Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "maria shriver"

2010 CA Hall of Fame, red carpet induction ceremony

2010-12-09T06:08:08Z

For the first time, the California Museum’s red carpet event – the California Hall of Fame – will be broadcast live. Barbra Streisand, Betty White, Serena Williams and Mark Zuckerburg are some of the new inductees who will be recognized Dec. 14 in Sacramento.

The other 2010 inductees are Governor Edmund G. “Pat” Brown, director James Cameron, John Doerr, Silicon Valley visionary investor, A.P. Giannini who is considered the father of modern banking and Bank of America, country music legend Merle Haggard, author and activist Anne Lamott, former Secretary of State, George Shultz, Dr. Kevin Starr and artist Wayne Thiebaud.

These are individuals who have made legendary achievements in the areas of politics, activism, science, philanthropy, sports, business, entertainment, technology, fitness and literature and were chosen based on those achievements, according to a press release.

The fifth annual ceremony will be co-hosted by Lisa Ling, a correspondent of the Oprah Winfrey Show, and Jason Kennedy, a reporter and correspondent for E! News.

The recipients will be awarded the Spirit of California medal by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and First Lady Maria Shriver, and the live broadcast will include this and the red carpet interviews, speeches and induction ceremony.

Besides the inductees and their families, guests will include state officials, the Museum’s Board of Trustees, past year inductees, donors and sponsors, according to Brenna Hamilton, Communications Director for The California Museum.

Attendance is restricted to these preferred guests, as the California Museum auditorium, where the induction ceremony is being held, only seats 270 people, Hamilton said.

However, she added, there is a general public area in front of the Museum on 10th Street where the public is invited to watch the VIPs walk the red carpet on their way into the auditorium for the induction ceremony.

Some of these guests will include Governor-Elect Jerry Brown, Clint Eastwood and his wife Dina Eastwood, Margrit Mondavi, wife of 2007 inductee Robert Mondavi, Stuart Milk, nephew of 2009 inductee Harvey Milk, and Lt. Governor-Elect Gavin Newsom.

Inductees of years past have included Theodor “Dr. Seuss” Geisel, Jack Nicholson, Alice Waters, Leland Stanford, Ansel Adams, Jackie Robinson, John Steinbeck and Steve Jobs. For a complete list of previous inductees, click here.

Comcast Hometown Network will broadcast this event live on digital cable channel 104 from 6 – 8 p.m. on Dec. 14.

For more information about the 2010 induction ceremony or previous Hall of Fame exhibits, click here.

Photo 1 (Brown): courtesy of California State Archives

Photo 2 (Doerr): photo by Doug Menuez

Photo 3 (Giannini): courtesy of the Bancroft Library, UC Berkeley

Photo 4 (Haggard): photo by Pamela Springsteen

Photo 5 (Lamott): photo by Eliot Holtzman

Photo 6 (Shultz): courtesy of Hoover Institution

Photo 7 (Starr): courtesy of California State Library

Photo 8 (Strauss): courtesy of Levi Strauss & Co.

Photo 9 (Streisand): photo by Deborah Wald

Photo 10 (Thiebaud): courtesy of Matt Bult

Photo 11 (White): courtesy of Betty White

Photo 12 (Williams): photo by John Russo

Photo 13 (Zuckerburg): courtesy of Facebook

Mayor Kevin Johnson proposes green initiative plan

2010-05-20T06:20:56Z

Mayor Kevin Johnson proposed his green initiative plans to the public during a press conference Tuesday afternoon at the California Museum. The long-term goal of the plan is to make Sacramento known as the national green leader in economic and environmentally friendly usages. His vision: to transform the region into "Emerald Valley."

"(California is) a state where dreams are made," Johnson said. "I strongly believe Sacramento can be the national leader in the green movement."

Around 300 attendees packed the conference room and were from all walks of life, varying from media to general public. The majority of those in attendance were supportive of the plan.

"I am a very economically cautious person," Sacramento resident Darcy Patterson, 29, said. "It's exciting to be able to be part of something that's going to make such a huge difference for generations to come."

There are four main focal points to the plan and five policy areas that will lead the initiative over the next eight months.

The focal points are fostering a regional green economy, creating green collar jobs, attracting and supporting green business through developing policies and practices, and increasing public awareness.

The number of green collar jobs has been on the rise, and Sacramento received $225 million for energy-efficient technical green job training. Over the past year, the region has also witnessed an additional 100 clean tech jobs. Sacramento has an advantage in this industry as companies such as Sacramento Municipal Utility District and Pacific Gas & Electric are located here.

