The Women's Conference facts for kids

The Women's Conference is a special event and group in the United States. It brings together many people, especially women, to talk about important topics. It started in 1986 as a way to help women who owned businesses and worked in different jobs.

Since 2004, the conference has grown a lot. Famous people like the Dalai Lama, former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, and Oprah Winfrey have spoken there. Other well-known speakers include Barbara Walters, Jane Fonda, Martha Stewart, Tyra Banks, and Billie Jean King.

In 2010, the conference became known as the "largest meeting of women in the country." It celebrates women's lives and the lessons they share. The talks and workshops cover many subjects. These include finding a good balance between work and life, helping others, staying healthy, and understanding money. They also discuss bigger issues like women's health, poverty, and climate change.

The conference has been held at the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, California, since 1993. It usually takes place in the fall. You can often watch parts of the event for free online through a live video stream.

History of the Conference

The California Women's Conference began in 1985. At that time, many women-owned businesses were struggling. The Governor of California, George Deukmejian, wanted to help. He created the first conference to give women access to support for their money, careers, and personal lives. The first event was in Long Beach in September 1985, and over 2,000 people attended.

After the first conference, the Governor's wife, Gloria Deukmejian, took charge. The event became known as the California Governor and First Lady's Conference. Since then, the Governor and First Lady of California have often helped support and promote this popular event.

In 1989, the conference became a non-profit organization. This meant it could continue even if a new Governor was elected. Over the years, the conference grew bigger and covered more topics. For example, under First Lady Gayle Wilson, it started including women in big companies. Under First Lady Sharon Davis, a program for young leaders was added.

The conference became much more famous after 2007. That's when Arnold Schwarzenegger became Governor, and his wife, Maria Shriver, became involved. She changed its name to The Women's Conference. It started attracting many high-profile speakers and celebrities. It became known as the largest one-day conference for women in the nation.

In 2010, a record number of over 30,000 people attended the conference over three days. The event also brought in millions of dollars for local businesses in Long Beach.

Changes After 2010

After its big success, the conference faced a challenge in 2010. When Jerry Brown became Governor, the state had budget problems. Because of this, the state stopped supporting the conference. So, in 2011, there was no California Women's Conference.

However, there were plans for the city of Long Beach to host the conference again in 2012. It was to be called the California Women's Conference, with the theme "The Future is Now." This aimed to continue the conference's long history.

Exciting Moments at the Conference

The 2007 Women's Conference was so popular that tickets sold out in less than three days! Nearly 14,000 people attended. A special part of the event was a discussion with the wives of five people running for president. These included Michelle Obama and Cindy Hensley McCain. They talked about their roles in the campaigns and how to protect their families.

Also in 2007, a famous writer named Thomas Friedman led a talk about leadership and the environment. Former Prime Minister Tony Blair and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger were part of this discussion. Governor Schwarzenegger joined by video because he was busy dealing with wildfires in California.

In 2006, the Dalai Lama gave his first-ever speech at a women's conference. He spoke with Maria Shriver and shared his belief that women can change the world with kindness. He even led the 14,000 women in a meditation exercise.

In 2005, Barbara Walters and Maria Shriver talked with Sandra Day O'Connor. This was shortly after O'Connor decided to leave the U.S. Supreme Court.

How the Conference Helps Women

Maria Shriver believed in the "power of WE." This idea led The Women's Conference to create programs and partnerships that help women beyond just the conference day.

WE Care – Helping Women's Health

WE Care works to find solutions for women's health issues around the world. It partners with groups like Meredith Corporation and CARE. They help save the lives of pregnant women in Africa and Latin America. WE Care encourages women to join the effort to help women in developing countries. This includes fighting the spread of HIV from mothers to babies in Zambia and training midwives in Nicaragua to help with safe births.

WE Invest – Helping Women with Money

WE Invest helps women become more financially secure and independent. It supports non-profit groups in California that help women overcome challenges to escape poverty. This program aims to help women start their own businesses and manage their money better.

WE Lead – The Minerva Leadership Program

The Minerva Leadership Program aims to inspire and educate young women leaders. It helps them become socially aware and take charge of their own lives. This program encourages young women to become leaders in their homes, schools, and communities. As part of this, 500 young women from California, aged 16–22, are invited to the conference. They also promise to do 10 hours of community service, adding up to thousands of hours of help for California.

Minerva Awards: Honoring Amazing Women

Maria Shriver created the Minerva Awards in 2004. These awards honor amazing women who have shown courage, strength, and wisdom. They are given out every year at The Women's Conference. The awards are named after Minerva, a Roman Goddess who is on the State Seal of California.

Minerva Award winners have made huge contributions in many areas. These include the arts, health, science, helping communities, human rights, business, and education. Many winners also help the next generation by mentoring or working to include more women in their fields.

In 2007, the awards expanded to honor women who have made a positive impact on the U.S. and the world. One such honoree was Eunice Kennedy Shriver, who founded the Special Olympics.

The achievements of Minerva Award winners are shown in a special exhibit at The California Museum for History, Women and the Arts in Sacramento. Their stories become part of California's official history.