By: Nancy Werner
NFBPWC Public Relations Chair (2024-2026)

Dr. Jill Zinckgraf Addresses The Biennial Conference

At the Biennial Conference, we were most fortunate to have as our Keynote Speaker, Dr. Jill Zinckgraf, Interim Director for the National Women’s History Alliance. She is a dedicated advocate and senior executive with a profound commitment to social justice. She has championed causes related to women’s empowerment, domestic violence and sexual assault prevention and social equality. Traveling from her home in Morristown, New Jersey, she was welcomed by our NFBPWC members to our 7th Biennial Conference.

Using our theme, “Equality Has NO Deadline,” her presentation shared the story of the National Women’s History Alliance since 1986 and how it has been built on the actions of women. Over the years, information on women’s achievements in educational materials have been prepared for classrooms and to organizations. The NWHA provides a yearly magazine and newsletters throughout the year. From 1986 when the NWHA was formed, her power point program shared taped snippets of the NWHA from the beginning to the present. During her presentation she used the phrase, “like-minded women” a few times and we readily agreed.

She really emphasized, ‘What is the plan as we head to the upcoming election?” Again, we agreed. We are all being asked to provide funds for this November election but what are the plans? At the moment we shook our heads. We knew of none.

How little did we know that the very next day President Biden would refuse the party nomination? Then a few days later, he shared that Kamala Harris, our Vice President, should be the party nominee. Never in my crystal ball did I see this coming BUT it is a PLAN.

Dr. Jill’s presentation shared the importance of women working together and finding the path to Equality. We only need to work harder to achieve our equality. Maybe this is our time.

I do wish to thank Amanda Owen, PA Affiliate Member and our Justice Bell author, a huge thank you. Her making connections with Martha Wheelock, President of the

NWHA, and then Martha, with me was most welcoming. The connections of our

networking knows no boundaries and to learn that Dr. Jill lived only a couple of hours away in New Jersey was a sigh of relief. Headquarters for the NWHA is in Santa Rosa, CA. I was thinking fast about how to cover her airfare.

Also thank you, Sandy Thompson, former NFBPWC Parliamentarian, who also assisted in the zoom communications with Dr. Jill. I must leave you with a quote from Martha, “women make it happen.” Maybe we should all be saying this mantra every day…. forever.