05:33 - We kindly ask you if able to please rise

05:36 - for the presentation of our national anthem.

05:38 - Today's anthem will be performed by Lackawanna County, its very own

05:42 - Stacey Velez.

05:49 - Oh, see?

05:52 - And you see.

05:56 - By the dawn's early light.

06:01 - What so proudly we hail.

06:08 - At the twilight's last gleaming.

06:13 - Whose broad stripes and bright stars

06:19 - through the perilous fight.

06:25 - O'er the ramparts we watched.

06:31 - Were so gallantly streaming.

06:37 - And the rockets

06:40 - red glare, the bombs

06:44 - bursting in air.

06:49 - Gave proof through the night

06:55 - that our flag was still there.

07:01 - Oh, say does that star

07:05 - spangled banner.

07:09 - Yet wave.

07:14 - Or the land

07:17 - of the free.

07:22 - And the home of the brave?

07:38 - Please welcome the Executive Director of America.

07:41 - 250 P.A.

07:42 - Cassandra Coleman.

07:46 - We have to leave this.

07:56 - Good afternoon everyone.

07:59 - How are you feeling?

08:00 - Really good. Right.

08:02 - So we are so honored to have you here today with us to celebrate

08:07 - generations of powerful, resilient women across our Commonwealth.

08:14 - Thank you for joining us to center that

08:16 - history, acknowledge their influence

08:20 - and help shape the future of women in Pennsylvania.

08:24 - I would like to begin by thanking the esteemed companies

08:27 - and organizations whose support made today possible.

08:31 - I want to thank Energy Transfer, InterDigital,

08:35 - Highmark, the Pennsylvania AfL-CIO, Geisinger,

08:41 - Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, Deloitte,

08:45 - the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission,

08:48 - and the Wright Center for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education.

08:52 - Your commitment to uplifting the women of our Commonwealth does not go unnoticed.

08:57 - How about a round of applause?

09:03 - So today is a tribute

09:05 - to the women who have shaped Pennsylvania

09:09 - leaders and barrier breakers who refused to accept the status quo.

09:15 - Mothers raising the next generation, and young women and girls

09:21 - reaching new heights because they stand on the shoulders of giants.

09:27 - We gather to honor that legacy, to

09:30 - recognize those making an impact today, and to ensure

09:34 - that their stories are never forgotten.

09:38 - Today gives us the opportunity to reflect on leadership,

09:43 - on service, on resilience, and on the responsibility

09:48 - that we all share to open doors for the next generation.

09:52 - And today, we have the opportunity to turn that

09:56 - responsibility into tangible impact.

09:59 - All proceeds from today's event will support.

10:02 - America Driver's Semi Quinn scholarship program.

10:06 - Through this initiative, we will award $250,000 to 25 students

10:13 - selected from more than 1800

10:17 - applications across all 67 counties,

10:21 - with individual scholarships of $10,000

10:25 - for the 2627 academic year.

10:28 - We are also so proud that many of Pennsylvania's post-secondary

10:33 - institutions have stepped forward to support these students,

10:37 - expanding the impact of this program and creating

10:41 - even greater opportunity for those who receive them.

10:44 - By matching our scholarship to honor this historic year.

10:50 - This investment will have a lasting impact on the youth of our Commonwealth.

11:01 - But let me take a step back for a moment.

11:03 - Because for me, today is more than a chance to support a great program.

11:08 - It is too big to be confined to a single calendar entry.

11:13 - Today is for our women, as I hope you all know by now.

11:18 - This year marks the 250th anniversary of our nation.

11:22 - Something that you may have heard me mention 1 to 1

11:26 - million times over the last eight years of planning.

11:30 - Pennsylvania is where it all began,

11:34 - where our ancestors laid the foundation of our country.

11:38 - And we here at America.

11:39 - Do you believe that there is no better place to celebrate

11:44 - this historic milestone than the place where it all started?

11:49 - When we trace back to July 4th, 1776.

11:52 - The outcome can feel inevitable for those living through it.

11:57 - There was no such certainty, only faith

12:01 - that what they were fighting for was worthy of their sacrifice.

12:05 - The United States began with a document, one that set down

12:09 - the ideals of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness

12:13 - and forged a nation for anyone willing to stand up for those ideals.

12:20 - It has been an honor of a lifetime

12:22 - to serve in this role and help lead the Commonwealth.

12:26 - As we celebrate 250 years in pursuit

12:30 - of these self-evident truths.

12:33 - It has been an honor and a responsibility.

12:38 - Our country may have been born in a day,

12:41 - but the stories that have unfolded over generations,

12:45 - stories of strength, of perseverance, and of people

12:49 - who pushed this nation forward right here in Pennsylvania, and in carrying

12:55 - the responsibility to honor that history and help shape what comes next.

13:00 - One principle became clear we cannot tell the story of our country

13:07 - without telling the story of all its people.

13:11 - Like I said before, today is for our women.

13:15 - The women who in 1776 believed in those same ideals,

13:20 - the women who stood beside those who fought,

13:23 - and the women who fought in their own right on the battlefield, at home

13:28 - and in their communities across generations.

13:31 - Pennsylvania women have continued to shape our story.

13:37 - Pennsylvania women like Margaret Corbin of Franklin County,

13:41 - a hero of the American Revolution who stepped onto the battlefield

13:45 - at Fort Washington and took over her husband's cannon

13:49 - after he was killed, becoming the first woman

13:52 - in the United States history to receive a military pension.

13:57 - Women like Julius Collins, an educator and an author from Lycoming County

14:02 - who became one of the first black women to publish a novel in the United States,

14:07 - using her voice to advocate for education,

14:11 - for equality, and for opportunity.

14:14 - Rachel Carson, born in Allegheny County, whose pen launched

14:19 - the modern environmental movement and changed how we protect our planet.

14:25 - And Loretta Claiborne, a York native and Special Olympics athlete.

14:29 - We have some York folks in the back there.

14:32 - Who has run more than 25 marathons,

14:36 - became a national advocate for people with disabilities,

14:40 - and now serves on the Special Olympics International Board of Directors,

14:45 - continuing to champion inclusion and opportunity for all.

14:50 - And this is just naming a few.

14:51 - We have so many more.

14:54 - It does not escape me that the women of Pennsylvania's past,

14:58 - their work, their struggles and their triumphs

15:02 - have made it possible for me to stand here today.

15:06 - I look at my incredible team at America 50

15:09 - for a team made up predominantly of women.

15:13 - And I am reminded just how far we have come.

15:16 - I would like to ask you to please join me and a round of applause

15:19 - for my amazing team who worked so hard day in and day out, to ensure

15:23 - that this work is carried across all 67 counties.

15:35 - For much of our

15:35 - nation's history, the story has been told through a male

15:39 - lens not always intentionally, but often becoming the dominant narrative.

15:44 - The names we learned, the portraits we hung, the voices

15:47 - we remembered were overwhelmingly one sided.

15:50 - And now our team has the responsibility of telling a more complete story.

15:55 - So we believe in expanding the cast of characters in asking different questions.

16:02 - In looking beyond the familiar legends.

16:05 - And in making sure that our shared story includes women

16:10 - and other Pennsylvanians whose contributions

16:13 - may not have always been recognized but have always been there.

16:19 - Because when women help shape the narrative,

16:22 - history becomes richer,

16:25 - more accessible, and more complete.

16:28 - And that serves everyone.

16:30 - And you can see it around us today.

16:33 - We see it in

16:34 - the women who serve our Commonwealth through leadership and public service.

16:38 - I would like to recognize the female elected officials

16:40 - who are here with us today, as well as all of our America.

16:43 - 258 commissioners.

16:45 - Thank you for your leadership

16:47 - and your continued commitment to the people of Pennsylvania.

16:55 - We see it in the

16:57 - bravery, the resilience and the dedication of our female law enforcement

17:02 - who work tirelessly to protect and serve their communities.

17:05 - And we are especially thankful for all of those female troopers

17:09 - of the Pennsylvania State Police who also join us today.

17:18 - We see it in

17:19 - the women who are building, who are creating,

17:22 - and who are leading right here in our downtowns and our neighborhoods.

17:26 - We made it a priority to work with local

17:29 - Pennsylvania women owned businesses to help bring today's event to life.

17:34 - So I want to thank Brooke Bucci, owner and lead designer of Wild.

17:38 - Brier Blooms, for the beautiful floral arrangements that you see throughout.

17:42 - I want to thank our photographer, Alena Jessica,

17:45 - for capturing the history and energy of today's event.

17:48 - And I want to thank Suzanne Mattern of Magnolia Rose

17:52 - candles, whose creations you will take home with you today.

