetrators can be held accountable. Examples from the October 7, 2023 attacks in Israel and conflicts in South Sudan, Ukraine, and the Central African Republic, among other nations, will be discussed. A panel of experts will share their research and analysis on this topic, followed by small group discussions.

Discussion Circles is an initiative of GlobalWE to discuss current, pressing news items in a timely manner. We work to empower women by addressing fundamental hindrances to their equality and wellbeing; in the same vein, we want to offer a space to discuss pressing topics of the day in a respectful manner.

We hope you will be able to join us and participate in a robust and meaningful discussion with other people passionate about women’s empowerment.

If you have any questions, please contact info@harvardglobalwe.org.

Saturday, February 10th, 2024, 12 pm EST, via Zoom. 

Ground Rules

• Themes and broad ideas can be shared, but personal stories stay within the room.

• The expectation that this event is not recorded or to be shared in any way.

• Share air time and share responsibility for the group's success and well-being. 

• Treat participants with respect and consideration.

• Highlight the value of a diversity of perspectives as an essential part of the process.

• Everyone has come here to learn, grow, and share.

• Come up with ideas to share on resources about the discussion topics.

Event Details 

Date: Saturday, February 10th 2024
Time: 12 pm EST

Location: Virtual (online) event. Meeting info will be in your registration confirmation email. Click here to Register.

Cost: FREE 

Other Details 

Questions: If you have any questions or would like further information, please contact us at info@harvardglobalwe.org

Views: Harvard Alumni For Global Women's Empowerment Harvard GlobalWE is a shared interest group of the Harvard Alumni Association. We are dedicated to the empowerment of women through education, dialogue, and connection among individuals working for women's rights and freedoms worldwide. Harvard GlobalWE does not advocate a specific ideology or political or cultural agenda. We are an inclusive organization with membership open to and comprising all genders.

While membership is free, Harvard GlobalWE accepts donations from members to support its programs and initiatives. To become a member of Harvard GlobalWE, please JoinWE. To learn more, please visit our website and our Facebook group.

The views expressed during our events are solely those of the speaker(s) and participating audience and do not imply endorsement by Harvard GlobalWE and/or Harvard University.

This event took place on Jan 21, 2024. Registration is no longer available.

In honor of our 10th anniversary, Harvard GlobalWE is thrilled to announce our first-ever Movie Club+ event! Just like our regular Movie Club there will be a discussion on the film but Movie Club+ events will feature a member of the film's creative crew. We are excited to announce that Shannon Cohn, director of "Below the Belt" will join us for our first Movie Club+ event.  She will be interviewed by our moderator followed by a facilitated Q&A with the audience.

About the Film: 

In the personal & inspiring stories of four patients urgently searching for answers to mysterious symptoms, Below the Belt exposes widespread problems in our healthcare systems. Through the lens of endometriosis, a disease that affects 1 in 9 women, the film shows how women are often dismissed, discounted & disbelieved. From societal taboos and gender bias to misinformed doctors and profit-driven healthcare, the film reveals how millions are effectively silenced and how, by fighting back, they can improve healthcare for everyone.

About the Director:

SHANNON COHN is a filmmaker, lawyer and social impact producer who has worked across Africa, Europe, the Middle East & the Americas on topics related to gender equity and combating stigma and taboo. Her films and TV series have aired on PBS, Nat Geo, Discovery Channel, Amazon and Netflix. Her new PBS documentary BELOW THE BELT, executive produced by Hillary Clinton and Rosario Dawson, approaches endometriosis as a social justice issue. The film is one element of a larger social impact plan to create meaningful change in endometriosis and women's health including increased research funding, policy changes, medical education initiatives and widespread awareness. Her previous film ENDO WHAT? was called "the first step in a plan for change" by NEWSWEEK and "film of the year" by THE GUARDIAN. Before becoming a filmmaker, Shannon practiced international law and was part of the legal team that prosecuted Enron. She has endometriosis and has two young daughters who have a 7x increased risk of having the disease.

How do I gain access to "Below the Belt" and participate in this Movie Club+ event?

 Movie Club+ registration will require TWO steps:

1. Purchase a ticket on Eventive to stream "Below the Belt" on Eventive. The cost is $10, giving you access to stream the film for 48 hours, starting January 20. 

1. Register for the Movie Club discussion on January 21 where you will hear from Director Shannon Cohn and have a chance to participate in a Q&A session. We will meet on Register here for Zoom.

Event Details 

Film: Below the Belt

Date: January 21st
Time: 10.00 am EST

Cost: $10 

Location: Screening on Eventibe

About GlobalWE 2024 Movie Club
Each quarter GlobalWE announces a new film that is widely available on online platforms. We ask that you watch the film at your leisure from the comfort of your home and then join us online, on the given date, for a lively discussion. In our virtual gathering, we will discuss the film, raise questions, and advance the mission of GlobalWE: the empowerment of women through education, dialogue, and connection among individuals working for women's rights and freedoms worldwide. We hope to see you then!

