Commemorating 100 Years Of Women Voting & As Journalists, A Newseum Event

The event Joan Michelson and Green Connections Media produced and moderated last week at the Newseum celebrating 100 years of women voting – the centennial of the 19th Amendment – was a big hit!

Thank you to the Newseum for being fabulous hosts and to Politico’s Women Rule initiative for supporting us! Thanks to the fascinating and engaging panelists, Anna Palmer of Politico, Shawna Thomas of Vice News and Lori Harrison-Kahan, author of “The Superwoman and Other Writings by Miriam Michelson” about the suffrage journalist who helped bring the 19th Amendment over the finish line (and Joan’s great-great aunt).

We had a terrific discussion about women journalists who played a critical role in the success of the 19th Amendment (including my great-great aunt, Miriam Michelson), about being a woman journalist today, and about the potential impact of women voters on the upcoming 2020 election. (Watch the replay here.watch for the podcast on Green Connections Radio)  Our full house was engaged and asked terrific questions, too!

Prefer to listen only? Here’s the podcast of it:

Joan Michelson moderating the Newseum panel

A few nights later, Joan moderated another event panel on women in history about more remarkable women trailblazers – including a woman’s triumph in her 1894 #MeToo-esque trial – and saw patterns we can all learn from….

One insight: Being underestimated can give you leverage. Our society encourages you to want to be seen as “the best” all the time, and I get it. But these women – including Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg today – show us that sometimes being “underrated” and choosing to break out of normative behavior can help you and even lead to history-making change. Joan wrote more about this in Forbes in “Being Underestimated Can Be Your Leverage To Success” and “Refusing To ‘Behave’ Can Change History”

Another insight: Reinvention. As our journeys evolves, we all need to reinvent ourselves, to pivot in some way, around obstacles, or honing our message, often finding another path to success. Even Louisa May Alcott, who wrote one of the most enduring, influential and best-selling books of all time, “Little Women,” teaches us this in unexpected ways.

Shawna Thomas, Washington, DC bureau chief, Vice News on Joan’s Newseum panel

Let me know the insights you gain from their stories!

Joan’s related Forbes articles and podcast:

Can Kamala Harris Heal A Century-OId Conflict Between Black And White Women – Elevating Both?

Black Women Suffragists’ Strategies & Kamala Harris as “Status Quo”, Dr. Marcia Chatelain, Georgetown University

Is Biden A “Suffragent”? Brooke Kroeger, Author of “The Suffragents” On Men Supporting Women’s Right to Vote

Less Known Stories of Women’s Fight for the Right to Vote

The Unexpected Leadership Lesson From Biden Choice of Kamala Harris

100 Years of Women Voting – Podcast interview with author Lori Harrison-Kahan on Suffrage Journalist and “Wonder Woman” inspiration, Miriam Michelson

Being Underestimated Can Be Your Leverage To Success

Seeds of #MeToo In Early Days of 19th Amendment, Suffrage Cause

Ask a lot of questions, more than you think is acceptable. And, you should ask those questions of yourself…of your family….of everyone that you know or that knows someone in the field you want to go into.”
– Laura Jones, Celebrity Stylist, on Green Connections Radio