Half the Sky Co-Author Sheryl WuDunn Speaks in San Francisco
On May 24th, Facing History hosted a Community Conversation in San Francisco, featuring Sheryl WuDunn, co-author of Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide, at the Palace of Fine Arts Theatre in San Francisco. Nearly 500 guests attended, including many longtime and new friends. The evening also included a pre-event reception attended by over 100 board members and other close Facing History supporters.
Students, educators, community members, and partner non-profit organizations filled the auditorium, eager to hear Kavita Ramdas, the Global Fund for Women’s CEO, interview Sheryl WuDunn about the issues and themes raised in Half the Sky. Ramdas and WuDunn discussed central issues from Half the Sky, including sex trafficking, maternal mortality, and the role of religion and culture in oppressing women. They shared stories of amazing struggles and triumphs of women who are making positive change around the world.
Facing History students participated in the event by reading excerpts from Half the Sky and posing questions related to education for Ramdas and WuDunn. As the students from Burlingame and Palo Alto High Schools shared their connection to the text, and presented questions to WuDunn and Ramdas, the audience was reminded of the important conversations that take place every day in Facing History classrooms—not only connecting students to history, but engaging them in the issues that affect the world.
Jack Weinstein, director of Facing History’s office in San Francisco Bay Area, facilitated questions from the audience. One student asked what he, a high school boy, could do to help end gender inequality.
In addition to partnering with the Global Fund for Women, Facing History also partnered with 10 other local organizations whose work focuses on issues of girls and women. These organizations—Asylum Access, Calling All Crows, Girls for a Change, Global Women's Leadership Network, International Museum of Women, Reach Global, Urgent Action Fund, Women Donors Network, and World Savvy—did tremendous outreach for the event.