Other Details

Questions: If you have any questions or would like further information, please contact us at info@harvardglobalwe.org.

Views: Harvard Alumni For Global Women's Empowerment Harvard GlobalWE is a shared interest group of the Harvard Alumni Association. We are dedicated to the empowerment of women through education, dialogue, and connection among individuals working for women's rights and freedoms worldwide. Harvard GlobalWE does not advocate a specific ideology or political or cultural agenda. We are an inclusive organization with membership open to and comprising all genders.

While membership is free, we appreciate donations from members to support GlobalWE's programs and initiatives. To become a member of Harvard GlobalWE, please JoinWE. To learn more, please visit our website and our Facebook group.

The views expressed during our events are solely those of the speaker(s) and participating audience and do not imply endorsement by Harvard GlobalWE and/or Harvard University.

GlobalWE highly encourages our members to do their own research before getting involved in any organization unaffiliated with Harvard. Harvard GlobalWE does not advocate a specific ideology or agenda; the views expressed and actions taken by the organizations listed on this page are independent of Harvard University and Harvard GlobalWE.

This event took place on Dec 13, 2023. Registration is no longer available.

This online, one-hour event will be casual, laid back, and fun! Attendees are encouraged to wear their holiday best and bring a drink of their choosing. We will start off in a large group to reflect on 2023, followed by small group breakouts for an opportunity to network and connect deeper with other GlobalWE members. We will conclude by reconvening as a larger group to wish everyone happy holidays and a prosperous new year!

Register: For your convenience, this year we are offering two sessions to choose from; December 13th at 9 pm EST OR December 15th at 11 am EST.

Please click on the date you'd like to attend to register on Zoom and receive a virtual link.  The Holiday Social is limited to GlobalWE Members and volunteers only.

Event Details

Date: Wednesday, December 13th
Time: 9 pm ET - 10 pm ET (1 hour)

OR 

Date: Friday, December 15th
Time: 11 am ET - 12 pm ET (1 hour)

Location: Virtual (online) event. Login details will be sent to registrants upon completion of the registration process. 

Cost: While this event is FREE we would appreciate any accompanying donation to help support us as we put on these and other events throughout the year! 

Other Details 

Questions: If you have any questions or would like further information, please contact us at info@harvardglobalwe.org

Views: Harvard Alumni For Global Women's Empowerment Harvard GlobalWE is a shared interest group of the Harvard Alumni        Association. We are dedicated to the empowerment of women through education, dialogue and connection among individuals working for women's rights and freedoms worldwide. Harvard GlobalWE does not advocate a specific ideology or political or cultural agenda. We are an inclusive organization with membership open to and comprising all genders.

While membership is free, Harvard GlobalWE accepts donations from members to support its programs and initiatives. To become a member of Harvard GlobalWE, please JoinWE. To learn more, please visit our website and our Facebook group.

The views expressed during our events are solely those of the speaker(s) and participating audience and do not imply endorsement by Harvard GlobalWE and/or Harvard University.

This event took place on Nov 29, 2023. Registration is no longer available.

On Wednesday, November 29, GlobalWE Connect will hold the sixth event in its Women’s Empowerment Fireside Chat Series featuring Global Network of Women Peacebuilders (GNWP) and it's Founder and Chief Executive Officer Maria Victoria “Mavic” Cabrera Balleza.

GNWP is a convener, collaborator, advocate and leader in the global movement for women’s rights, gender equality, and sustainable peace. They work closely with the United Nations, governments, and local women and youth-led organizations from all over the world. Stay tuned for more information about this event. 

On June 1, 2023, GlobalWE hosted the second event in its Discussion Circle series on the topic, “The Impact of the War in Ukraine on Women.” As a follow up, we’d like to host a Fireside chat with GNWP focusing on peacebuilding and women’s role and collaboration with various stakeholders for world peace and more secure communities.

About the Speaker:

Mavic Cabrera Balleza

Chief Executive Officer

Maria Victoria “Mavic” Cabrera Balleza is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders. She is one of the two civil society initiators of the Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund. She is also one of the founding members of its Global Funding Board. Ms. Cabrera-Balleza is also a Board Member of the Generation Equality Compact on Women, Peace and Security and Humanitarian Action representing GNWP and the Beijing +25 Civil Society Coalition on Women, Peace and Security and Youth, Peace and Security.

Ms. Cabrera-Balleza initiated the Philippine National Action Plan on the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. She also served as the international consultant to Nepal’s first National Action Plan on UNSCR 1325. She has provided technical support in 1325 national action planning in different countries including Guatemala, Japan and South Sudan; and facilitated costing and budgeting workshops of 1325 national action plans in Georgia, Jordan, Lebanon, and Nepal. She pioneered the Localization of UNSCR 1325 and 1820 program that is regarded as a best practice example and is now implemented in 18 countries. She co-authored the books From Best Practice to Standard Practice: A toolkit on the Localization of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women and Peace and Security and Costing and Financing 1325; and edited the 2010, 2011, 2012,  2013 and 2014 editions of Women Count: Civil Society Monitoring Report on Security Council Resolution 1325. She also edited the publication Implementing Locally, Inspiring Globally: Localizing UNSCR 1325 in Colombia, Nepal, the Philippines, Sierra Leone and Uganda. She leads the civil society advocacy on the use of CEDAW General Recommendation 30 on women in conflict prevention, conflict and post-conflict situations as a complementary accountability mechanism to the WPS resolutions. In 2014, Ms.  Cabrera-Balleza led the establishment of the Young Women Leaders for Peace (YWL), a network of young women in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Democratic Republic of Congo, Indonesia, Myanmar, Philippines, South Sudan, and Ukraine, who are leading peacebuilding efforts in local communities.

