— A daring reporter with The Jordan Times who created a beat covering “honor killings” of Jordanian women; a 13-year-old publishing entrepreneur who created a magazine for African-American girls; a Washington, D.C. policy wonk who managed to place a national spotlight on gender discrimination in the elite golf world; a former U.S. ambassador to Austria who inspires women to become policy- and peace-makers; an 83-year-old women’s rights activist who has fought on behalf of women for nearly six decades.
These are only five of the 21 extraordinary female newsmakers from around the globe who have been selected by Women’s eNews as 21 Leaders for the 21st Century for their demonstrated commitment to creating change on behalf of all women. Their achievements will be celebrated on May 20th at a celebratory dinner at New York’s Tribeca Rooftop.
“We are so pleased to have the opportunity to celebrate these remarkable women,” said Rita Henley Jensen, editor in chief at Women’s eNews. “They are newsmakers to the core: breaking ground, leading communities in new directions, articulating significant values and full of exciting ideas. We are honored to have them as award recipients,” she added.
Nominated by Women’s eNews readers and selected by the Women’s eNews board of directors, these outstanding women represent a wide range of ages and disciplines, and each has impressive stories to tell. To reflect the diverse areas of contribution, the awards are divided into three categories: Seven Who Insist on Women’s Place at the Table, which honors those who have advanced the cause of inclusiveness for women; Seven Who Till Fresh Ground, which singles out women who have been catalysts for change in a wide variety of areas; and Seven Who Re-Cut the Fabric of Status Quo, which recognizes women who have expanded society’s expectations of what a woman’s life can be.
“We received 300 nominations, and while narrowing our selection to 21 was profoundly difficult, it is gratifying to see the crucial work going on all over the world on behalf of women,” said Henley Jensen.
Women’s eNews is a Web site and electronic news service that distributes balanced and non-partisan journalism on the issues that matter to women. With more than 100 correspondents across the nation and around the globe, Women’s eNews covers national and international events and trends in business, culture, education, health, law, politics, sports and safety. Subscribers include more than 500 major media outlets in the United States and abroad. Women’s eNews is a project of the incubator program of the Fund for the City of New York, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. For more information, or to inquire about subscribing or to make a donation, please visit www.womensenews.org or call (212) 244-1720.
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21 LEADERS FOR THE 21ST CENTURY
Ernesta D. Ballard
Life-long Equal Rights Activist
Established NOW in Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA
Martha Burk, Chair
National Council of Women’s Organizations
Activist who protested August National Golf Club’s non-women-members policy
Washington, DC
Susan Burton, Founder
A New Way of Life Foundation
“Angel of mercy” who gives minority women a chance to escape the pattern of incarceration by finding them job training and social treatment programs
Los Angeles, CA
Luisa Cabal, Attorney
Center for Reproductive Law and Policy
Legal voice that secures women’s reproductive rights as part of fundamental human rights worldwide
New York, NY
Esther Chávez Cano, Founder
Casa Amiga Rape-Crisis Center
Established and runs the only rape-crisis center in a city of almost 1.5 million residents
Juarez, Mexico
Eileen Fisher, Designer
Eileen Fisher, Inc.
Creator of popular clothing line and holistic business philosophy – success is not about achieving financial prosperity, but how you get there
New York, NY
Swanee Hunt, Founder
Women Waging Peace
Former U.S. Ambassador to Austria; Created program at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government that emphasizes the role of women as initiators of the nation’s policy agenda
Cambridge, MA
Rana Hsusseini, Journalist
Jordan Times
Created a beat covering “honor killings” of Jordanian women
Amman, Jordan
Kenya Jordana James, Founder and Editor
Blackgirl Magazine
13-year old who publishes magazine for young African-American women
Atlanta, GA
Jill June, President
Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa
Abortion activist who risked jail rather than turn over test results from her organization’s 17 clinics
Des Moines, IA
Ann Kaplan, Managing Director
Goldman Sachs
Launched a women’s financial education program at Smith College – the first of its kind – with $2.5 million in seed money
New York, NY
HH Shaika Sabeeka Bint Ibrahim Al-Khalifa
Queen of Bahrain
Led the call to vote to overturn years of gender inequality and corruption in Bahrain’s government by holding the first democratic election in 25 years and including women in the new government
Manama, Bahrain
Jill Miller, Executive Director
Women Work!
Runs the largest network of women’s employment training and education programs to help women find positions that satisfy both their economic needs and personal passion
Washington, DC
Aisseta Nagbila
Hunger Project Leader
Leader to improve the status and role of women in her village
Burkina Faso
Judy Norsigian, Executive Director
Our Bodies Ourselves
Co-publisher of the groundbreaking book “Our Bodies, Ourselves”
Boston, MA
Milbry Polk, Founder
Wings Trust
Advocate for women explorers, scientists
Palisades, NY
Kavita Ramdas, President
Global Fund for Women
Heads up an international network of men and women who are working to create a world of social justice and equality.
San Francisco, CA
Amy Richards, Co-Founder
Third Wave Foundation
Popularized third-wave feminism, making the next generation of women, ages 15 to 30, a viable force in the women’s movement
New York, NY
Sister Elaine Roulet
Bedford Women’s Prison
Creator, parent-child programs at New York’s maximum security prison for women
Bedford Hills, NY
Elizabeth A. Sackler
Patron for Women Artists
Public historian and arts philanthropist
New York, NY
Henna White
Domestic violence specialist and Jewish community liaison for Kings County (NY) District Attorney
Brooklyn, NY
