Greater Burlington Women's Forum

Greater Burlington Women's Forum: Winter Blues - SAD Got You Down? 01/09/2020

Does SAD (seasonal affective disorder) make you sad? You’re not alone!

SAD is diagnosed four times more often in women than men, and younger adults have a higher risk of SAD than older adults. You or someone you know may have experienced these “winter blues.” Managing feelings and emotions through the long Vermont winters can be a big challenge, but it’s not impossible. A panel shares their expertise on this pervasive disorder and offers tips for how to navigate the winter blues.

Panelists:
Dr. Kelly Rohan, Professor, Director of Clinical Training Program
Dr. Jean Szilva (Personal story)
Katherine Elmer, Spoonful Herbals & Railyard Apothecary

Special Guest:
Katie Hodges, Vermont Comedy Club

Greater Burlington Women's Forum: Water - Our Vital Resource 10/17/2019

Water is one of our most basic needs. The greater Burlington community is fortunate to have the water of Lake Champlain at our doorstep. We drink it, play in it, irrigate with it, move people and things in it. Our shared use and history help bring our community together. But recently, water quality issues have been an increasingly big challenge. How has this impacted our community's health, well-being, and culture? Can we manage this incredible resource, balancing the many different needs of residents, farmers, businesses, and tourists, and still preserve our water quality?

A panel of scientists, policy experts, and advocates share ways that we as a community can support our waterways for generations to come.

Panelists: Ashley Eaton, Watershed and Lake Education Coordinator, University of Vermont; Lori Fisher, Executive Director, Lake Champlain Committee; Megan Moir, Public Works Division Director of Water Resources, City of Burlington

Moderator: Olivia Pena, Greater Burlington Women's Forum Leadership Team

Greater Burlington Women's Forum: Women and the Power of Giving 05/16/2018

Gender matters in charitable giving - as women, we contribute our financial resources and time differently than men. We play a significant role in improving our communities and focusing energy on our most pressing societal problems. So, how are we, as women, making decisions about how, where and when to give? How do we see ourselves as "philanthropists" or "fundraisers"? Our panelists will share their insights, expertise, and journeys in the world of philanthropic giving, and inspire us to harness our power in new ways.

Panelists:

Meg Smith, Director of the Vermont Women's Fund
Yael Friedman, Senior Development Officer for the University of Vermont Medical Center’s Foundation
Shireen Hart, Co-Founder of LIFT Giving Circle and Shareholder/Director Primmer, Piper, Eggleston & Cramer PC

Greater Burlington Women's Forum: Beyond #MeToo - Workplace Sexual Harassment 03/23/2018

Sexual harassment and abuse charges against powerful personalities have created a kind of public reckoning. Our shared voices in the media and the #MeToo movement are driving change, yet pushing back against the behavior patterns of sexual harassment, so common in workplaces across the country, is not easy. When is it safe to speak up? What happens if we do say something? Who do we turn to if we decide to speak up? How might the passage of new laws in Vermont change the climate?

Panelists:

Alexandra H. Clauss, Esq. is an attorney and Shareholder at Primmer Piper Eggleston & Cramer PC.

Lola Houston of Live A True Life loves helping others untangle the complexities of love and life.

Lisa Senecal is a co-founder of The Maren Group. She specializes in strategic planning, communications, investigations, and best practices for risk mitigation to guide individual and private sector clients who are grappling with sexual harassment and assault.

Greater Burlington Women's Forum: Muslim Girls Making Change 03/02/2018

Activist-performer youth slam poetry group Muslim Girls Making Change (MGMC) will present their powerful words in a performance at the Greater Burlington Women's Forum on Friday, March 2. These local high school stars, Kiran Waqar, Hawa Adam, Lena Ginawi, and Balkisa Abdikadir, are dedicated to social justice through poetry. Tired of having their voices ignored by older generations, they turned to slam poetry to be heard and to make a change. Since forming MGMC, these girls have competed at international levels, won numerous awards, performed widely, and help lead several local and national initiatives. Their poetry tackles stereotypes and misconceptions about their faith, identity, and fashion.

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