<\/p>\n
The Evergreen Valley College Strong Women Leadership Conference was held by The American Association of University Women at the EVC campus Saturday March 18 from 8:45 a.m.-2 p.m.<\/p>\n
Guest speakers, a variety of ten different classes and a discussion panel were provided for student and guests to learn about effective female leadership and empowerment. The event also encompassed discussions about mental and physical health, LGBTQ rights and immigrant rights in the workplace.<\/p>\n
\u201cGet active, do something. We need more women at the decision making table,\u201d said keynote speaker Chandra Brooks.<\/p>\n
Brooks spoke during the opening of the event with a story about overcoming teen pregnancy, her career success despite facing adversity and introduced her three pieces of advice for the audience: \u2018Success is disguised as hard work\u2026 be fearless\u2026 be your authentic self.\u2019 She also added a fourth rule: \u2018Get active,\u2019 to the list, because she \u2018doesn\u2019t follow the rules.\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201cThese events are by women, for women,\u201d AAUW\u2019s new president elect Sharon Bouska said. \u201cThis is really advocacy for women.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI see the future of San Jose here, the future of California and more importantly the salvation of America,\u201d vice mayor of San Jose Magdalena Carrasco said.<\/p>\n
There were 320 registered guests and walk-ins that attended. English professor at EVC Yvette Abelow was \u2018happily surprised by the turnout today,\u2019 and hoped that this event would continue to occur every year.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we\u2019re seeing such a wonderful turnout since our administration is showing that women aren\u2019t important to them,\u201d said Brooks.<\/p>\n
EVC president Henry Yong told the audience a story about his mother immigrating to the U.S. and how she inspired his support of female leaders.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know that you could have found other things to do this morning rather than coming to Evergreen Valley College for this conference, but your presence is very much appreciated because we still have work to do,\u201d said Yong.<\/p>\n
\u201cUsually when women do things, we do them really well,\u201d said Chandra Brooks.<\/p>\n
Attendees were each able to take two of the offered classes before a panel of four guest speakers ended the event with a discussion about leadership and individual struggles.
\n\u201cWe\u2019re here to inspire and motivate you,\u201d said conference committee member Marjorie Clark, who wore a pink hat like supporters of the Women\u2019s March promoted.<\/p>\n
One of the classes available called \u2018When Women Lead, Women Win!\u2019 was led by Brooks. Other options for classes were about self-defense, yoga for students to focus and de-stress, healthy meals, body positivity, campus sexual assault, consent for healthy relationships and financing college.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe (women) need to be powerful, but we also need to be humble because you know what they call us when we\u2019re a little too powerful,\u201d said Brooks before several audience members replied with \u201cbitch.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFirst lesson of leadership as a woman: Lift other voices, open doors,\u201d said Brooks. \u201c<\/p>\n
Brooks also asked the audience \u201cWhat does a leader look like to you?\u201d and collectively the room discussed words such as inspirational, compassionate, humble, powerful and effective.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t want to downplay men, because there are some great male leaders,\u201d said Brooks. \u201cBut we (women) think with our hearts.\u201d<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Evergreen Valley College Strong Women Leadership Conference was held by The American Association of University Women at the EVC campus Saturday March 18 from 8:45 a.m.-2 p.m. Guest speakers, a variety of ten different classes and a discussion panel were provided for student and guests to learn about effective female leadership and empowerment….<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11408,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[379],"tags":[],"staff_name":[680],"class_list":["post-11407","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-showcase","staff_name-jordan-elliott"],"yoast_head":"\n