Elizabeth Warren, US Senator from Massachusetts

Image Source: Elizabeth Warren for Massachusetts 

Senator Elizabeth Warren (US-D) has always been an outspoken politician standing up for what she believes will best serve her constituency.  On June 19, 2017, Senator Warren made news demanding that the Federal Reserve remove twelve of Wells Fargo’s directors to make them accountable for their poor risk-management practices. This is in response to a September 2016 scandal when Wells Fargo fired over 5300 employees for creating over two million fake accounts. She is trying to make not only the company accountable but trying to counter the Trump administration’s deregulation of the financial sector.

Warren grew up in Norman, OK.  Her family was very hard-working, but suffered hard times when her father suffered a heart attack.  To cope with the difficult economic times, she got her first job at nine years old babysitting and moved on to waiting tables at the age of 13 while attending grade school.  At the age of 16, she won a debate scholarship which allowed her to attend George Washington University (GW) when she graduated high school. She never graduated from GW instead opting to marry, her high school sweetheart.

Together, they moved to Texas, and Warren attended University of Houston with a Bachelor’s of Science in Speech Pathology in 1970. She taught in special education and had two children and eventually resumed her studies.  In 1976, she graduated from Rutgers University in Newark, New Jersey with her law degree. She soon began practicing law from her living room but soon returned to teaching to eventually an expert on bankruptcy law and become a professor at Harvard University in Cambridge, MA. In 1980, Senator Warren married Bruce Mann, a legal scholar at Harvard, and they have been together for over 35 years.

In more recent years, Warren has stood out as major player in politics during the 2008 recession.  She testified before congress on financial topics and wrote several books including three national best sellers. She worked to keep strict financial oversight on both the Bush and Obama Administrations. During the Obama years, Warren selected as the chair of the Congressional Oversight Panel for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). In addition, she advocated for the creation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (established under the 2010 Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act).  She acted as its interim director.

In 2011, Warren sought the Democratic nomination US Senator for Massachusetts senator and won by a landslide at the party convention.  In November 2012, she defeated incumbent Scott Brown.  In January 2013, she was sworn into office becoming the first woman to represent Massachusetts in the US Senate. Since her election, she has worked to stand up for her constituency and America as a whole.

Senator Warren has taken a firm stance on several decisions made in both the Obama and Trump Administrations.  Particularly, she is most noted for her opposition of the nominations of Jeff Sessions, US Attorney General under the Trump Administration.  She was silenced as she read a letter from civil rights activist, Coretta Scott King about Sessions election to the Senate. This action received a lot of buzz on social media.

Senator Warren can be followed on Twitter @SenWarren, Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/senatorelizabethwarren/ and on her official websites: US Senate Official Site and Elizabeth Warren for Senate

Works Cited

Andrews, Suzanna, and Nigel Parry. “The Woman Who Knew Too Much.” The Hive. Vanity Fair, 30 Jan. 2015. Web. 20 June 2017.

Egan, Matt. “5,300 Wells Fargo Employees Fired over 2 Million Phony Accounts.” CNNMoney. Cable News Network, 9 Sept. 2017. Web. 20 June 2017.

Egan, Matt. “Elizabeth Warren Wants the Wells Fargo Board Wiped out.” CNNMoney. Cable News Network, 19 June 2017. Web. 20 June 2017.

Elizabeth for MA. “About Elizabeth.” Elizabeth Warren for Senate. Elizabeth for MA, 2017. Web. 20 June 2017.

Wallenfeldt, Jeff. “Elizabeth Warren.” Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 26 Apr. 2017. Web. 20 June 2017.

Women of NASA’s 2017 Astronaut Class

On June 7, 2017, NASA selected a new class of astronaut candidates for future missions at the International Space Station (ISS), launch from Earth on commercial spacecraft, and flying in deep space missions on new Orion spacecraft and Space Launch System rockets. On August 2017, all candidate will start two years of training. After training, they will be assigned duties in NASA’s Astronaut Office while waiting for their flight missions. NASA choose twelve qualified candidates out of more than 18,300 applicants and five are women.

These women are making history in science and space exploration.  NASA’s first class of female astronaut candidates were selected in January 1978 and completed their training program in 1979.  This class included the first American, female astronaut to fly in space, Sally Ride.  Ride launched on June 18, 1983 on the space shuttle Challenger.  She was a mission specialist on the STS-7 mission where she helped the crew set up communications satellites, conduct experiments, and utilized the first Shuttle Pallet Satellite. As of May 2015, a total of 49 women have flown with NASA and eight had yet to fly.

2017 Astronaut Candidate Profiles:

Image Source: NASA

Kayla Barron was born in Pocatello, ID, but considers Richland, WA her hometown.  Barron graduated from the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD with a Bachelor’s in Systems Engineering and became a commission officer.  She immediately went on to earn her Master’s in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England, and graduated as a Gates Cambridge Scholar.  Her graduate research focused on modeling the fuel cycle for a next-generation thorium fueled nuclear reactor concept. After graduate school, she trained to become a submarine warfare officer for the US Navy before being assigned to the USS Maine.  In addition to her education and experience, Barron has been recognized for her service receiving both medals and commendations.

Image Source: NASA

Zena Cardman was originally born in Urbana, IL but considers Williamsburg, VA her home. She graduated from University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill with a Bachelors in Biology, minors in Creative Writing and Marine Science, and a Master’s in Marine Sciences.  Before applying to become an astronaut, Cardman was a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow at Penn State. In addition to education and experience, Cardman has won several awards and has previous NASA experience when she worked with them on their analog missions including the Pavilion Lake Research Project and BASALT.

