Part 1:
Day Two of the Atlanta session of Leadership America started early, boarding the bus at 7:30 a.m. to head to the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta for our morning programming.
The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta was so hospitable to the LA class and we took so much from our morning there. From breakfast with Dr. Joanna Adams to session with economists looking at health care and its effects on our economy, we left with such information.
Dr. Joanna Adams topic was on "Equity, Justice and a Moral Vision - Components of a Flourishing Society" and left us with our hearts full and ready for "active righteousness." As a clergywoman for 30 years, Dr. Adams has been a leader renewing life and giving new direction for communities. As a "speaker of justice" she spoke on two topics, human flourishing and moral vision. She spoke of Atlanta native, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and how he was not interested in pointing fingers but wanted more than anything reconciliation to build a cohesive community. Something we can all learn from Dr. King. We left inspired to build our moral goals and return no evil for evil.
Next, we heard from economists on the state of our economy and how health care will fit in this time of rebuilding. The economist led our discussion with a panel of three different business leaders and their models for health care. Anna Cablick, President, Anatek, Inc.; Stephanie Perilli, Senior Director, Medical and Health Management, Home Depot; and, Belinda Stubblefield, President, WineStyles Cascade. Each gave their perspective as a decision maker on health care for their employees. From small business to large corporations, the need for more flexible health care options. The discussion quickly turned thoughts of combining small businesses in to a larger group benefit to bring down costs. This is easier said than done, but could be the best way for now to get insurance. Across the board, retention of employees was based on whether health care was available. Perilli, from Home Depot, spoke on the multiple wellness initiatives she and her team started in the following topics: physical fitness, nutrition, weight management, quit smoking and screening/immunizations. Thanks again to the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta!
Next stop, The Carter Center, where were greeted by President and CEO, John Hardman, MD. Hardman discussed some great initiatives The Carter Center is a part of, including improved sanitation and hygiene are critical to public health and overall development. As part of the Center's trachoma control efforts, more than 1 million household latrines have been constructed in the Amhara region with Carter Center assistance since 2002.
Part II will be posted tomorrow, with throughts from the health organizations, universities and doctors about where health care reform will lead our nation.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Connecting the Dots: Health, Society and Education
Today, Leadership America opened the first day of our Atlanta session on health and health care with a wonderful dinner and program at the Museum Tower. After dinner, the Leadership America 2010 class started it journey into the topic health and healthcare with an eye opening and realistic view at America and its "blurred boundaries."
The panel consisted of five women in the field of health, health care, education and housing. Dr. Joyce Essien, Director for the Center for Public Health Practice, Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University. A large title for a large and impactful job. She bought up phrases like health equity and disparity (which we will discuss later) and showed us excerpts of the PBS Documentary Unnatural Causes. We were immediately humbled and full of thought when we heard facts like: for all the rich countries for which there is data, the U.S. has the highest infant mortality rate and African American infant mortality rates for infinitely higher than Caucasian infant mortality rates inside the U.S.
Once we had all been formally introduced to the "elephants in the room," health, health care, and more importantly, health equality does not equal available health care for all. Although, ensuring health care for all is a good step, the fact of the matter is that health equality means different solutions for men, women, of every ethnicity.
What is the highest standard of health for every person? That is the definitiion of health equity. What are we willing to do to achieve health equity? These are all questions posed by panelist, Fleda Mask Jackson, DPH, Affiliated Professor, Rollings School of Public Health. Health equality and disparity takes a looks at socio-economic implications on health and health care, and not just a broad-based outlook on what is needed. There are issues linked to African-America women that do not immediately impact Caucasian or Hispanic women, and vice-versa. Look at quality of life, depression, and stress as indicators of disease and sickness.
Renee Lewis Glover, J.D., CEO of the Atlanta Housing Authority, took a very different look at health and health care. She has spent her time stopping public housing development. How can we solve affordable housing inside of a community? What do we need to do to assist individual in achieving great outcomes? In 1996, AHA created the financial and legal model for mixed-income, mixed-finance transactions that include public-assisted housing as a component. This model is used by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's HOPE VI revitalization program. In Atlanta, it has resulted in six vibrant mixed-income communities, with three more in the predevelopment phase. The thought is that bringing the low income level families into a metro brings more opportunity to live the "American dream."
Diane Allensworth, Ph.D., Centers for Disease Control, spoke on how all the "dots" are connected. If you are in good health, you are more likely to have good academic performance, leading to college and hopefullly a career. Plus, if you are doing this for yourself, you are most likely following this for your children. With health, comes education and social responsibility. In the United States, over 7,000 students drop out of school every day! WHAT! 1.2 million by the end of the year. THere is an achievement gap. In the 1990s, the CDC goals turned to reducing health disparity. This got Allensworth more interested in school health and public health. She found that if children are not graduating, they won't be able to afford insurance or health food. Then looking at why kids are not graduating, 2/3 of low poverty kids go to high poverty, low performance schools with more teachers teaching out of credentials, the greatest teacher turnover, unsafe school and toxic environments and the resources are most limited.