17:57 - We also

17:58 - see this pride carried forward through generations.

18:02 - We are honored to be joined by female descendants and representatives

18:06 - of former administrations, representing their families,

18:10 - and their enduring impact on our Commonwealth.

18:12 - When I call your name, if you could please just wave.

18:15 - We have Meredith Mills, granddaughter of Governor

18:17 - George Michael, leader.

18:23 - We have Christina

18:24 - Freeman, granddaughter of Governor David Lawrence.

18:30 - We have Kate Brier, Mary Ellen Philbin, and Erin

18:32 - Walsh, daughters of Governor Robert Casey, senior.

18:39 - And we have Marilyn Scranton,

18:41 - wife of former Lieutenant Governor Scranton.

18:47 - Your presence here today is a powerful reminder

18:50 - that leadership must be carried forward, not just remembered.

18:54 - And perhaps nowhere is that leadership more visible than in the women

18:59 - who have shaped and guided our Commonwealth and our nation.

19:03 - We see it in the first ladies who have led and continue to lead,

19:09 - women who have stepped into roles of influence,

19:12 - using their platforms to serve, to advocate and to create lasting change.

19:18 - And today, we have the extraordinary privilege of hearing from them.

19:24 - Because the story of Pennsylvania is still being written

19:29 - and women are leading the way.

19:31 - I'm excited for a wonderful program ahead.

19:34 - And I hope all of you are as well. Thank you again.

19:41 - Our moderator for today's conversation

19:44 - is an award winning actor, producer and New York Times best selling author.

19:48 - She is known for playing Carol on the television series The West.

19:51 - Wing and for her lifelong commitment to service.

19:54 - Please welcome Pennsylvania native Melissa Fitzgerald.

20:20 - Well, hello everyone and welcome.

20:23 - My name is Melissa Fitzgerald, and it is a privilege to gather

20:27 - during Women's History Month to celebrate women who shape our communities,

20:31 - our commonwealth and our country.

20:35 - Pennsylvania has long been home to extraordinary women, from those

20:39 - who fought for independence and equality, to those who lead our institutions.

20:45 - Advocate for our communities and inspire the next generation.

20:50 - Women have always played a vital role in the story of our Commonwealth.

20:55 - And for me, Pennsylvania is not just part of that story.

20:59 - It's where I was raised and it's shaped who I am no matter where I've lived.

21:04 - Pennsylvania is always home.

21:08 - As we approach the 250th anniversary of our nation,

21:11 - it is especially meaningful to reflect on the women who have helped guide

21:16 - Pennsylvania forward and the leaders who continue that work today.

21:20 - We are fortunate to be joined by an extraordinary

21:24 - group of women whose leadership and service has touched

21:27 - countless lives across Pennsylvania and beyond.

21:32 - Before I begin, I would like to thank America 250

21:36 - and especially Cassandra Coleman and Tyrese Casey

21:40 - for the invitation to be part of this meaningful conversation.

21:43 - It's truly an honor to be here.

21:46 - And now please help me welcome the remarkable women

21:50 - joining us for today's conversation.

21:56 - Now, it is my honor to introduce to you today's distinguished panel.

22:00 - Please welcome.

22:01 - Former First lady of Pennsylvania Michelle Ridge.

22:06 - So what doesn't kill you makes you so.

22:13 - Truly, when I'm.

22:16 - What doesn't kill you, I. My.

22:22 - Former first

22:23 - lady of Pennsylvania, Francis Wolf.

22:26 - Jennifer.

22:27 - Understand why I love her.

22:31 - Oh, girls.

22:42 - First lady of Pennsylvania, Lori Shapiro.

22:47 - Just like the.

23:00 - Judges

23:02 - and former first lady of the United States of America.

23:05 - Doctor Jill Biden.

23:11 - Hello. Oh.

23:23 - It's.

23:26 - Well. Thank you.

23:27 - What a thrill.

23:28 - I am so happy to be sharing the stage with First lady doctor Jill Biden, first.

23:32 - Lady Laura Shapiro, first Lady Frances Wolf and first Lady Michelle Ridge.

23:36 - Let's give them another round of applause.

23:42 - Thank you all for your leadership, for your service, and for the example

23:45 - you continue to set for women all across this Commonwealth and this nation.

23:50 - So let's start with the beginning of your journeys in your roles as First Lady.

23:55 - Take us back to the moment you found out you were First Lady.

23:58 - What was that like for you and what changed for you?

24:01 - And this is a question for anyone to answer.

24:06 - Okay.

24:06 - I'll start.

24:09 - So actually,

24:11 - I guess the, Election.

24:13 - Day actually was election week for us because it took so long

24:17 - for them to decide is, as you remember, I'll take you back.

24:21 - Remember Steve Kornacki on the TV, you know,

24:24 - giving all the stops, you know, until you were ready to kill him.

24:28 - And, and so I can remember, Joe and I took our cups of coffee.

24:32 - We went down.

24:32 - We live on a man made lake,

24:34 - and we were sitting down there because I had tons of family at my house.

24:38 - And so we were just having coffee and,

24:42 - and all of a sudden our grandkids came running out of the house.

24:45 - Nana pop, you've won. You've won.

24:48 - And it was just such a beautiful moment.

24:50 - And, and so I just realized, you know, that,

24:55 - I don't know, I felt that the people in this country

24:57 - put their trust in my husband, and I knew that.

25:00 - Then they put their trust in me.

25:02 - So I felt like it was a a big responsibility.

25:05 - But, heck, it was so exciting.

25:14 - So yeah,

25:15 - which I am the senior first lady.

25:19 - So that was for us 31 years ago.

25:23 - So we've been out of office

25:25 - for 25 years.

25:27 - I think our children were young.

25:29 - They were seven and eight when Tom was elected in 1994.

25:33 - And so the first thing I thought about was, well,

25:36 - we're going to move to Harrisburg and we'll get them in school.

25:40 - The first thought went to, my, our children,

25:43 - and then I was the public library director for 15 years before the election.

25:49 - And so I had traveled Pennsylvania and there.

25:52 - There is no one who knows communities better than the public library director.

25:55 - So I had the the good fortune to have this great preparation,

26:00 - to to take on the responsibility of First lady,

26:04 - always there in support of my husband and knowing communities

26:07 - and knowing that I was going to get to see a lot of my library friends again,

26:11 - although I was leaving my library, in the midst of a building project.

26:14 - So it was really a it was so exciting.

26:18 - And, we didn't move to Harrisburg until they finished their school year.

26:23 - So it was the summer of 95 when we first came to Harrisburg.

26:29 - Would anyone else like to jump in to that one, or should I move on?

26:32 - Well, just very quickly, I'm impressed by how

26:36 - how you, you know, you took stock straight away.

26:39 - And you were, in my view, very brave

26:43 - because my first reaction was I cried, oh.

26:51 - And my wonderful husband was here.

26:53 - I wouldn't be in this position.

26:59 - As a thank you, but we have photograph.

27:02 - I just fell on his shoulder and sobbed and then,

27:07 - you know, and again, you know, we all realize,

27:10 - the, the magnitude of,

27:14 - this position of public service, and,

27:18 - the responsibility to do it.

27:19 - Well,

27:22 - at that point in time, I didn't know what

27:24 - I didn't know, but I knew,

27:27 - that we had to step up.

27:30 - I think that's where the tears came.

27:33 - You know, I would like to say, first of all, that I'm really honored

27:37 - to sit on this stage with all of these amazing women

27:40 - who I have admired

27:41 - and looked up to over the years and who have really given me a whole

27:45 - lot of really wise counsel and great advice, and who have been there

27:49 - for me and for our family through somewhat of a challenging time last year.

27:53 - And I, I just I'm really honored to be with all of you and appreciate

27:56 - your friendship and, and counsel and, and support over all this time.

28:01 - And I had a hybrid reaction.

28:03 - Unlike myself,

28:04 - I look, I didn't cry, but I was like, oh gosh, what am I going to do now?

28:08 - And then I thought, of course, of our kids,

28:09 - and how are we going to manage this transition for them?

28:12 - So, so I was really in that space, right?

28:14 - And was, which is why all of your advice was so wonderful and welcome.

28:19 - I just want to add that we don't do this alone.

28:23 - And and

28:24 - there is an orientation that the NCAA National Governors Association

28:28 - provides for incoming governors and and for spouses.

28:32 - And that was very helpful because you immediately had a network of people.

28:37 - If you had a question,

28:38 - you could call somebody, and ask them and it really was very helpful.

28:42 - And then there is great,

28:45 - bipartisan cooperation, at least in our time

28:48 - among first spouses, because we face a lot of the same issues.

