Listening to Women is a weekly series which recognizes women whose brilliance and fortitude have reshaped industries and who are making a difference in today’s communities. At each session, we will hear the personal stories of women, driven by a cause, with the passion and determination to have achieved success in a variety of fields.
Jan. 21
“I can and I will. WATCH ME”
Speaker: Pam Beitlich
This session will explore one woman’s journey of learning and leadership. She will navigate the curves and turns of her career, as well as her family dynamics, and the special way that women learn to blend everything together. The critical importance of influence and role modeling will be stressed, as well as the value of a sense of humor and continual growth within yourself. Practical strategies, personal stories, and a call to action will be applied. Be ready for self-reflection, to learn, and challenge yourself to always be “still standing.”
Jan. 28
Called Beyond Someday: 20 years of Faith, Friendship, and Ghana
Speakers: Debi Frock and Rev. Becki Neumann
For more than 20 years, Debi Frock and the Rev. Becki Neumann have walked alongside communities in Ghana, West Africa—building schools and a health center, training teachers, nurturing young readers, and discovering that service changes the giver as much as the receiver. Debi and Becki will share what can happen when ordinary people say “yes” to an unexpected calling, and how listening, friendship, persistence, and faith can bridge cultures and transform lives on both sides of the ocean. Through stories about the people who became family, the children who inspired them, the cultural lessons that surprised them, and the moments of faith, laughter, heartbreak, and hope that kept calling them back, you will be transported to Ghana. It is a country whose people, traditions, challenges, and extraordinary spirit captured their hearts and changed the course of their lives.
Feb. 4
The Stories Between Us: Migration, Identity, Belonging, and the Art of Storytelling
Speakers: Karen Arango and Elvira Sánchez-Blake
Karen Arango and Elvira Sánchez-Blake will share their stories as Colombian women who migrated to the United States. They will focus on the experiences and events that shaped their identities and careers as journalists, visual artists, and storytellers.
Feb. 11
Optimizing Your Brain Health: The Gut–Brain Connection and New Hope for Reducing Dementia Risk
Speakers: Dr. Stephanie Peabody and Tanya Steel
What if some of the most important steps you can take to protect your brain begin in your gut? Groundbreaking research is revealing the powerful connection between gut health and brain health, and how nutrition, lifestyle, and other everyday choices can influence cognitive function throughout our lives. Join two leading experts for an engaging and accessible conversation about the latest discoveries in brain health, including practical, sciencebacked strategies—and foods—you can incorporate today to support memory, mood, and long-term cognitive wellbeing. Beyond the science, you'll hear the personal stories that inspired both speakers to dedicate their careers to advancing brain health and accelerating the search for better treatments—and ultimately cures. You'll leave informed, inspired, and equipped with practical tools to support lifelong brain health.
Feb. 18
Freedom School: Changing the Trajectory of History
Interviewer: Felecia Jett, Ph.D.
Speaker: Edna Sherrell, M.Ed.
What are Freedom Schools, and why do they still matter today? Hear about their beginnings in the 1964 Mississippi Freedom Summer, when they provided Black communities with education, cultural pride, and tools for civic engagement. We’ll examine the renewed rise of Freedom Schools over the past five years, as educators and communities have responded to racial injustice, learning gaps, and the need for student empowerment. Although today’s programs may use different curricula, technology, and community partnerships, many preserve the original commitment to liberation, critical thinking, and social change. Join us to explore what has changed, what remains, and how Freedom Schools continue inspiring learners to understand history and shape the future.
Feb. 25
America’s Echo Internationally: Foreign Service Women Representing the U.S. Overseas–Why it Matters
Moderator: J. Carson Speakers: Lynne Platt, Catherine Hill-Herndon, and Stephanie Funk
Prior to the mid-1970s, women faced hurdles to enter, advance, and serve overseas in the Foreign Service. Women had to resign if they were married! Successful lawsuits, Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) policies, and the 1980 Foreign Service Act that championed the importance of a diverse workforce accelerated the number of women who successfully represented the U.S. overseas with the U.S. Departments of State, Commerce, Agriculture, and the U.S. Agency for International Development. These women’s experiences, perspectives, and approaches expanded who were heard in the U.S. government and overseas. You will hear why these career diplomats chose public service, how they navigated their jobs and lives, and why what they did mattered to you.
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