Omega’s 2019 Women & Power Conference Convenes Leaders Across Disciplines to Catalyze Change

Tarana Burke, Roxane Gay, Pat Mitchell & Natalie Merchant Among Notable Speakers and Featured Entertainment at the Gathering, September 27-29

RHINEBECK, NY – Despite the cultural backdrop of serious backslides, women are at the forefront of the climate justice movement, efforts to advance equality in the workplace, and helping bridge divides of all kinds. The Omega Women’s Leadership Center (OWLC)’s biennial Women & Power gathering has been running for nearly 20 years. The event has inspired notable women like Sally Field and countless others to speak their truth and heed the call to #DoPowerDifferently. This year’s diverse group of change leaders will share reflections on power, offer solutions, and encourage a new narrative for women to bring about change in this social and cultural moment. Women & Power: Gathering Our Strength (September 27–29), will feature keynotes, conversations, performances, and breakout sessions with more than 20 inspiring women.

“This year’s gathering is both a festival of resilience and a call to action,” said Carla Goldstein, president of Omega, and cofounder of the Omega Women’s Leadership Center. “We are igniting important conversations, about what it means to lead with courage and authenticity in the face of adversity, and efforts to undo decades of progress for women’s equality.”

The weekend gathering begins at 7:45 p.m. on Friday, September 27 with a welcome led by the Batalá New York, an all-women Afro-Brazilian percussion band and concludes Sunday, September 29 at noon. The schedule also includes breakout workshops for exercise, yoga, public speaking, drumming, and Tai Chi. Additionally, guests will have time to enjoy Omega’s facilities and 250-acre wooded campus, as well as meditation and movement classes.

2019 Women & Power highlights include:

• #MeToo movement founder Tarana Burke, currently senior director of Girls for Gender Equity, will speak about using privilege and power responsibly, and how we can create structural shifts towards equity and accountability. Immediately following she will have an on-stage conversation with Ana Oliveira, President and CEO of the New York Women’s Foundation.
• Roxane Gay, professor, commentator, and author of The New York Times best-selling books Bad Feminist and Hunger, will offer her perspectives on writing, feminism, and culture, followed by a conversation with Jamia Wilson, executive director and publisher of the Feminist Press at the City University of New York.
• Pat Mitchell, Emmy-winning and Oscar-nominated producer, and TEDWomen founder and director, will read from her new book Becoming a Dangerous Woman: Embracing Risk to Change the World, and then be joined for a conversation with New York Times best-selling author, Elizabeth Lesser. Lesser is cofounder of Omega Institute and the Omega Women's Leadership Center.
• Multi-platinum selling singer-songwriter Natalie Merchant, renowned not only for the band 10,000 Maniacs and extensive solo work, but for her social and environmental activism as well, will perform during the Saturday night session.
• Eminent social scientist, attorney, and activist Riane Eisler, author of numerous books including The Chalice and The Blade: Our History, Our Future, will discuss the necessary shift from the 'domination paradigm' to one of collaboration, cooperation, and partnership.
• T. Morgan Dixon and Vanessa Garrison, cofounders of Girl Trek, the largest public health nonprofit for African American women and girls, will speak about resolve and spiritual discipline as a path towards healing and resiliency in turbulent times. Over the weekend they will also lead a participatory exercise program, one of many breakouts attendees can choose from.
• Kate Manne, philosophy professor, commentator, and author of the influential recent book Down Girl: The Logic of Misogyny, will discuss strategies to rise above, and move beyond misogyny.

For more than 40 years, Omega has provided interdisciplinary opportunities for human development across the lifespan with an integrated approach to personal growth and social change. The Omega Women’s Leadership Center is an outgrowth of this work. Supported by a highly esteemed and international advisory council, the OWLC offers a variety of opportunities for women to strengthen their leadership at home, at work, and in the world.

Since 2002, Omega has received generous scholarship funding to bring nearly 1,000 leaders of diverse backgrounds to OWLC conferences, workshops, and events. This year, roughly 200 scholarships have been provided for Women & Power. Omega is also offering tiered pricing for the event, allowing guests to choose one of three prices based upon financial circumstance.

To learn more, visit eOmega.org, or call 800.944.1001. A limited number of media passes are available. To apply for a media pass, visit our online Media Center.

Join in the social media conversation on facebook.com/owlc.omega and on Twitter @omega_institute #OWLC, #DoPowerDifferently.