28:51 - And so that and we had great support.

28:55 - I had great support from Tom's team, which was wonderful.

28:58 - And it really sounds like it's all about service for everyone in there.

29:01 - And that's so, so each of you stepped into an incredibly visible role

29:06 - and you were given a unique platform, to make meaningful change.

29:10 - When you first stepped into that role, what did you all hope to accomplish?

29:16 - I would

29:17 - say that I really didn't didn't know what I wanted to accomplish.

29:20 - I was really, again, focused on the sort of the transition in our family.

29:23 - And I wasn't really sure.

29:24 - And it wasn't till I got out into the community and across the Commonwealth

29:28 - that I started to see where I thought I could have an impact,

29:31 - and it was really meeting with people in the communities, learning

29:34 - about the work that they were doing, what their needs were,

29:37 - what the issues were that I really sort of found

29:41 - and found my footing and found

29:42 - where I wanted to to spend my time and help had an impact.

29:46 - So it was a process.

29:48 - I didn't definitely didn't come to it with any preconceived ideas.

29:52 - I, was invited by Judge Randall.

29:57 - To have a coffee together

29:58 - soon after Tom, won the election and, before we went to Harrisburg.

30:04 - And she gave such wise advice and she said, just go slowly,

30:09 - you know, you'll find your way, but you don't need to rush into anything.

30:13 - And, I took it to heart.

30:17 - And I think,

30:20 - to be involved

30:21 - with, to choose the issues, but to choose

30:24 - the ones that are sincere to you, that are authentic,

30:29 - that give you the greatest interest.

30:31 - And I took my cue from Tom and the administration

30:34 - and some of the projects that they were working on, and I was able to,

30:40 - I guess, come at it in a different way,

30:43 - visiting schools or or food security

30:46 - issues or women in corrections.

30:49 - I was

30:51 - these were issues that they were working with, but also that

30:53 - I had had some experience with.

30:55 - So it was very nice meeting with.

30:58 - But I took it slowly because I didn't know how you had

31:03 - to choose the extent to which you wanted to, to delve into these issues.

31:08 - Around the state, whether it made sense.

31:14 - Well, I think, I'm a little bit different

31:17 - in that I was a Senate spouse for,

31:19 - I don't know how many years of what.

31:22 - And, and so I had worked on many issues

31:25 - as a Senate spouse, and I had worked on breast cancer.

31:28 - I had the Biden Breast Health Initiative, and then I became second lady.

31:32 - And of course, I worked, with Michelle Obama on,

31:37 - joining forces in our military initiative.

31:40 - And, our son was in the military.

31:42 - So of course, that really, really owned a piece of my heart.

31:46 - And I'm an educator.

31:47 - I've been teaching for 40 years and also.

31:53 - And you continued to teach

31:55 - and I continued and but, you know, sometimes,

31:58 - and so I was ready to go as first lady, I knew I had my snap.

32:02 - I had I knew exactly what I wanted to work on, but sometimes,

32:08 - even with all that, the issue chooses you.

32:12 - Because if you remember, we were in the middle of Covid,

32:16 - and so I knew that I had to be out there.

32:19 - I had to be traveling the country, getting vaccines

32:23 - into the arms of Americans. And,

32:28 - talking about safety, having people believe in the vaccine

32:31 - and going into schools and, meeting with teachers.

32:35 - And so,

32:37 - so that took a good year of, you know, Joe's presidency

32:42 - that I was working on the issues of Covid alongside

32:46 - all the other issues that I was involved with.

32:50 - So I think, Doctor Biden is correct

32:52 - in saying sometimes the issue chooses you.

32:55 - And so at rotary, before

32:58 - Tom was sworn in, I was still a Rotarian in Erie.

33:01 - They asked the one of the board members from the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer.

33:05 - Coalition approached me and said, you will be honorary chair this bullet.

33:11 - And I and I said, I am honored to follow

33:14 - Ellen Casey, who was a wonderful first lady.

33:21 - And I and I was honored to be asked to follow in her footsteps.

33:24 - So I just want to make that clear.

33:27 - And then, of course, I'm a librarian.

33:28 - So of course I would be interested in libraries and strengthening libraries.

33:32 - I think lifelong learning is is the key to having a satisfying life.

33:37 - It's it enriches a person and enriches the family, enriches a community.

33:41 - When people commit to lifelong learning,

33:45 - Greek.

33:48 - Well, let's get into some of those initiatives.

33:51 - And in more detail, first lady, Rich, throughout your career

33:54 - and your time as First Lady, you supported causes, as you've mentioned,

33:58 - but also ranging from combating violence against youth

34:01 - to education and literacy for our Commonwealth's children.

34:05 - From your perspective, how does protecting and educating our young girls

34:09 - shape stronger communities in and around Pennsylvania?

34:12 - So in 93 and 94, the most likely victim of crime

34:16 - was a child, and the most likely perpetrator of a crime was a child.

34:19 - So in the first day, the governor of Tom called us a special session on crime.

34:25 - But I want it to be in the prevention business.

34:27 - And so

34:28 - we started something called the Governor's Community Partnership for Safe Children.

34:32 - And. Yes, and, and and it was it was in my role

34:37 - I was of sometimes leadership is not, you know, leading the charge,

34:41 - but being the facilitator, bringing the stakeholders together.

34:44 - And that's the kind of way that I like to lead is,

34:48 - is bringing people together and to, to come to some kind of plan of action.

34:52 - And so that was really important.

34:55 - And it and also the promotion of evidence based programing, programing

35:00 - that actually improves people's lives rather than just is a mandate.

35:05 - So that was a cause that I strongly believed in.

35:08 - Is is introducing

35:11 - gender based or evidence based,

35:14 - programing and, and I think,

35:16 - for me, strengthening and making communities safer and making

35:22 - and having children become more resilient, and,

35:26 - and to make sure that they learn

35:30 - skills and, and capacities so that whatever

35:34 - path in life they choose, they can succeed and strength.

35:38 - And by that way, they strengthen their community.

35:43 - Well, First Lady Wolf, during your time as first lady, raised awareness

35:47 - about food insecurity across Pennsylvania, an issue that affects many families

35:51 - and often falls heavily on women to feed their households.

35:56 - So why was this work so important to you?

35:58 - How did it find you and how does addressing food insecurity

36:01 - create a stronger opportunities for women and their families?

36:06 - I, I started off looking at, visiting schools,

36:13 - looking at three meals a day,

36:17 - that each school offered students,

36:24 - you know, I travel the state to sort of promote

36:26 - and to, to give attention to that issue.

36:30 - And it was, you know, from K through 12 and they were all different,

36:34 - ways that different school districts and different individual schools

36:38 - were tackling this problem.

36:41 - Then I, I think the best way also is just to keep asking questions.

36:45 - One of my questions was when what happens after

36:48 - 12th grade and mean, you know, there was nothing, you know, especially

36:53 - if you go on to college or trade schools, you know, further education.

36:58 - So I started visiting colleges around,

37:01 - and, around the state.

37:04 - And this is where I caught my breath because there was, so many people,

37:12 - students helping

37:13 - students, colleges helping students.

37:17 - There were food pantries.

37:18 - Some students took out their clothes from their closet, put shelving in, and,

37:24 - developed food pantry for their colleagues.

37:30 - Some of the colleges, like, if I remember correctly, Bloomsburg,

37:34 - had I mean, it was a huge store of shampoos, of food,

37:39 - of all kinds of goodies.

37:41 - And then along the back they had clothing,

37:46 - for men and women, you know, soup to nuts parts

37:49 - so they could be dressed to go to an interview for a job.

37:55 - Some also included,

37:57 - pencils and paper notebooks, you know,

38:04 - so all the things that you need,

38:05 - you know, for classroom work, and research,

38:09 - and this was all across the state.

38:12 - Some colleges had the president, the college might, open up.

38:17 - Okay. Wednesday is pizza night.

38:20 - The entire college is, invited.

38:23 - This was a way of students who were food insecure.

38:28 - Could be assured of a meal that night.

38:30 - And food insecurity doesn't mean that you're going hungry forever.

38:34 - It means that you don't know where your next meal is coming from.

38:38 - And when you,

38:40 - that that

38:41 - makes, you know, creates an anxiety.

38:45 - And I thought, you know, when you want,

38:47 - when you're asking people, you're going to be successful.

38:52 - How do you,

38:54 - guarantee that?

38:56 - And if you're, if you are anxious about

38:59 - sort of next steps for the next meal,

39:02 - it's difficult to,

39:06 - you know, keep going.

39:08 - A lot of them, a lot of people,

39:12 - have to, especially for, community colleges,

39:17 - they're older, they're married, they have children.