Ms. Cabrera-Balleza has facilitated workshops and discussions on the women, peace and security resolutions in many countries including Afghanistan, Burundi, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Guatemala, Japan, Liberia, Nepal, Philippines, Serbia, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Uganda, and Ukraine. Her masteral thesis on communication strategies on UNSCR 1325 was awarded best thesis at the University of the Philippines.

mavic@gnwp.org

Event Details

Date: Wednesday, November 29th
Time: 12 p.m. EST

Location: Virtual (online) event. Open to all! Login details will be sent to registrants upon completion of the registration process. 

Cost: While this event is FREE we would appreciate any accompanying donation to help support us in offering events like this throughout the year.

About Fireside Chat Series
Launched in 2021, the Fireside Chat Series features dialogues with senior leaders of organizations serving women and girls worldwide and the challenges and opportunities they encounter in a rapidly-changing world. The first four events in this series featured BRAC and BRAC USA, Women for Women International, CAMFED USA, and Special Needs Initiative for Growth. 

GlobalWE Connect is an initiative that connects Harvard University alumni with organizations leading the way globally for women’s empowerment in the arts, social services, education, health, economic development, entrepreneurship, policy, STEM, and other fields. GlobalWE Connect provides a forum for discussion with these organizations and hosts a Women’s Empowerment Expo, which enables these organizations to engage with Harvard University alumni and students as well as professors, staff, and other members of the Harvard University community who seek internships, volunteer, mentorship, career exploration, and charitable giving opportunities.

Other Details 

Questions: If you have any questions or would like further information, please contact us at info@harvardglobalwe.org

Views: Harvard Alumni For Global Women's Empowerment Harvard GlobalWE is a shared interest group of the Harvard Alumni  Association. We are dedicated to the empowerment of women through education, dialogue and connection among individuals working for women's rights and freedoms worldwide. Harvard GlobalWE does not advocate a specific ideology or political or cultural agenda. We are an inclusive organization with membership open to and comprising all genders.

While membership is free, Harvard GlobalWE accepts donations from members to support its programs and initiatives. To become a member of Harvard GlobalWE, please JoinWE. To learn more, please visit our website and our Facebook group.

The views expressed during our events are solely those of the speaker(s) and participating audience and do not imply endorsement by Harvard GlobalWE and/or Harvard University.

This event took place on Nov 12, 2023. Registration is no longer available.

On November 12, please join us on Zoom for a conversation with our Presidents Emeritae Julie Palmer (2013-2018) and Sajida Shroff (2018-2022), early board members and current Advisory Council members Paul Schied and Rebecca Ribaudo, and current president Leah Abaya Keane. This dialogue about GlobalWE’s history and growth, as well as its future trajectory, will be moderated by Chuck Bergen, another Advisory Council member.  Learn about our journey and share your own memories of engaging with us!

Panelists and Moderator

Chuck Bergen ('77, JD ‘81) joined the Harvard Global WE Advisory Board in 2018.  He has also served as President of the Harvard Club of Chicago and now serves as a Director of the Harvard Alumni Association with responsibilities for Harvard Clubs in the Western Great Lakes region.  As an undergraduate, Chuck lived in Eliot House, played Men’s Basketball and Men’s Rugby and wrote for The Harvard Crimson.  During law school, he served as a freshman proctor living in Straus Hall in Harvard Yard.  He has been an active member of the Harvard Alumni community since his graduation from Harvard Law School in 1981.

Professionally, Chuck has practiced as a trial lawyer in Chicago, Illinois for several decades.  During his career, Chuck has focused on financial and commercial litigation, in areas such as corporate governance, securities, intellectual property, defamation and class action defense. As member of the Trial Bar of the Northern District of Illinois for over 35 years, he has tried complex cases lasting over three months and others completed in a day. He has briefed and argued appeals in a number of federal and state appellate courts and is a member the bar of the United States Supreme Court.

A long-time resident of the North Shore suburbs of Chicago, Chuck and his wife Sue are proud parents of three adult daughters, the eldest a digital journalist, the middle a cheesemonger of artisanal cheeses and the youngest a digital marketing director for two museums in Great Britain. They also have a granddaughter, age 4. 

Leah Abaya Keane (AB ’84) just finished the first year of her term as current President of Harvard GlobalWE.  Prior to this past year, she had served as Treasurer since 2016.  She was also part of the Essay Contest team and continues to manage over ten contests in the Philippines, including at her former high school.