Linda Blount, MPH, National Vice President, Office of Health Disparities for the American Cancer Society shared many facts with us on the state of health, education and community. Here are a few:
I will be back tomorrow night to try and wrap up a full day of sessions on health and health care.
Good night!
The panel consisted of five women in the field of health, health care, education and housing. Dr. Joyce Essien, Director for the Center for Public Health Practice, Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University. A large title for a large and impactful job. She bought up phrases like health equity and disparity (which we will discuss later) and showed us excerpts of the PBS Documentary Unnatural Causes. We were immediately humbled and full of thought when we heard facts like: for all the rich countries for which there is data, the U.S. has the highest infant mortality rate and African American infant mortality rates for infinitely higher than Caucasian infant mortality rates inside the U.S.
Once we had all been formally introduced to the "elephants in the room," health, health care, and more importantly, health equality does not equal available health care for all. Although, ensuring health care for all is a good step, the fact of the matter is that health equality means different solutions for men, women, of every ethnicity.
What is the highest standard of health for every person? That is the definitiion of health equity. What are we willing to do to achieve health equity? These are all questions posed by panelist, Fleda Mask Jackson, DPH, Affiliated Professor, Rollings School of Public Health. Health equality and disparity takes a looks at socio-economic implications on health and health care, and not just a broad-based outlook on what is needed. There are issues linked to African-America women that do not immediately impact Caucasian or Hispanic women, and vice-versa. Look at quality of life, depression, and stress as indicators of disease and sickness.
Renee Lewis Glover, J.D., CEO of the Atlanta Housing Authority, took a very different look at health and health care. She has spent her time stopping public housing development. How can we solve affordable housing inside of a community? What do we need to do to assist individual in achieving great outcomes? In 1996, AHA created the financial and legal model for mixed-income, mixed-finance transactions that include public-assisted housing as a component. This model is used by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's HOPE VI revitalization program. In Atlanta, it has resulted in six vibrant mixed-income communities, with three more in the predevelopment phase. The thought is that bringing the low income level families into a metro brings more opportunity to live the "American dream."
Diane Allensworth, Ph.D., Centers for Disease Control, spoke on how all the "dots" are connected. If you are in good health, you are more likely to have good academic performance, leading to college and hopefullly a career. Plus, if you are doing this for yourself, you are most likely following this for your children. With health, comes education and social responsibility. In the United States, over 7,000 students drop out of school every day! WHAT! 1.2 million by the end of the year. THere is an achievement gap. In the 1990s, the CDC goals turned to reducing health disparity. This got Allensworth more interested in school health and public health. She found that if children are not graduating, they won't be able to afford insurance or health food. Then looking at why kids are not graduating, 2/3 of low poverty kids go to high poverty, low performance schools with more teachers teaching out of credentials, the greatest teacher turnover, unsafe school and toxic environments and the resources are most limited.
Linda Blount, MPH, National Vice President, Office of Health Disparities for the American Cancer Society shared many facts with us on the state of health, education and community. Here are a few:
- Health inequities cost around $250 million/year in medical costs among low income minorities.
- 1 in 3 Hispanics is uninsured.
- 1 in 5 African Americans is uninsured.
- In terms of reform, if everyone had insurance tomorrow, we would still have health inequities.
- The lack of health insurance annually causes 18,000 infants deaths a year.
- Three reasons for the inequality in mortalities rates from the 80s: the economy began to worsen, we learned to detect/treat breast cancer. The mortality differences in cancer in women between African American and Caucasian begins to widen each year.
- Insured African American women were 7-10% less likely to get breast conserving surgery than insured Caucasian women.
I will be back tomorrow night to try and wrap up a full day of sessions on health and health care.
Good night!
Monday, December 7, 2009
Looking back on the First International Session in China
By Martha P. Farmer, Executive Director, Leadership America
The inaugural session of Leadership America Abroad took place in Beijing, Shanghai, and Chengdu, China, October 14-23, 2009.
Eight women, alumnae of Leadership America and/or Leadership Texas, were trailblazers as they shared the mission and vision of the 22-year-old program for our nation’s women leaders with their counterparts in China.
Designed to provide tools necessary for leadership in today’s global environment and to enrich and expand women’s leadership opportunities in academic, business, educational, healthcare, political, nonprofit and social arenas, the Leadership America program attracts both seasoned and emerging leaders.
The opportunity to meet and interact with women leaders in China heightened global awareness and mutual respect and understanding; engaged the Chinese and American women in conversations regarding the intersection of our agendas; opened opportunities for agile, connective leadership in a rapidly changing world forum; and initiated the development of a global women’s leadership network.
