White House and CPA Hold Women’s Economic Leadership Summit to Set New Course

Women leaders representing every segment of society will convene at the White House Conference Center April 3-5, 1997, to put into action the broad range of ideas and solutions proposed by women across the country. President Clinton is scheduled to participate and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton will serve as Honorary Chair. Special invitees include Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna Shalala, Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin, former Texas Governor Ann Richards and Aida Alvarez, of the White House Office of Public Liaison.
The Women’s Economic Leadership Summit, co-sponsored with the White House, will set a new course for the nation’s economy. The Summit will bring together some of the most cutting-edge women leaders from state and federal government, elected office, grassroots organizations, non-profits, labor, academia, media and business. Using an economic framework, these leaders will tackle issues such as family care, entrepreneurship and self-employment.
“The Summit takes both CPA’s work and women’s economic development to a new high,” said CPA President and CEO Linda Tarr-Whelan. “The role women played in the last election proved that we’ve begun a new era. We’ve moved from an agenda for women in America to a women’s agenda for America. White House support for the Summit signals a strong commitment from the highest levels of government.”
Program chairs for the event include Maxine Champion, Nestle USA, Inc.; Carol Emerling, American Home Products; Connie Evans, Women’s Self-Employment Project; Mary Caroline Frey, the Nokomis Foundation; Kay Koplovitz, USA Networks; Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.); Rep. Connie Morella (R-Md.); State Rep. Rosemary Mulligan (R-Ill.); State Assemblywoman Grace Napolitano (D-Calif.); Helen Neuborne, the Ford Foundation; and Cecilia Ortiz, Colorado Director of Minority and Women’s Business Development.

CPA surveys and studies dating back to 1992 have illustrated the tremendous impact women are having on the economy and the national agenda. In 1992 and 1994 CPA convened similar summits which the New York Times described as "watershed event(s)."