Leah interviewed applicants to Harvard for many years and is a liaison for her local high school. She also volunteers with Crimson Goes Blue with fellow Harvard alumni, and with the League of Women Voters Naperville, with Voter Services to register voters, especially high school students.  After many years as Secretary and Simbang Gabi coordinator, she currently serves on the board of the Pamanang Lahi Foundation of Illinois, a non-profit dedicated to promoting the culture of the Philippines, primarily the Advent novena known as Simbang Gabi.

She earned a Ph.D in Clinical Psychology from Fordham University, and volunteered extensively with the PTA and the religious education program at her parish while raising her two children. She lives in Naperville, IL, with her husband, Denis T. Keane (AB ’84).  She credits Denis and her college roommate Janet Singer (AB’84) for starting her on her journey to feminism, and her children for inspiring her to work on equity and empowerment for women.

Sajida H. Shroff (EdM '95), CEO of Altamont Group (Boutique Investment & Advisory), is an international strategist. She has over 20 years of cross-sectoral & impact investment expertise, bridging Strategy, Policy, Education, & Business spheres. She is passionate about integrating strategic business practices in knowledge organizations; & committed to contextualizing education for positive impact. Sajida is an entrepreneurial visionary, who has built businesses in the Middle East & North America.

Sajida’s passion for advancing education & access globally is evident in her multi-faceted work. Geographically, this work has contributed to better outcomes in the United States, Canada, Australia, India, Pakistan, Western Europe, East & West Africa, Central Asia, & MENA. Her understanding of development extends well beyond education to free zone/business park development, government services/policy, retail, real estate, service, & financial sectors.

As Chief Execution Officer of Altamont Group (dedicated to innovation in emerging markets), Sajida leads a team focused on strategy/policy, monitoring/evaluation/research/learning, capacity development /eLearning/upskilling, & quality assurance/accreditation. AG, under Sajida’s leadership, advises governments, NGO, & corporates across five continents regarding optimization, investment, smart cities; & innovation that enable access & sustainability. In addition, Altamont Group invests in diverse brick/mortar & technology assets.  

Sajida’s experiences with global entities include the World Bank, IFAD, G20, EiE, Plan International, CAMFED, UNHCR, UNICEF, UNESCO, OECD, NATO, Dubai Holding, UAE PMO, Smart Dubai, Qatar Foundation, KSA MoL, MoE, MoT, & AKDN; along with institutions such as Cambridge, McGill, Harvard, & Columbia. She is also engaged in ventures to develop smart education ecosystems & special economic zones. 

Sajida is actively involved in CSR including Director with Harvard Alumni Association; Board Member with IDEAs; Board Member & President Emerita of Harvard Global Women’s Empowerment; Advisor for Integreat Special Needs Centre; Founding Chair of MENA/GCC Chapter of Harvard Alumni Entrepreneurs; President Emerita of Harvard Club of the UAE; & Advisory Board Member for e7 Daughters of the Emirates بنات الإمارات (Banat al Emarat). 

Sajida has an EdM in Strategy & Policy from the Harvard Graduate School of Education; a MBA in Marketing & Management from Emory University; a BEd & a BA from the University of British Columbia. Sajida is from Kenya & grew up in the UK & Canada.

Paul Schied (AB' 13) served GlobalWE in various capacities including Treasurer, Board Member, and Advisory Vice President from 2013 to 2021.  Paul is originally from the Chicagoland area, and has lived and worked in D.C., New York, Albuquerque, and Chicago after graduating from the College in 2013 and Columbia Law School in 2016.  He has served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the past five years, most recently in the Violent Crimes section of the U.S. Attorney's Office in Chicago.

Rebecca Chamian Ribaudo (AB ’93) is a former executive team member of Harvard GlobalWE and now serves on its advisory board. She is also an Elected Director of the Harvard Alumni Association, a VP/Director of the Harvard Club of Chicago, an executive team member of FAIR Harvard Alumni+, and an advisory board member of Harvard Alumni for Free Speech.

Throughout her career, Rebecca spent more than twenty years as a marketing strategist and writer for consumer, health care and private equity organizations. She has also led numerous independent projects for corporate and non-profit organizations, including as a director in the early-stage development of the XS Tennis and Education Foundation, a center for underserved youth located on the former site of the Robert Taylor Homes on Chicago’s South Side.

Rebecca graduated magna cum laude in Social Studies from Harvard College. During her studies, she received a Carol K. Pforzheimer Student Fellowship and was nominated for the Thomas T. Hoopes Prize for her thesis on gender representation in advertising.

In recent years, Rebecca completed a historical novel exploring the conflict between group identity and individualism in America, a work she is now seeking to publish.

Rebecca lives in Chicago with her husband, Anthony J. Ribaudo (AB ’93), and their dog Argos. Rebecca and Anthony’s elder daughter is a midshipman at the U.S. Naval Academy and their younger daughter is a first year at Harvard.

