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Beebe hosts annual Girls Night Out

Keynote speakers share progress theme
March 19, 2018

Beebe Healthcare’s 2nd annual Girls Night Out in honor of International Women’s Day 2018, held March 8 at the Atlantic Sands, celebrated progress. Keynote speakers U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, and Freeman Foundation chair Michelle DiFebo Freeman, shared their personal stories of empowerment with all the women present. Honorees were the Village Improvement Association, Tunnell Cancer Center Lay Navigators, Mindi Moore Tunnell, Jinni Forcucci, Jennifer Donahue, Melissa Tice Martin, Sarah Gilmour and Sandi Hagans-Morris.

Blunt Rochester started the evening by asking, “How do we progress?” She recently attended an event where Nancy Pelosi, the first woman speaker of the House, donated her gavel to the Smithsonian. Blunt Rochester recalled the Pelosi quote that struck her: “We made history, now we have to make progress.” Blunt Rochester went on to ask how do we push for progress? It takes the support of other women who offer wisdom, who say keep going, you can make it, you can do this.  

“It’s about you being inspired by the thing you were put on this earth to do. If it’s to make soup for your friend, make soup. If it’s to write poetry to inspire somebody, write that poem. If it is to run a company, run that company! It’s about inspiration and about us coming together,” she said. Her message was to connect with each other, together we are stronger, and we can build the bridge to equality.

Michelle DiFebo Freeman wanted to talk about story-telling. From the pressure of how we look, to the stories we tell each other and speaking with authenticity. “As women, the extrodinary heights we hold each other and ourselves to, I say what a disservice we do to each other as working women. Many times I feel judged,” Freeman said. For attendees she wanted to stress the beauty and power of an authentic story. “I can tell you my authentic story, and all the sudden you can step into a life that is more authentic as a women, and by doing that you are powerful,” she said.

She talked about her recovery and loss, and sharing the not so pretty stories because the worst of what happens to us as human beings can empower people to be different. She reflected on the women who have used the very hardest things in life to create change, to open a discussion. She hopes the push for progress is about releasing all the ideas about who we have to be as women, “We are enough! We are perfect!” she said. Freeman echoed Blunt Rochester’s message asking the women present to see their own worth and to find their passion and do it. “Go do your thing, and make your mark on this world.”

 

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