PRESS-RELEASE

Omega Press Release

August 30, 2012

Pathbreaking Women From Around The World Convene To Share & Strengthen Global Efforts For Change At Omega’s 10th Women & Power Conference

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Isabel Allende, Majora Carter, Eve Ensler, Sally Field & Cecile Richards   Among 25+ Presenters to Gather at Omega Women’s Leadership Center Launch

RHINEBECK, NY—In an election year when national headlines have engaged the country in debate centered around key issues of concern to women, Omega Institute’s 10th Women & Power conference explores the theme of “What’s Possible.” The conference, which will be held September 21–23, 2012, on Omega’s Rhinebeck, New York campus, is distinguished this year by the launch of the Omega Women’s Leadership Center (OWLC), a new initiative to inspire women to become the kind of leaders the world needs now.

“Now, more than ever, we are becoming a global society with a shared responsibility to use our power for the greater good. Innovative and courageous women from all walks of life, and all corners of the globe, are working together to create conditions of equality, security, sustainability, and justice for everybody,” said Carla Goldstein, chief external affairs officer at Omega and cofounder of the Omega Women’s Leadership Center. “We are proud to be launching the Omega Women’s Leadership Center at a time when new models of leadership are needed to create a fundamental shift in human consciousness from ‘us against them’ to ‘all of us’,” said Goldstein.

Featuring an extraordinary lineup of presenters, the event begins on Friday, September 21 at 7:30 p.m. and ends Sunday, September 23 at noon. The conference program includes keynote addresses by Omega cofounder Elizabeth Lesser; actress and humanitarian Sally Field; environmental activist Majora Carter; and playwright and feminist Eve Ensler. There will also be artistic performances by Solas An Lae Dance Company, Manhattan Girls Chorus, and Grammy Award-winning singer, Maya Azucena.

In addition to renowned presenters, conference participants will also hear a wide range of personal stories that showcase the work of courageous women transforming communities around the world. The program will highlight examples of how women are redefining power and leadership—from creating bridges across Nigeria’s Muslim/Christian conflict to making women’s voices heard in the Egyptian revolution; from cultivating empathy in South Africa as a means of healing from apartheid to using economic power and “feminine values” to drive change; from working within the Catholic church to reform policies to asking a billion people to rise to end violence against women—participants will have an opportunity to join the conversation and explore “what’s possible” in their own lives and communities.

For more than 35 years, Omega has provided interdisciplinary opportunities for human development across the lifespan with an integrated approach to personal growth and social change. An outgrowth of this work, the Omega Women’s Leadership Center (OWLC), supported by a highly esteemed and international advisory council, will offer a variety of opportunities for women to strengthen their leadership at home, at work, and in the world.

Since 2002, Omega has received generous scholarship funding to bring more than 600 young leaders of diverse backgrounds to conferences, workshops, and events. This year more than 100 scholarships have been granted for the Women & Power conference. In addition, there is a 20 percent tuition discount for full-time students, people over 60 years of age, and those who register with a friend.  For additional information, or to register, please visit eOmega.org/2012wp or call 800.944.1001. To connect via social media, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/eOmega.org and on Twitter at @omega_institute. Use #leadership, #whatspossible, and #OWLC when referencing the event.

About Omega Institute for Holistic Studies
Founded in 1977, Omega Institute for Holistic Studies is the nation’s most trusted source for wellness and personal growth. As a nonprofit organization, Omega offers diverse and innovative educational experiences that inspire an integrated approach to personal and social change. Located on 195 acres in the beautiful Hudson Valley, Omega welcomes more than 23,000 people to its workshops, conferences, and retreats in Rhinebeck, New York, and at exceptional locations around the world. eOmega.org

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About Omega Institute for Holistic Studies
Founded in 1977, Omega Institute for Holistic Studies is the nation's most trusted source for wellness and personal growth. As a nonprofit organization, Omega offers diverse and innovative educational experiences that inspire an integrated approach to personal and social change. Located on 250 acres in the beautiful Hudson Valley, Omega welcomes people to its workshops, conferences, and retreats in Rhinebeck, New York, and online at eOmega.org.