Speakers
Ruth Hassell-Thompson
Ruth Hassell-Thompson, Special Advisor for Policy and Community Affairs, for New York State Housing and Community Renewal, was first elected to the New York State Senate in 2000, where she brought years of public service and community involvement to her post as the Senator of the 36th Senatorial District; representing parts of the Bronx and Westchester Counties.
Prior to holding an elected office, she was President/CEO of Whart Development Company, Inc., a real estate development company that also provided consultant services to small and developing businesses, thus, she is well known for her expertise in minority business. As the Executive Director of the Westchester Minority Contractors Association (WMCA), Ms. Hassell-Thompson became well-versed in economic development issues which impacted women and people of color. Ms. Hassell-Thompson was consultant to the Automotive Consultant, Inc. (ACI), an automobile dealership/industry organization responsible for promoting the interests of automobile dealers of color, nationally.
Ms. Hassell-Thompson is the recipient of two Honorary Doctorate degrees; Mercy College, Doctor of Humane Letters; and Eastern Theological Consortium, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Christ Theological Seminary, Doctor of Humanities. She is an alumna of Bronx Community College.
During her tenure in the Senate, Ms. Hassell-Thompson served on the following standing committees: Judiciary (Ranking); Crime Victims, Crime & Correction (Ranking Chairwoman); Commerce, Economic Development & Small Business; Alcohol and Substance Abuse; Health; Finance; Rules; Chairwoman, Conference of Black Senators; Chairwoman, Taskforce on Domestic Violence; Governor Cuomo Taskforce on MWBE
Barbara McGraw
Barbara A. McGraw is Professor of Social Ethics, Law, and Public Life and founding director of the Center for Engaged Religious Pluralism at Saint Mary’s College of California. She received her Ph.D. in 1999 and her J.D. in 1984, both from the University of Southern California. She has been with Saint Mary’s College since 1998. Among other things, she has served on the American Academy of Religion's standing Committee for the Public Understanding of Religion, 2011-2015, and as president of the AAR Western Region, 2001-2002.
Dr. McGraw is author or editor of many articles, chapters, and books, including Rediscovering America’s Sacred Ground: Public Religion and Pursuit of the Good in a Pluralistic America; Taking Religious Pluralism Seriously: Spiritual Politics on America’s Sacred Ground (with Jo Renee Formicola); Many Peoples, Many Faiths: Women and Men in the World Religions (with Robert S. Ellwood); and The Wiley-Blackwell Companion to Religion and Politics in the U.S.
Dr. McGraw’s areas of specialization include religion, law, and politics and the role of religion in public life, especially involving religious minorities and religious pluralism as a civic value. In that regard in addition to her areas of specialization, her current interests include scholar-activism on behalf of religious minorities and the newly emerging interfaith-interreligious leadership field for which she is a thought-leader.
Katharine Pichardo
KATHARINE PICHARDO-ERSKINE is President of the Hamilton Campaign Network (HCN), a leading Latino-owned and managed consulting firm providing strategic advice and services to political and high-profile issue campaigns.
Founded in 2016 as a sister company to the MirRam Group, HCN counts on a team of professionals with unique backgrounds and unparalleled experience in campaign management, voter targeting and contact, field operations, research, media, direct mail, digital marketing and compliance.
A 25-year veteran of government and politics, Katharine joined the MirRam family in 2016 as Vice President to manage lobbying, community relations and communication services for corporate, labor and non-profit clients. Prior to that, her work included a lengthy tenure in the New York State Senate, where she served as Executive Director and Chief of Staff, managing policy, operations and strategic outreach for a number of Members, including leadership.
Katharine’s wealth of experience running key political and issue campaigns over the years, in addition to her diligent planning and spot-on intuitive insights, have made her a sought-after strategist in and outside New York. Throughout her career, her work has focused on building principled campaigns – supporting causes and candidates whose values emphasize community well-being and far-sighted, solutions-driven policymaking to address our shared challenges.
HCN is proud to have played a role in numerous recent path-breaking elections, including Adriano Espaillat’scampaign to become the first Dominican-American and formerly undocumented Member of Congress; Letitia James’s run for New York Attorney General as the state’s first woman and person of color elected to the office; and the campaign to elect the first Latino District Attorney in the Northeast United States, Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez.
