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Local women reflect on historic nomination of Hillary Clinton

Local notable women share emotions and thoughts on the historic nomination of a female presidential candidate

Shari Rudavsky
shari.rudavsky@indystar.com
Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton talks to community leaders and politicians at the Jackson Diner in the Queens borough of New York, Monday, April 11, 2016. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

No matter who you're voting for, history is being made Thursday night when Hillary Clinton becomes the first woman to accept the presidential nomination from a major political party. Sure, there was Victoria Woodhull more than 100 years ago, but let's be real. Hillary Clinton is the first woman to make a credible run at the nation's top run.

IndyStar reached out to a number of notable women around Indianapolis and asked them to share what this moment means to them. Yes, some women respectfully declined because politics is, after all, politics.

But this is history, too.

Deborah Hearn Smith

Deborah Hearn Smith, chief executive officer, Girl Scouts of Central Indiana

This historic presidential nomination illustrates that there are no limits to the leadership potential of women and girls. Girl Scouts is dedicated to developing leadership skills in girls in all facets of society. Girls already see political leaders throughout the world who are women. One of the cornerstones of Girl Scouts is civic engagement. Our research indicates that women who were Girl Scouts are more civically engaged, including exercising their voting rights. Girl Scouts of Central Indiana has an entire patch program called “I promised a Girl Scout I would vote,” which is dedicated to teaching girls about the significance of our voting rights.

Jessica Beer, left, and Tonya Bergeson-Dana, co-owners of Urban Chalkboard in Carmel.

Jessica Beer, co-founder, The Urban Chalkboard (on the left in photo)

Anytime a woman is in a highly visible position of power whether it be CEO or president of the United States and she is representing a large group of others, everyone has the opportunity to see her making decisions with integrity, fielding criticism, negotiating through tough situations, making mistakes and taking ownership. I want my son and daughter to see that happening. They will vote someday and have careers and they need to know there are no limits to their opportunities based on gender and that when they are in a position to give someone an opportunity, gender will not be a factor.

Would it make a difference to have a woman in the White House? On issues that matter to particularly women like gender and income inequality, paid maternity leave, abortion, I sure hope so. For diplomacy and politics as usual, I think man or woman, it doesn't matter. Their communication style, morality and ability to make tough decisions under intense scrutiny will matter most.

Advice for Clinton:  Open up, show yourself to voters. Figure out how to position yourself so you are more likable. Laugh and let me figure out who you really are.

Democrats celebrate historic moment as Clinton prepares to accept presidential nomination

Tonya Bergeson-Dana, co-founder, The Urban Chalkboard (on the right in photo)

When I was young, Geraldine Ferraro was the first female major party vice presidential candidate. I didn't know much about politics at the time, but I knew that this was a big deal. I thought it wouldn't be long until a woman would be president. I had no doubt at that time that a woman could be president. But that was 30 years ago. I am thrilled that girls and boys today can have the same conviction that I had 30 years ago that a woman can be president of the United States of America.

I am a single working mother of a 9-year-old son, a business owner, a college professor. He sees me go to work every day, and he also sees me take care of him and our house every day. He respects me as a mother and as a professional. I tell him that in this country he has the potential to be anything he wants to be if he puts his mind and energy to the task. I also tell him that all of his peers have the same potential, regardless of their skin color, religious beliefs or gender. When my son sees a woman running for president and a sitting African-American president, he knows that these are not just stories that I'm telling him. For him that's just a fact. For me that's a big deal.

Andrea Neal

Andrea Neal, teacher at St. Richard’s Episcopal School in Indianapolis and adjunct scholar with the Indiana Policy Review Foundation

There have been so many "gender firsts" in my lifetime that Clinton's nomination was a predictable next step. I'm thinking of people like Sandra Day O'Connor and Madeleine Albright, Janet Guthrie and Sally Ride. I was a political reporter for UPI when Geraldine Ferraro became the first female vice presidential candidate for a major party in 1984. I covered the Democratic convention in San Francisco that year and remember — as a young professional on the cusp of my career — being personally moved by her acceptance speech when she declared "dreams can come true for all of us." We've reached a time when gender should be irrelevant in elections and in the Oval Office. Indeed, the UK's Margaret Thatcher showed back in 1979 that women could emerge as leaders in a political meritocracy without regard to gender.

Jackie Nytes is the CEO of the Indianapolis Marion County Public Library.

Jackie Nytes, CEO of The Indianapolis Public Library 

I went to an all-girls high school where the women held every leadership position there was, so I knew women could lead. In my early jobs I worked with two different women mayors, so I knew women could govern as well. I’m not surprised (it took this long) because women first had to travel the paths to the presidency where networks are shaped and bonds developed.

This tells every young woman that they can strive for positions of leadership, they can seek public office, and they are equal players in civic life. We only have six female governors now and only 20 percent of Congress is female. This needs to change and it will change with this campaign.