Julie Gage Palmer AB ’84, a founder of Harvard GlobalWE, served as its first president, from 2013 to 2018.  In her current GlobalWE role, Julie co-chairs a global essay contest giving voice to students concerned about the challenges facing women and girls worldwide. She is also Vice President and Director of the Harvard Club of Chicago, and one of its Schools Committee co-chairs and also serves on the Harvard Alumni Association’s Schools and Scholarships Committee. Julie is the Board Secretary of the Mickey Hammerman Legacy Fund, which supports local Chicago region Harvard College applicants, and early childhood education.  

Julie is a former Harvard Alumni Association Elected Director (2013 to 2016).  She served on the Harvard Alumni Association Nominating Committee from 2019 to 2022.  She served as the Harvard Alumni Association Public and Community Service Initiative Co-Leader from 2015 to 2016.

Julie won the 2020 Harvard Alumni Association Award for outstanding service to Harvard University for leadership and engagement activities. She won the Hiram Hunn award for her Schools and Scholarships work in 2014.

Julie is a lawyer and former lecturer in law at the University of Chicago and at Lake Forest College. She is co-authored The Ethics of Human Gene Therapy and has written and spoken extensively on law and medical ethics.

Event Details

Date: Sunday, November 12th
Time: 12 p.m. EST

Location: Virtual (online) event. Login details will be sent to registrants upon completion of the registration process. 

Cost: While this event is FREE for Harvard College students, Harvard University graduate students, and Harvard University alumni, affiliates, and staff, we would appreciate any accompanying donation to help support us as we put on these and other events throughout the year! 

Other Details 

Questions: If you have any questions or would like further information, please contact us at info@harvardglobalwe.org

Views: Harvard Alumni For Global Women's Empowerment Harvard GlobalWE is a shared interest group of the Harvard Alumni        Association. We are dedicated to the empowerment of women through education, dialogue and connection among individuals working for women's rights and freedoms worldwide. Harvard GlobalWE does not advocate a specific ideology or political or cultural agenda. We are an inclusive organization with membership open to and comprising all genders.

While membership is free, Harvard GlobalWE accepts donations from members to support its programs and initiatives. To become a member of Harvard GlobalWE, please JoinWE. To learn more, please visit our website and our Facebook group.

The views expressed during our events are solely those of the speaker(s) and participating audience and do not imply endorsement by Harvard GlobalWE and/or Harvard University.

This event took place on April 23rd, 2023. Registration is no longer available.

Join GlobalWE on April 23rd for a discussion on the movie "The Swimmers" (2022), which is available on Netflix. To accommodate members from different time zones, we plan to hold two discussion sessions on April 23rd; one at 8 am CT and the next at 11 am CT. Please register for the session that best fits your schedule. Discussions will be held online via Zoom.

Event Registration

Session I, April 23rd at 8 am CT

Session I, April 23rd at 11 am CT

Registered Participants

Upon completion of Zoom registration, you will receive a confirmation email with a link to join the Zoom meeting. Please be sure to watch the film prior to the live discussion.

The Swimmers will be the second one in our 2023 Movie Club series. The first was The King of Masks.

The Swimmers follows the life story of teenage Syrian refugees Yusra Mardini and her sister Sarah Mardini, who swam alongside a sinking dinghy of refugees to lighten it, and eventually help 18 refugees to reach safety across the Aegean Sea while being smuggled from İzmir towards Lesbos. Subsequent struggles as refugees are vividly depicted, but Yusra Mardini's swimming career sees her reaching the Rio 2016 Olympics as a member of the Refugee Olympic Team.1 *1:Wikipedia

Support the GlobalWE mission while in the comfort of your home! 
Each month GlobalWE announces a new film that is widely available on platforms. We ask that you watch the film at your leisure from the comfort of your home and then join us online, on the given date, for a lively discussion. In our virtual gathering, we will discuss the film, raise questions, and advance the mission of GlobalWE: the empowerment of women through education, dialogue, and connection among individuals working for women's rights and freedoms worldwide. We hope to see you then!

Event Details 

Film: The Swimmers

Date: April 23rd
Time:

Session I: 8 am CT

Session II: 11 am CT

Location: Virtual (online) event.

Cost: FREE for Harvard College students, Harvard University graduate students, alumni, affiliates, staff & guests

While membership and most of our events are free, GlobalWE is grateful for donations from members to support its programming and initiatives. Please consider making an accompanying donation here: 

Other Details

Questions: If you have any questions or would like further information, please contact us at info@harvardglobalwe.org.

Views: Harvard Alumni For Global Women's Empowerment Harvard GlobalWE is a shared interest group of the Harvard Alumni Association. We are dedicated to the empowerment of women through education, dialogue, and connection among individuals working for women's rights and freedoms worldwide. Harvard GlobalWE does not advocate a specific ideology or political or cultural agenda. We are an inclusive organization with membership open to and comprising all genders.

While membership is free, we appreciate donations from members to support GlobalWE's programs and initiatives. To become a member of Harvard GlobalWE, please JoinWE. To learn more, please visit our website and our Facebook group.