She is a regular political commentator on Telemundo and other media outlets.
SPEAKERS
Meg Kelly, Mayor of Saratoga Springs, NY
The Mayor made the many accomplishments of her administration clear in the 2019 State of the City Address, and is eager to continue initiatives, complete projects, and take the opportunity to bring new programs to her beloved City. A lifelong resident with a long-standing record of community involvement, Mayor Kelly was eager to step up to public service and is even more eager to continue.
Collaboratively created policies and administer their implementation. Met with constituents regarding their concerns and comments. Oversaw departmental projects and guided them to completion. Worked on key projects for the homeless (Shelter) and with the developers to increase workforce and affordable housing within the city.
The honorable Meg Kelly responsibilities includes not limited to Intergovernmental Representative, Executor of legal documents Presiding Officer of the Council
State of the City Address. Initiation of Comprehensive Plan Review Enforcement of Laws
Collective Bargaining
Official Appointments
Public Information Policies and Procedures
Cynthia Terrell, CEO of Represent Women
Cynthia Richie Terrell is the founder and director of RepresentWomen and an outspoken advocate for rules & systems reforms to advance women’s representation and leadership in the United States. Terrell also helped to found FairVote - a leading electoral reform organization. Terrell has worked on women’s representation and voting system reform in the United States and abroad.
Previously, Terrell worked extensively on political campaigns, working as campaign manager and field director for campaigns for the U.S. President, U.S. House and U.S. Senate, for governor and for state and city-wide initiative efforts, including a state equal rights amendment and a city campaign for fair representation voting.
Terrell has been published in numerous print journals including: the Washington Post, The Hill, Refinery29, The Nation, the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, The American Prospect, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Baltimore Sun, and The Christian Science Monitor; has appeared on C-SPAN’s Washington Journal; and has participated in numerous radio shows & panel discussions on the topic of structural strategies to elect more women. She graduated with a B.A. in political science from Swarthmore College in 1986.
Sally Roesch Wagner, Ph.D.
Awarded one of the first doctorates in the country for work in women’s studies (UC Santa Cruz) and a founder of one the first college-level women’s studies programs in the United States (CSU Sacramento), Dr. Sally Roesch Wagner has taught women’s studies courses for 50 years. She edited the intersectional anthology, The Women’s Suffrage Movement (Penguin Classics, 2019) and currently serves as an adjunct faculty member in The Renée Crown University Honors Program, Syracuse University and the St. John Fisher Executive Leadership Program.
She wrote the faculty guide for Not for Ourselves Alone, Ken Burns’ documentary on Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, and has appeared in that film and numerous history films and radio programs. Dr. Wagner was selected as one of “21 Leaders for the 21st Century” by Women’s E-News in 2015. She serves on the New York Suffrage Centennial Commission.
Founder and Executive Director of the Matilda Joslyn Gage Center for Social Justice Dialogue in Fayetteville, New York, she received the Katherine Coffey Award for outstanding service to museology from the Mid-Atlantic Association of Museums in 2012.
Sen. Roxanne Persaud
Roxanne Jacqueline Persaud was elected to the State Senate in November 2015 after serving in the State Assembly. She has been reelected twice. Currently, she serves as the chair of the Social Services Committee as well as a member of the Banks, Children and Families, Commerce, Economic Development and Small Business, Labor and Transportation Committees.
Roxanne spent many years as a Higher Education Administrator prior to being elected to the State Legislature. She serves on organizations highlighting domestic violence and cancer awareness among others.
Her dedication to community involvement and her interest in helping others stretches well beyond Brooklyn. She has traveled overseas on several occasions as a volunteer on medical and social outreach programs. She encourages everyone to be actively involved in the community.
Roxanne was born in Guyana, South America and migrated to the United States with her parents and siblings. She is a graduate of Pace University from which she holds a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Education Administration.
In the Senate, Roxanne’s legislative priorities for the District will include safer communities, affordable housing, funding for schools and libraries, supportive services for youth and senior and quality healthcare.
Roxanne lives in the Canarsie section of the 19th Senatorial District.