Image Source: NASA

Jessica Watkins was born in Gaithersburg, MD, but considers Lafayette, CO her hometown.  She earned her Bachelor’s in Geological and Environmental Sciences from Stanford University and earn a Doctorate in Geology from the University of California.  For her doctorate research, she studied the emplacement mechanisms of large landslides on Mars through orbital data and field work. After she graduated from her doctorate program, she worked as a postdoctoral research fellow at the Division of Geological and Planetary Science at the California Institute of Technology where she collaborated on Curiosity, the Mars rover.  She participated in daily planning of activities and studied Mars geology.   In addition to her experience, Watkins has received many awards in academics and sports awards.

Image Source: NASA

Loral O’Hara was born in Houston, TX and grew up in Sugar Land, TX.  She graduated from the University of Kansas with a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering and earned a Master’s of Science in Aeronautics and Astronautics at Purdue University.  Before applying to become an astronaut candidate, O’Hara was a Research Engineer at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) in Woods Hole, MA. In addition, O’Hara has past experience with NASA as a student. She participated in their KC-135 Reduced Gravity Student Flight Opportunities Program, the NASA Academy at Goddard Space Flight Center and as an intern in the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. In her spare time, she is also a private pilot and certified EMT and wilderness first responder.

Image source: NASA

Jasmin Moghbeli was born in Bad Nauheim, Germany and raised in Baldwin, New York.  Moghbeli graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a Bachelor’s in Aerospace Engineering with Information Technology. She went on to receive a Master’s in Aerospace Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California.  Moghbeli is a decorated Major in the U.S. Marine Corps and a U.S. Navy Test Pilot.  Before applying to become an astronaut, she tested H-1 helicopters and served as a quality assurance and avionics officer for Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron 1 in Yuma, Arizona.

NASA’s Current Astronaut List:

On the International Space Station: Dr. Peggy A. Whitson as of November 17, 2016 on Expedition 50/51

Active Astronauts (eligible for flight): Dr. Serena M. Auñón-Chancellor, Tracy Caldwell Dyson, Christina M. Hammock Koch, Anne C. McClain, Jessica U. Meir, Karen L. Nyberg, Kathleen Rubins, Shannon Walker, Stephanie D. Wilson, and Sunita (‘Suni’) L. Williams

Management Astronauts: Yvonne D. Cagle (NASA – Ames Research Center, CA); Janet L. Kavandi (NASA – Glen Research Center, Ohio); Kathryn P. Hire (NASA – Goddard Space Flight Center, MD); Dr. Ellen Ochoa (Director of NASA – Johnson Space Center, TX); Dr. Nancy J. Currie-Gregg (NASA – Langley Research Center, VA)

Works Cited

Dunbar, Brian. “Sally Ride and Valentina Tereshkova: Changing the Course of Human Space Exploration.” NASA. NASA, 11 Mar. 2015. Web. 12 June 2017.

<https://www.nasa.gov/topics/history/features/ride_anniversary.html&gt;.

Garber, Steve. “Women in Space.” NASA. NASA, May 2015. Web. 12 June 2017. <https://history.nasa.gov/women.html&gt;.

Garcia, Mark. “Astronaut Candidate Jasmin Moghbeli.” NASA. NASA, 05 June 2017. Web. 12 June 2017. <https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/jasmin-moghbeli/biography&gt;.

Garcia, Mark. “Astronaut Candidate Jessica Watkins.” NASA. NASA, 06 June 2017. Web. 12 June 2017. <https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/jessica-watkins/biography&gt;.

Garcia, Mark. “Astronaut Candidate Loral O’Hara.” NASA. NASA, 06 June 2017. Web. 12 June 2017. <https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/loral-o-hara/biography&gt;.

Garcia, Mark. “Astronaut Candidate Zena Cardman.” NASA. NASA, 05 June 2017. Web. 12 June 2017. <https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/zena-cardman/biography&gt;.

Roberts, Jason. “Peggy A. Whitson.” NASA. NASA, 09 Nov. 2015. Web. 12 June 2017. <https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/peggy-a-whitson&gt;.

Wall, Mike. “What’s Next for NASA’s New Astronaut Class?” Space.com. Purch, 8 June 2017. Web. 12 June 2017. <https://www.space.com/37129-nasa-2017-astronaut-candidates-future.html&gt;.

Whiting, Melanie. “NASA Active Astronauts.” NASA. NASA, 03 Jan. 2016. Web. 12 June 2017. <https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/active&gt;.

Whiting, Melanie. “NASA Management Astronauts.” NASA. NASA, 08 Jan. 2016. Web. 12 June 2017. <https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/management&gt;.

Ziv, Stav. “Meet NASA’s Astronaut Class of 2017.” Newsweek. Newsweek Media Group, 07 June 2017. Web. 12 June 2017. <http://www.newsweek.com/nasa-hired-its-first-new-class-astronauts-years-help-get-mars-622695&gt;.

Patty Jenkins and Gal Gadot, Wonder Women

The weekend, Wonder Woman (2017) premiered beating box office expectations.  This film mark the first time Wonder Woman appeared on the big screen.  Also, note this film a woman directed this film and a non-American woman was the lead actress.