39:20 - So their balance, you know, balancing, you know, do they pay the rent,

39:25 - child care, food,

39:27 - transportation, what's going to, you know, be compromised.

39:32 - And a lot of times it's a meal.

39:35 - We met people who are professional people now who have doctorates

39:39 - who, when they were in the university,

39:42 - joined, got jobs in restaurants so that they could get a meal and,

39:47 - these are

39:48 - stories we had, of, I mean, I could go on, but this is what impressed me.

39:53 - But if you, you know, students who didn't have, guaranteed breakfast

39:58 - or lunches at school, you know, K to 12, if they didn't have that,

40:04 - the performance wasn't very strong the minute you introduced solid,

40:10 - you know,

40:11 - consistent meals, their performances, they raised the performance.

40:16 - They, you know, they were, you know, much more successful.

40:19 - So it,

40:23 - I mean, this is we're talking about something

40:25 - that is very basic, and it is the ground floor on success.

40:28 - And when we compromise that,

40:31 - we're losing the promise of real talent.

40:34 - Thank you.

40:36 - First Lady Shapiro, you have been a strong advocate for women's

40:39 - issues, from menstrual equity to maternal and women's health initiatives.

40:43 - Why is it important to support and invest in these efforts,

40:47 - and what opportunities do you see to uplift women across Pennsylvania?

40:51 - So, I think it's really interesting, Francis said about issues finding you.

40:56 - I mean, these issues really did find me.

40:58 - I was, visiting schools and meeting with young women who I was

41:02 - incredibly impressed, were happy and comfortable to talk about something

41:06 - that when I was a kid,

41:07 - we would, you know, shove tampons up our sleeves and hide them.

41:10 - And nobody ever wanted to talk about,

41:12 - you know, tampons and pads and having your period.

41:15 - It was the conversation that never happened.

41:17 - And I was meeting with these students, and they were talking about their

41:20 - their friends and their experiences and people who didn't have what they need.

41:24 - I met a woman who's, who was keeping her daughters home from school.

41:29 - She's three daughters and herself.

41:30 - She was keeping her daughters home from school when they had their period,

41:33 - because they didn't have enough money to buy the supplies that they need.

41:37 - And she found herself in truancy court.

41:39 - And I thought, you know, how is this helping anybody? Right?

41:42 - This is this makes no sense.

41:43 - And we shouldn't we shouldn't accept this.

41:45 - Women and girls need every opportunity to succeed.

41:49 - And if you can't be in your classroom because you don't have the money

41:52 - for a basic hygiene supply, that's a real problem.

41:56 - And so we started visiting nonprofits and hearing about the work they were doing.

42:00 - And then it occurred to me, I heard that, our schools

42:03 - were calling our nonprofits to ask for period supplies.

42:07 - And I thought, well, this makes sense.

42:08 - Sense our institutions shouldn't be asking our nonprofits for basic supplies.

42:13 - We don't expect people to bring their own toilet paper to the restrooms,

42:16 - or their own paper towels, or their own soap.

42:18 - So it just seemed like common sense to me.

42:20 - And I think if you get the basics right and you give everybody the chance

42:24 - to be in their classroom,

42:25 - not to have their learning interrupted, it sets them up for success.

42:28 - Later on.

42:29 - Just like having meals and being prepared to learn because you're not hungry.

42:33 - All of those things set the stage for opportunity and success later on.

42:37 - And that's that's just one example.

42:38 - The maternal health issue is is real.

42:41 - There are so many women who are struggling to get care.

42:43 - We have the maternal health deserts, we have issues with rural health care.

42:46 - And these are things that we need to pay attention to.

42:49 - We need to make sure that everyone has what they need

42:53 - in order to have the opportunity to succeed and

42:56 - get out there and do do whatever it is that they want to do.

42:59 - So certainly with our base basics, you can drive cancer high.

43:09 - So First Lady, Doctor Biden, you have a long history,

43:12 - even before your time at the white House of advocating for women's health.

43:15 - Your work includes the Biden Breast Health Initiative, as you mentioned,

43:18 - and the white House initiative on Women's Health Research,

43:21 - particularly during Women's History Month.

43:24 - Why is it important that we continue advancing conversations and action

43:29 - around women's health?

43:30 - Well, let me ask the women in the audience

43:33 - how many of you have more questions about your health than you have answers?

43:38 - Yes. Yeah.

43:41 - So that's what I found, that

43:44 - women, you know, all the research before the, mid 1990s, do you know that

43:49 - all the research on health was done on men?

43:54 - Yes. And did you know that all the animals that were tested were male animals?

44:00 - So this was,

44:01 - I was I remember I was grading papers in my East Wing office.

44:05 - You remember that?

44:06 - And, and,

44:11 - so, Maria.

44:13 - Shriver called me former first lady of California, and she came in

44:16 - and she said, Jill, you know, we really have a problem.

44:19 - We don't have enough funding.

44:20 - We don't have enough research on women's health.

44:23 - And anyway, we got talking about it.

44:25 - There was a big article in The New York Times about menopause.

44:28 - And so I talked to Joe that night and I said, Joe,

44:30 - we've got to do something about this.

44:32 - And he said, you're right, we do.

44:33 - And so he, got to work

44:36 - and we formed the Women's Health Initiative, the white House initiative.

44:40 - And then, in one year, we poured $1 billion into that effort.

44:47 - And, so I'm continuing that work with the Milken Institute.

44:53 - I'm chairman of their Women's Health Network.

44:55 - But it's so important I think, that women

44:58 - get the answers, not that they need, but they deserve.

45:02 - And especially, you know, I don't want to say, like, right

45:06 - now, menopause is and this is like, no pun intended.

45:11 - It's like the new hot topic.

45:13 - But, but we need to think beyond that.

45:16 - I mean, a lot of us and I know there are a lot of students

45:19 - in here and a lot of young women, but we need to go beyond menopause

45:24 - and think, you know, what's going to happen to us in later years?

45:29 - What are the effects of menopause?

45:31 - What are the effects on aging?

45:32 - What are some of the treatments we can use or the remedies?

45:36 - I mean, we have to answer these challenges and we we have to get the answer.

45:40 - So that's why I'm working hard on women's health now.

45:43 - Well, thank you for doing it because nobody was talking about it before.

45:46 - You know,

45:49 - while the role of first lady is certainly public,

45:51 - it's also deeply personal.

45:52 - And each of you carried this responsibility while also

45:56 - raising families. All of you are mothers.

45:59 - What was it like to balance the responsibilities of motherhood,

46:02 - as well as the responsibilities as First lady?

46:08 - Well, I'll start in that.

46:10 - Our children were adults, so we're very different,

46:14 - to having young, young folks.

46:17 - And I marvel at coming

46:20 - into this position in this job with young children.

46:24 - I, I imagine it to be incredibly

46:27 - difficult because,

46:31 - the real balance of being,

46:34 - you know, the full time parents,

46:37 - to the best of your ability to be the full time first lady

46:43 - public servant, I would think would be difficult with our family.

46:48 - Our daughters, one,

46:52 - at that point in time lived in New York, New York, and the other in Boston.

46:58 - They eventually became closer to Philadelphia.

47:01 - Connecticut. I,

47:05 - as with,

47:08 - in this position, you receive a lot of,

47:12 - attention and also,

47:14 - critiques of how to be better.

47:17 - And, our children,

47:19 - our daughters were very, very aware of,

47:23 - the critiques, but they too,

47:26 - when we would gather like this, we never talked about it.

47:29 - They never, brought it up and we would indulge in real family

47:35 - time of of books and films and,

47:40 - you know,

47:42 - what was normal?

47:43 - I mean, we really, tried,

47:47 - to keep it like that.

47:49 - You know, this was a time when, they each got married.

47:54 - They each, had, children.

47:57 - So in these eight years was transformative for our family.

48:02 - We lost, Tom, both of Tom's parents.

48:07 - So there were, you know,

48:09 - very high highs and very sad times as well.

48:13 - It was a real roller coaster.

48:15 - And without them there with us,

48:19 - sort of this constancy. But

48:22 - to to embrace us as family members,

48:27 - you know, who took out the trash?

48:30 - Did our own irony and, you know, those kinds of things

48:34 - that without our daughters being that that base for us,

48:39 - you know, I'm not sure, you know, they made us safe.

48:42 - So, a normal family was same.

48:48 - Would anyone else like to jump in?

48:51 - I mean, it was definitely a lot of adjusting and a lot of adjusting.

48:54 - We have four kids and they were at different,

48:56 - different stages in their lives when when we started in this, in this journey.