Annette Ramos
Ms. Annette Ramos has worked as a highly acclaimed professional teaching artist for Young Audiences of Rochester (YA) for many years. She recently was promoted to YA’s Director for Wolftrap/Early Learning Through the Arts, and Manager of Educational Services. Ms. Ramos is best described as a multi-talented, highly dynamic and energized Latina Writer, Storyteller and Performance Artist who delivers a clear and powerful positive image of Hispanics today.
Ms. Ramos has influenced the development of many youth during her 15 plus years of providing art residencies and programming in Rochester, NY. Ms. Ramos has distinguished herself as a large committed arts education advocate, teaching thousands of students. A Master Storyteller, Ms. Ramos is a well respected, animated, uplifting and enthusiastic Latina performer, producing and performing original & world tales enriched with dance, mime, a plethora of characters, and personal touches. She has been acknowledged for her transformational contributions receiving several Recognition Awards from the Rochester City School District and winning Writers & Book’s 2004 Teacher of Youth Award.
Susan Goodier, Ph.D.
Susan Goodier studies U.S. women’s activism, particularly woman suffrage activism, from 1840 to 1920. She earned a master’s degree in Gender History, a doctorate in Public Policy History, with subfields in International Gender and Culture and Black Women’s Studies, and a Women’s Studies master’s degree, all from the University at Albany. At SUNY Oneonta she teaches courses in Women’s History, New York State History, the Civil War and Reconstruction, and Progressivism.
Dr. Goodier is the coordinator for the Upstate New York Women's History Organization (UNYWHO).
The University of Illinois published her first book, No Votes for Women: The New York State Anti-Suffrage Movement, in 2013. Her second book, coauthored with Karen Pastorello, is Women Will Vote: Winning Suffrage in New York State (Cornell University Press, 2017). In addition to writing a biography of Louisa M. Jacobs, the daughter of Harriet Jacobs, author of Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, she is writing a book on black women in the New York State suffrage movement.
SPEAKERS
Coline Jenkins
Coline Jenkins is the great-great granddaughter of suffrage pioneer, Elizabeth Cady Stanton. She continues the legacy of the women’s suffrage movement, also being the great granddaughter of Harriot Stanton Blatch; and granddaughter of Nora Stanton Blatch Deforest Barney. Coline is a legislator, author and television producer, who works endlessly to inspire awareness and pride in women’s history. She is co-founder and president of the Elizabeth Cady Stanton Trust, a collection of 3,000 artifacts of women’s suffrage memorabilia loaned to museums, libraries, and film, magazine and television programs. For 25 years, Coline served as a municipal legislator in Greenwich, Connecticut. She co-authored a book entitled 33 Things Every Girl Should Know about Women’s History, and produced the television documentary, An American Revolution: Women Take Their Place. In 2009, she testified before the U.S. Senate regarding federal legislation to create a national trail of historic sites significant to women’s history and the suffrage movement. She is currently vice president of the Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony Statue Fund, an organization working to install the first statues of important historical women in NYC’s Central Park.
Amber McReynolds
Amber McReynolds believes in designing voter-centric processes that put the voter first. ASAN experienced election official for over 13 years, and former Director of Elections for the City and County of Denver, She know how to improve systems to make them more responsive and effective for voters and customers. Under her leadership, we transformed Denver Elections to become one of the top election offices in the country, earning international and national recognition for various technical innovations. We created systems to better serve voters such as Ballot TRACE and eSign and increased transparency and accountability in the process. She also played an integral role in the 2013 Election Modernization Reforms that have made Colorado one of the top states for security, voter registration, and voter engagement.
As the Director of Elections with the City and County of Denver, CO, she oversaw pivotal elections and developed innovative techniques in election administration which earned the office numerous awards.
Joyce Pittman, Ph.D.
Dr. Joyce Pittman is a first-generation educator woman of color, who was born and grew up in the deep south. She was an active participant in in the civil rights movement in the south, and in September 2012, was recognized by the New York Times, Schools for the Future initiative as a voice of future during an inaugural of this initiative. She is known worldwide by UNESCO members and leaders as a visionary leader in the international education arena.