Patty Jenkins, the Director

Image Credit: Common Culture Cinema

Patty Jenkins (Patricia Lea Jenkins) was born on July 24, 1971 at George Air Force Base, Victorville, California.  Jenkins received a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Painting from the Cooper Union in New York City, but she eventually transitioned to filmmaking.  For eight years, she worked as a First Assistant Camera Person/Focus Puller.  After attending the American Film Institute (AFI) in Los Angeles, she wrote and directed her hit film, Monster. Her film won several awards including several major awards in the category of ‘Best Actress’ and Best First Feature at the 2004 Independent Spirit Awards.

Since her success with Monster (2003), she has directed many commercials and TV programs including the pilot and finale AMC’s The Killing.  In 2015, Jenkins signed on to direct Wonder Woman (2017) after fellow director Michelle MacLaren left the project.  Jenkins took on the project facing industry stigma, pressure from fans, steep competition from Marvel, and the high budget of the film itself.  She worked in stride to direct a film that is appealing across generations while fitting into the dark, gritty world of the DC Extended Universe.

When considering her inspiration for directing the role of Wonder Woman, Jenkins took inspiration from the character’s creator William Moulton Marston and how modern-day fans perceive her. In an interview with Buzzfeed, she said she was inspired by “the Wonder Woman that I see women dress up every year at Halloween as. … The reason I love Wonder Woman is how positive and wish-fulfillment-esque she is,” Jenkins explained. “She stands for positive things and love, yet she’s cool and sexy.”

Patty Jenkins is found on Twitter @PattyJenks.

Gal Gadot, Lead Actress

Image Credit: Harper’s Bazaar UK

Gal Gadot was born in Rosh Ha’ayin, Israel to a Jewish family on April 30, 1985.  Before she became an actress, Gadot served in the Israeli Defense Forces for two years as a fitness trainer.  In 2004, she won the title of Miss Israel.  Following her win, she began modeling in the late 2000’s.  In 2009, she made her acting debut when she was casted as Giselle in Fast & Furious 4.  She reprises her role in the Fast Five (2011) and Fast & Furious 6 (2013). In all the films, she was known for performing her own stunts.

In December 2013, Gadot landed the role of Wonder Woman in the Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016).  While the movie did not do well in the box office, her role as Wonder Woman was considered one of the best parts. Her portrayal as Wonder Woman continued Wonder Woman (2017), an origin story for the iconic DC hero.  The solo film has already received great reviews.  She will continue her role as Wonder Woman in the upcoming films, Justice League (2017) and Justice League Part Two.

Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman (Image Credit: Variety)

Gadot considers the role of Wonder Woman is a privilege because of her iconic symbolism and values. Her daughters and other women close to her were the reasons why she took on the roll. Gadot said in an interview with Entertainment Weekly:

 “I try not to think about being a role model; I try to be the best version of myself, period. For myself and for my daughter and for my family, friends. But I do love everything that Wonder Woman represents. She stands for love and compassion and acceptance and truth, and I think that those values are so important, especially nowadays with everything that’s going on in the world. I do believe that if each and every one of us had a little bit of Wonder Woman’s values, the world would be a better place.”

Gadot can be followed on Twitter @GalGadot, Instagram,  Facebook, and her personal website.

For inspiration about the movie and Wonder Woman’s history visit here and here.

Works Cited

Agard, Chancellor, and K.C. Blumm. “From Miss Israel to Wonder Woman: What You Need to Know About Gal Gadot.” PEOPLE.com. Time Inc, 01 June 2017. Web. 05 June 2017. <http://people.com/movies/gal-gadot-what-to-know-about-wonder-woman-from-batman-v-superman/&gt;.

Cheng, Susan. “Meet “Wonder Woman” Director Patty Jenkins – Again.” BuzzFeed. BuzzFeed, 2017. Web. 05 June 2017. <https://www.buzzfeed.com/susancheng/wonder-woman-patty-jenkins?utm_term=.hy7omVXE9#.hhXv5J9b8&gt;.

IMDb. “Gal Gadot Biography.” IMDb. IMDb.com, 2017. Web. 05 June 2017. <http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2933757/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm&gt;.

IMDb. “Gal Gadot.” IMDb. IMDb.com, 2017. Web. 05 June 2017. <http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2933757/&gt;.

IMDb. “Patty Jenkins Biography.” IMDb. IMDb.com, 2017. Web. 05 June 2017. <http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0420941/bio&gt;.

Kelley, Seth. “‘Wonder Woman’: How Patty Jenkins Saved the DC Extended Universe.” Variety. N.p., 04 June 2017. Web. 05 June 2017. <http://variety.com/2017/film/news/wonder-woman-box-office-analysis-patty-jenkins-warner-bros-1202453504/&gt;.

McNiece, Mia. “Gal Gadot Felt ‘Privileged’ to Play Wonder Woman: ‘I Adore This Character’.” EW.com. Time Inc, 31 May 2017. Web. 05 June 2017. <http://ew.com/movies/2017/05/31/gal-gadot-chris-pine-wonder-woman/&gt;.

Ariana Grande and the Manchester Bombing

Image Source: VOA News

On Monday, May 22, 2017 around 10:30pm, a bombing occurred in Manchester, England at the end of a concert by pop singer, Ariana Grande. 22 people, including children, died in the attack and 59 were injured.  Her fans, transcending several generations, attended her concert to simply enjoy her performance. It is reported that Grande’s concert was specifically targeted by terrorists because of her image, songs, and what she represents to her fans.