49:00 - But I got a lot of wonderful advice, actually, from Mrs.

49:03 - Bridge over here. Really wonderful advice.

49:05 - She had children younger than mine, but but around the same, same ages ish.

49:10 - When she started doing this, like, I got a really lot of really great advice,

49:14 - but I think, I think one of the really fun things.

49:17 - And I told her, I told you this story,

49:20 - my son went up into the attic in the governor's residence.

49:23 - There was an attic up there, and it's filled

49:25 - with amazing things that you can find.

49:28 - And he came down.

49:29 - He said, I want to bring a desk down into my bedroom so I can do my homework.

49:32 - So he drags this

49:33 - desk down into his bedroom, and he starts opening it up to put stuff away.

49:37 - And he opens the desk drawer and it says, Tommy Ridge lived here.

49:41 - Oh, my mom, look at this.

49:44 - But for him to be connected to another child who sat in that room, sat

49:49 - at that desk and did their homework to sort of

49:51 - get that that anger that was really that was meaningful to him.

49:54 - But I think, I think for us,

49:57 - you know, again, it is a lot of adjusting for the kids,

49:59 - but but being with your family and having your kids and doing all those,

50:03 - those normal kid things, my son's going to prom later today,

50:06 - so I'm going from here to prom pictures.

50:07 - But like, that stuff keeps you anchored.

50:09 - It keeps you anchored and focused on the things that really matter.

50:12 - And and that's that's a real blessing for us.

50:15 - So just ask a question.

50:16 - You just heard me talk about. It's so rich.

50:19 - Lived here tonight.

50:21 - But he.

50:22 - So they were seven and eight.

50:23 - And so we have they were my priority.

50:27 - Tom was a very busy governor, and I was trying to do my best to support

50:31 - him, in his in his issues and his, things that he really wanted to accomplish.

50:37 - But we we are our home is 300 miles away.

50:40 - We're from northwestern Pennsylvania, where a lot of people have never been.

50:44 - And so and so we needed to make,

50:48 - and to support my husband, to support the governor.

50:51 - He needed to have family life because that really helps anchor anchor anybody.

50:57 - And and so Leslie and Tommy were in school here in Harrisburg.

51:00 - We became really much part of the of the Harrisburg community.

51:03 - So in between the initiatives and all the events

51:07 - and things that that that were scheduled for me that I did,

51:10 - I sat on the bleachers for Little League practice.

51:13 - I sat, I, made sure that I was one of the mothers

51:18 - that clean tables in their in the cafeteria in their school.

51:22 - So and when, of course, we went to the library.

51:24 - Of course we were.

51:26 - We we went to the library, so.

51:28 - And actually having children made things more fun.

51:33 - So we had animals that lived in the residence.

51:35 - Leslie had a hamster named Julie, and Tommy had one, the last chicken.

51:41 - When the fourth grade incubation he brought,

51:43 - he brought a chick home to the governor's residence named Frankie.

51:48 - He had a brief stay.

51:48 - We had a hedgehog. And of course we had.

51:50 - We had started with one dog, two dogs,

51:53 - and we bred the second dog and we had three dogs.

51:57 - So. And and it was lively, actually for the staff there too, because

52:01 - because as Tommy Ridge, as you might guess, it's a little bit of a prankster.

52:06 - So he, so

52:09 - he's he's actually a legend at the residence.

52:13 - But so and we went black bear cub tagging for several years.

52:16 - We went elk spotting on horseback.

52:18 - For several years we were canoeing on the Susquehanna.

52:21 - We did a lot of a lot of, adventures that we could do as a family.

52:27 - And so, so Leslie and Tommy, Tommy and Leslie set up

52:30 - a table at the piano with Fred Rogers when we honored Fred Rogers.

52:35 - And so it was a wonderful time for for young people.

52:39 - They met so many incredibly talented and wonderful.

52:43 - Pennsylvanians, both men and women.

52:46 - But I would tell you that it was it was a balancing act.

52:49 - And it's the same kind of balancing act that a lot of women in Pennsylvania

52:52 - do between their responsibilities in their communities and,

52:56 - and raising their children.

52:57 - So it's not it's not unique to, to us.

53:01 - And certainly it's a shared sort of, of, of a life style.

53:06 - And so but we had fun

53:09 - and it is great to hear from all of you about this, too,

53:12 - because so many women are juggling those same exact issues.

53:15 - So thank you for sharing.

53:17 - Know if you wanted to add anything that well, for for us,

53:20 - I mean, my children have never known anything but politics.

53:24 - I mean, they grew up as little children, as babies, you know,

53:28 - and as because their father held office for so many years, so,

53:33 - Joe was, he'd leave every morning at 730,

53:36 - take the train when he was a senator from Wilmington, go to Washington,

53:40 - and he would take the train back every single day.

53:44 - So I was basically doing what I think probably all of you are doing.

53:48 - I had to,

53:50 - you know, it was just a little a little bit harder,

53:53 - a little bit more responsibility because Joe wasn't there, but I was teaching.

53:58 - I had three kids,

54:00 - and I was, you know, I had to

54:02 - be a Senate spouse, and then later on, second lady and first lady.

54:05 - But, the good thing is, my grandchildren grew up the same way.

54:10 - I mean, they have never known anything but politics for for me and for Joe.

54:15 - And they were involved in every single campaign and, and worked hard for us.

54:20 - And now we have a great grandchild. And,

54:24 - and the good thing is, some of them even want to run

54:27 - for office.

54:34 - Well, Pennsylvania

54:35 - has long been a place where strong women step forward to lead,

54:38 - and each of you have carried that legacy forward in your own ways.

54:42 - First lady, Doctor Biden, of course, you are a national leader,

54:45 - but long before your career and your time in the white House,

54:48 - you grew up in a small town of Willow Grove, Pennsylvania.

54:51 - Anyone from Willow Grove?

54:54 - Yes. Yay!

54:55 - Okay, good. Yeah.

54:56 - Can you share how your experiences growing up in Pennsylvania helped shape

55:00 - who you are today? Sure.

55:03 - So, you know, I do consider myself a Philly girl, Jill from Philly.

55:08 - And, parents, I go first.

55:10 - I'm a big sports fan.

55:12 - And, you know, I, you know,

55:15 - I was I felt so fortunate because going to school,

55:19 - I went up a Maryland high school and, and grew up in the public schools there.

55:25 - And, you know, we were so immersed in history

55:28 - and we think of all the school trips

55:29 - we took to to the Betsy Ross house, to the Liberty Belt.

55:33 - I skated as a young girl on the canals at Valley Forge.

55:39 - We went to Bowman's Hill. There was.

55:40 - So we were steeped in the history and I didn't really realize it

55:45 - then what a gift that was,

55:48 - you know, and my father was, in World War two.

55:51 - I mean, we patriotism was big in my family.

55:54 - You know, we always went to the parades on the holidays.

55:58 - We always had the flag outside of our house.

56:01 - But really, I think for Pennsylvanians, I mean, really

56:04 - and truly, it's a gift that we all come from Pennsylvania.

56:08 - Absolutely.

56:10 - Thank you.

56:11 - I yeah, I have a couple friends whose children are going to school in

56:14 - California, and they're in Philadelphia over the weekend in the past few days.

56:19 - And I did take it for granted. And I thought about this.

56:21 - This was my backyard.

56:22 - Yes, growing up as a child.

56:24 - And it's such a gift.

56:25 - But, First Lady Shapiro, you are in a unique leadership position

56:29 - as we approach the 250th anniversary of our nation.

56:33 - What responsibility is our Commonwealth have to ensure Pennsylvania

56:37 - women are included in the story we tell about our nation?

56:41 - That's a great question, because there are so many generations

56:44 - of women who have helped shape

56:46 - the story of Pennsylvania and shape the story of our nation,

56:48 - and they are often underrepresented in our storytelling about these things.

56:52 - And so it's really important that

56:54 - that we make sure to speak about these women and highlight them.

56:58 - And one great, very obvious example is Hannah Penn.

57:01 - And I am embarrassed to say I really didn't know very much about Hannah Penn.

57:05 - I really didn't.

57:06 - And when I came to learn that she she led Pennsylvania

57:10 - for 15 years, this wasn't like a step in for a minute kind of thing.

57:13 - She she led Pennsylvania for 15 years.

57:16 - That's amazing.

57:17 - And I don't know if any of you have ever been in the governor's office.

57:20 - There are portraits

57:21 - of all the former governors that sit around where the governor sits

57:24 - at his desk to Mark.

57:25 - And I've I've often said, Where is Hannah Penn?

57:27 - Why is she not up there?