The views expressed during our events are solely those of the speaker(s) and participating audience and do not imply endorsement by Harvard GlobalWE and/or Harvard University.

GlobalWE highly encourages our members to do their own research before getting involved in any organization unaffiliated with Harvard. Harvard GlobalWE does not advocate a specific ideology or agenda; the views expressed and actions taken by the organizations listed on this page are independent of Harvard University and Harvard GlobalWE.

An online and in-person event in Chicago hosted by Harvard Club of Chicago, Harvard Law Society of Illinois and Harvard Alumni for Global Women's Empowerment.

THIS EVENT HAS PASSED- TO VIEW A LIVE RECORDING, CLICK HERE.

Sexual assault on campus has garnered renewed attention in recent years, and attempts by schools to make their sexual assault policies more responsive to the concerns of sexual assault victims have elicited criticism from scholars and advocates focusing on the due process rights of the accused. What is behind this response to changes in the higher education landscape? How do advocates for students accused of sexual assault view these issues? What are the due process concerns when public or private schools handle accusations of violent felonies?

In “Sexual Assault on Campus: Title IX and Due Process,” Justin Dillon, a campus misconduct attorney, Hanna Stotland, an admissions consultant and former attorney, and Tanya Jachimiak, Director of the Title IX Office at Wake Forest University, will talk about the evolution of Title IX, the federal law banning sex discrimination on campus, and their experiences working with Title IX discipline cases.

Note: This event marks the first of a two-part series hosted by GlobalWE devoted to Title IX.  GlobalWE’s second installment of the series will explore Title IX from the perspective of victim advocates.

Justin Dillon JD '02  is a partner at KaiserDillon PLLC, a Washington, DC law firm, where he specializes in school discipline and white-collar criminal defense. He has represented students at more than 50 schools nationwide. Before entering private practice, Justin was a federal prosecutor and a trial attorney with the Office of Civil Rights in the Department of Justice. He clerked for the Hon. David M. Ebel, United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. He is a graduate of Duke University and Harvard Law School.

Hanna Stotland AB'99, JD'02  flunked out of high school, got a G.E.D., and graduated from Harvard College and Harvard Law School. She clerked for the Hon. Elaine Bucklo of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and the Hon. Ann Williams of the United States District Court for the Seventh Circuit. She is now an admissions consultant who specializes in helping students continue their educations after facing mental illness, addiction, school discipline, or criminal charges. She has worked with dozens of students accused of sexual misconduct under Title IX, as well as with students who have survived sexual assault.

Tanya Jachimiak JD is currently Director of the Title IX Office at Wake Forest University in Winstom Salem, NC.  In that role, she is responsible for the development and implementation of comprehensive compliance programs for Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Violence Against Women Act of 1994, Campus Sexual Violence Elimination (SaVE) Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and related laws and regulations throughout the University, including the Reynolda Campus, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, and the Bowman Gray Center for Medical Education. Ms. Jachimiak provides day-to-day counsel to all levels of University administration to ensure legal compliance while strengthening a culture that supports a safe and respectful learning, working, and living environment for all members of the campus community.

Ms. Jachimiak has over 16 years of experience in counseling and representing employees and employers in individual claims, class actions and collective actions in jurisdictions across the country under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, as well as pattern and practice suits brought by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Ms. Jachimiak was previsouly the Title IX Coordinator and Executive Associate Director of the Office for Access and Equity for the University of Illinois at Chicago, and previous to that was an employment attorney at Solo Cup Operating Corporation in Highland Park, IL.

Event Detail

DATE:    

Thursday, January 19, 2017

LOCATION:

Chicago:  

Latham & Watkins LLP,

330 North Wabash Ave, 28th floor

Chicago, IL 60611

Remote / Online

TIME:

(in Central Time)           

5:30 pm: Reception  Please note that elevators to the room are not available after 6 pm, so plan to arrive between 5:30 and 6 pm!

6:00 pm: Panel Discussion

7:30 pm: Wrap-Up

COST:            

In-person attendees:

$20 per person for GlobalWE, Harvard Club of Chicago, and Harvard Law Society of Illinois and their guests

$15 per person for recent graduates (2007-2016)

$35 per person for non-members and their guests

Online attendees:  Free of charge

NOTE:            

FOR IN-PERSON ATTENDEES - ADVANCE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. NO WALK-INS WILL BE ALLOWED DUE TO BUILDING SECURITY. You will be required to show a photo ID in order to gain access to the building. Reservations will be held at the door.

Event Registration

In-person attendees:

Follow the registration link on the Harvard Club of Chicago event page.

Online attendees:

Register Here!!! Log-in information and instructions will be sent closer to the event date.

NOTE: If you are a Harvard alumnus/a, you MUST log-in using your HarvardKey username and password (not necessarily your post.harvard email address) before completing your ticket purchase. For non-Harvard affiliates, please proceed to the registration link.