Grande first gained notoriety portraying Cat Valentine in the Nickelodeon TV series, Victorious (2011-2012) and its spinoff, Sam and Cat (2013-2014), as Cat Valentine.  Grande’s singing career also took off around this time with the release of the Victorious soundtrack in and her release of the single, “Put Your Hearts Up.” Since, she has evolved into the pop singer we know today with several chart making albums and hit songs.

Image Source: Gazette Review

Ariana Grande is a role model for many, especially young girls. Grande has been able to strike a balance that so many young stars struggle with – the ability to keep the young fan base while evolving her act with more mature elements.  While many of her songs have distinctly adult themes, she has been able to them inclusive, relatable, and meaningful to her fans no matter the age. Her most recent album, Dangerous Woman (2016), exemplifies this.

Dangerous Woman has resonated with many women through its balance of infatuation and messages of strength and empowerment.  Grande, herself is openly a feminist and been outspoken about equality and celebrating differences. She works hard to project this image: a modern woman who is strong, in charge, and will not let any misogyny hold her down. She is the epitome of female freedom and that will not be easily erased.

Image Source: NY Magazine

Since the bombing, a stronger fan community, perhaps even family, has formed.  They have rallied around her and her idea, even certain songs have taken on new dimensions. In addition, her significant following on social media is continuing to grow. Currently, she has 46.5 million followers on Twitter and 107 million on Instagram as of May 30, 2017.

While it will take time for Grande, her fans, and others to come to terms with what took place and grieve, it is important to remember that she is not at fault for the bombing. The terrorists who targeted her were targeting what they consider a threat: the very idea of modern feminism.  They have a very different and negative view of woman and their place on society.  Their attack on her venue is an attack on all women and girls.  We need to take their attack and turn it into an opportunity speak out.  This event should be used as a reminder of how far we have come and still have to go for equality for all.  This should empower us all.

To help:

• Donate to the British Red Cross’ Manchester Emergency Fund
• Donate to the Manchester Evening News Just Giving Campaign.
• Volunteer and donate to women’s rights, equality, and related nonprofits

You can find Ariana Grande on Twitter @ArianaGrande, Instagram, and her personal website.

Note: Ariana Grande will be returning to Manchester to hold a benefit concert for the victims of this last attack.  She will be including other famous headliners.

Half of France’s New Cabinet are Women

On May 18, 2017, shortly after his election, Emmanuel Macron, France’s new president selected his cabinet of 11 men and 11 women.  I want to highlight this event, because this is an example equal representation in government. In a speech made January, Macron noted “Women currently represent 53 percent of the electoral body, so it’s unacceptable that they make up less than 30 percent of those elected to the National Assembly” (Huffington Post). In this speech, Macron vowed that his new party, “En Marche!” would respect gender equality. In addition to gender equality, Macron considered appointing individuals both known and unknown and across France’s political spectrum.  Through my research, I found that he seems to favor expertise over politics or gender.

Brief profiles of five of the women in his cabinet are listed are featured below. Unfortunately, I was not able to find good information everyone to write a solid profile.

Sylvie Goulard, Minister of the Armed Forces

Image Source: Info Chalon

As the Armed Forces Minister, Goulard is highest ranking woman in the French government. She was already apart of Macron’s foreign affairs team. Since 2009, she has worked as a Member of the European Parliament serving on several committees.  In addition, Goulard’s experience includes working as a diplomat in the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a political advisor, and is an author of few books including Goodbye Europe (2016).

Goulard can be found on Twitter @GoulardSylvie  and on her personal website.

Agnes Buzyn, Minister of Solidarity and Health

Image by Jean Chiscano; Found on Haute Autorité de santé

Well known in the health industry, Agnes Buzyn is a specialist in hematology and bone marrow transplantation and served as the head of the Adult Hematology and marrow Transplant Intensive Care Unit at Necker Hospital in Paris.  She has served in several science policy positions with the most notable being President of the National Cancer Institution (INCa).  A notable fact about Buzyn is she that is the daughter of a Holocaust survivor.

Francoise Nyssen, Minister of Culture

Image Source: Europe 1

Originally born in Belgium, Francoise Nyssen studied molecular biology and urbanism.  She worked for the Belgian government doing urban planning before she moved to France.  She joined the publishing house, Actes Sude. Nyssen has a strong interest in writing, theater and music and is a founding member of the Mejan Cultural Association, an organization that organizes concerts, exhibitions, and literary and cinema meetings at the Passage du Mejan in Arles.

Laura Flessel-Colovic, Minister of Sports

Image Source: Skyrock

Laura Flessel-Colovic is a fencer who represented France in the 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, and 2012 Olympic Games. Flessel-Colovic is notably won Olympic metals: two Gold in Atlanta in 1996, Bronze in Sydney 2000, and Bronze and Silver in Athens 2004.  Additionally, she has won several medals from European and World Fencing Championships.

Flessel-Colovic can be found on Twitter @FlesselLaura and on Facebook. 

Frederique Vidal, Minister of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation

Image Source: service communication UNS

Frederique Vidal graduated with a Master’s in Biochemistry and a Doctorate in Life Science from the University of Nice and a DEA from the Institute Pasteur.  Vidal spent the majority of her career in higher education and became the President of University of Nice Sophia Antipolis in 2012.  Her appointment means that France will have a dedicated research and higher education ministry once more.