Businesses and Boards will admit that adding women improves the quality of their deliberations because women bring additional perspectives to every topic. Half of our population is female, so with a woman in leadership we are making a very affirming statement about those contributions. The rest of the world will see that as well. For as much as we talk about women's rights in other countries, having a woman leader here adds credibility to our statements.

Advice for Clinton: Do the right things, remember your roots in advocating for children, and use the Rolodex you have developed both home and abroad. It is a powerful tool for good!

Indianapolis City-County Council President Maggie Lewis

Maggie Lewis, Indianapolis City-County Council president

Women have proven over and over again that we are capable of leading and being successful in politics. It is up to this generation of female leaders to take the torch and run higher and higher.

I am not surprised it took this long. You have to remember, women didn't gain the right to vote until 1920 and it wasn't until the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that African Americans were (guaranteed the right to) vote. Our entire nation has only been able to vote for 50 years.  Considering this, I believe we've made great progress.

Having a woman run for president now shines a brighter spotlight on diversity and reminds us all that there is no industry that can avoid addressing this topic. It also reminds us that when given the right opportunity and the proper support, women have the capacity to compete with our male counterparts and win.

I also think that having a woman in the White House will help strengthen our nation's connection to children.  Women are nurturers and have a natural instinct to leave no stone unturned when it comes to the care of our children. This will be of great significance when creating legislation and determining budget decisions about programs that will impact our children.

Advice for Clinton: Maintain your priorities — God (Higher Power), family and work — in that order.  Although she will be elected to serve, in order to be successful she must take care herself.

Jill Bolte Taylor

Jill Bolte Taylor, author and neuroanatomist based in Bloomington

I am 57 and thought this would happen. I think most Americans are secure enough human beings to be willing to be open to a female leader. Women have been leading other countries for a long time and doing very well, so the precedence has been set — just not in the U.S.

Politics aside, I care about the credentials of the woman, not just any woman would do.

Would it make a difference to have a woman in the White House? Based on the temperature of polarity between the two parties, even the men are struggling to get anything done, so no, I don't think the gender of the president is going to change how much or how little gets accomplished. However, I do think it makes a bigger statement to the world that we are growing as a nation.

Advice for Clinton: Stay connected to your higher cognitive thinking and don't lower yourself to the emotional antagonism of others. Trust your experience and your judgment and always be kind.

Lily and Madeleine Jurkiewicz, the two sisters who make up the singing duo.

Madeline Jurkiewicz of Lily & Madeleine, singers (left in photo)

I did think it would happen in my lifetime, just not at a time so early in my life! It's really important to me to see the possibility of a woman in the White House as a young woman in my early 20s. I'm honestly not surprised it took this long. I always knew it was possible; I'm glad the rest of the United States finally figured it out.

There is a point in every girl's life — usually in middle school — where she suddenly realizes what her role is in society. From this moment she knows the world isn't actually as bright and open as she once thought. Casual misogyny and sexism become her new world, and it's discouraging. To see a woman run for president is to see a chance for every girl to break out of the gender roles put upon her and step forward into the bright, open world she dreamed of as a child.

Advice for Clinton: I'm definitely not qualified to give advice to a presidential nominee, but I would tell Hillary to follow her gut and remember that she doesn't need to overcompensate for being perceived as less than a man. Women are natural leaders, whether it's in the home or the workplace. So go, girl!!

Lily Jurkiewicz of Lily & Madeleine, singers (right in photo)

Of course I had hoped we'd have a female president in my lifetime! It's kind of embarrassing that it's taken so long for America to get to this point. And representation absolutely matters.

In truth, it would be really nice if we didn't even feel the need to recognize the significance of this election. But Madge said it well, it's a much needed step forward for society.

Would it make a difference to have a woman in the White House? I think there would be a big difference in the way the media portrays the president if Hillary were to win. Certain "news outlets" like "Fox & Friends" might not get away with as much of their sexism.

Planned Parenthood of Indiana president and CEO Betty Cockrum

Betty Cockrum, president and chief executive officer of Planned Parenthood of Indiana & Kentucky (PPINK)

I came to my political/activist awakening way back in another game-changing year — 1968. I was 15. I am a lifelong feminist and I have always believed we would see a member of the majority gender at the top of a major party ticket. I have believed that the advances women have made in the past 50 years would finally bring us to this historic moment.  That belief was certainly reinforced with the election of our first black president in 2008. Am I surprised it took this long?  Yes and no. Yes, because I’m a numbers woman and the numbers should speak for themselves — woman are the majority gender at 51 percent and 60 countries have already had woman leaders. I am also not surprised it took so long — it has felt in recent years that women have been sliding backward as we’ve watched lawmakers file anti-woman legislation and engage in truly archaic and offensive anti-woman rhetoric across the country.

It means the glass ceiling, arguably cracked for lo these many years, is finally broken. What does that mean for the women and girls of this country? It means we finally have a place at the head of the big giant table.

Advice for Clinton: Be true to yourself. Wear PPINK!!!!

Call IndyStar reporter Shari Rudavsky at (317) 444-6354. Follow her on Twitter: @srudavsky.

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