Chatham University Women’s Institute Announces Nov. 4 Gender Scholars Symposium and Keynote Speaker
PITTSBURGH— The Chatham University Women’s Institute and the Pittsburgh Gender Scholars Consortium (PCSC) will host a gender scholars symposium entitled: “Gender Equality in Pittsburgh: Making Intersectional Change Happen” on Saturday, November 4, 2017 from 8 AM to 1:30 PM at Chatham University. The symposium will feature over 45 gender scholars and community leaders along with keynote speaker, Jennifer Epps-Addison, Network President and Co-Executive Director of the Center for Popular Democracy (CPD).
The symposium is free and open to the public.
Jennifer Epps-Addison serves as the President and Co-Executive Director of the Center for Popular Democracy and CPD Action's network of 43 partner organizations in 30 states. As President, Jennifer leads CPD’s racial justice campaigns, and works closely with its network of local affiliates. Prior to joining CPD, Epps-Addison was the Chief Program Officer for the Liberty Hill Foundation, a social justice foundation in Los Angeles that funds grassroots community organizing campaigns for social change. A native of Milwaukee, WI, Epps-Addison helped coordinate the Fight for $15 campaign as the Executive Director of Wisconsin Jobs Now. Epps-Addison is the recipient of the 2013 Edna Award from the Berger-Marks Foundation, which honors an outstanding young woman each year for her leadership in fueling social change. In the same year, she was named an 'Activist to Watch' by Bill Moyers. She earned her BA in Political Science and Women's Studies and her JD from the University of Wisconsin. Prior to her return to organizing, Jennifer was a trial attorney in the Wisconsin State Public Defender's Office.
The Gender Scholar Symposium will include breakout sessions on a wide range of topics about women, girls, and gender equity. The sessions will be “teach in” style, encouraging students and the broader community to engage in learning and dialogue together. Sessions will be led by teams of 50 scholars and community leaders. Scholars hail from: Chatham, Pitt, CMU, Robert Morris, Duquesne, Carlow, Point Park, and Edinboro. Community leaders represent organizations including: Gwen’s Girls, Center for Women’s Health Research, Inclusant, PAAR, New Voices for Reproductive Justice, Planned Parenthood, Women and Girls Foundation, Women’s Law Project, YWCA Greater Pittsburgh, SEIU, OnePennsylvania, Education Rights Network, Pittsburgh Center for Autism Advocacy, CORO, FISA Foundation, Innovation Works, Black Urban Gardeners, UPMC Children’s Hospital, and the Pittsburgh Black Breastfeeding Circle.
Please visit www.chatham.edu/cwi for more information and to register, or contact the Women’s Institute at 412-365-1578 directly.
The Pittsburgh Gender Scholars Consortium (PGSC) is a network of academics in Southwest Pennsylvania interested in women and girls, gender, and sexuality. The Consortium promotes connections between scholars across disciplines and among academic institutions, as well as facilitates conversations and critical debate engaging intersectional approaches to research and pedagogical practice. The PGSC provides opportunities for networking and learning about emerging scholarship, community partners, and resources.
The Chatham University Women's Institute continues the legacy of Chatham University’s historic commitment to women’s leadership and gender equality. We work to eradicate social, political, and economic inequalities by serving as a hub to draw together the university’s broad range of gender initiatives, resources, and academic programs. Through education, research, and outreach, we work across campus and into the community with our affiliated centers and programs: the Center for Women’s Entrepreneurship, the Women’s Business Center, the Pennsylvania Center for Women and Politics, and the Women’s & Gender Studies program.