Life is full of surprises and of sources of inspiration.
This story starts with a book and a bowl of beans. The book is Harlot's Sauce, A Memory of Food, Family, Love, Loss and Greece. It was the Cook the Books' Club choice in the fall of 2011. I read it and loved it and was inspired by it to prepare a dish with glorious beans I had just brought back from Italy. Patricia Volonakis Davis, the book's author, enjoyed the recipes the Cook the Books Club members prepared so much that she added them to her web site.
Not long after meeting virtually thanks to my fagioli, Patricia and I met in person at the first Women's PowerStrategy™ Conference that she organized.
The Women’s PowerStrategy™ Conference is
a gathering of leaders from diverse backgrounds and areas of expertise who are joining forces to educate and inspire women of all ages to believe and invest in their own talents, skills and potential. [more details on the About page of the conference web site]
Patricia's organization of the conference was inspiring and so were the people I listened to there, from the organizer herself, of course, to Red Room's founder Ivory Madison, from literary agent Verna Dreisbach to pastry chef Marisa Churchill (whom I interviewed) to name just a few. A mishap made me miss the inspiring keynote speaker, Malissa Ferruzzi Shriver, but fortunately her speech was videotaped, so I enjoyed it later.
The second edition of the Conference is coming up this Saturday, June 15, in a bigger venue (the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts in Santa Rosa, CA), with a larger program and a list of speakers that makes my head spin every time I read it. As the announcement I have on the side bar says, I have the honor to be in great company.
The program is full of interesting panels and interviews and, above all, people. If what happened last year is any indication, conference participants will laugh, be moved, make connections, and learn about wonderful individuals and organizations and the difference they make in this world.
Like last year "for every adult ticket purchased, The Women’s PowerStrategy™ Conference will sponsor one girl or woman who could otherwise not afford it, to attend the entire conference, meet the speakers, and enjoy a delightful lunch, free of charge." [more details on the About page] Isn't it wonderful?
Hope to see you there!
A wonderful-sounding conference.
Posted by: Paz | June 16, 2013 at 11:27 AM
It was an interesting experience, Paz.
Posted by: Simona Carini | June 18, 2013 at 04:10 PM