Spending my Birthday with Icon Gloria Steinem

“The most revolutionary of all qualities is kindness.” – Gloria Steinem

gloria-steinem

Sometimes I just feel so dang lucky!!!!  This year my birthday coincided with The Ms. Foundation for Women celebration of Gloria Steinem‘s upcoming 80th birthday and I was able to be there.  For the under-30 crowd who may not have heard of Gloria, please, the second you finish reading this blog, google Gloria Steinem and send her a cosmic ‘Thank you’ for her tireless work to promote women’s equality, immigrant and labor rights, and affordable health care among dozens of other pursuits.  Her

50 years after the Equal Pay Act, women are still paid 77 cents for every dollar a man makes.
50 years after the Equal Pay Act, women are still paid 77 cents for every dollar a man makes.

efforts to promote peace throughout the world have inspired countless others to live a purposeful life aimed at improving the lives of others.  Not only is Gloria radiantly intelligent and compassionate, she happens to be the most beautiful and hippest 79 year old chick you will ever meet. 

Sharon Stone was the Mistress of Ceremonies at the celebration and eloquently introduced Gloria and the panel discussion, “Economic Justice and Power For Women.”  Panelist discussed the positive impact of high quality, free healthcare as well as equal pay for equal work for men and women.  Ms. Steinem stated that equalizing pay between men and women would strengthen the US economy by $200 billion.

Andrea with Dolores Huerta, labor leader, civil rights activist and co-founder of the United Farm Workers.
Andrea with Dolores Huerta, labor leader, civil rights activist and co-founder of the United Farm Workers.

Panel participants included the legendary activist Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the United Farm Workers with Caesar Chavez and founder of the Dolores Huerta Foundation, Marissa Nuncio of the Garment Worker Center in Los Angeles, Dorothy Thomas,  CEO of The Ms. Foundation, and actress Garcelle Beauvais.

Hunter and I had the chance to speak with Garcelle who is of Haitian descent, and is passionately concerned about current developments in Haiti.  We were excited to share Aid Still Required’s Haiti: ALEN Trauma Relief and Children’s programs with her. 

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