In 2017, Dr. Pittman was an invited guest panel presenter for The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, also known as UN Women, is a United Nations entity working for the empowerment of women and has continued to be an active participant in this global network.
Vanessa J. Herman
Vanessa J. Herman, Since February 2013, Vanessa J. Herman has served as the Assistant Vice President for Government and Community Relations at Pace University. In this role Vanessa oversees the University’s Federal, State and local government relations portfolio and is the primary point of contact for the University’s 43 elected officials and staff who represent Pace throughout Westchester County and New York City. Vanessa also manages the University’s “town-gown” community relations throughout New York State and is an Adjunct Professor who teaches University 101 for Veterans and Tools of the Trade: A deep dive into the hidden political processes, and essential professional skills that determine the outcomes of law, policy and elections.
Vanessa is one of twelve recipients of the 2018-2019 Pace University Bronze Medal Jefferson Award and has served on the Board of Trustees of Dress for Success in Long Island. Vanessa is also the President of Millennium Strategies Consulting, a firm she founded in 1999 to provide primarily volunteer her public relations expertise to select charitable organizations.
Vanessa was the Assistant Director of Governmental Relations at Stony Brook for more than twelve years from, 1999 to 2011. During this time she served as the university’s sole registered federal lobbyist and was responsible for the creation and implementation of the University’s federal legislative agenda. From 1991 to 1999, Vanessa served as a Press Secretary, Executive Assistant, and Director of Community Relations for former U.S. Senator Alfonse D’Amato (R-NY) based in New York City. In addition to these roles, Vanessa got her start in politics working in the Senator’s Long Island Campaign Office.
Vanessa has an M.A. in Literature a B.A. in Political Science/Sociology both from Stony Brook University and an A.A.S. Degree in Criminal Justice from Suffolk County Community College.
Bridie Farrell
Bridie Farrell is an advocate on behalf of survivors of childhood sexual abuse and exploitation. She is a frequent commentator in the media and a distinguished speaker about issues related to child abuse.
Ms. Farrell was a nationally ranked speed skater by age 13. She competed in the 1998, 2002, 2006, and 2014 Olympic Trials and held three American records: 1500m, 3000m, and 3000m relay. Beginning at age 15, Ms. Farrell was sexually abused by speed skating teammate and Olympic silver medalist Andy Gabel, then 33.
In 2013, 16 years after the abuse ended, she disclosed the trauma she endured on National Public Radio. Gabel subsequently acknowledged that he had engaged in an “inappropriate relationship” with an athlete who was not yet 18.
In 2017, Ms. Farrell founded NY Loves Kids, a nonprofit focused on supporting and advocating for survivors of sexual abuse and exploitation. A top priority for Ms. Farrell and NY Loves Kids was passage of the Child Victims Act in New York State, legislation to extend the statute of limitation for survivors of child sexual abuse, thereby allowing victims to seek access to a justice system from which they had previously been time barred. In 2019, the Child Victims Act (CVA) passed the New York Senate and Assembly and signed into law by New York Governor, Andrew Cuomo. Ms. Farrell is from Saratoga Springs, New York, holds a BS from Cornell University, and resides in Hudson, NY with her partner Andrew and their dog, Lexington.
Lisa Powell Graham
Lisa Powell Graham is passionate about empowering women and girls to be leaders. Lisa is a political and strategic planning consultant, public speaker, writer and life coach. She is a proven visionary leader, with more than two decades of successes in campaign management, strategic planning, fundraising, communications, and community organizing.
She served as part of the organizing committee for Emerge New York in 2017 inspiring women to run and honing their skills to win. She was a part of the organizing committee, a featured speaker, and a workshop facilitator at the first ever New York state Women’s Empowerment Conference and March taking place in Albany, New York on January 12th and 19th, 2019.
Lisa was part of Hillary Clinton's paid presidential campaign staff in 2016, running a campaign office in Philadelphia, PA. 96% of Lisa’s ward voted for Hillary, and Lisa achieved 225+% on all of her personal campaign and GOTV (Get Out The Vote) goals. She also worked as a field organizer for Barack Obama in Virginia in 2008.
