International Women’s Day is annually held on March 8 to celebrate women’s achievements throughout history and across nations. It is also known as the United Nations (UN) Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace.
“In societies where men are truly confident of their own worth, women are not merely tolerated, but valued.”
~ Aung Sang Suu Kyi (1945)
March 9 Luncheon
Jessica Munoz
President, Board Member
RN, BSN, MSN, APRN- RX, FNP-BC
Hoʻōla Nā Pua
Changing the World by Saving One Life at a Time
"The issue of sex trafficking is global and growing. Selling and exploiting underage girls for sex generates huge profits for sex traffickers because a young girl can be sold over and over for repeat profit. She can be forced, manipulated, and coerced into appearing to be an accomplice rather than a victim. These children often fall through the cracks of our juvenile justice and social service systems because their exploitation and trauma is often invisible, misidentified, and mis-classified." Source: Melissa Farley, Founding Director of the Prostitution Research and Education)
Hoʻōla Nā Pua is committed to providing a home designed
to meet the unique needs of underage female sex trafficking victims
through the utilization of individualized, comprehensive, and restorative therapies.
Jessica Munoz is the lead nurse practitioner for Emergency Medicine Physicians Inc. at Pali Momi Medical Center on Oahu. During the past 8 years she has been a mentor to high-risk youth and a leading advocate for holistic services to this vulnerable youth population on Oahu. Jessica’s worked at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children and attended graduate school at the University of Hawaiʻi.
Jessica’s passion for victims of sex trafficking ignited during the research of her thesis on this prolific human atrocity and its manifestation to health care providers. Her research revealed that there is a gross lack of education amongst health care professionals on the human trafficking problem. Her extensive nursing background with a heavy focus on pediatric trauma has helped her to understand the comprehensive needs of children who experience trauma. The clear and unmet need for a holistic services home that comprehensively serves a traumatized child’s healing, wellness, and restoration has become the focus of her community efforts and advocacy.
Jessica published two articles in Emergency Physicians Monthly on identifying victims of sex trafficking. She recently published a comprehensive paper on trafficking to the American College of Emergency Physician Journal. She is passionate about educating health care professionals, service providers, and law enforcement on the issue of trafficking. Jessica emphasizes a tailored approach to aftercare, integrating and collaborating with community services providers as well as law enforcement and the judiciary system. She stresses the importance of a victim‐centered approach with emphasis on the need for licensed residential facilities committed to the restoration of children affected by this crime. Jessica spent the last four years helping lead the anti‐trafficking movement on the islands. She also serves as Chief Health Officer to Collaboration Builders, LLC (CSO), a global consortium of problem‐solving strategists who build, facilitate, and support local and regional multidisciplinary coalitions of community leaders in response to significant problems.
Jessica is a noted conference speaker, lecturer and workshop facilitator. Most recently she was a guest lecturer at the American College of Osteopath Emergency Physician National Scientific Assembly and locally she served with the Hawaiʻi Attorney General and the Hawaiʻi US Attorney as a panelist for the Soroptomist International Panel on Human Trafficking. Jessica was a selected speaker for TEDx Honolulu on the issue of seeking true justice for children who have been sexually exploited. November 2013 – January 2014.
Awards of Recognition
2007 Nurse of the year Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children 2010 Faces of Nursing for the State of Hawaiʻi 2012 Emergency Medicine Physician Nurse Practitioner of the year‐ National award 2013 Soroptimist Ruby Award‐ Women helping women
MARCH 9 MEETING
Pacific Club 1451 Queen Emma St.
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
RSVP due by noon on Wednesday, March 4 at OrgOfWomenLeaders@gmail.com
Check payable to OWL for $45 for each guest.
℅ Cynthia Takenaka
516 Kawaihae St. #E
Honolulu, HI 96825-1240
The year is quickly moving by and your OWL Board has been hard at work vetting potential speakers, brainstorming about new ways to add member value, and keeping within our budget. It’s not an easy task, but lucky for all of us, we have a terrific Board, made up of fabulous women!
Our first speaker of the year, Kelly King of Pacific Biodiesel, did a fantastic job of introducing us to the world of local sustainable energy. She also shared with us her inspiring personal journey through her career and family success. I think we all left the meeting feeling inspired to be a “Doer”. She also encouraged us to take opportunities to lead when those around us decide to take a step back.
At the end of January, OWL supported the YWCA with their annual Women’s Legislative Caucus. It was held at the YWCA’s, Fuller Hall and it was well attended by over 100 women and girls. Our own, Jennifer Grems brought over 80, 10th,11th and 12th grade students from the St. Andrew Priory to experience a professional women’s event first hand. The Priory girls were given a chance to ask their Legislators, “What’s the best advice you ever received?” and “How does one overcome fear?”
