Since 1987, March is designated as Women’s History Month and this year the Santa Clara County Branches of American Association of University Women (AAUW) are celebrating with a special webinar on the 50^th Anniversary of Title IX.

All are welcome to register for “Title IX: What You Don’t Know CAN Hurt You” on March 19^th starting at noon (by zoom) and moderated by Danielle Slaton.  Danielle is a US Women’s Soccer Olympic Medalist and current analyst and moderator for the San Jose Earthquakes.  She will introduce a panel of women telling their Title IX research and experience and facilitate your questions.

First, a history and introduction will be presented by Marlene Bjornsrud, a leader and advocate for equal opportunity for women in sports.  Her advocacy journey has led her to testifying before Congress about the importance of Title IX, serving as Executive Director of the Alliance of Women Coaches and co-founding the Bay Area Women’s Sports Initiative and earned her numerous awards.

Our Panel includes:

Lucy Jane Bledsoe is an award-winning novelist who puts compelling, determined women at the heart of her stories to encourage this generation to find its voice and speak up for social justice.  Lucy’s latest novel, “No Stopping Us Now,” draws on her own true experience of bringing the Portland Public Schools into compliance with Title IX.

Jess Eagle is a passionate social justice advocate working to make the world a better place for women, girls, and nonbinary individuals.  Jess currently works at Equal Rights Advocates where she is involved in media relations, grassroots organizing, and digital advocacy.

Dr. Akilah Carter-Francique  is an Associate Professor in the Department of African American Studies and is the Executive Director for San Jose State University Institute for the Study of Sport, Society, and Social Change. Akilah earned her doctorate in sports studies at the University of Georgia and has researched and written extensively on education and sports, primarily as it has impacted African American women.

Rebecca Sheff is a Program Coordinator at Equal Rights Advocates.  She has worked on behalf of at-risk youth for many years including time spent at Restorative Justice for Oakland Youth — working in the Oakland Unified School District and the Alameda Juvenile Justice System — and at the United Way of Santa Cruz with their Youth Violence Prevention Taskforce.

Lucy Jane Bledsoe

Jess Eagle

Dr. Akilah Carter-Francique

Rebecca Sheff

Join us on March 19 at noon and learn how Title IX has evolved over the last 50 years and what is still a “work in progress.” Leave the webinar with actions you can take using resources and strategies that point out how to recognize sex-based discrimination in educational centers.