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Sally Field's Vital Work at Vital Voices

By on November 6, 2013
sally field vital voices

Vital work is being done for women in leadership around the globe with Vital Voices.  The organization provides training and other community support for women’s efforts to advance politically, economically and culturally.

Sally Field, famous for her roles on the big and small screens which now span a 48 year career, is an active member on the board for Vital Voices, an initiative begun by Hillary Rodham Clinton and Madeleine Albright. Field attended the U.N. Fourth World Conference on Women Beijing conference back in 1995 and said her time in Asia prompted her to take a bigger role in women’s causes.

“I was there with Save the Children and my then-21-year-old son,” she said. “We had come from Nepal. We were in the villages in Nepal to see the work [Save the Children] was doing with women and children. I think the impact that this all had on me, both from seeing the women in the villages in Nepal to going to the women’s conference … I came home very much wanting to participate in this huge change that had to happen.”

Soon after, Field was invited to a luncheon where Albright was speaking along with Melanne Verveer, co-founder of Vital Voices and now U.S. ambassador-at-large for global women’s issues. Field was struck by their efforts.

“I signed up and said, ‘Please let me participate in whatever way I can be of service to you.’”

Field describes her participation in the cause:

“Powerful—passionate, tenacious…unconquerable! These are the women of Vital Voices’ global network. They are local heroes who each day are changing the world around us. They understand their communities, the problems that block cooperation and progress, and they know better than anyone their society’s potential to thrive and promote a healthier world. 

Women are quite simply the best change agents in the world. I felt this power first-hand when I portrayed Norma Rae in Martin Ritt’s award-winning film about real-life hero, Crystal Lee Sutton. Her efforts to unionize the textile factory where she worked in rural North Carolina not only changed her life forever, but also transformed the lives of all those around her.

I knew then that when women are empowered and their human rights are respected they are the most powerful force for global transformation!

That’s why I’ve been an active member of Vital Voices’ global network since its founding by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton almost ten years ago. You see, like me, Vital Voices believes in the transformative value of women’s full participation in society. We invest in emerging women leaders across the globe—pioneers in economic development, political participation and human rights in their countries and regions. We help them build the capabilities, connections and credibility needed to unlock their potential as catalysts of global progress.

These women take risks—sometimes life threatening—to fight for better lives and healthier communities. Each day, they work heroically to end violence against women and girls, economic isolation, conflict and corruption. They need us and we need them!”

To learn more about Vital Voices, visit their website.

 

Sources:

Vitalvoices.org

Wikipedia.org

Politico.com

 

 

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