Other Women in the Macron’s Cabinet and Office:

• Muriel Penicaud, Minister of Labor
• Sophie Cluzel, Secretary of State in Charge of People with Disabilities
• Annick Girardin, Minister of Overseas Territories
• Elisabeth Borne, Minister in charge of Transport
• Marielle de Sarnez, Minister in charge of European Affairs
• Marlene Schiappa, Secretary of State in charge of Equality between Women and Men
• Sibeth Ndiaye, Press Relations

Works Cited

Adamson, Thomas. “Women Make up Half of Macron’s New Cabinet.” Business Insider. Business Insider, 18 May 2017. Web. 22 May 2017.

BBC. “Macron: Who’s Who in the French President’s Team?” BBC News. BBC, 17 May 2017. Web. 22 May 2017.

European Fencing Confederation. “Hot News from France.” Eurofencing.info. European Fencing Confederation, 2010. Web. 22 May 2017.

Frej, Willa. “France’s New President Just Displayed His Commitment To Gender Equality.” The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 12 May 2017. Web. 22 May 2017.

Goulard, Sylvie. “Biographie Sylvie Goulard.” Sylvie Goulard. Sylvie Goulard, 2017. Web. 22 May 2017.

International Olympic Committee. “Laura Flessel-Colovic.” International Olympic Committee. International Olympic Committee, 18 June 2016. Web. 22 May 2017.

Jouan, Anne. “Agnès Buzyn, Une Médecin Devient Ministre De La Santé .” Santé. Société Du Figaro, 19 May 2017. Web. 22 May 2017.

Pain, Elisabeth. “Two Female Scientists and a Militant Environmentalist Join Emmanuel Macron’s New Government.” Science | AAAS. American Association for the Advancement of Science, 19 May 2017. Web. 22 May 2017.

Rubin, Alissa J. “Macron’s Cabinet Gives Glimpse of How He Plans to Govern France.” The New York Times. The New York Times, 17 May 2017. Web. 22 May 2017.

Tarlé, Sophie De. “Qui Est Frédérique Vidal, La Nouvelle Ministre De L’Enseignement Supérieur.” Figaro Étudiant. Le Figaro, 17 May 2017. Web. 22 May 2017.

From the Blogger…

This is a video describing a little bit about inspiration for this blog.  (Class requirement)

Here are inspirational links mentioned in the video and the link to the Pew Research Center survey results:

Inspiration for Blog:

http://coolchicksfromhistory.tumblr.com/

http://takebackhalloween.org/

http://www.historyandwomen.com/

http://www.rejectedprincesses.com/

Pew Report: http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2015/01/14/women-and-leadership/

Women in media reference: http://www.mfwa.org/publication/international-womens-day-media-must-conscious-effort-to-increase-womens-visibility/

 

Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany

This last week Angela Merkel, the Chancellor of Germany stood out as an active figure in international news.  Highlights of Merkel’s activities include her visits to Saudi Arabia and Russia, German elections that could have challenged her party’s power, and her views on recent changes in global politics.  Her position as Chancellor is very significant.  Presently, she is arguable one of the most powerful and influential leaders in Europe.

Image Source: Kapital 971/AP

Personal Life

Merkel was born Angela Kasner in Hamburg, West Germany on July 17, 1954. She grew up in Soviet-controlled East Germany in a rural area outside of Berlin.  Her family moved there after she was born. She studied physics, focusing on quantum chemistry, at the University of Leipzip and earned her doctorate in 1978.  Merkel was employed chemist at the Central Institute for Physical Chemistry, Academy of Sciences from 1978 -1990.

She married her first husband, Ulrich Merkel, a fellow physics, student in 1977, but divorced in 1982. Later, Merkel married Joachim Sauer, a professor of theoretical chemistry at Humboldt University in Berlin. They have no children, but Sauer has two adult sons from a previous marriage.

Political Life

After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, Merkel became involved in politics.  She joined the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) Party and was soon appointed as the Minister for Women and Youth under Helmut Kohl’s administration.  She later served as Minister for the Environment and Nuclear Safety. After Kohl’s defeat in 1998, Merkel became the secretary general of the CDU.  In 2000, she was named party leader, but lost candidacy for chancellor to Edmund Stoiber in 2002.

In 2005, Merkel narrowly defeated the Chancellor Gerhard Schroder.  She named the first female Chancellor after the CDU agreed to create a coalition with the Social Democrats (SPD).  She is the first woman to leader Germany since it became a modern nation-state in 1871. She is also the first former citizen of the German Democratic Republic to lead a reunited Germany.  She is seeking her fourth term as Chancellor.

Interesting Facts

• Merkel made headlines in October of 2013 when she accused the United States of spying on an ally. Reports found the National Security Agency had been spying on Merkel since 2002.
• In 2015, she was named Person of the Year due to her background, ability to lead from behind, and how she has handled major events affecting Europe including the debt crisis, the Russian attack on Ukraine, and the immigration crisis.
• Her husband, Joachim Sauer, is a private individual and is not known to spend a lot of time with Merkel during public political events. They both work to live an everyday life no different from an average German.

Angela Merkel on Social Media: Twitter @AngelaMerkeICDU, Facebook, Instagram, 

Works Cited

Alter, Charlotte. “TIME Person of the Year: Angela Merkel Interesting Facts.” Time. Time, 09 Dec. 2015. Web. 08 May 2017.

“Angela Merkel.” Biography.com. Ed. Biography.com. A&E Networks Television, 16 July 2015. Web. 08 May 2017.

Gibbs, Nancy. “Why Angela Merkel Is TIME’s Person of the Year 2015.” Time. Time, 2015. Web. 08 May 2017.