57:29 - And I rumor has it that Governor Wolf tried to get a portrait of Hannah.

57:33 - Penn in their eye.

57:34 - That's what that's true to all the.

57:37 - I. This is what I heard, but but I don't know.

57:40 - I think things like that are rare to do.

57:41 - I know, Andrea, I know I saw you, Andrea.

57:44 - I see you're here. I think that works on the panel.

57:47 - Yes, yes, yes, yes, let's do it.

57:51 - But that's that's one, one example.

57:54 - We get so many amazing women in Pennsylvania.

57:56 - Marian Anderson, just as one example that pops in my head, amazing opera singer

58:00 - who fought against segregation and and just so many amazing women.

58:05 - So events like this are really important and we have the opportunity to highlight

58:08 - and talk about it.

58:09 - So I really appreciate this opportunity.

58:12 - Well, thank you all for sharing all of these fantastic and inspiring stories.

58:16 - And I think it's incumbent upon all of us to continue the example that

58:20 - you are setting by sharing the stories of powerful women in our Commonwealth

58:24 - and in the history of our country.

58:26 - So First Lady, well,

58:27 - during your time in office, you championed young people across the Commonwealth.

58:31 - Why is it important

58:32 - for young girls in Pennsylvania to see women in leadership roles?

58:36 - I think that's.

58:41 - Let me start off with a story.

58:43 - Our younger daughter is a geologist, and she majored in geology at college.

58:47 - So this is a second year university.

58:50 - And I said, oh, Kate,

58:54 - I'm so proud of you.

58:56 - You're doing you know, you're majoring in geology.

59:00 - You know, science, you know, not many women.

59:03 - And I'm getting precious like that.

59:04 - You know, I'm just, you know, stroking her.

59:08 - And I see her like this, and I could see

59:11 - sort of like the the shades on her eyes were just coming down.

59:14 - She was humoring me, and then she let me finish

59:17 - and she said, you know, mommy, more than half my professors are women,

59:22 - and so shame on them.

59:25 - Yeah.

59:27 - But that's.

59:28 - But when I think of her choosing this, and she chose it for a lot of reasons,

59:33 - but she stayed in this field because there were, you know,

59:38 - there was a strong presence of professors, of women

59:43 - who guided her through the program.

59:46 - And that's why I think to see,

59:50 - women who work hard, who are successful,

59:55 - 096 and to show, a model we all learn from example

01:00 - 03.366 one way or another and to have women,

01:00 - 07.870 on any, in any enterprise

01:00 - 11.341 to be to show the, you know, the, the effort of the work

01:00 - 14.286 to show that it was successful, that it

01:00 - 18.715 and then to show that, you continue and it makes a difference

01:00 - 22.652 and see that as a community that you can,

01:00 - 27.423 join working and also to have this community,

01:00 - 31.961 embrace you and guide you and mentor you all the way through.

01:00 - 35.107 I think it just feeds on itself.

01:00 - 38.501 And I think in that way it's incredibly important.

01:00 - 42.381 You know, I agree, First Lady Ridge, having served in this role

01:00 - 43.916 yourself, you've had a front row

01:00 - 47.043 seat to how leadership in Pennsylvania has evolved.

01:00 - 50.022 How have you seen the role and opportunities

01:00 - 53.049 for women leaders grow since you were first lady?

01:00 - 57.062 I think, well, right now, for the first time in Erie,

01:00 - 00.089 we have, a woman mayor

01:01 - 02.801 for the first time and, and

01:01 - 05.571 and and a not for the first time,

01:01 - 08.631 but a, a woman who is county executive.

01:01 - 12.669 So we're hoping that having those two women lead the city

01:01 - 15.905 and the county that will get those people to work together,

01:01 - 19.509 because women are very good at getting people to work together.

01:01 - 20.809 We are.

01:01 - 26.358 I also I also have a very dear friend who was a bank president.

01:01 - 29.819 She was the first the first female bank president, regional bank president.

01:01 - 33.222 I've seen women step up and finally,

01:01 - 37.560 take the opportunity and take the risk because there's a risk

01:01 - 42.041 to stepping out and popping your head above for for everyone.

01:01 - 44.209 And I think,

01:01 - 47.236 I've seen a lot more women in leadership roles.

01:01 - 49.648 I think it's really important for women

01:01 - 52.785 who are in leadership roles to mentor younger women.

01:01 - 56.922 And it's so critical offer internships to to young women

01:01 - 00.783 so that they and I think young women, if they can take an internship,

01:02 - 03.896 they can see whether they like that particular issue.

01:02 - 05.030 I think so.

01:02 - 08.791 I have seen so much more engagement by women in leadership.

01:02 - 12.662 And and on the flip side of that, I have to tell you that

01:02 - 16.299 it's also important for women to see women in leadership.

01:02 - 24.083 I remember I was because as library director,

01:02 - 27.110 I was asked to join the Erie Rotary, all men.

01:02 - 29.888 And so I joined rotary.

01:02 - 33.549 And I remember having having lunch with a table full of men.

01:02 - 38.287 And they said, there's certainly has been an invasion of women in Rodriguez.

01:02 - 41.533 And and I invitation invasion.

01:02 - 44.403 I, I couldn't resist. I said Mr.. Right.

01:02 - 45.237 It wasn't invasion.

01:02 - 46.072 It's right now.

01:02 - 49.098 It's just an infiltration.

01:02 - 52.535 So I think it's really important for women

01:02 - 56.849 to they don't have to they don't have to demand the respect.

01:02 - 59.518 They earn the respect by their effective leadership.

01:02 - 01.987 But I think it's important to acknowledge that men

01:03 - 05.657 it is important that men recognize the effectiveness of women.

01:03 - 08.751 So I'm looking forward to a great future in Erie with the two,

01:03 - 10.662 female local leaders.

01:03 - 14.299 I also want to say that leadership doesn't just mean you're in politics

01:03 - 18.094 or in public life, that there's leadership on so many different levels.

01:03 - 20.205 And, and there's

01:03 - 23.466 whether it's in the for profit world or it's in the nonprofit world,

01:03 - 25.778 there are so many opportunities for young women.

01:03 - 30.582 I'm, I'm 79, so I think I'm the oldest one on the on the stage right now.

01:03 - 31.606 We're not selling.

01:03 - 34.920 But it's you

01:03 - 38.524 know, you know, we just we just, you know, my generation didn't

01:03 - 42.227 have as we either thought, we didn't have as many opportunities

01:03 - 44.263 or we really didn't have as many opportunities

01:03 - 47.599 because because the mindset was that men were leaders.

01:03 - 51.770 But but I have to say, over 250 years, there are a lot of women in Pennsylvania

01:03 - 54.540 who never accepted that and stepped up to lead

01:03 - 58.234 in very wonderful and effective ways for the history of fun to make.

01:03 - 01.671 I great.

01:04 - 07.686 Well, I guess,

01:04 - 10.823 you know, when we we talk about opening doors

01:04 - 13.926 for the next generation, we're really continuing this legacy

01:04 - 18.063 that stretches back centuries and Pennsylvania women have been shaping

01:04 - 18.898 culture, building

01:04 - 22.558 communities and leading change since the very beginning of our Commonwealth.

01:04 - 25.928 And as we approach the Semi-Colon Centennial.

01:04 - 29.131 And I said that correctly. Yes.

01:04 - 31.710 But I heard you can also say semicolon Centennial.

01:04 - 33.312 So either way is acceptable.

01:04 - 34.646 But we're celebrating

01:04 - 38.674 250 years of Pennsylvania women who shaped culture and built communities.

01:04 - 41.019 What do you think is the lasting legacy

01:04 - 44.814 of women's contributions to Pennsylvania over 250 years.

01:04 - 47.993 And this is a lightning round.

01:04 - 51.020 Hi. Oh, that's a tough question.

01:04 - 52.698 I think it's the the students.

01:04 - 53.032 I mean,

01:04 - 57.126 I get to travel across the Commonwealth and meet with students, in their schools.

01:04 - 00.539 And I think the young women that I'm meeting are amazing

01:05 - 04.700 and they are fearless and they are ready to take on whatever it is.

01:05 - 07.913 And I met a I visited a school in Tunkhannock and it was

01:05 - 11.583 the students were like, yeah, the students were amazing.

01:05 - 12.651 The school was amazing.

01:05 - 14.553 And I had a wonderful meeting with these kids

01:05 - 17.356 who were talking about menstrual equity and food insecurity.

01:05 - 20.058 And at the end of it, I was talking to one of the students

01:05 - 22.327 and she was telling me about her A.P. English class.

01:05 - 24.696 And as I was on my way out, I said, well, where are you going next?

