This weekend brought the second annual Women and Power symposium hosted by Emma Willard. Over five hundred students, parents, alumnae, and guests attended. The symposium provided insight into how young women can use the power of their intellect and the energy of their passion to make positive change in today’s world.
We heard from a group of young women already making their mark around the globe. They examined the issues and contemplated the many possibilities that emerge when women translate their beliefs into action with commitment and conviction.
The yearly symposium highlights the Emma Willard mission to proudly fosters in each young woman a love of learning, the habits of an intellectual life,
and the character, moral strength, and qualities of leadership to serve and shape her world.
Here is a link to the Times Union article about the event. You can also listen to a preview of the event that aired on the local NPR affiliate, WAMC.
3 Comments
September 29, 2008 at 2:56 pm
I attended this symposium and was impressed by the power each of the speakers have utilized in order to receive maximum possibilities. Most of the women who came do non-prophet work, which impressed, but also surprised me.
Through their selfless actions to change the flaws in the world, I see the potential the world has if the world works together and puts as much effort into what they believe as the women who spoke to us have done.
-Carole Dore ‘11
October 1, 2008 at 2:12 pm
This was my first symposium and I thought it was really interesting. There’s so many different types of issues that need dedicated people to help with them. All the speakers were very nice and had lots of inspirational things to say. They all really sold you on wanting to join their groups. It made you feel kind of hopeless because there were so many issues but at the same time hopeful that there are so may determined people to help.
-Lydia Youngman ‘12
October 4, 2008 at 5:08 pm
It was amazing to see how an idea became to improve so many lives when put into action. Jessica Jackley Flannery, the founder of Kiva, a micro-lending website was started upon her idea of lending small loans to people in need. Her mission started by lending to 4 people with money collected by the people she knew, but now Kiva is expected to provide about $100 million in loans by 2010 to people all over the world in need. This story made me think to myself, “Hey, maybe I can actually do something incredible like this, if all these women can make an impact, why not me?” I used to think only certain people are born to make a difference, but I realized that it is up to anyone if only they have the motivation and courage to act upon their beliefs. I thoroughly enjoyed the symposium and definitely learned a lot from each speaker. I think this event changed the way I think about the endless possibilities and the power I have to make a difference in the world.