Keynote Speaker Eve Ensler Acclaimed Author, Playwright and Activist
Host Lisa Evers Reporter, FOX 5 NY
Special Guest Senator Alessandra Biaggi 34th District of the New York State Senate
Corporate Heroes Award The Estée Lauder Companies
Friday, April 12, 2019
The Plaza Hotel 770 5th Avenue, NYC
11:30 AM Reception | 12:00 PM Luncheon
Each year, more than 400 of New York City’s most accomplished and engaged leaders gather to attend the Women Mean Business Luncheon, which supports the Coalition’s First Step Job Training Program. The event features program graduates sharing their moving stories and experiences. Past events have also featured guest speakers including Arianna Huffington, Hillary Clinton, Christine Quinn, Anna Quindlen, Ashley Graham, Darlene Love, First Lady of New York City Chirlane McCray and Dari Alexander.
First Step gives homeless and low-income women the skills and confidence needed to achieve financial independence. Our innovative 14-week curriculum offers computer and job skills training, an internship with a major corporation or nonprofit organization, mentoring, job placement assistance and extensive post-graduate support.
First Step Advisory Board
Susan Lerner, Chair Cindy Arnold Yvette Arsenec-Weir Vanessa Barnett Christy Burke Sarah Cave Marisol DeLeon Austin Fremont Pat Fulco Kathleen Kelly Barbara Kolsun Deborah Krulewitch Natsayi Mawere Rachel Noel Ruth Pryor Wendy Samuel Frankie Shahar Jane Singer
Luncheon Committee
Natalie Lederman, Chair Amanda Agati Kimry Blackwelder Emily Blatt Joseph Forgione Sara Fusco Shannon Hedvat Tara Lubin Mehan Nigolian Justine Nowosatko Anna Panettiere Alexandra Rodda Alexandra Simmerson Kelsey Werber
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Writer, Playwright, Activist
Eve Ensler is the Tony Award winning playwright, activist, and author of the Obie award winning theatrical phenomenon, The Vagina Monologues, published in over 48 languages, performed in over 140 countries and recently heralded by The New York Times as one of the most important plays of the past 25 years, among numerous other honors.
Her plays include Lemonade, Extraordinary Measures, Necessary Targets, OPC, The Good Body (Broadway and National Tour), and Emotional Creature and most recently Fruit Trilogy, which debuted Off-Broadway in June of 2018. Her books include Insecure At Last: A Political Memoir and The New York Times bestseller I Am An Emotional Creature. She recently finished performing In the Body of the World as a one-woman show which she adapted for the stage from her critically acclaimed memoir to rave reviews at Manhattan Theatre Club after its debut at the American Repertory Theater. Film credits include The Vagina Monologues (HBO) and What I Want My Words to Do to You (Executive Producer, Winner of the Sundance Film Festival Freedom of Expression Award, PBS) and Mad Max: Fury Road (Consultant). In May of 2019, Bloomsbury Publishing will release her new book, The Apology.
Eve is founder of V-Day, the 20-year-old global activist movement which has raised over 100 million dollars to end violence against all women and girls (cisgender, transgender and gender non-conforming), and the founder of One Billion Rising, the largest global mass action to end gender based violence in over 200 countries. She is a co-founder of the City of Joy, a revolutionary center for women survivors of violence in the DRC, along with Christine Schuler Deschyrver and Dr. Denis Mukwege, and appeared – along with Christine and Dr. Mukwege – in the award winning documentary film City of Joy released globally on September 7 as a Netflix Original in 190 countries.
Her writings regularly appear in The Guardian and TIME Magazine. She was named one of Newsweek’s “150 Women Who Changed the World” and The Guardian’s “100 Most Influential Women.”
Eve is the 2018 recipient of the Lucille Lortel Lifetime Achievement Award and the Lily Award.
A survivor of violence, Eve has dedicated her life to ending violence against women and girls.
Reporter, Fox 5 News
Lisa Evers is a general assignment reporter with WNYW-TV/Fox 5 News. You can see her most nights reporting live from just about every possible location in the tri-state area. She often covers crime and terrorism, drawing on her extensive police, law enforcement, street and community contacts. These sources enable her to give FOX 5 viewers inside and often exclusive information during breaking news stories.
While most of her work is in hard news, Lisa’s contacts in the entertainment and sports worlds have helped her land interviews with P. Diddy, 50 Cent and Usher as well as Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez. She has also hosted some illuminating editions of “Good Day Street Talk,” Fox 5’s public affairs show.
Before FOX 5, Lisa was a general assignment reporter for 1010 WINS. That’s where she developed her love of going live on a breaking news story. In addition to her FOX 5 news position, she also hosts a No. 1-rated weekly talk show on HOT 97 FM called “Street Soldiers,” which is geared to a young, urban audience. Lisa says what she likes most about her job is that she gets to meet so many different people and be in the middle of what’s happening every day. She speaks conversational Spanish and French.
You can follow Lisa on Twitter at @lisaevers.
Advocates
The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.
Jennifer & Peter Wallace
Benefactors
Friends of Deborah Krulewitch & Jane Singer
Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP
MWWPR
Sustainers
Burke & Company LLC
Dow Jones
Richard H. Lewis & Joan M. Sapinsley
Helen Lowenstein
Page Group
Patrons
Fross Zelnick Lehrman & Zissu, P.C.
Havas New York
Initiative
Deborah Krulewitch
Susan Lerner
Sponsors
Ingrid Burke
Clutter Therapy, LLC
The Morrison & Foester Foundation
Fran Lebovitz
Mutual of America
Nardello & Co.
Ruth Pryor
Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc. Eta Nu Sigma Chapter
Leila Maw Straus
Supporters
Kristina Berke
Dentons US LLP
Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP
Patricia Steele
Sullivan & Worcester LLP
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
Claude & Yvette Weir
Giulia P. Weisman
Friends
Diane Coffey
Austin Fremont
Vincent & Shelly Fremont
Francesco & Marina Galesi
Josh Goldein
Lucy Grollman
Barbara Kolson & Paul Mider
Joy Vida Jones
Rudolph Landin
RAND Engineering & Architecture, DPC
Eni
Jeanette Sarkisian Wagner
Abigail Wald / Tart Wald Foundation
Martha & Alex Wallau
As of April 12, 2019
In-Kind Sponsors
((305)) Fitness
Abigail’s Kitchen
Alecia Bakery NYC
Aquatalia
Bigelow Tea
Bumble and bumble
Celestine
Cole Haan
Feed Your Soul
K&D Wines & Spirits
Intermix
La Mer
Macy’s
Michael Kors
NY Hockey Holdings
Rumble
Skin Laundry
Xtend Barre Tribeca
Video Sponsor
Strange News Productions