Rebecca Lieberman and Susan Molinari Speak at Convention 2001

Drawing upon their unique and compelling experiences in the public service realm, as well as in the nonprofit and corporate workplaces, Rebecca Lieberman, chief executive officer of The Democracy Compact and daughter of Connecticut Senator Joseph Lieberman, and Susan Molinari, chairman of Susan Molinari, L.L.C., former New York Congresswoman and member of the Republican Leadership, addressed the always-pertinent topic of "Women in Power" at the closing brunch of Women's American ORT's Convention 2001, on July 22, 2001, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City. Ms. Lieberman recounted her experiences on the campaign trail for the Gore/Lieberman presidential ticket and conveyed her dedication to convincing Americans to actively participate in the democratic process. Ms. Molinari related her personal observations on balancing a demanding professional career with being a mother of two children.

Susan Molinari is chairman of Susan Molinari, L.L.C., a government affairs and strategic communications firm, as well as senior public affairs consultant and senior partner at Fleishman-Hillard, a global public relations company. She is the co-chair of the Millennial Housing Commission, a 22 member, blue ribbon panel established by Congress to address America's growing housing concerns. Additionally, Ms. Molinari writes a weekly column, Capital Know, for JAGfn, and regularly appears on national television as a public affairs and political commentator. A member of Congress from 1990 to 1997, Ms. Molinari was elected to the Republican Leadership in 1994, making her the highest-ranking woman in that body. In 1996, Ms. Molinari enjoyed the distinction of being the keynote speaker at the Republican National Convention.

Rebecca Lieberman is the CEO of The Democracy Compact, a new, non-partisan effort to re-engage Americans with public life and their government, as well as motivate citizens to participate in the democratic process through voting. Ms. Lieberman graduated from Barnard College in 1991, and from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1997. She worked as a senior program associate at the National Helpers Network, a New York-based education reform organization and is the founding co-director of the public policy and client advocacy division of the Children's Aid Society in New York City. Prior to accepting her position at The Democracy Compact, Ms. Lieberman campaigned in support of the Gore-Lieberman ticket for the 2000 Presidential race, which featured her father, Connecticut Senator Joseph Lieberman, the first Jewish person to be nominated and run for national office.

The brunch featuring Ms. Molinari and Ms. Lieberman was one of the closing events at Women's American ORT (WAO) Convention 2001, an assembly of the organization's nationwide membership, which is 60,000 strong. Over 500 of WAO's members and leaders convened in New York City from July 20 - July 22, 2001 to determine Women's American ORT's continuing policies and priorities regarding its support of educational, technological, and vocational training offered by ORT schools and programs throughout the world. Celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, Women's American ORT is the single largest private contributor to World ORT, the Jewish world's leader in technology and Judaic education, as well as the world's biggest non-governmental education and training organization. ORT's global network is now empowering upwards of 300,000 students in more than 60 countries to achieve economic self-sufficiency through technological and vocational education.

Other speakers at Women's American ORT's Convention 2001 included Lisa Lipkin, professional storyteller and oral historian, who discussed the stories, legends and lore of "Dames on the Hudson-The Stories, Legends and Lore of New York's Earliest Jewish Women"; Dr. Eric Goldman, founder of Ergo Media, film critic for the Jewish Standard and film programmer for the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research at the Center for Jewish History, who examined the Jew as creator, producer and subject of film with "Looking at Ourselves: The American Jewish Experience on Film"; Samuel G. Freedman, an award-winning author, journalist and professor at Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism, presented a "though-provoking and timely tour of Jewish-American religious ferment" with "Jew Versus Jew: The Struggle for the Soul of American Jewry"; and Susan Jackson, director of community planning, continuity, overseas affairs, and cultural services of the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, outlined what must be done to ensure a Jewish future with "Back to the Future: The Cast for Jewish Continuity." All of the aforementioned presentations took place on Saturday, July 21, 2001 at the Grand Hyatt.

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