Every day, women break through old barriers and are achieving in new areas
once thought of as the exclusive province of men. These breakthroughs encourage
young women and girls to fulfill any dream they may have; it sends a message
that they can accomplish anything.
One of the most important voices
conveying that message is the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame, which each year
inducts outstanding achievers, past and present, and then shares their stories
with diverse audiences across the state and beyond.
By bringing their
programs to schools, universities, corporations, libraries and women’s
organizations, its programs fill a void that traditional curricula often fail to
address, showing young women the breadth of possibilities open to
them.
Now, in its 19th year, the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame’s past
members include Ella T. Grasso, Lillian Vernon, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Sophie
Tucker, Helen Keller and Katharine Hepburn.
This year’s event with more than 750 sponsors was held in the enormous
Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford. Three remarkable women inducted this
year: Anne Garrels, National Public Radio’s senior foreign correspondent; Annie
Leibovitz, internationally famous photographer; and Faith Middleton of Branford,
whose well-loved show on WNPR is in its 30th year.
Garrels, who had hoped
to be there in person, was filmed in Russia because of some difficulty with
being able to leave and then return in a timely fashion. This indomitable woman
has been a foreign correspondent for 23 years and has covered conflicts around
the world. She began her career at ABC where she became Moscow Bureau Chief.
Later, she reported on events around the world, including China, Bosnia and the
Middle East.
After the terrorist attacks of 9/11, she was one of the
first reporters to reach Afghanistan where, because she was female, she was able
to interview women as well as men. She said that she had found her voice
listening to stories others had to tell.
I was particularly touched to
learn that she is now in Russia writing a book and trying to heal from some of
her wartime experiences, which have left her with post-traumatic symptoms. Her
husband of many years, accepted her award for her and is an example of a
remarkable man who was able to be a supportive partner in a marriage to a woman
whose career often meant she was in danger and away from home for long periods
of time. (I think there should be special awards for rare men like
this).
The charming Middleton whose interviews have twice won her the
nation’s highest honor in broadcast journalism, began her career in print
journalism, working for newspapers and then becoming editor in chief of
Connecticut Magazine. Always modest, she claims she just fell into broadcast
journalism by a stroke of luck when Connecticut Public Radio called her with the
idea for a show.
Now in her 30th year, “The Faith Middleton Show” airs
six days a week in Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and New York.
Middleton said, “A father’s belief in his daughter is a powerful thing.” She also encouraged Malala to continue her fight ... that she was a link in the chain which connects us all.
The evening concluded with Annie Leibovitz, who was born in Waterbury and went on to become the photographer for famous writers, actors, political figures and a documentarian of the social landscape.
Much of her work has appeared in Vanity Fair and Vogue, and she has been designated a Living Legend by the Library of Congress. Voice and Vision Awards were given to 10 women who have used their voice and vision to express their passions and perspectives.
Special additional awards were the Ella T. Grasso Leadership in Action Grants, which went to Leah Livia Sarna, a Yale University philosophy major, and Christina Weaver, a University of St. Joseph nursing major.
I am indebted to and want to thank Laura Ward and Barbara Pearce who made arrangements so that I might personally experience this inspiring event. For more information about the CWHF and the learning tools they offer, visit www.cwhf.org.
Contact Jean Cherni, certified senior adviser for Senior Living Solutions and Pearce Plus, a helpful, full-service program for seniors contemplating a move, at jeancherni@sbcglobal.net or 15 The Ponds at 101 Hotchkiss Grove, Branford 06405.
