The Pacific's Women's Empowerment Conference brings together women, non-binary and transgender people from all lived experiences and backgrounds – students, alumnae, friends and all college-age youth from the region – for a day of programs and activities designed to inspire and empower them to create positive change in their personal lives, their communities and the world.

The Women’s Empowerment Conference will be held on Saturday, March 25, 2023 on the Stockton campus.

College and community college students are encouraged to register and attend! 

Registration Includes:

• Continental Breakfast
• Tote Bag
• T-shirt
• Lunch buffet 
• Educational workshops led by subject-matter experts
• Networking opportunities

Outline Agenda

8:00–9:30am                   Registration & Breakfast Networking

9:30–10:00am                 Conference Welcome

                                         Keynote Speaker: Stockton Councilmember Kimberly Warmsley

10:15–11:15am               Morning Workshop Sessions I

11:15am-12:00pm           Break: Networking and/or Meditation Activity

12:00–1:00pm                 2023 Women of Distinction Awards

1:15–2:15pm                   Afternoon Workshop Sessions II

2:30-2:45pm                    Conference Closing

If you need reasonable accommodations to participate in this event, please contact Services for Students with Disabilities at ssd@pacific.edu at least 3 business days in advance. For more information, contact thecenter@pacific.edu 

Workshop Descriptions

Morning Sessions

1a: "Imposter-able Me" - Loving My Imposter Self (DUC Ballroom)

Phrase of the Day: Imposter syndrome. We've all heard about it, read about it, and talked about it. But what does it really mean for me? What does it look like when I'm at work or at school? What does it feel like when it's happening? Women, especially women of color, experience imposter syndrome at greater rates than men (Cokley, et. al., 2017), partly because we're trying to survive and thrive in spaces created by, created for, and dominated by White men. This forces us to try to change ourselves and be what we think we should be in order to be successful. This creates an identity conflict and feelings of failure when our authentic selves don't match those expectations. We propose that self-reflection and self-care can get us out of this mess. So how do we begin? Let's talk about our experiences with imposter syndrome and take a look at the related research. In this workshop, we will explore self-care and self-reflective practices as a way to accept our imposter selves as we unleash our authentic selves.

Presenters

• Laura Hallberg (she/her/hers), University of the Pacific - Benerd College
• Louise J Santiago (she/her/ella), Touro University California

1b: The Miseducation of the Black Whore: Pleasure Politics and Black Femme Erotic Power (DUC 211)

The Miseducation of the Black Whore: Pleasure Politics and Black Femme Erotic Power provides participants with an opportunity to understand Black femme sexuality from a historical perspective that honors a pleasure centered perspective. Participants will be engaged to consider biases, internalized shame and misconceptions that they may hold as it pertains to the what Audre Lorde referred to as "The Erotic".

Presenter

• Myisha (she/they), University of Pacific LGBTQ+ program specialist

Afternoon Sessions

2a: Leading Authentically: Unlocking Your Potential (DUC 211)

As womxn leaders, tapping into our personal integrity, strength, and courage to lead from our own authentic space is critical to owning our power. Authentic leadership has emerged as a powerful framework for developing leaders who are not only effective but also ethical and genuine.  Let’s talk about developing our leadership purpose that is consistent with our voice, learning to speak with candor and compassion, how uncomfortable it can be to lead, and why it’s important that we press on.

Presenters

• Angel Zhong (shey/they); ASUOP President; Student
• Maria Blandizzi (she/her); Vice President for Student Life at Pacific

2b: Chingona Walk and Talk: Discussing Chicana Feminism Health and Wellness (DUC Ballroom)

Reflect and deepen your relationship with health and wellness from a Chicana Feminist perspective at our guided walking and journaling workshop as we build community, read, and discuss excerpts from the book, For Brown Girls with Sharp Edges and Tender Hearts: A Love Letter to Women of Color.

Presenters

• Dr. Nancy Huante-Tzintzun, Stockton community member/Nopal Co-Director/Visiting Professor UOP
• Camille Cruz Zapata (she/her/ella) - 2022 UOP Woman of Distinction Recipient, Stockton community member/ gender equity advocate