01:05 - 25.797 What class you have next?

01:05 - 26.432 Welding.

01:05 - 29.401 She was on her way to welding and I was like, yes, yes, great.

01:05 - 30.802 Yeah. It's amazing.

01:05 - 34.039 So they're they're doing everything with no, no fear.

01:05 - 37.676 And they're not they really don't see themselves.

01:05 - 39.111 And I have a daughter who's 24.

01:05 - 43.506 They don't see themselves as constrained by the same kinds of ideas that we did.

01:05 - 45.584 And so that that's really the legacy.

01:05 - 48.720 And these kids are the legacy, and they're they're blazing a trail.

01:05 - 53.015 And I, I feel very optimistic about our future because of these things.

01:05 - 56.194 I agree, it's awesome.

01:05 - 59.488 Well, I have to say that, you know, as I've traveled this country,

01:06 - 04.593 one thing that I have seen is that not everybody has a seat at the table,

01:06 - 09.031 and I think we have to, offer we have a responsibility

01:06 - 13.478 to offer minorities, a seat at the table

01:06 - 17.349 and especially I saw so many Latino women

01:06 - 22.678 who said our voices are not heard and we don't feel seen.

01:06 - 27.183 And so, when Joe ran for president, I said, I promise you

01:06 - 30.629 that Latina women will have a seat at the table.

01:06 - 34.132 And so my first chief of staff was a woman

01:06 - 37.469 from who had been born in the Dominican Republic.

01:06 - 40.496 And, I made sure that women were

01:06 - 44.209 at all levels, colors, cultures were seen and heard.

01:06 - 46.945 Because I think we have to we have to lift.

01:06 - 49.081 We have to lift women up.

01:06 - 50.406 And that's our responsibility.

01:06 - 58.290 And in,

01:06 - 02.618 visiting different areas of Pennsylvania and different organizations,

01:07 - 06.665 I was reminded of to keep it in

01:07 - 10.569 the Pennsylvania language of Mr.

01:07 - 13.596 Rogers.

01:07 - 16.875 When he talked about when there was an issue.

01:07 - 19.902 When you have a problem, look for the helpers.

01:07 - 24.673 I was impressed

01:07 - 27.810 beyond anything to see first hand

01:07 - 31.981 in all kinds of, capacities.

01:07 - 35.494 The helpers who exist

01:07 - 39.255 in Pennsylvania, who don't receive the attention of,

01:07 - 42.367 people who opened up halfway houses

01:07 - 45.394 for female offenders.

01:07 - 49.165 People who volunteer their time

01:07 - 52.644 for mental health,

01:07 - 55.671 help to offer mental health to

01:07 - 59.208 people, people who are,

01:08 - 03.512 running

01:08 - 05.524 drug courts

01:08 - 10.086 and the full team from the municipality to,

01:08 - 13.489 to join them to make sure

01:08 - 16.859 that these individuals succeed.

01:08 - 22.565 I think we're we're a state of helpers.

01:08 - 26.535 And, it just,

01:08 - 30.348 again, it sort of rolls on itself.

01:08 - 31.707 It it,

01:08 - 33.986 and I,

01:08 - 37.079 you know, early on we talked about, you know, how do you,

01:08 - 40.325 you know, you know what?

01:08 - 44.687 I sort some advice for young women or it's just get involved,

01:08 - 46.531 pick something that interests you.

01:08 - 47.899 It'll grow.

01:08 - 50.926 You know, you'll find other opportunities, but I think,

01:08 - 54.306 there are people all across the state

01:08 - 57.733 who are involved in their communities in all different ways,

01:08 - 01.446 helping. And they're making the difference.

01:09 - 04.440 But the, you know, they're doing it, you know,

01:09 - 07.510 it's sort of this rich underground.

01:09 - 12.114 So we have a great history and a great state.

01:09 - 15.284 But what makes our Pennsylvanians so special

01:09 - 18.530 are people and and,

01:09 - 21.700 I think I, I agree with, with Mrs.

01:09 - 24.936 Shapiro, with Lori that that I think the younger women

01:09 - 28.206 don't feel the, the constraints that maybe older women felt.

01:09 - 32.568 But I do think it's important for women in leadership now to seek out

01:09 - 36.305 young women and mentor them, give them the opportunity.

01:09 - 39.818 We're we have and and

01:09 - 43.421 and I think we need to celebrate women in nontraditional types

01:09 - 47.583 of, of of leadership so that so that Pennsylvania women know

01:09 - 52.597 that there isn't just one path to, successful leadership,

01:09 - 57.068 but that there are many, many avenues and and it's not just recent.

01:09 - 59.437 I mean, you all have to do is look at Pennsylvania history.

01:09 - 04.843 I mean, think about World War Two, when we were a manufacturing giant.

01:10 - 07.712 Pennsylvania was a man, if especially in western Pennsylvania,

01:10 - 10.515 there were women who were making those planes.

01:10 - 13.118 They were women who were working in those factories.

01:10 - 17.012 And and when the country was in need, women stepped forward.

01:10 - 20.592 And so I think it's important to give and encourage

01:10 - 23.852 young women to step forward, to continue to step forward.

01:10 - 26.766 So what

01:10 - 30.001 advice would you give to women who want to create change

01:10 - 33.028 in their community but don't know where to start?

01:10 - 35.040 Just do it.

01:10 - 35.942 Yeah.

01:10 - 38.968 Somebody.

01:10 - 43.582 Don't wait to be invited. No.

01:10 - 45.784 And don't wait to be invited.

01:10 - 47.786 Don't underestimate the power of your voice.

01:10 - 49.254 I mean, I think I think that happens.

01:10 - 53.692 A lot of women in Pennsylvania and across this country are incredibly powerful,

01:10 - 57.829 and there are so many different ways to raise your voice or stand up or speak out,

01:10 - 01.523 whether it's publicly or privately in your community, in your family,

01:11 - 05.737 there are a million different ways and and all these actions

01:11 - 09.174 and this, community building, it's all cumulative.

01:11 - 13.078 There is a compounding nature to every, every sort of step you take, every time

01:11 - 17.048 you raise your voice, every conversation you have, every small good deed you do.

01:11 - 18.216 I mean, it builds.

01:11 - 21.410 And if you really should never underestimate the power of your voice.

01:11 - 23.288 And sometimes you don't see it.

01:11 - 25.624 Sometimes you raise your voice and standing up for something

01:11 - 27.759 and you don't see what happens on the backside.

01:11 - 29.561 But you've impacted somebody and they've gone

01:11 - 31.596 and impacted somebody else, and something's

01:11 - 34.299 changing somewhere that you don't see because of what you did.

01:11 - 36.835 So never underestimate the power of your voice.

01:11 - 38.069 So can I add one thing?

01:11 - 39.170 So all of you out there

01:11 - 42.798 in the audience, I went looked at the list of of the people who are attending.

01:11 - 45.677 There are a lot of Pennsylvania leaders out there.

01:11 - 48.837 And so look around you because you're in the midst

01:11 - 53.351 and you're part of the Pennsylvania leadership, the women

01:11 - 57.489 who are leading in their capacities and in their own part of Pennsylvania.

01:11 - 01.483 So I was impressed when I saw the accomplishments of

01:12 - 02.962 all of the people

01:12 - 06.822 who are here to participate in this program and mentor other women.

01:12 - 07.867 That's important.

01:12 - 10.225 Mentorship and support them. Yep.

01:12 - 18.276 One thing when I was in acting school,

01:12 - 21.546 a teacher asked us the definition of acting, and we all tried

01:12 - 25.274 to come up with these great, complicated, explanations and definitions.

01:12 - 28.577 And at the end of it, he just said to act as to do

01:12 - 31.356 just to do, not to imagine it,

01:12 - 34.926 not to wait for the perfect moment, but just do take that next step.

01:12 - 37.986 And I think that that's sort of the message I'm getting from all of you is

01:12 - 41.223 do it. Take that next good action.

01:12 - 44.693 No matter how big, how small in any area.

01:12 - 50.265 So I would like to ask one final question that looks toward the future

01:12 - 52.477 as we celebrate Women's History Month

01:12 - 55.637 and look ahead to the nation's 250th anniversary,

01:12 - 00.051 what message would you want young women and girls across Pennsylvania

01:13 - 04.680 to carry forward into the next chapter of our Commonwealth's history?

01:13 - 10.929 I would encourage women,

01:13 - 14.223 as I always do, as a teacher, as an educator.

01:13 - 17.469 To be independent, to make sure

01:13 - 20.496 that no matter what, you can,

01:13 - 24.609 you can handle life on your own, because light things

01:13 - 28.646 happen in life that you never, ever expected.

