On June 11, 2012, then Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton returned to her alma mater to inaugurate a joint initiative between the Seven Sisters and the Department of State dedicated to building a grassroots support system for talented young women from conflict regions who have exhibited leadership skills. As Mme. Secretary stated that June morning at Wellesley …
Around the world, we are hoping to help correct the gender imbalances in public service, not just by working at the top, shattering those glass ceilings, but also at the grassroots level by training and supporting women like those who are here, who have the talent, who have the will, but sometimes not the opportunity to become effective leaders in their nations.
With a chillingly prophetic anecdote*, she explained the rationale for the Women in Public Service Institute (WPSP) and its programs and seminars thus.
I remember being in Cairo last spring, meeting with men and women who had been leaders of the protest in Tahrir Square. And I asked them, “So now, are you starting to organize for politics? Are you beginning to think about how to put together coalitions to run candidates for office?” And I’ll never forget one young man said, “That is not our job. Others will do the politics.” I said, “Oh, excuse me. If you do not participate, then others will hijack your revolution. And they will – (applause) – very often begin from the first day to undermine the hopes and aspirations that you were protesting for.”
Over the coming days, you will work with leading experts and academics, and have the chance to build these relationships that can give you additional insights. You’ll hear from a wide range of women leaders from inside and outside government, women who have organized social movements and civil society organizations, who have started businesses, run for office, and defied the odds throughout their lives. And each of you will be paired with a mentor who will stay in close contact with you after you return home.
There will be seminars on practical skills like how to move legislation through a parliament or hold a press conference, sessions on how to organize grassroots networks and how to lobby public officials, discussions about major challenges like increasing women’s participation in peace negotiations and post-conflict decision making.
This afternoon, she is scheduled to address the young women attending this summer’s institute being held at Bryn Mawr. The event will be livestreamed here. Her remarks are planned to take place at approximately 4 p.m. EDT.
Note: If you missed the livefeed, the video is available at the “on demand” tab.
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*(Parenthetically, I must add that Hillary Clinton has unfailingly foreseen events in the Arab world, warned the parties, and been proven correct. This has been true since her initial address as Secretary of State to the Forum for the Future in Morocco when she correctly perceived the aspirations of civil society and outlined three areas of engagement in the region. That speech is worth a read in case you have never seen it. Pay special attention to her remarks about the past. Her words incensed some but proved as prophetic as her remarks to Egyptian youth cited above.)
Still4Hill 
I’m just over an hour away from there. If I didn’t have to work tonight, and if I thought I could get in (it is likely a closed campus?) I would go.
btw – I have to wonder how come “Ready for Hillary” didn’t let me know she was speaking. I signed up for events on their site to “Welcome Hillary” if she was in my region. I would like to greet her arrival with welcome banners and signs just to let her know that we still have her back.
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I went to moderation because the site was sluggish for a short while.
here is my comment, if it prints…
I’m just over an hour away from there. If I didn’t have to work tonight, and if I thought I could get in (it is likely a closed campus?) I would go.
btw – I have to wonder how come “Ready for Hillary” didn’t let me know she was speaking. I signed up for events on their site to “Welcome Hillary” if she was in my region. I would like to greet her arrival with welcome banners and signs just to let her know that we still have her back.
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I cannot imagine Bryn Mawr allowing them to rally on campus.
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The lady at the end said thank you for President Clinton. Is it just me or is it really become annoying to hear this? I mean I love her obviously but she said she doesn’t decided yet, so why everyone had to mention this!?
On contrary I laugh about the dailymail article about the new hair changes must mean that she is running, after reading here so much comment about what new hair style could mean.
By the way I like this one.
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I missed the very end – the feed froze on me. I hope she shares the transcript of this one.
That hairstyle article also made me laugh – as if her hair can stay the same length and style. Ridiculous. This particular style and cut are high maintenance. Definitely not meant for the trail.
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I’ll have to check this out later – we are traveling, but I will get to take my kids to a “Hillary spot” – the United Nations! They have a tour for children and we have tickets for it.
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So cool! I went there on a class trip in HS. Too bad Hillary isn’t SOS anymore or you would see her picture inside the US Mission across the street. We used to eat in the diplomats’ dining room during Fulbright panels, but now it is closed for renovation. Great food!
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I’m planning on going to NYC, DC,and Boston by the end of August with my boys, and I’d love to visit all the “Hillary spots” that I can.If you know the favorite Hillary’s restaurants and places, please let me know, as I’d love to know them! I wish she would have tours to her houses in NYC and DC as she had during her WH years! If the Secret Service let me, I’ll go as close as I can!! Is it a bad idea???? Please, let me dream!!!
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Well, the “house tours” are a bad idea (Secret Service). Mom4Hill’s UN tour for kids is a great idea! She has done events on the Intrepid (NYC) numerous times and the kids would love it. DC – well there is the Capitol where she was NY Senator and the State Department. I don’t know if the sequester has affected those tours though.
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Tour the Capitol! We did and it was fantastic.
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When I did I was a kid. On our vacation trip to FL we had left our dog at the vet (family friend) and the dog developed a rare condition. He checked with my uncle, and had to put the dog to sleep. We were inconsolable so he handed us a 3-day-old doxie and said we had to feed her every hour. There was no puppy formula in those days and no nursing bottles, so we bought a doll bottle at Woolworth’s and did as directed.
When we went to DC is was summer and very hot. We did not want to leave her with the vet, so we brought her along. She was 5 weeks old. The Washington Plaza was very accommodating. We brought her along during the day, but didn’t want to leave her in the hot car. She came on the tour with us wrapped in my pink baby blanket. As we were touring, Senator Edward Everett Dirksen came down a side staircase and stopped my sister and me. “What’s in the blanket?” (If you ever heard his voice, you know how it sounded.) “Our puppy. We didn’t want to leave her in the car.” “Let’s see the dog.” So we pulled the blanket aside. She was tiny and sound asleep. “Nice dog!” And he was on his way. The tour was waiting for us down the hallway. When we caught up, everyone wanted to know what Senator Dirksen had said to us. So funny. It would never happen today.
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Is the UN Tour for Kids good for teens? Does one have to sign up? If so, where? Thanks.
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You can start here. http://visit.un.org/wcm/content/
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Thank you. 🙂
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Loved this post, still4hill; thank you. Prophetic indeed. And from what I see, the Egyptians are beginning to realize that they let it all slip between their fingers. They expected some hard times, but not what they have landed in.. They needed to know that it takes active participation by all to uphold a democracy.
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She even said “from the first day.” And time and again she has said democracy is more than an election.
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She sure did! And I am sure they will look back at her entire speech and Q&A and take ALL OF IT a lot more seriously… A bit late for this time around but they still did learn from this experience and I hope they fare better next time around.. I am sure there will be a next time soon.
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Ok.. I came to post this..
Pro-Clinton super PAC hires Obama 2012 field organizers
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/07/10/hillary-clinton-super-pac-hires-obama-campaign-aides-ready-for-hillary/2503777/
Definitely good to be ready, just in case she decides to run… Also the Repubs are already at it in their Mega$$$-fueled mudslinging games.. so got to start some proactive defense..
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I got that too.
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