Bringing in more green business to Sacramento can happen by attracting those outside the city and region in the area. Johnson said too many people are discouraged and leaving the state, and that shouldn't be happening. Instead, Sacramento should become a place of encouragement, and having the Capitol nearby will help make that happen. One example is the edible State Capitol Garden, located at Capitol Park, that First Lady Maria Shriver started this time last year.

The garden serves as an important "resource for teaching important life lessons around healthy living and improving communities," Shriver said.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said he backs the green initiative plan 100 percent.

"All great movements started very little," Schwarzenegger said. "Then they expanded like a mushroom....Other cities will be inspired by what Johnson is doing."

According to Schwarzenegger, California has been a leader when it comes reducing the dependency on oil and instead growing a greener economy. However, nothing can happen if nobody takes action.

"Wake up California. Wake up America. Wake up world," he said.

Johnson said the way to make the vision into a reality for everyone to work together through public outreach. The five policy areas that make up the green initiative task force will serve as a way to get people to "walk the walk." These five policy areas include energy, waste and recycling, water and nature, urban design and building, and green and clean technology.

People at Tuesday's conference had the opportunity of joining one or multiple policy area focus groups. The members of each area will gather at the California Museum every third Tuesday of the month starting in June to create and organize action plans. Anyone is welcome to become a volunteer of a policy area group at any point by attending the meetings. Selected plans will then be put into action, making Sacramento closer to becoming the hub of "Emerald Valley" one day at a time.

Leading the policy area focus group of energy is City of Sacramento Community Development Department employee, Jamie Cutlip. Cutlip said she is hoping to make solar power the main goal of the energy policy area.

"Solar (power) is easy," Cutlip said. "Wind isn't as easy to adopt."

According to Cutlip, U.S. Department of Energy's Solar America Cities has granted $200 thousand toward the green initiative's energy policy area.

"The goal is to make Sacramento a solar city," she said.

Johnson said he will be announcing the action plan during his state of the city address in January.

"I believe history (is being made) at this defining moment," Johnson said. "Someday we'll look back and see ourselves making history together."

All photographs courtesy of gov.ca.gov

1) Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson

2) California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger

3) California First Lady Maria Shriver

Day at the Museum empowers, inspires

2010-03-06T05:27:03Z

Close to 10,000 people gathered at the California Museum on Thursday for the first "Day at the Museum" to get a little bit of pampering and a lot of empowerment.

The star-studded event was part of first lady Maria Shriver's annual The Women's Conference in honor of Women's History Month. The day included exhibits, presentations, speeches and tours of the museum.

"Today is the most successful day [at the museum] in all of California's history," Shriver told the audience.

The day began early with a meet-and-greet session in the museum's lobby with Shriver, California Secretary of State Debra Bowen, Speaker Emeritus Karen Bass, and other female legislators, mayors and district attorneys.

This was followed by a panel of past Minerva Award winners. The Minerva is awarded annually to a California woman who is making a difference and is what Shriver calls "an architect of change."

Women Escaping a Violent Environment (WEAVE) co-founder Jennie Hernandez, Parents of Watts founder "Sweet" Alice Harris, and homeless advocate Betty Chinn were just some of the recipients on hand to greet the audience and help Shriver showcase the museum's Minerva Award Exhibit.

Women were treated to free massages at the "Relaxation Station," makeup applications at the "Hello Gorgeous" booth, drum performances and edible garden demonstrations in the museum's courtyard.

On the upper level, "California's Remarkable Women" told the stories of the state's many accomplished females, including food advocate Alice Waters, Mary See of See's Candy, XTreme Winter Games gold-medal record-holder Tara Dakides, and the first U.S. female astronaut to enter space, Sally Ride, who spoke later in the day.

Several women from "The California Heritage Quilt Project" did their handiwork throughout the day while answering questions about the the California Sesquicentennial Quilt, on display behind them. Created in 1996 for California's 150th birthday, the quilt was a collaboration between more than 200 women throughout the state. Other demonstrations Thursday included creating edible gardens, California Indian basketmaking and the origami Peace Crane Project.

After a cooking demonstration with chef Biba Caggiano, Iron Chef's Cat Cora spoke during "Only in California: A Celebration of California Creativity," along with other women who are using creative channels to blaze trails for women.

Cora spoke about meeting another Californian, Julia Child, as an aspiring chef and being inspired by her graciousness. Cora said it reminds her to take the time to shake hands and visit with her fans. She said she founded Chefs for Humanity after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami to give back by providing quality food during disasters.

Cora reflected on her education in France and being a woman in a male-dominated industry. "I needed to prove to myself I could go and work in the toughest male kitchens in the world," she said of her apprenticeships in France. She advised women to take chances and not to be discouraged by obstacles that come along. "A door might close, but then a door will open."