Lisa earned her Master in Public Administration degree from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government in 2005, with a focus on elected leadership and best practices in government. After graduating from Harvard, Lisa created a strategic plan for performance management for city and county government in San Francisco for Former Mayor Gavin Newsom, who is Governor of CA.
Lisa is also a Board Member for http://www.onemama.org/, an organization which saves mamas and babies through medical clinics, community centers, and economic empowerment for women and families in communities where people live on less than $1.25 a day. She is a Martha Beck Certified Life Coach, and an inspirational public speaker and writer who specializes in empowering girls and women to live their dreams.
Program
Saratoga Historical Society
In 1869, 1870 and 1917 Saratoga Springs hosted 3 NYS Suffrage Conventions. Without these important conventions the Suffrage movement would not have gained momentum. We celebrate the historic Centennial of the Ratification of the 19th Amendment HERE
The Gideon Putnam Hotel, Saratoga Springs
Enjoy the old world charm and serenity of this incredible 84 year old Hotel. Surrounded by the Saratoga State Park, natural mineral springs and lush gardens and Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) the Gideon is sure to delight and satisfy our guests
Welcome Reception Meet & Greet
Network with Conference co-chairs Manhattan Borough President, Gale Brewer, Kenneth Morris Jr. and other conference VIPS and attendees. Featuring Resident Music Master - NYC WBLS 107.5 FM, DJ “Doc” Martin
Seneca Falls Revisited Conference | August 25-27, 2019.
Have you ever heard about Seneca Falls Revisited Women’s Equality Conferences?
This Year You Get To Be Civically Re-Engaged and Celebrate Women’s Equality Day in Saratoga Springs, New York!
To The Ratification of the 19th Amendment
36 States ratified the 19th Amendment on August 19, 1920. The process of ratification began shortly after June 4, 1919 when Congress passed the amendment and President Wilson approved. It took a little more than a year for the states to weigh in. This process is what of the people, by the people and for the people reflects. 2019 is the centennial of ratification.
A Weekend To Find Your Center
FLOOR-BARRE® Technique
The Mission of the Zena Rommett Floor-Barre Foundation is to preserve and promote the highly regarded Floor-Barre® Technique for current and future generations of dancers, athletes, the injured, elderly and everyone desiring the alignment and strengthening health benefits of this gentle, yet highly effective Technique. This is accomplished through the teaching of classes, the production of DVDs and educational materials, and the certification of Floor-Barre® instructors every July in Europe (Florence '12 & '13; Venice '14 & '15; Paris '16 & '17; Rome '18 & '19), every August in New York City and every February in Latin America (Playa del Carmen, Mexico '19 & '20).
Tae Bo® & Cardio Kickboxing Fitness
Shireen Nelson has over 20 years experience in healthcare & fitness. As a licensed, registered pharmacist she provides personalized patient care & counseling on a daily basis which often includes the importance of living a healthy lifestyle through exercise & diet. After years of successfully maintaining her fitness goals with Tae bo® (created by Billy Blanks) Shireen took her passion for this workout & helping others to the next level by becoming a certified Tae bo® & Boom Box® fitness instructor. This fun, jam-packed routine, which combines cardio kickboxing & aerobics, caters to everyone's level by allowing them to go at their own pace while burning calories & achieving their goals. See you in class!!
Mineral Baths/Healing Bubbles
Have a lovely soak in our New York hydrotherapy spa’s naturally effervescent mineral waters. Offered individually for 40 minutes or before any treatment for 20 minutes, guests are encouraged to relax and experience this legendary Upstate New York hydrotherapy at their leisure.
Please schedule your hydrotherapy treatment prior to your arrival.
Bathing in the mineral springs is a practice still enjoyed today. While drinking the waters was known to help with gastrointestinal problems, bathing was thought to treat heart disease and arthritis. Scientists believed that the bubbles in the mineral water dilated blood vessels and improved a patient's circulation. In the 1940's, a three-week stay at the Spa was considered the norm and included 21 mineral baths, accessory treatments, regulated diet, rest, exercise, and recreation. Today, mineral baths and other spa services are still offered at the historic Roosevelt Bathhouse.
Photo Gallery of Past Conferences
2016 NYS Conference for Civically Engaged Women
