Judy Norsigian, executive director of Our Bodies Ourselves, a nonprofit, public interest women's health education, advocacy and consulting organization, will deliver the keynote address at the 16th annual Celebrating Women's Creativity Conference on Saturday, Feb. 20, in Alumni Hall.
Norsigian's address, which starts at 9:30 a.m., is titled, "Creative Women's Health Activism - Our Bodies, Ourselves: We've Come a Long Way with a Long Way to Go." The co-author of the best-selling book, "Our Bodies, Ourselves," Norsigian regularly addresses national audiences on women's health concerns.
Following the keynote address, there will be several morning workshops offered, including:
- Crystal Brian, director of the theater program at Quinnipiac, will present an interactive workshop interpretation of Norsigian's "Our Bodies, Ourselves," text by the University's Theater for Community, in which audience participation will be encouraged.
- Susan Connolly Clark, acclaimed master quilt artist, and Signian McGeary, associate professor emerita and a vocational quilter, will present some of their work in a workshop titled, "A Quilt Truck Show."
- Sharon Kleinman, professor of communications at Quinnipiac, will moderate a discussion with Peg Oliveira, an early care and education research and policy consultant and yoga teacher, and Holly Parker, director of sustainable transportation systems at Yale University. Both panelists have contributed to Kleinman's new edited collection, "The Culture of Efficiency: Technology in Everyday Life."
Following lunch, Mary Ann Cordeau, assistant professor of nursing at Quinnipiac, will present a lecture titled, "Not Forgotten: The Lived Experience of Nursing During the American Civil War." The 1:30 p.m. lecture will highlight the nursing care provided by Civil War nurses.
Following Cordeau's lecture, the following afternoon workshops will be offered from 2:45 to 4 p.m.:
- Rachel Kauder Nalebuff, a freshman at Yale University and author of the New York Times bestseller, "My Little Red Book," will lead a thought-provoking examination of how our society talks - and doesn't talk - about periods. Think of it as the 'Menstruation Monologues.'
- Connie Brown will share a selection of maps she has collected and conduct a creative mapmaking exercise.
- Pattie Belle Hastings, associate professor of interactive design at Quinnipiac and a certified laughter yoga instructor, will guide participants through a refreshing and innovative yoga experience that provides a whole new approach to stress-management as well as the physical and mental wellbeing that a really good laugh provides.
The conference costs $35 for adults paying in advance, $40 at the door; $30 for seniors paying in advance, $35 at the door; and $15 for non-Quinnipiac students with valid IDs. There is also a twofer discount of $60 for adults paying in advance and $55 for seniors paying in advance. Registration in the Alumni Hall foyer will run from 8:45 to 9:30 a.m.
For information, call 203-582-8954, e-mail delaney@quinnipiac.edu or visit the conference Web page.