FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 3, 2024
CONTACT: KENT DAVIS PACKARD
Phone: (202) 341-1122
Email: kent@womenforwardinternational.org
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Women Forward International (WFI) and the Women’s Foreign Policy Group (WFPG) are pleased to present an inspiring discussion on “The Power of Womenomics: A New Foreign Policy for the Next Generation,” at the Sundaram Tagore Gallery in New York. Planned to coincide with the opening of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), the panel will feature Ambassador Geeta Rao Gupta, U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues and the actor and ZariZar Global Fashion Ambassador Annie Potts, (Ghostbusters, Designing Women, and Young Sheldon). The insightful conversation will be moderated by Dr. Vishakha N. Desai, senior Fellow at the Committee on Global Thought at Columbia University. Faculty and graduate students from the Strategic Design & Management Program at Parsons School of Design will be available to answer questions and assist guests.

Global Womenomics is emerging as a dynamic force impacting the future of U.S.-India relations. This discussion will focus on the common values and interests that form the foundation of the relationship. It will also delve into ways both nations are strengthening their roles as global leaders and enhancing cooperation opportunities.

On hand will be a concrete example, ZariZar. While preserving India’s ancient Himroo weaving technique, ZariZar is also working to ensure this sustainable artistry will continue to empower rural Indian women. Proceeds from the sale of shawls and minerals at the exclusive event, in addition to support from WFI and their partners at the US-India Friendship Alliance, will help fund a tuition-free Craft Training Village. Opening a market in the US for these shawls will create an economic foundation to support this sustainable artistry and empower even more rural women long into the future while preserving this unique heritage.

Displaying the ZariZar shawls will be actress, supermodel, comedian and Glamour cover girl Eugenia Kuzmina (Spy City, True Blood, New Girl, and Castle); comedian and supermodel Dominika van Santen (X-men: First Class, Prince of Persia, Snow White and the Huntsman); Alessandra Gaia Williams, actress and award-winning filmmaker; and Kate Herman, model, actress, writer (Robots on Hulu, Adventure Time, Revenge, and Who is America on Showtime).

Networking reception and shopping

At 6:30, a networking reception will follow the panel discussion with live Indian music and hors d'oeuvres provided by Michelin star chef Hemant Mathur from New York’s SAAR Restaurant. Drinks will be provided by New York's Ear Inn est. 1817. Before and after the discussion, guests will be able to purchase the ZariZar shawls, some of which can require up to two months to create through the ancient Himroo technique.

Kent Davis-Packard, President and Founder of WFI, says: “This is the moment, during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), when east and west merge to form something greater as a global community. Through women’s taking their lawful place in the economy, we all take the next step in our journey as one human family.”
 

Alexa Chopivsky, Executive Director of WFPG, added, "As our guests enjoy the handmade goods crafted by women from rural communities, we will engage in a policy discussion that highlights the benefits of fostering economic development through cultural diplomacy. By uplifting these artisans and expanding their access to markets, we strive to improve their economic opportunities - helping them achieve their aspirations and support their communities, while showcasing their talents to wider global stakeholders."

Faisal Quraishi, co-owner of Zarizar commented, "We are privileged to bring our high-quality luxury products to the U.S. and hope they will be warmly embraced by the fashion community, not only in New York but throughout America. We believe that individuals will find our couture-quality shawls to be a stylish addition to their wardrobe.”

Recognizing Zarizar’s Himroo shawls as national treasures, the Government of India presented them as gifts to delegates at the 2023 G20 summit in New Delhi, and, on August 9th, Mr. Quraishi was given an award by the Maharashtra State government Ministry of Textiles for preserving the Himroo Art of Weaving.

Date: Tuesday, September 24, 2024
Venue: Sundaram Tagore Gallery, New York, located at 542 West 26th Street, between 10th and 11th avenues
Time: 4:30-8:00 pm: Shawls and minerals available for purchase
6:00-6:30 pm: Womenomics fireside chat and discussion
Reception to Follow

For more information and interviews, contact: Dr. Kent Davis-Packard, President & Executive Director, Women Forward International: kent@womenforwardinternational.org Phone: (202) 341-1122 and
Alexa Chopivsky, Executive Director, Women’s Foreign Policy Group: achopivsky@wfpg.org, Phone: (202) 429-2692

BACKGROUNDER

About WFI: WFI builds creative partnerships that bridge mind and heart to bring about unity, collaboration and service to humanity. WFI’s partnerships encompass a range of private sector, academic and non-profit clients to identify research critical to human progress, and then pairs teams of graduate international studies students with these organizations to complete that research and implement innovative solutions.
About WFPG: The Women’s Foreign Policy Group empowers and advances women’s leadership in international affairs through cutting-edge global policy programs featuring prominent women leaders, robust mentoring programs, and premier networking with high-level foreign policy practitioners. Founded over 29 years ago, WFPG expands the foreign policy dialogue across political divides and generations and supports women leaders at every stage of their careers.

About Zarizar: Zarizar was founded by two entrepreneurs in Aurangabad, India. Faisal Quraishi, who manages the shawls, quickly established a network of master weavers whose expertise and craftsmanship have made them among the most renowned and honored in India. Zarizar’s other partner, curator Feroz Khan, has been passionate about minerals since he was a child. He ensures that the minerals sold by Zarizar are of the highest quality and beauty.

About the US-India Friendship Alliance (USIFA): The USIFA is a New York-based 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization founded in 2004 to foster cultural, educational, and socioeconomic ties between the United States and India. Through our outreach and advocacy, we build mutually beneficial connections that allow us to fund high impact initiatives that uplift vulnerable Indian communities neglected by conventional charities.

About the Parsons School of Design: For more than a century, Parsons has been inspired by the transformative potential of design. Today, the school’s groundbreaking academic programs carry forward that mission, making Parsons the number one design school in the U.S. and among the top three globally. At the heart of a comprehensive university — The New School — Parsons draws on a range of academic fields to deliver a uniquely interdisciplinary education enriched by the resources of its home in New York City and branch campus in Paris.

For more information about the speakers, go to https://www.womenforwardinternational.org/powerofwomenomics

To arrange interviews, contact: Dr. Kent Davis-Packard, President & Executive Director, Women Forward International kent@womenforwardinternational.org phone: (202) 341-1122