From visiting with an elderly Chinese woman in her modest, traditional abode in the Yannian Hutong in Beijing to having tea with Madam Chan Laiwa, the second wealthiest woman in China (a fact gleaned from the China Daily the day of our visit) and curator of the China Red Sandalwood Museum; from riding in a pedicab, enjoying a leisurely excursion on a sampan to speeding along on the amazing MegLev (the world’s fastest train); from observing the members of the Keiretsu Forum connect venture capitalists with newly minted entrepreneurs to meeting with officials from the very tightly controlled, government connected All-China Women’s Federation; from climbing atop the Great Wall to a behind-the-scenes visit at the Chengdu Research Base for Giant Panda Breeding, the women of Leadership America engaged in conversations that tore down barriers, built avenues of mutual understanding and respect, and forged important professional alliances and personal relationships that will serve as the foundation for ongoing dialogue.
2009 Leadership America Abroad set the stage for annual global initiatives that will result in the development of a powerful global women’s network.
2010's International Session will be Dubai and promises to be just as encompassing and life changing as the China Session.
More information to come. You can apply for Dubai or any of our other session in Dallas, Miami and Boston, online at www.leadershipamerica.com.
The inaugural session of Leadership America Abroad took place in Beijing, Shanghai, and Chengdu, China, October 14-23, 2009.
Eight women, alumnae of Leadership America and/or Leadership Texas, were trailblazers as they shared the mission and vision of the 22-year-old program for our nation’s women leaders with their counterparts in China.
Designed to provide tools necessary for leadership in today’s global environment and to enrich and expand women’s leadership opportunities in academic, business, educational, healthcare, political, nonprofit and social arenas, the Leadership America program attracts both seasoned and emerging leaders.
The opportunity to meet and interact with women leaders in China heightened global awareness and mutual respect and understanding; engaged the Chinese and American women in conversations regarding the intersection of our agendas; opened opportunities for agile, connective leadership in a rapidly changing world forum; and initiated the development of a global women’s leadership network.
From visiting with an elderly Chinese woman in her modest, traditional abode in the Yannian Hutong in Beijing to having tea with Madam Chan Laiwa, the second wealthiest woman in China (a fact gleaned from the China Daily the day of our visit) and curator of the China Red Sandalwood Museum; from riding in a pedicab, enjoying a leisurely excursion on a sampan to speeding along on the amazing MegLev (the world’s fastest train); from observing the members of the Keiretsu Forum connect venture capitalists with newly minted entrepreneurs to meeting with officials from the very tightly controlled, government connected All-China Women’s Federation; from climbing atop the Great Wall to a behind-the-scenes visit at the Chengdu Research Base for Giant Panda Breeding, the women of Leadership America engaged in conversations that tore down barriers, built avenues of mutual understanding and respect, and forged important professional alliances and personal relationships that will serve as the foundation for ongoing dialogue.
2009 Leadership America Abroad set the stage for annual global initiatives that will result in the development of a powerful global women’s network.
2010's International Session will be Dubai and promises to be just as encompassing and life changing as the China Session.
More information to come. You can apply for Dubai or any of our other session in Dallas, Miami and Boston, online at www.leadershipamerica.com.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Annoucing 2010 Program Topics & Cities
Theme: Beyond Barriers: Leading in a Global Environment
Session I
Topic: The Economy: Conflicting Theories, Collaborating Solutions…Connecting the Dots
February 2010
Dallas, Texas
Session II
Topic: Health Care: Prescriptions for what Ails us
May 2010
Miami, Florida
Session III
Topic: Education: The Virtual Learning Environment – The Walls are Falling Down
Boston, Massachusetts
September 2010
International Session
Dubai
September 2010 (Following Session III)
Scholarships are available. Click the button below to apply today.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Speaker Spotlight: Honorable Margot Wallström
For this week's spotlight we are focusing on a speaker that will share her insight on global leadershipand share with the class her personal leadership journey.
Margot Wallström is currently the First Vice-President of the European Commission, which is the executive branch for the European Union. Before taking up this position she worked for five years as EU Environment Commissioner.
She has had a long career in politics and served as a Member of Swedish Parliament 1979-1985.Her ministerial career began in 1988 when she was appointed as Minister of Civil Affairs to be followed by a position as Minister of Culture and then Minister of Social Affairs. In 1998, she retired from Swedish politics to become Executive Vice-President of Worldview Global Media – an NGO based in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The following year, 1999, she was appointed Member of the European Commission, under President Romano Prodi, and responsible for EU environmental policy. During her mandate she developed the EU strategy and action programme for Sustainable Development with a main focus on human health, chemicals, biodiversity and climate change. She effectively mothered REACH which is a rigorous EU regulation on chemicals.
