2013 CT Women’s Conference – A Million Circles

The 3rd Annual Connecticut Women’s Conference was a huge success! Our theme this year was “A Million Circles…” based on “The millionth circle” which refers to the circle whose formation tips the scales and shifts planetary consciousness.

This years keynote, Ronita Johnson (Stepping into Bold Leadership – The Way of Circle), is a founding convener of The Millionth Circle and has lead circles at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women and the Parliament of World Religion in Barcelona.

Our Morning Panel Discussion, If Women Ruled the World, will be moderated by Kathy McAfee (America’s Marketing Motivator). Kathy’s panel includes: Mary Jones (The Mary Jones Show), Stacy Smith Walsh (chairperson YWCA Hartford Region), Natalie Thompson (executive associate The Connecticut Forum), and Tiffany Ho (founder ReadySetLaunch).

Please scroll down to read more about Ronita, our Morning Panel and more!

The Millionth Circle proposes nothing less than the possibility that women’s circles can accelerate humanity’s shift into a post-patriarchal era. Circles build upon what women do naturally, and have brought about major political and social changes. Women in small groups grew into the Women’s Suffragette’s movement, which gained women the right to vote in 1920. Women in small consciousness-raising groups led to the Women’s movement of the 1970s. A millionth circle movement led by women could change planetary consciousness.

“The Millionth Circle,” writes Dr. Jean Shinoda Bolen, “depends upon a simple hypothesis: when a critical number of people change how they think and behave, the culture will also, and a new era begins. Once the principles are understood, the significance of women’s circles can be appreciated as a revolutionary-evolutionary movement that is hidden in plain sight.”

Meet Ronita Johnson our Keynote Speaker

A speaker, author, integral life coach, consultant, convener, and
creative artist, Ronita Johnson is the creator of Celebrating Our Inner
Queen, a rite of passage circle for women to honor and claim transitions in their lives; Majestic Light, a one-year coaching development circle; and Serum for the Soul, an Empowerment Forgiveness circle that has been offered in the U.S., Greece, Italy, Africa, Bali and Brazil. Drawing on 40 years of professional background in Human Resources and Diversity, and 60+ years of life experiences to engage women, and girls in transformative conversations that matter. She is also a certified coach from New Ventures West with an emphasis on life transitions, healing, and forgiveness.

Ronita has combined experience of 40 years in the circle community, as a member of four circles with a life-time commitment; and credits circle, as the source of courage to find her voice in the publication of her first book, “Coming To Forgiveness,” and her second book, not yet published, “Circle: Birthplace of the New Human.”

Ronita is one of the 10 professional women featured in the unscripted multicultural and cross-generational documentary BeComing, Women’s Circle – Women’s Lives, which offers a rare opportunity to witness what transpires in the privacy of a women’s circles; a documentary included in the Women’s Leadership Circle Kit, Meg Wheatly, Berkana Institute. Her professional and speaking engagements on the topic of circle and forgiveness have taken her across the U.S., and to every continent in the world.

Ronita lives with her husband John Wayne in northern California.
Check out her website for more information!

Our Morning Panel Discussion – If Women Ruled the World …

Our panel will discuss thought-provoking challenges and opportunities for women in a post-patriarchal society. The panelists will share personal insights into their own struggles and ideals when it comes to leading in areas of business, government, community, family and relationships. Panelists will offer tips and suggestions on how women can support each other in building a more just and peaceful world where all people can flourish.

Moderator: 
Kathy McAfee, America’s Marketing Motivator  Kathy is a professional speaker, executive presentation coach and communication trainer.She has subject matter expertise in high engagement presentations and effective networking for business and professional success.

Panelists:
• Mary Jones, radio personality and host of The Mary Jones Show, WDRC-AM
• Stacy Smith Walsh, attorney and Director of Human Resources at Day Pitney, LLP and chairperson of the YWCA Hartford Region
• Natalie Thompson, civic-minded activist, budding journalist, and executive associate at The Connecticut Forum
• Patricia Russo, serves as President of the Board of Directors of the Women’s Campaign School at Yale University. She is also a member of the Council of Women’s Health Research at Yale University and co chairs its Philanthropy and Communications Committee.

Our MC Empowers Women to Live Victoriously – Jaclyn Vocell 

Meet Jaclyn:  She empowers women, girls and teams across the United States, and delivers a message that ALL need to hear — “you are WORTHY.”  Jaclyn is nationally recognized as a life coach and motivational speaker; she incites women to live victoriously, with intentional purpose.  Her audiences cross the gamut of women’s and girl’s groups, including corporations, colleges, high schools, churches, seminars and other empowerment events.

Jaclyn is a certified Life Coach through American University of Neuro-Linguistic Programming, and holds a degree in Psychology from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, where she was a four-year Division One basketball player.  Achieving academic and athletic success under rigorous standards taught Jaclyn how essential preparation and mental toughness are to attaining high goals.

Her first professional career was at ESPN, as a leader, teammate and reporter, both internally and with surrounding networks in the New England area.  Based on her corporate and television experience, Jaclyn branched off on her own to help women achieve their own dreams, whether personal or professional.  She is a former MTV MADE Coach and serves on the Board of Directors for the Women of Power Network.

Discover more about Jaclyn at her website or on Facebook.

A Very  Special Closing - Just Cate

Circles of friendship are one of the strongest bonds. Noelle Alix and Angela Martin’s is a story of lifelong friendship, of being there for each other through it all. When Noelle’s daughter Cate was born with Down Syndrome, they unknowingly, began their second stage of growing up. Noelle and Angela will share insight into their journey and discuss how each of our women connections–mother-daughter, grandmother-granddaughter, sister-sister, friend-friend, etc.–bond us, carry us, and feed our spiritual growth throughout our lives.

Please visit their website to discover more about  “Just Cate”.

Join us at the end of the day for our Meet & Greet Social! Which will be attended by many of our speakers including our keynote, Ronita Johnson.

Workshop Selections and Descriptions!

Register early to be sure to get your first choice of morning and afternoon workshops!