NORTHERN CALIFORIA CHAPTER

Chapter Chair:  Dr. Kathleen Huston

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EVENT DATES: December 4:  -Afghanistan Up close and Personal with Nila Shewan

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NEXT MEETING:  AFGHANISTAN:  UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH NILA SHEWAN December 4, 12:30 PM, Helman Palace, San Francisco  

SPEAKER NILA SHEWAN grew up in Afghanistan. Her family fled during the war between Afghanistan and Russia. Escaping first to Germany, they later came to the United States, settling in the Bay Area, home to the largest Afghan community in the US. Here, Nila hosted a Farsi language radio talk show that was broadcast worldwide. She will share her childhood experiences in Afghanistan, the striking cultural changes now, and challenges her fellow immigrants face. She will also share success stories that include her sister's clothing line based on traditional elements. PLACE Helmand Palace: 2424 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco 94109 (between Green and Union) 415-345-0072 Owner Haychan Hassan is opening exclusively for us with Afghan dishes chosen by our speaker:  

Meeting Report  September 17 WOMEN REPORTING ON THE WORLD AND HOW ARE WOMEN DOING IN IRAQ

Cristi Hegranes, Founder and Executive Director Global Press Institute shared insights on the power of the individual to make a difference in the world.  She started with an idea (that women were severely underrepresented in data reporting especially in countries where women were not in power ).   She told how empowering women through education/training creates a geometrically increasing arena for truth and for opportunities for women.  From a small start in Nepal, GPI now has desks in 26 countries and is educating more and more women to become reporters—thus making those in power pay attention to problems and injustices the reporters have pointed out.  Each group is training more, with a pyramiding effect.  Others inspired by this story can do the same.  

The Global Press Institute is an AWIU Grant Partner. Pat Bergstresser, Media Advisor Iraq, US State Department, spoke of her experiences in Iraq and of the importance of personal contacts in improving international relationships.  She talked of her success in improving access to Iraq information and of the challenges faced by being female in Iraq.  Learn more about Iraq from the US State Deparment.  US State Departmen in Iraq  Human Rights Report on Iraq The meeting had an international flavor with authentic Eqyptian Food.  El-Masri Egyptian Restaurant, San Francisco     REGISTER for more information on AWIU activities. MEET TWO OUTSTANDING INTERNATIONAL JOURNALISTS! Pat Bergstresser: Recent U.S. State Department Media Advisor in Iraq Green Zone and U.S. State Department Diplomacy Advisor in Washington. Hear about her "popcorn diplomacy" and other stories. Cristi Hegranes: Founder of Global Press Institute. Hear how her program trains young village women in underdeveloped countries to become journalists. 2012 recipient of A.W.I.U. grant. Where: El-Masri Egyptian Restaurant, 4031 Balboa San Francisco, CA 94121ll y Chef Sausan is graciously opening her restaurant especially for us.

Hosts: Peggy Huntington, Kathleen Huston, and Joan Poulos

Former Chapter Co-Chair, Merry Lee Eilers in the news

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