CANCELLATION POLICY: All cancellations must be received during normal business hours, 2 business days prior to the event or the attendee who made the reservation will be charged due to costs associated with the reservation and/or the event itself, regardless of actual participation.

If you have any questions or have trouble registering, please contact the GlobalWE team at globalwe@post.harvard.edu

Join Harvard Alumni for Global Women's Empowerment in Chicago for an afternoon with the Field Museum exhibition Women of Vision: National Geographic Photographers on Assignment on Saturday, September 10.

Don't miss your chance to see this highly reviewed exhibition before it leaves the Field Museum on September 11! In the exhibition, 11 award-winning female photographers explore humanity and wilderness around the world through striking photographs that showcase their powerful stories and diversity. 

Event Details: 

Saturday, September 10 - 2:30pm

• 2:30pm - We'll meet in the Field Museum lobby next to the elephant after purchasing tickets on our own - this event requires a special exhibition ticket; ticket price for a Discovery Pass, which includes one special exhibition, is $29 for adults and $25 for students

• 2:40pm - Walk to gallery

• 3 - 4pm - Women of Vision exhibition

• 4 - 5pm - Meet at the Field Bistro for refreshments and discussion - refreshments purchased separately

Learn more about Women of Vision from the photographers themselves in this recorded panel discussion hosted by Ann Curry: Women of Vision

Event Registration

This event is open to all members of the Harvard community, including guests. Registration will be capped at 20 participants.

To register...

If you have a post.harvard login, please Log In now, then come back to this page to click the Register button below. Please note that as of 9/22/2015, all alumni with post.harvard loging will be asked to "Claim Your HarvardKey." For more information, please read the HarvardKey Information Sheet.

If you do not have a Harvard alumni login, or if you're already logged in, please click the Register button below.

If you have any questions, or have trouble registering, please contact globalwe@post.harvard.edu.

Live Panel Discussion-NOTE: REGISTRATION HAS NOW CLOSED.

Join Harvard Alumni for Global Women's Empowerment on Monday, May 16, 2016 from 11:30am-1:30pm CDT in Chicago* for lunch and an expert panel discussion on the trafficking and sexual enslavement of thousands of Yazidi women and girls by ISIS, as recently covered by the New York Times in ISIS Enshrines a Theology of Rape and To Maintain its Supply of Sex Slaves, ISIS Pushes Birth Control. A panel of experts will join us both in Chicago and remotely on-screen to discuss the sitaution facing the Yazidis, and ongoing efforts to help. After the discussion, the panelists will take questions from our audience. 

Panelists include: Sareta Ashraph, Chief Analyst, UN Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic (joining from Geneva, Switzerland); Adlay Kejjan, member of the Yazidi community and Yazda representative; Sajida Shroff, Harvard GlobalWE Vice President/Board Member and CEO Altamont Group (Education Advisory & Investment) (joining from Dubai, UAE); and Matthew Barber, University of Chicago PhD student and Iraq Executive Director of Yazda (tentatively joining from Iraq**).  The panel will be moderated by Farzeen Tariq, Harvard GlobalWE Advisory Council member, current Northwestern Law School student, and women's rights advocate.

*A limited number of remote participants will be selected to view the event online; see below for details.

** We hope that Matthew Barber will be able to join us, however his attendance is tentative due to the ever-changing situation in Iraq.

Invite

Please see our online invitation for more details

Date

Monday, May 16, 2016

Time

11:30am-1:30pm CDT (4:30pm-6:30pm UTC)

Event

Buffet luncheon (11:30am-12pm) and panel discussion (12pm-1:30pm)

Location

Sidley Austin, 1 S. Dearborn, 37th Floor, Chicago

Note: Security is very strict at this location. All visitors will need to be registered for this event in advance, and a photo ID is required for entry.

Remote

A limited number of individuals and groups will be selected to view the event remotely online. Registration information below.

REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED

Due to the need to provide names to building security in advance, registration for this event has now closed.

Please join Harvard GlobalWE to be kept informed of future events!

Bondage & Trafficking in Nepal

Live, online viewing and discussion of Girl Rising with Dr. Molly Teas

Event Registration

This free, online Harvard GlobalWE event is open to all GlobalWE members, Harvard alumni and other members of the Harvard community, including parents, spouses, students, staff and guests. After you register for the event, we email you with further details about the online event, including how to log in and participate on October 4th. 

If you have a post.harvard login, please Log In now, and then come back to click the Register Button below. Please note that as of 9/22/15, all alumni with post.harvard logins will be asked to "Claim Your HarvardKey." For more information, please read the HarvardKey Information Sheet.

If you do not have a Harvard alumni login, or if you're already logged in, please click the Register Button: 

For More Information

For more information on the Girl Rising movement and film, please visit the Girl Rising website. 

To watch Suma's story before the online screening, view Girl Rising, Suma's Story. For background information on trafficking of women and girls in Nepal, the following are a few resources that may be of interest to you:

Human Trafficking: A Global Perspective. Louise Shelley. Cambridge University Press, 2010.

