Women's History Month Speaker Discusses 'From Katrina to Condoleezza to Hillary'

Contact: Joanna Norris, Assistant Director
Department of Media Relations and Events
(904) 620-2102


Donna Brazile, an American author, educator and political activist will be speaking at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, March 6, at the University of North Florida’s Lazzara Fine Arts Center. The lecture will include topics such as Hurricane Katrina, challenges Brazile has faced as a woman in a predominantly male arena, women in politics and what’s in store for the future of women. This event is co-sponsored by the Women’s Center, the Florida Center for Public and International Policy, Intercultural Center for PEACE, the UNF College Democrats and Student Government.

Brazile has been politically active since the age of nine, when she successfully campaigned for a city council candidate who promised a playground in her neighborhood. Her book, “Cooking with Grease: Stirring the Pots in American Politics” is a powerful memoir of her life as a political organizer.

The Louisiana native’s background includes organizing demonstrations as the National Student Coordinator, making Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday into a national holiday and working on the Jesse Jackson, Dick Gephardt, Michael Dukakis and Bill Clinton campaigns. One of Brazile’s highest achievements was becoming the first African-American woman to manage a major presidential campaign for Al Gore in 2000. After the post-election fight over the votes in Florida, she was appointed chair of the Democratic National Committee’s Voting Rights Institute.

For her contributions, Brazile has been a recipient of numerous awards including, Washingtonian Magazine’s 100 Most Powerful Women in Washington, D.C., Essence Magazine’s 50 Most Powerful Women in America, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Award for Political Achievement and one of Ebony Magazine’s Outstanding Young Achievers. Currently, she is a senior fellow at the Academy of Leadership at the University of Maryland and an adjunct professor at Georgetown University, where she teaches about women and their role in American politics.

This lecture is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Amanda Gude at (904) 620-2528 or e-mail womenctr@unf.edu.

Persons with disabilities who require assistance to participate in this event are requested to notify the Women’s Center at (904) 620-2528 at least five days in advance.

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