Women in the World Summit: Where to Begin…

This was actually Toyota’s first year sponsoring the summit and their enthusiasm for being there was palpable. As a member of TWIN (Toyota Women’s Influence Network), I was one of four bloggers given the opportunity to attend. I can truly say it was an opportunity of a lifetime.

The four TWINs at Lincoln Center

Not only did Toyota sponsor my attendance but they also provide me a Delegate status which gave me access to several VIP events.

Want to know the parts that made me giddy? I was surrounded by celebrities, and I don’t mean from behind a red rope. Chelsea Clinton walked past me to get a Diet Coke for her friend. Paulina Porizkova nearly ran me over coming out of the ladies room. America Ferrara struck up a conversation with me at lunch (and then I asked why she looked so familiar to me. Not my shining celebrity moment.) I hugged Debra Winger. Chatted with Ingrid Michaelson. Practically stalked Christy Turlington. Shook hands with Charlie Rose and Holland Taylor. Walked right past Oprah (she who needs no last name).

The celebrities were phenomenal and I was definitely starstruck. The list went on: Angelina Jolie, Meryl Streep, Hillary Clinton, Madeline Albright, Nancy Pelosi, Jessica Alba, Barbara Walters, Diane von Furstenberg. I was practually tripping over famous people.

But I’m going to be honest. While it was thrilling, the celebrity wore off. I listened to people that moved me and touched me. Women I had never heard of brought me to tears.

The pinnacle of the entire event for me was being there and watching Jaycee Dugard speak as she made her first public appearance since she was recovered from her captors of eighteen years.

EIGHTEEN YEARS.

People like Jaycee were the heroes of the conference. People like Leymah Gbowee, 2011 Nobel Peace Prize Winner. People like Suma, a Nepalese girl who spent six years as an indentured servant, sold by her own parents.

Suma wrote a song about her experience and her performance kicked off the summit.

Her lyrics were as follows:

Selfish were my mother and father.
They gave birth to a daughter.
They gave birth to a daughter.
Did you want to see me suffer, mother?
Did you want to see me suffer, father?
Then why did you give birth to a daughter?
My brothers go to school.
I am unfortunate, I slave in a landlord’s house.
Abused everyday by the landlord’s wife.
Some life, to get beaten every day.
Some life, to get beaten every day.
Selfish were my mother and father.
They gave birth to a daughter.
They gave birth to a daughter.

Now I know it’s going to seem odd to be writing over the next few weeks about women’s issues and human rights and then do a post about mouthwash (yes, I actually have one coming up this week). But I feel compelled to really write about the issues that speak to my heart. And I’m finding my heart is a lot bigger than I thought it was.

Disclosure: I was selected for participation in the TWIN community through a program with Clever Girls Collective. I did not receive any compensation for writing this post, or payment in exchange for participating. The opinions expressed herein are mine, and do not reflect the views of the Toyota.