The Busboys and Poets audience was fantastic! There was standing room only. I saw many old friends and made lots of new ones. Thank you DC! And is this the cutest stage ever? Love the pumpkin!

From the Left:
Reading from No Excuses

Jenna Mellor and J. Schmitz told their stories and we discussed power tools “tell your story” and “embrace controversy.”

Jodi Jacobson, editor in chief of RH Reality Check introducing the program at Busboys and Poets. Special thanks to Tamara Kreinin and the United Nations Foundation Women and Population program. UNF, RHRC, and the Women’s Campaign Forum co-sponsored the event.

Many people have asked what I’m going be doing at the famous and fabulous Bioneers conference. Here’s a big part of it described in the post below, and I am so excited! Bioneers co-founder Nina Simons has created a stunning women’s leadership program that grapples with just the issues of women’s relationship with power that I discuss in No Excuses. If you’re going to be attending Bioneers, please find me and say hello. I’m also doing a book signing at 4:30 on Saturday Oct.16 in the bookstore, as well as two panels in addition to this. For more information, check out my events page.

Sat 10/16 @2:45 pm
Panel: Moonrise – Women Leading from the Heart

Sun 10/17 @10:45 am
Plenary Keynote: Riding the Leadership Wave

Sun. 10/17 @ 4:30 pm
Panel: Women, Gender, Media

Bioneers Conference programming is central to the women’s leadership program, as it not only creates opportunities for thousands to experience the stories of diverse innovative women leaders, but captures their presentations by video and audio recording for future radio, media and educational use. This year’s conference program is especially strong, spanning U.S. and global efforts, and bridging the environmental and social worlds with power, edginess and grace.

Plenary presentations – which will reach many thousands in satellite sites across the nation and on web casts around the world – will feature accomplished global sustainability youth leader Jess Rimington and international media arts innovator for women’s human rights Mallika Dutt, whose use of celebrity in media is saving lives and transforming culture in India and the US. National Geographic fellow and native Hawai’ian Elizabeth Kapu’uwailani Lindsey, who was raised by elders to be a steward of ancestral wisdom, will reveal the key role of indigenous science in planetary restoration. A legendary community organizer and leader at integrating faith-based organizing, Mary Gonzales will speak to the environment’s relationship to equity and the economy. Sunday will feature the activist/author of The Soul of Money and cofounder of The Pachamama Alliance, Lynne Twist, who works to save the rainforest and cultures that coexist with it, to reconnect money with what we hold sacred, and to awaken corporations and people to the urgency of global warming. Gloria Feldt, celebrated author and former president of Planned Parenthood of America will speak to the value of (especially women, but all of us) Embracing Controversy to cultivate leadership capacity. Jane Goodall, whose world-renowned primatology work in Tanzania’s Gombe National Park has already inspired generations of women globally, will offer her vision of empowering people to make a difference for all living things.

Introductory note from Gloria: When you write a book, you never know how who will read it or what impression it might make. Imagine how moved I was to stumble across this post by someone I had never met and read her words about how No Excuses had inspired her. Elin Stebbins Waldal really takes the power tools to heart . . . read on and see.

A Twitter post has got me thinking today.

Although I have not met Gloria Feldt—I almost feel I have. After perusing her website and reading a few of her blogs—I feel it in my bones, there is a common ground that we stand on.

I happened upon her Twitter feed this morning and opened her link and read this:

“In No Excuses, I say women don’t yet know what to do with the power everyone else knows we have. That the time has come for women to embrace that power. What are your thoughts? What examples in your own life or your observations about others makes you think this is or is not women’s moment?” –Gloria Feldt

It’s quite possible that I have read Gloria’s question above about a thousand times, seriously, at least a thousand…or that is how it feels. I should state first that I have not read her book, No Excuses: 9 Ways Women Can Change How We Think About Power—yet.

I have however, read her 9 Power Tools, love that—power tools, makes me feel as if I have a Lathe at my disposal—or is it that I myself am the Lathe, capable of re-shaping anything beginning with the way I think about power.

Yes, I myself am the Lathe.

Left: Jenn Pozner, founder and executive director of Women in Media and News asks a question while journalist Jessica Wakeman and filmmaker Therese Shechter look on.

Center: Talking about No Excuses and the 9 Ways at The Strand in New York

Right: Jenn Pozner live tweets while Liz Abzug tells us how her mother Bella used her power. (Bella used to say, “We want it all but we’ll take half.”)

I was so excited to have the fabulous Shelby Knox (on the far right in the photo) agreed to live tweet from my book launch at the Barnes and Noble Lincoln Triangle on October 5th. Shelby is an itinerant feminist organizer, a writer, a speaker, and a self-described revolutionary. (And I would agree with that!) You can keep up with her on Twitter.

To see more photos from the event, be sure to check out the book tour page. And if you missed the event, here are Shelby’s tweets to give you a nutshell version of the night!

The corks were really popping at the official book launch of No Excuses! The store was packed, and we had a lively panel discussion with young feminists talking about how they are integrating the 9 Ways into their lives. A big thank you to Jan Goldstoff for taking such lovely photos at the event, and to Shelby Knox for live tweeting the discussion.

Left: No Excuses officially launches! My reading at Barnes and Noble Lincoln Triangle in New York.

Center: (Left to right) author of Black Women’s Lives, Kristal Brent Zook; media commentator Keli Goff; and Feed Fund co-founder Lauren Bush share their stories and discuss the 9 Ways power tools with me at the launch of No Excuses, Barnes and Noble Lincoln Triangle on 10/5.

Right: Surrounded by fabulous young feminists: Elizabeth Camuti, Jamia Wilson, and Shelby Knox