01:13 - 33.008 And, in, in our own family, you know, when my son died from brain cancer,

01:13 - 36.054 there was his wife left to raise two children

01:13 - 39.081 on her own. And,

01:13 - 43.252 you need an education or you need training or you need something to,

01:13 - 48.290 where you can be, have your own money, stand on your own two feet

01:13 - 53.462 and but also know yourself and stay true to yourself.

01:13 - 56.899 So that would be my message.

01:14 - 05.383 I would also say

01:14 - 07.952 that,

01:14 - 09.921 where you are

01:14 - 14.283 in your life in the States, this is your place.

01:14 - 17.629 You know,

01:14 - 19.898 invested in

01:14 - 22.891 to the way that you can, you know, you got to be able to.

01:14 - 27.906 Would say you belong.

01:14 - 30.175 You belong at the table. You belong in your community.

01:14 - 32.510 You you belong wherever you are.

01:14 - 35.880 And you have a have an important role to play wherever you are.

01:14 - 37.582 And never, never forget that.

01:14 - 39.217 Don't don't be silent.

01:14 - 40.618 You belong there.

01:14 - 46.124 And you can speak up and and advocate for whatever it is that is important to you.

01:14 - 49.060 And that can mean so many different things to so many different people.

01:14 - 52.087 But everyone belongs.

01:14 - 57.669 And you make history.

01:14 - 59.871 You find, you make your own family history.

01:14 - 02.898 We think about it as especially as, as a woman

01:15 - 06.144 and as in our role as mothers.

01:15 - 11.182 We help to shape our own family history, but find a way to make history.

01:15 - 15.210 And I think, I think there are a lot of women who have done that, you know.

01:15 - 24.662 Well, as we come to a close, I want to thank our panelists.

01:15 - 27.689 Thank you all, not only for participating today.

01:15 - 28.867 Thank you.

01:15 - 33.228 Oh, this was great to hear what you are all be very proud of.

01:15 - 35.840 I have an amazing mother.

01:15 - 37.675 I do,

01:15 - 40.879 and one of the things that the things that you kept bringing up is mentoring.

01:15 - 43.515 And that's something I saw my mother do in the workforce

01:15 - 46.351 with all the younger women that worked with and for her,

01:15 - 49.654 and they are still a very important part of her life today.

01:15 - 53.725 And watching them thrive has been the greatest legacy, I think, for my mom.

01:15 - 55.593 So thank you all for that.

01:15 - 58.620 What you've given us, the Commonwealth, the country,

01:15 - 02.166 not only for being here today, but for your extraordinary service.

01:16 - 05.193 We are all so lucky to have you in these roles.

01:16 - 06.728 Something nice.

01:16 - 11.676 So what you've heard

01:16 - 15.470 today is a powerful reminder that leadership takes many forms.

01:16 - 20.318 It lives in advocacy and service and family, and in the everyday decisions

01:16 - 23.321 that impact Pennsylvania women, past

01:16 - 25.924 and present, and continues

01:16 - 30.018 to guide the future of our Commonwealth and our nation.

01:16 - 33.932 So at this time, it's my pleasure to welcome back to the stage

01:16 - 35.800 the Executive Director of America.

01:16 - 38.827 250 PA Cassandra Coleman.

01:16 - 44.108 Just to see

01:16 - 47.135 just a.

01:16 - 52.183 So thank you so much.

01:16 - 54.319 And what an incredible panel.

01:16 - 57.346 How about another round of applause?

01:17 - 01.927 I would like to

01:17 - 05.029 thank all of you for your insights.

01:17 - 08.390 And of course, thank you to our moderator, Melissa Fitzgerald.

01:17 - 12.628 This has truly been a once in a lifetime event,

01:17 - 16.898 and I am just so proud to have shared it with all of you today.

01:17 - 20.211 The women of Pennsylvania deserve

01:17 - 25.641 every bit of recognition of gratitude and celebration

01:17 - 30.379 before we wrap up, we have a very special treat.

01:17 - 34.683 Joining us on stage in just a moment is a woman

01:17 - 39.087 who has been a role model for generations.

01:17 - 45.661 She is known as a riveter or as many of us know, her Rosie the Riveter.

01:17 - 51.075 During World War Two, as men left to serve, women stepped

01:17 - 56.338 forward to power our nation's workforce, especially in the defense industry.

01:17 - 00.809 In 1943, at just 17 years old,

01:18 - 03.788 Mae began working for Boeing,

01:18 - 09.217 helping to build B-17 Flying Fortresses and B-29 bombers.

01:18 - 13.922 What started as a summer job turned into years of service

01:18 - 19.094 as she helped build thousands of aircrafts that supported the war effort.

01:18 - 22.831 Women like her became known as Rosie the Riveter,

01:18 - 26.668 and their contributions were essential to victory.

01:18 - 31.006 She remains an inspiration to us all and in her own words,

01:18 - 37.012 until I draw my last breath, I am going to fight for women

01:18 - 42.894 and girls, to make them realize how able they are and if they have a dream

01:18 - 46.321 to follow in that spirit, that strength,

01:18 - 49.300 that belief in the next generation.

01:18 - 52.537 That is what brings us here today.

01:18 - 57.699 And please join me in welcoming from Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

01:18 - 02.003 Pennsylvania's own 100 year old may crier.

01:19 - 06.818 She's the part of the assembly line.

01:19 - 09.845 She's making history working for the Rosie

01:19 - 13.925 demanded, and keep the job making assembly time.

01:19 - 16.360 Sitting up there on vacation.

01:19 - 19.387 That means we have to do more than in the building.

01:19 - 24.535 We've got to come on your women out of you.

01:19 - 27.562 Oh, thank you so much for being

01:19 - 30.308 one of us. Thank you.

01:19 - 32.744 Thank you.

01:19 - 35.771 Your outfit.

01:19 - 40.142 Don't. Oh!

01:19 - 43.955 Oh, snap.

01:19 - 44.590 Yes, yes.

01:19 - 46.924 You women. Oh.

01:19 - 49.951 Thank you.

01:19 - 52.964 Thank you.

01:19 - 53.465 Legs.

01:19 - 55.266 This is the way

01:19 - 56.968 I see a woman.

01:19 - 57.736 Excuse me.

01:19 - 00.862 Can I see anyone now?

01:20 - 08.403 Up until 1941, it was a man's world.

01:20 - 12.474 It's not a man's world anymore.

01:20 - 15.821 You know,

01:20 - 19.181 they didn't know how capable us American women were.

01:20 - 20.858 We were outstanding.

01:20 - 23.885 I'm so proud of what I did during World War two.

01:20 - 27.556 Oh, he's loved to tell the story was Hitler said about this.

01:20 - 31.259 He said this American women, he could defeat America

01:20 - 35.664 this American women couldn't produce he said was soft and spoiled.

01:20 - 41.269 Oh he said we spent too much time on cosmetics and perilous things.

01:20 - 43.738 I think we showed Hitler well, American.

01:20 - 56.561 You got to.

01:20 - 59.588 They oops.

01:21 - 04.125 Rosie, remember the Rosie

01:21 - 10.298 lobby working on assembly line? 18.

01:21 - 21.819 To close our program today, please welcome back to the stage.

01:21 - 24.846 Lackawanna native Stacy Velez.

01:21 - 51.806 What the world needs now is love.

01:21 - 54.385 We love.

01:21 - 56.888 It's the only thing

01:21 - 00.181 that there's just too little love.

01:22 - 04.419 What the world needs now is love.

01:22 - 06.898 Sweet love.

01:22 - 12.794 No, not just for some, but for every one.

01:22 - 17.966 No, we don't need another mountain.

01:22 - 25.006 There are mountains and hillsides enough to climb.

01:22 - 30.445 There are oceans and rivers enough to cross.

01:22 - 35.617 Enough to last till the end of time.

01:22 - 40.722 What the world needs now is love.

01:22 - 43.200 Sweet love.

01:22 - 45.803 It's the only thing

01:22 - 49.030 that there's just too little love.

01:22 - 53.268 What the world needs now is love.

01:22 - 55.746 Sweet love.

01:22 - 01.509 No, not just for song, but for every one.

01:23 - 05.856 Lord, we don't need another. Met.

01:23 - 09.751 Oh, there are corn fields

01:23 - 13.855 and wheat fields enough to grow.

01:23 - 19.394 There are sunbeams and moonbeams enough to shine.

01:23 - 21.706 All this and more.

01:23 - 24.733 If you want to know.

01:23 - 32.807 What the world needs now is love.

01:23 - 35.419 Sweet love.

01:23 - 37.112 It's the only thing.