This year OWL is excited to welcome 14 new members. Let’s all make a point to reach out to our new members and make them feel at home with OWL. I also wanted to remind everyone to please invite a friend or colleague to an OWL Luncheon. It’s a great way for them to experience our group and it also shows your guest that you care about them.
Our next meeting will be held on March 9th at the Pacific Club. Our next guest speaker is Jessica Munoz of Ho‘ōla Nā Pua, an organization works with underage victims of human sex trafficking. Ho‘ōla Nā Pua provides these victims with a treatment facility for healing and offers outreach and education to prevent sex trafficking in Hawaii.
Lastly, I leave you with a quote from Helen Keller:
“I am only one, but I am still one. I cannot do everything, but I can still do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do.”
I look forward to seeing you all at our next meeting and let’s continue to challenge ourselves to find a little time in our lives to do something for those that need us.
Julie
What We Heard
January 12
Kelly King
Vice President and Chief Communications Officer,
Pacific Biodiesel Technologies
Co-founder and Chair, Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance
by Jen Grems and Kristi Bates
A visionary and serial entrepreneur, Robert King was on his third idea after two earlier less successful ventures, to create an alternate fuel that would not only be cleaner for the environment, but also keep oil out of the landfill. In 1995, Kelly King, his wife, took a leap of faith and agreed to invest their entire life savings to support Robert's next great idea, biofuels. Kelly's first response had been, "Bio-what?" Today, Pacific Biodiesel is recognized locally, nationally and internationally as a renewable energy pioneer. Most recently Robert and Kelly received recognition in Biofuels Digest’s List of Top 125 People in Advanced Bioecomomy for 2015.
Kelly shared with OWL members and guests her thoughts about being an entrepreneur, a wife, a mother, a woman leader and a concerned community member. Below are some inspiring take-aways from her presentation.
Important Qualities in Women Leaders
1. Sincerity.
2. Honesty.
3. Truthfulness it¹s so important to lead from the truth.
Words of Wisdom
1. Believe in yourself.
2. Be committed.
3. Stay focused.
4. Get Organized.
5. Set Priorities.
6. Know why you want to do something.
Having the right mindset is critical to the success of change.
1. What are the issues?
2. Be professional.
3. Know who your team members are.
4. Do what¹s right even if it¹s not popular.
5. Be a good communicator, be an even better listener.
OWL Events - Women's Legislative Breakfast
by Julie Inouye
The YWCA held their annual Women’s Legislative Caucus on Thursday, January 29th at the YWCA’s Fuller Hall. This well attended breakfast event was organized to provide supporters with a preview of the Bills that would be proposed in the upcoming session. Roughly 12 of our Legislators were in attendance and each had an opportunity to either explain their Bill, describe what committees they lead, or to answer audience questions, such as “What are some of the issues you face as a woman” or “How do you overcome fear?”
The Women’s Caucus is made up of women from all areas of Congress. As a group they pay close attention to the issues that may otherwise be overlooked or not given enough consideration. On-going issues such as domestic violence, sexual assault, and health care were all woven into the package of bills.
The Women Legislators also reminded those in attendance of the power of the Women’s Caucus, and asked us all to run for office. Women are still underrepresented in politics and encouraged us to consider serving.
The moderator of the event was Denby Fawcett and she did a great job of keeping us laughing and on schedule.
(L to R) Kate Braden, Kristi Bates, Julie Inouye, Pam Harms
2015 Membership Renewal and Upcoming Luncheon Meeting Dates
March 9 - Pacific Club
May 11 - Pacific Club
July 13 - Pacific Club
September 14 - Pacific Club
November 2 - Halekulani Hotel
Annual dues for Jan. through Dec. 2015 is $260.
Membership luncheons are generally held on the second Monday of January, March, May, July, September and November from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Meetings are usually held at the Pacific Club, but locations will be confirmed prior to the meeting.
Link to renewal form: http://owlhawaii.org/wp-content/uploads/2015_2pager_Application.pdf
OWL Mission Statement
The mission of OWL is to develop a network of contacts among women in decision- making positions to promote effectiveness on the job and professional advancement.
The goals and objectives of OWL shall be to establish a network of contacts between the public and private sectors; to establish a professional and interpersonal support system for women professionals; to offer informational opportunities for women in management; to provide career-related ideas and information; and to share job and career advancement opportunities.
Announcements
We love to hear from you! Because we know your time is valuable, OWL President Julie Inouye will be reading the member announcements along with her welcome message. Please email your news to Julie at jninouye@fhb.com.
You may also share your achievements or any newsworthy items with your OWL sisters through our newsletter. Email your news along with a photo to Kristi Bates at kb8s808@gmail.com.
Reminder
As a courtesy to our speakers, guests and OWL members, please keep side conversations to a minimum during the speaker presentation.