Orth, Maureen. “How Angela Merkel Has Led Germany to New Prominence.” The Hive. Vanity Fair, 30 Jan. 2015. Web. 08 May 2017.

Vasagar, Jeevan. “Angela Merkel, the Girl Who Never Wanted to Stand Out, to Win Big Again.” The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group, 01 Sept. 2013. Web. 08 May 2017.

Lorella Praeli, Immigration Activist

Lorella Praeli while working as an advisor on Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign. (Source: Remezcla)

On Friday, April 28, 2017, the Huffington Post announced that Lorella Praeli, a prominent immigrants right activist, will join the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) as Director of Immigration Policy and Campaigns.  She starts on Monday, May 1, 2017. After working in politics, Praeli returns to activism to defend and advance the rights of US immigrants.  She will work on policy and advocacy on national, state, and local levels.  Much of the actions planned by the ACLU is in response to the Trump administration’s actions and policies against immigrants including anti- immigrant executive orders like one that attempted to block entry citizens of certain Muslim-majority countries. Praeli offers an important perspective to this cause, because she identifies herself as a DREAMer, a term coined from the DREAM Act.

Praeli was born in Ica, Peru. At the age of two, she lost her right leg after she was pinned by a car in an accident. Her father sought the best treatment for her and pled his case to doctors at Shriners Hospital in Orlando, FL.  At first, they rejected his case, but when he took her to meet them they could not send her way.  At four years old, Praeli started treatment at Shriners, which began a series of difficult and expensive trips to Orlando multiple times a year to receive treatment and to learn to walk with a prosthetic.

So at the age of 10, she moved with family to the New Milford, CT undocumented.  Her family scarified a lot, including her mother’s career, to move closer to treatment. Throughout her childhood in while living in the US, Praeli excelled at school.  In high school, she worked closely with the Anti-Defamation League’s “Names Can Really Hurt Us” program working to stop bullying and promote reconciliation. She had been a victim of bullying herself.

It was not until she received graduated from high school (at the top of her class) and received a scholarship from Quinnipiac University that she discovered that she was an undocumented immigrant.  Her mother kept this information from her to protect her.  For a period of time, Praeli felt shame due to the stigma of being “illegal immigrant”  and hid her status during college.  In 2011, she graduated from Quinnipiac with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Sociology.

Praeli eventually revealed her status when she connected with DREAMer, other immigrants who came to the US illegal at a young age.  She turned to activism an fought secure “in state” tuition rates for undocumented DREAMer in Connecticut. She worked in other states after.

Praeli’s career history includes:

• Immigration Advocacy and Policy Director, United We Dream – a national network of undocumented youth-lead organization. She worked with the Obama Administration to create the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Deferred Action for Parents of American and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA).
• Director of Latino Outreach, Hillary Clinton 2016 Presidential Election (May 2015) – See her speak at at the Democratic National Convention (video)
• Director of Immigration Policy and Campaigns, ACLU (May 2017)

Praeli remained undocumented until 2012 when she married and received a green card.  She later became a citizen in December of 2015 and casted her first presidential vote in the 2016 election.

Praeli and family after American citizenship ceremony in December of 2015 (Source: Correo*)

Lorella Praeli on Social Media – Twitter @lorellapraeli,  LinkedIn

*Correo sourced image webpage is in Spanish.

This blog is written to learn about and inform people about women’s contribution to trending themes and what is going on in the news.

Works Cited

Linthicum, Kate. “Never eligible to vote, young immigrant plays key role in Clinton campaign.” The Los Angeles Times. The Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2015. Web. 1 May 2017.

Foley, Elise . “Dreamer Lorella Praeli To Be A Leader Of Trump Resistance On Immigration.” Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, Inc., 28 Apr. 2017. Web. 1 May 2017.

Lilley, Sandra. ” Hillary Clinton Taps DREAMer Lorella Praeli As Latino Outreach Director.” NBC News. NBC, 20 May 2015. Web. 1 May 2017.

MAKERS Team |  September 25, 2015. “Be The Hero: Get to Know Lorella Praeli’s Story.” MAKERS. Aol, 25 Sept. 2015. Web. 01 May 2017.

Cara Santa Maria, March for Science Speaker

On April 22, 2017 (Earth Day), March for Science rallies were held worldwide in over 500 cities. At a key march in Washington DC, American scientists, science advocates, and supporters marched called for more support for the sciences, evidence-based policymaking, and protection for the planet. Cara Santa Maria was the one of two special guests.  She and other speakers, many of them women, spoke at the event about the importance of science in the 21^st century and to stop attacks on endeavors. For a complete list of speakers and a brief note on their background and importance in America’s scientific community, click here.

Cara Santa Maria using recording equipment for her podcast, Talk Nerdy.  Image was taken during an interview with Glamour magazine. 

Cara Santa Maria is a neuroscientist, Emmy-winning journalist, science communicator, TV personality, producer, and podcaster from Los Angeles, CA.  She is the founder and host of Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa Maria, a weekly science podcast and co-host of the podcast, Skeptics’ Guide to the Universe.  Additionally, she is a cofounder of the Nerd Brigade and the annual science communication retreat, #SciCommCamp.

Cara Santa Maria became interested in neuroscience while studying psychology and philosophy while earning her undergraduate degree in Texas.  After taking a practicum with a clinical neuropsychologist, she decided to learn more about the brain and its workings, especially the relationship between the brain and behavior. She went to grad school to for a degree in biology with a neuroscience concentration.  In school and later in New York, she worked in research. While working on her education, she received an offer to develop a pilot on HBO and appear on television programing to promote science education to the public.