Trafficking in Nepal: Policy Analysis. An Assessment of Laws and Policies for the Prevention and Control of Trafficking in Nepal. Dr. Jyoti Sanghera and Ms. Ratna Kapur. The Asia Foundation & The Population Council, December 2000.

US Department of State. Trafficking in Persons Report 2014.

Work/Life Perspectives forum

Real-world perspectives: A panel on work-life issues and choices.

Please join Harvard Alumni for Global Women's Empowerment at Harvard's Office of Career Services (OCS) on February 6, 2015 from 3:30pm-5:30pm Eastern Standard Time for a conversation about work-life issues. Hear a panel of women and men discuss how they've grappled with choices about balancing work and family, and have arrived at different places.  The panelists will offer their real-world perspectives on what has worked, and what has been sacrificed, as they have managed the many claims on their time and energy. Question and answer discussion with attendees to follow. This event is free and open to all Harvard GlobalWE members and their guests.

Panelists include:
Stephanie Khurana
Harvard MBA 1996, Harvard MPP 1996, Cornell BS 1989
Co-Founder and CEO of Surebridge, Cabot House Master, Mother of 3 Children

Kate Leness

Harvard MBA 2002, Stanford BA 1995

Principal at Fund Liquidation Services, LLS,  formerly with Fidelity Investments, Mother of 3 Children

Linda K. Myers

Georgetown JD 1989, University of Wisconsin Madison BA 1986

Partner at Kirkland and Ellis LLP, Mother of 3 Children, Spouse of Dennis Myers

Dennis M. Myers

Harvard JD 1990, Case Western Reserve BA 1987

Partner at Kirkland and Ellis LLP, Father of 3 Children, Spouse of Linda Myers

Sajida H. Shroff

Emory MBA 2004 , Harvard EdM 1995, University of British Columbia BEd 1993, University of British Columbia BA 1990

CEO, Altamont Group

Although not required,  we recommend reviewing the following prior to the event:

"Why Women Still Can't Have It All"

Anne-Marie Slaughter, The Atlantic, July/August 2012

 "Why We Have Too Few Women Leaders"

Sheryl Sandberg, TED Talk, December 2010

Live, online screening of Honor Diaries

Followed by a live, online discussion with Raheel Raza

Harvard GlobalWE invites its members to a live, worldwide screening and discussion of Honor Diaries on Saturday, June 21, 2014 from 11:00am-12:30pm Eastern Standard Time.

Please join fellow Harvard alumni worldwide in this exclusive screening and discussion of the award-winning Honor Diaries, the first film to break the silence on "honor violence" against women and girls in certain Muslim-majority societies. The post-film discussion via live online video conference and chat will be moderated by Raheel Raza, a journalist, author, heralded human rights advocate, and one of nine women's rights activists featured in the film.

We look forward to having you join us for this important screening and open, candid dialogue about the growing movement against honor violence, and the millions of women and girls affected by honor violence worldwide.

Event Summary

Following the film, discussion kicked off with the first question: “What are the benchmarks for women’s empowerment in Muslim-majority countries?” A spirited dialogue followed, covering topics and posing questions including:

-What it’s like to live in a tolerant Muslim society, e.g. Dubai, with general freedoms

-“Honor” as cultural vs. religious, honor culture transcending religion, also idea of honor being part of religion and not so cut/dry

-Freedom as universal concept, not “western” concept; universal rights, not “western” rights

-Respect vs. equality and freedom

-Issues of humanity; human rights issues

-How do we enable respect for women as human beings who have the right to think/ express themselves in a more universal way?

-How do we shift the burden so that the honor of the family isn’t rooted in the women but in the family as a whole?

-Role of Sharia law and religion in justice, punishments for honor violence/killings/crimes

-Role of educating both men and women; idea of a mindset, respect needing to be taught at very young age

-Role of evolving economies; what are the other elements that influence respect; elements need to be part of dialogue

-FGM--African countries starting come forward, looking at education, culture does not mean abuse slogans, etc.

-Honor Diaries--role of film in raising awareness, part of educating; tool for discussion

-What allows people to perpetuate barbaric actions, what is the mindset, ideology, and what do we need to do to change that? Awareness, education, eradication

-Honor killings and FGM not part of Christian community, but idea of honor/shame prevalent (Pakistan)--speaks to culture vs. religion

-What needs to happen to change framework of the woman connected to husband or family, and honor vested in women’s behavior?

-Slow change when honor is embedded in culture

-Conviction of men that they are doing the right thing, justified through the faith or culture, religious duty, an ideology; punishment not a deterrent here

-The essential role of men in women’s rights and progress; a mindset that needs to be changed; may take a generation; essential role of education--boys and mothers raising boys; education starts at home

-What women in Muslim-majority societies would like to see re: progress?

-Progress already being made in many Muslim-majority societies; can’t negate positive changes taking place

-Easier to talk about positive change than the difficult and controversial issues; honor killings not easy to discuss in all societies, such as Pakistan

-What can we do to help these societies?

-Importance of speaking out and getting involved; need an army