National Women’s Conference Set

For March 12 At Sacred Heart University

FAIRFIELD — The national “Women’s Images Inside and Out” conference will be held Saturday, March 12, on the campus of Sacred Heart University. The conference addresses topics of interest to women of all ages including women in business, women in transition, mothers and daughters, college students, tweens and teens.

Keynote speakers for the event include: Emme, supermodel, author and host of E! Entertainment’s Fashion Emergency; Deborah Santana, chief operating officer of the new Santana Band, Inc and author of a new autobiography Space Between the Stars, My Journey to an Open Heart; and Aly Dunne, body image consultant and former Vogue cover model.

The full-day program includes panel discussions with speakers on a wide range of topics including women’s health, body image, leadership, creativity, finance, relationships, spirituality, mothers and daughters, teen and tween issues, and much more. Participants can relax in the Retreat Center, sip tea, meditate or just relax; browse through the offerings available in the Resource Center, where women’s products and services are for sale; or talk to women’s authors and get copies of their books signed. The day’s activities also include a performance/lecture by actress Dale Allen.

“Our goal is to encourage women of all ages to look at the facets of their lives that impact their sense of self,” said Dr Debbie Danowski, assistant professor of English and media studies, three-time author, and conference creator. “We’re bringing together a wide range of experts to help women explore these issues and inspire them to make life choices with clarity and confidence.”

Emme, twice voted as one of People Magazine’s 50 Most Beautiful People, among other accolades, has been widely acclaimed as a health and fitness advocate for women of all ages. She is committed to increasing awareness and raising funds to help treat eating and body image disorders.

 “We live in a society that is based upon the attainment of unrealistic beauty. I want women to know that their self-esteem is not contingent upon their dress size,” she said.

Deborah Santana’s new book (Random House, March 2005) articulates the extraordinary journey she has traveled as a woman seeking and finding her spiritual center, in addition to her experience as the wife of musician Carlos Santana. “My stories are a testimony to my connection with divinity and humanity — the magnificent space between the stars,” she said.

Former runway model and actress, Aly Dunne, will lead workshops for tweens and teens, encouraging them to transform their negative thinking into positive self-support, so they feel more confident about their bodies, and learn to appreciate their own unique beauty.

Additional speakers include: Dr Dale Atkins, psychologist and author of I’m O.K., You’re My Parents; Lorna Wendt, founder of the Equality in Marriage Institute, Marie Wilson, president of the White House Project and author of Closing the Leadership Gap: Why Women Can and Must Help Run the World, Marilyn Graman, author of The Female Power Within and How To Be Cherished; Jane Pollak, artist, entrepreneur, and author of Soul Proprietor; and Trudy Griswold, spiritual coach and co-author of AngelSpeake, among others.

The conference is cosponsored by the Esteemed Woman Foundation, WomenWorks, and the I AM ME! Project. The I AM ME! Project is the college division of the Esteemed Woman Foundation. The Foundation was created in 2000 by documentary filmmaker Suzie Galler to empower women of all ages and backgrounds to build and maintain a healthy sense of self-worth.

WomenWorks in Progress was created by Barbara Scala to offer valuable resources to women through events and online, helping them discover new possibilities while meeting the demands of career, home, and life transitions.

Sacred Heart University is at 5151 Park Avenue, in Fairfield. Early Bird Registration is $35 prior to February 12; $45 advanced purchase, and $55 at the door. Seniors and Students $20. For group rates, more information and registration, contact Debbie Danowski at danowskid@sacredheart.edu or call the Esteemed Woman Foundation at 938-8833 or visit www.esteemedwoman.com or www.womenworks.org. To exhibit a business, call 203-254-7911 or email info@womenworks.org.