Wallström was also instrumental in concluding the ratification process of the Kyoto protocol. In 2004, when the Barroso Commission took office, she was appointed first Vice-President responsible for Inter-institutional Relations and Communication. Margot Wallström has received several honorary doctorates and awards for her work on Sustainable Development and Climate Change. She has done extensive work to endorse an EU-Africa partnership on renewable energy, champion equal opportunities and to further the CSR agenda in Europe.
Since 2001 Wallström is the honorary chair of the Business Leaders Initiative on Climate Change (BLICC). In this capacity she has developed an initiative on climate change called Road to Copenhagen together with Mary Robinson and Gro Harlem Brundtland (Club of Madrid).
Thursday, July 30, 2009
What is Leadership America?
Recently, I have received some tweets ( @next_big_thing) and emails asking WHAT Leadership America is and WHO do we serve. Sometimes messages get muttled with current events and calendar dates that it is good to step back and remember why we are here.
Below are the "Five Ws and one H" of Leadership America:
WHO: Leadership America is one of the longest running national women's leadership programs in the world.
WHAT: Through three stand-alone session a year, we equip women leaders with the latest information and innovation for professional and personal growth and create an atmosphere of high-level immersion with other women leaders.
WHEN: Each class has three stand-alone session per year. The third session in 2009 will be held in Washington, D.C., October 11 - 13, and the addendum Beijing, China trip, October 13-24, 2009. (More information, click here)
WHERE: Three U.S. cities with an addendum international experience each year. Leadership America offices in Dallas, Texas, at The Women's Museum.
WHY: To foster the growth personally and professional of women leaders in the United States and to help bridge the gap of women in leaderships roles. (check out Catalyst study on women in leadership and board activites)
HOW: Leadership America ensures that participants receive valuable information on topics specific to each session. The conversational format allows class members to heavily interact with each speaker while encouraging participancts to asses the way they will apply the new information both professionally and personally.
Other than this blog, you can get more information on the rest of our session in 2009 and apply by visiting http://www.leadershipamerica.com/. You can also become a Fan on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.
Below are the "Five Ws and one H" of Leadership America:
WHO: Leadership America is one of the longest running national women's leadership programs in the world.
WHAT: Through three stand-alone session a year, we equip women leaders with the latest information and innovation for professional and personal growth and create an atmosphere of high-level immersion with other women leaders.
WHEN: Each class has three stand-alone session per year. The third session in 2009 will be held in Washington, D.C., October 11 - 13, and the addendum Beijing, China trip, October 13-24, 2009. (More information, click here)
WHERE: Three U.S. cities with an addendum international experience each year. Leadership America offices in Dallas, Texas, at The Women's Museum.
WHY: To foster the growth personally and professional of women leaders in the United States and to help bridge the gap of women in leaderships roles. (check out Catalyst study on women in leadership and board activites)
HOW: Leadership America ensures that participants receive valuable information on topics specific to each session. The conversational format allows class members to heavily interact with each speaker while encouraging participancts to asses the way they will apply the new information both professionally and personally.
Other than this blog, you can get more information on the rest of our session in 2009 and apply by visiting http://www.leadershipamerica.com/. You can also become a Fan on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Lead the Way: Anna Sutherland Bissell
It has been said that Anna Sutherland Bissell “studied business the way other women of her time studied French.” Her diligence and interest served her well as one of the nation’s first female CEOs.
Her business experience began after she married Melville R. Bissell at the age of 19. She and her husband owned and managed a crockery and china business in Grand Rapids, Mich. However, she soon became frustrated with the daily difficulty of sweeping sawdust from the carpet floor.
She explained the problem to her husband, who used his mechanical skills to invent a carpet sweeper machine. Word spread quickly about the new invention, and people began to inquire about how they could purchase a carpet sweeper for themselves.
In 1876 the Bissell Carpet Sweeper was patented, and Anna traveled from town to town to sell the miraculous sweepers for $1.50. The Bissell carpet sweeper was immediately successful, and the first manufacturing plant was built in Grand Rapids in 1883. Six years later, Melville Bissell’s death left Anna in charge of the company. She used her business knowledge to launch Bissell into the international market, and by 1899 Bissell was the largest company of its kind in the world.
Anna kept up with the growing industry and prided herself on knowing every facet of her business. She implemented progressive labor policies, including workers’ compensation and pension plans—well before these policies were common in the industry. Anna remained at the helm of Bissell Carpet Sweeper Company until 1931.
Anna was a pioneer in her community as well. She was a charter member of the Ladies Literary Club, a Zonta member, and a board member of the Clark Memorial Home. She was actively involved in Bissell House, which was a recreation and training program for youth and immigrant women.
*Lead the Way's Series is meant to share stories of women leaders from our past and turn their stories into inspiration for the women today. Check out more stories here.
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