March 8th is International Women's Day, a global event that will celebrate women's economic, political and social achievements. Forty-eight countries will mark the date with thousands of events, both national and local. Here are two memorable ways that you can take some time to be inspired to make a difference on your watch in helping "Team Women" to continue to progress. I love great movies. Both of my suggestions are "don't miss" films.
- A Powerful Noise is an acclaimed documentary that will premiere, simultaneously, in 450 theaters throughout the U.S. on Thursday, March 5th to mark International Women's Day. The film takes you inside the lives of three women in very different parts of the world -- Viet Nam, Mali and Bosnia. You will witness their daily challenges as well as their significant victories over poverty and oppression. Their stories, such as that of Jacqueline Dembele who is pictured here are very personal yet illustrate the larger issues that affect millions of margianalized women worldwide.
Ms. Dembele fights illegal labor practices in the slums of Bamako, Mali. A Powerful Noise has been described as "a meditation on the inherent potential of women to change the world." Following the film, there will be a live town hall discussion with panelists, including: Madeline Albright, Nicholas Kristof, Dr. Helene Gayle, Natalie Portman and Christy Turlington Burns. Here's the link to see the trailer for A Powerful Noise and locate a theater where it will be showing March 5th near you.
- Iron Jawed Angels. Two-time Academy Award winning actress Hillary Swank plays the lead role in this fantastic film, which is one of my all-time favorites. It's the story of Alice Paul and the other Suffragettes who won the right to vote for American women -- a job that Susan B. Anthony started 50 years earlier.
It's a powerful story, important history and a movie women, men and even teenagers will enjoy. It's available through Blockbuster Online and NetFlix.
I hope you'll take some time to be inspired to keep striving yourself -- and encourage and ichallenge women and girls whose lives you can touch -- to live up to all of your god-given potential.