Santa Maria dived deep into the media industry contributing to shows and news segments and hosting and producing TV programs. She took on beginning the Huffington Post’s science section as their Senior Science Correspondent.  She eventually went on to costarred in two Weather Channel’s programs, Hacking the Planet and The Truth About Twisters. Santa Maria also contributed to TechKnow on Al Jazeera America and Real Future on Fusion; co-hosted on Brain Surgery Live on National Geographic; co-hosting and producing TakePart on Pivot TV and FabLab on Fox.  In addition, she has made appearances on BBC America, CBS, CNN, Fox, Nat Geo Wild, SundanceTV, and more. Currently, she contributes to SOCal Connected on KCET and hosts TBS series, America’s Greatest Makers.

Selfie taken at March for Science on April 22, 2017. (Source: Facebook)

Despite her success in science media, Santa Maria’s background has propelled her throughout her career endeavors.  She is scientist and an educator first. Santa Maria has taught biology and psychology in New York and Texas to undergraduate and high school students in the past. She also published research on topics including, clinical psychological assessments and the neurophysiology of blindness.  Her mission is to promote evidence-based thought, rational decision making, and better scientific literacy.  She wants to guarantee that the science she reports on is not junk.  The information is factual and uses the fundamentals of science to help readers challenge the status quo on science news. At the same time, she hopes to draw the public to science in ways they can understand and connect with.

Cara Santa Maria on the Web: Twitter @CaraSantaMaria, Facebook, Youtube, Personal Webpage, Patreon, Soundcloud

For a look at what the March of Science was like in DC, Live Science has good notes through their live updates of the event.

Images from Glamour and Santa Maria’s Facebook

Works Cited

Chow, Denise. “2017 March for Science: Live Updates.” Live Science. Purch, 22 Apr. 2017. Web. 25 Apr. 2017.

March For Science. “March for Science.” March For Science. March For Science, 2017. Web. 25 Apr. 2017.

Santa Maria, Cara. “Bio.” Cara Santa Maria. Cara Snata Maria, 2017. Web. 25 Apr. 2017.

Santa Maria, Cara. “Huffington Post Science – Interview with Cara Santa Maria.” Interview by Bora Zivkovic. Blog post. The Network Central. Scientific American Blog Network, 06 Aug. 2013. Web. 25 Apr. 2017.

Sotomayor, Andrew. “In the Makeup Chair: Why Neuroscientist Cara Santa Maria Hates the Sexy-Nerd Cliche.” Glamour. Glamour Magazine, 13 Jan. 2016. Web. 25 Apr. 2017.

The Actresses in Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)

On Friday, April 14, 2017, this year’s Star Wars Celebration, hosted in Orlando, Florida, held a cast panel on Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017). This anticipated film is the latest installment of the famous franchise and will premiere on December 15, 2017. The cast has a number of actresses. From the well-known lead Rey played by Daisy Ridley to a new character, Rose, played by Kelly Marie Tran, this movie looks to be full of women in action fight for their side of the galaxy. (Note: Gwendoline Christie’s Captain Phasma is a member of the dark side.)

The cast members listed here were pulled from IMDb.com’s current cast list and will be updated when more information is released.

Daisy Ridley

 

Daisy Ridley was born on April 10, 1992 in London, England. She attended the Tring Park School for Performing Arts in Hertfordshire, England. She learned musical theater, dance, and singing. After she graduated in 2010, she played in several minor roles in television, film, and music. Ridley’s movie career took off after her role as Rey, the heroine of Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015), gained acclaim. She will be reprising her role as the upcoming sequel. Beyond her part in the Star Wars franchise, Ridley enrolled in higher education courses in 2016. She is also acting in several upcoming movies including: Murder on the Orient Express (2017), A Woman of No Importance (date unknown); and Ophelia (date unknown).

Images from: Tech Times and Aint It Cool

Laura Dern

 

Laura Dern is joining the returning cast of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, but she did not attend the panel at the Star Wars Celebration. Her character has not been officially released. Rumors have stirred over the last week, if readers are curious. The title of her role will be posted here as soon as there is released confirmation.

Dern was born on February 10, 1967 in Los Angeles, CA. She made her film debut in White Lightening (1973) and received her first major role was in Foxes (1980). She then went on to gain roles in several famous films including: Blue Velvet (1986), Rambling Rose (1991), Jurassic Park (1993), and Wild (2014). In addition to film, she has secured several television roles including: Afterburn (1992), Ellen (1997), Recount (2008), Enlightened (2011-2013), and Big Little Lies (2017). Dern is also an award-winning actress having won or been nominated for several prestigious awards in film. They include two Oscars nominations, five Primetime Emmys nominations, and two Golden Globe nominations and four wins with the most recent 2012. She has few projects in the works including: Downsizing (2017) and Hard Powder (2018).

Laura Dern on Twitter: @LauraDern, 

Image from: TV Line

Lupita Nyong’o

 

Lupita Nyong’o was born on March 1, 1983 in Mexico City, Mexico but grew up in Kenya where her father served as government minister and senator. She started in the film industry during her teen and college years serving as a production assistant and intern on sets of several films. In 2007, Nyong’o graduated with a Bachelor’s in film and African studies from Hampshire College in Amherst, MA.  Her senior thesis, In My Genes (2009), a documentary on Kenyans living with albinism, was shown at the 2010 New York African Film Festival. Later in 2012, she returned to school to attend the Yale School of Drama, where she received her master’s in acting.

