On March 14 (2002), the Women's Center at California State University-Fullerton, and two constituent components, (Adult Re-entry and Women of Color Resource Centers), presented a day-long conference: Vision & Voice: Women, Diversity and Leadership. In addition to the morning and afternoon workshops, there was a "resource fair;" and, during lunch, a panel of graduate students spoke about their college experiences as women of color in a campus environment and as the first in their families to attend college. The consistent theme expressed by these panelists was "be true to yourself."

Rosalina Camacho, Coordinator of the Women of Color Resource Centers, was the principal conference planner. Somehow, she managed to arrange for not one but four dynamic "keynote" speakers: Angela Oh, an attorney and activist, founding member of the Multicultural Bar Association; Jennie Spencer Green; Anita Perez Ferguson, author, Encouraging Women in Leadership; and Yasmin Davidds-Garrido, author, Empowering Latinas: Breaking Boundaries, Freeing Lives. There was an ebb and flow of attendees throughout the day as students - sometimes entire classes - came and left in accordance with their schedules. There was also a substantial participant pool that did not fluctuate. Overall attendance was excellent. I calculate that more than 300 people were present during lunch.

A chapter of "Upward Bound" from one of the Orange County high schools attended the morning sessions. "Upward Bound" is an organization the mentors female students who do not have a strong support system outside of school, and encourages them to achieve. In order to qualify for "Upward Bound" students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.5. I visited briefly with these young ladies. Their chapter president is also the president of their high school's student body; she is the first Latina to attain the office. This is a wonderful, very impressive, and important program.

At the request of Barbara McDowell, Director of the Women's Center, I presented a workshop in the afternoon, Claiming Our Voices, Leading Our Way. Barbara asked that my workshop address not only the leadership challenges facing women but, as well, how being a person of color and overcoming familial, cultural, and societal barriers contributes to removal of those challenges. I included a brief overview of some Gilligan (In A Different Voice) and Levinson, et al., (The Seasons of a Man's Life) as background; and introduced the group to Helen Fisher's theory (The First Sex.) I also included material from Wach (Why The Best Man for the Job Is A Woman.)

There was a good cross-section of ages 20, 30, 40, and 50 in the group which attended the workshop, and they were wonderfully attentive and participatory. The evaluations were very complimentary, but one responded to the different leadership styles of women and men with the following: "Whether or not Enron would have failed if a woman were in charge doesn't matter. They just took a big risk and it didn't work out."

Readers: What do you think?