In 2013, Nyong’o’s film career took off when played a supporting role in a feature film, 12 Years a Slave, and won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. Nyong’o soon joined the cast of Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) to play the CGI character, Maz Kanata. When asked why she choose to play an off screen character, Nyong’o explained, “12 Years a Slave was a film that was so much about my body, and Star Wars is not at all. There was a liberation about being able to play in a medium where my body was not the thing in question.” (Buzzfeed News). Since then, Nyong’o has appeared in several films including: The Jungle Book (2016), and Queen of Katwe (2016). Upcoming films that she will seen be in are: Marvel’s Black Panther (2018) and Star Wars: Episode IX (2019).

Outside of film, Nyong’o took her acting skills to Broadway, performing in an off-Broadway drama called Eclipsed in 2015. Later she made her Broadway debut in 2016 when the play moved to the John Golden Theatre. Nyong’o was nominated for Tony Award for her role. Additionally, she has become a fashion icon appearing in major publications like InStyle and Vogue.

Lupita Nyong’o on Social Media: Twitter @Lupita_Nyongo,  Instagram, Facebook,

Images from: Harpers Bazaar and Bitch Media

Carrie Fisher

 

Carrie Fisher was born on October 21, 1956, in Beverly Hills, CA. In 1975, Fisher made her film debut in the comedy, Shampoo. A few years later, she was  cast in her most famous role as the iconic Princess Leia in Star Wars’ original trilogy (1977, 1980, and 1983). After struggling with alcohol, drug abuse, and mental illness in the 1980’s, Fisher returned to the spotlight as the author of the bestselling and award-winning book, Postcards from the Edge. She later adapted the book into a same-titled film starring Meryl Streep in 1990. She continued her career to play supporting roles in several movies, wrote and edited screenplays, and authored books and plays including The Best Awful There Is (2004), Wishful Drinking (2008), Shockaholic (2011), and The Princess Diarist (2016).

Most recently, Fisher returned to film to reprise her role as Princess, now General, Leia in Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) and Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017). Additionally, Fisher spoke openly about her diagnosis with bipolar disorder and her struggles with addiction. She received Harvard College’s Annual Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award in Cultural Humanism for her efforts. However, on December 27, 2016, she passed away from complications from a heart attack she suffered days before at the age of 60. Fisher had completed filming her part in the upcoming Star Wars film, but it is unknown how the studio will handle her absence future installments.

#MayTheForceBeWithHer #OurPrincess

Carrie Fisher’s Website 

Images from: EW, StarWars.com, and Cinema Blend

Billie Lourd

 

Billie Lourd was born on July 17, 1992, in Los Angeles, CA to Carrie Fisher. Lourd graduated in 2014 from New York University before starting her acting career. She is best known for her role in the comedy/horror television series, Scream Queens (2015-2016). She plays Lieutenant Connix in Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) and will return in Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017). In addition , Lourd will star in the upcoming movie, Billionaire Boys Club (2017).

Billie Lourd on Social Media: Instagram and Twitter @_praisethelourd

Images from: IMDb and comicbook.com

Kelly Marie Tran

 

Kelly Marie Tran is from San Diego and graduated from the University of California – Los Angeles (UCLA). She has had a long interest in acting and performing and began honing her skills in musical theater and by participating in improv groups. Tran has become recognized for her parts in web series, shorts, commercials, and  occasional guest appearances. She may be best known for her roles in CollegeHumor Originals shorts. As the newest member, Tran joins the Star Wars: The Last Jedi cast as Rose, a maintenance worker in the Resistance and is slated to team up with one of the main characters, Finn, played by John Boyega (Independent). Her character was first revealed during the cast panel at the Star Wars Celebration.

Images from: Empire Online and Cinema Blend

Gwendoline Christie

 

Gwendoline Christie was born on October 28, 1978, in Sussex, England. She became interested in acting after she injured her back in gymnastics at a young age. At the age of 15, she played Lady Macbeth in Shakespeare’s Macbeth and set out to pursue her talent. Christie studied at the famous and rigorous Drama Center London and faced difficulty with securing roles due to her height. In 2005, she made her theater debut in a Royal Shakespeare Company performance of Great Expectations and went on to perform in other British productions. In 2009, she received her first role in a major film when she was cast in The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. In 2012, Christie began playing in her best-known role as Brienne of Tarth, starting in the second season of the hit TV series, Game of Thrones (2011-Present). In 2015, she was cast Star Wars: The Force Awakens as Captain Phasma in, Star War’s first known female stormtrooper. She is returning to her role in The Last Jedi. Christie’s next known project is the upcoming sci-fi thriller, The Darkest Minds (2018).

Gwendoline Christie on Twitter @lovegwendoline 

Images from: Vanity Fair and Huffington Post

 

Crystal Clarke

 

Crystal Clarke was born in Belleville, New Jersey. She went to the Newark Arts High School and graduated from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland at Glasgow in 2014. Clarke landed her role as Ensign Goode, a Resistance member, in Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) after participating in an open casting call for aspiring actors. She and fellow cast member, Pip Anderson, were selected out of over 67,000 applicants. She will be returning to this role for Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Clarke has played parts in other recent films including Assassin’s Creed (2016) and The King’s Daughter (2017).

Images from: Star Wars Wikia and Star Wars Wikia

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