Ayelet Waldman, author of "Bad Mother," also took the stage and discussed the often-comical trials and tribulations of being a mother and the unreasonable expectations to do it all. She commented on society's famous "bad mothers" such as Britney Spears, whose biggest fault was being selfish. She theorized that many mothers are ganged up on and deemed "bad mothers," to make others feel better about their maternal skills. "By defining to us who we aren't, they allow us to stomach the mothers we are," Waldman explained.

A more serious topic, body image, was examined through the images of photographer Lauren Greenfield. She showed disturbing photos of young women in a treatment facility for eating disorders and spoke about her experience while creating her documentary, "Thin."

Women weren't the only audience for the daylong celebration of women. During a courtyard ceremony called "Honoring Our Women in Military," Shriver thanked the men in the audience for showing up, saying, "I'm a big believer [men and women] must work together to raise the kinds of boys & and girls we want to change the world."

After a performance by an all-female color guard, Shriver welcomed Brig. Gen. Mary J. Knight to the stage. She paid tribute to the men and women serving the country, with a specific focus on the females in service. Knight is the nation's first African-American female general.

Shortly after, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Shriver's husband, took the stage to extend his appreciation to our servicewomen. He commended Shriver for her tireless efforts in providing resources for women throughout the state. Referring to the day's packed schedule, he joked, "This shows you how exhausting it is being with a woman like this!"

The audience cheered when he confessed "In my house, every day is women's day!"

The final and much-awaited event was "I Did It My Way," featuring a discussion between environmental activist Erin Brockovich, journalist Lisa Ling, astronaut Ride, and actress and singer Rita Moreno, with Shriver as a moderator.

Brockavich said at the end of the day it doesn't matter what others think. "It's our perception of how we see ourselves and that's all that really matters." Brockavich continued, "I followed my heart and my gut and it never let me down."

Growing up in the 1950s and 60s, Ride talked about enjoying science and sports at a time when that was not common for young girls. She said she was lucky that her parents supported her passions and encouraged her to follow her dreams.

Although Moreno noted "what's interesting is that everything we wanted, we thought was unattainable," for an hour the women discussed how they went about attaining exactly what they set out for. To view the entire discussion, visit The California Channel .

During National Women's History Month, the California Museum will have free admission every Saturday throughout March. A different female artist will be featured each weekend showcasing jewelry, mixed media, painting and an indie craft fair.

For a list of the day's events, visit The California Museum's website.

Photo credit: Kati Garner

Maria Shriver | Honoring Women's History Month

2010-03-05T15:59:59Z

California's First Lady, Maria Shriver and The Women’s Conference partnered with The California Museum to celebrate National Women’s History Month with an extraordinary all-day free event – Day at The Museum yesterday in Sacramento.

Over 10,000 people came through the doors after it kicked off with A Breakfast Meet-and- Greet with Women Elected Officials, the day was packed with information and activity;

A tour of the State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Minerva Award Exhibit and Minerva Quilt Project Recognition, “If I Can Do It, So Can You,” panel on the rewards of being a compassionate citizen hero, Chef demonstrations and book signings, “Only in California: A Celebration of California Creativity”, Honoring Our Women in the Military and “I Did It My Way,” a Once in a Lifetime Conversation with Astronaut and educator Dr. Sally K. Ride, Environmental activist Erin Brockovich, award-winning journalist Lisa Ling and award-winning actress, singer and entertainer Rita Moreno.

Maria Shriver moderated a conversation with Astronaut Dr. Sally Ride (right), Lisa Ling (center) Rita Moreno and Erin Brockovish (shown below).

Sally Ride is the first American woman to fly in space.

Erin Brockovich was an unknown legal researcher and the impelling force behind the largest medical settlement lawsuit in history in 1996. It was because of Brockovich's unwavering tenacity that PG & E was exposed for leaking toxic Chromium 6 into the ground water, poisoning the small California town of Hinkley’s Water for over 30 years.

Lisa Ling, has covered a spectrum of issues and interviewed people ranging from global heads of state to Hollywood’s A-list. She is currently Oprah’s field correspondent and contributor to National Geographic’s award-winning series Explorer, CNN‘s Planet in Peril, and ABC‘s Nightline, and is a contributing editor for USA Today’s Weekend magazine.

Rita Moreno has managed to have a thriving career for the better part of six decades despite the institutional racism that has plagued the entertainment industry, particularly the anti-Hispanic bias that stereotyped Hispanic women as "spitfires" and sexpots. Moreno is one of the very few (and very first) performers to win an Oscar, an Emmy, a Tony, and a Grammy.

Maria and husband Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger introduced Brigadier General Mary J. Kight and other women in the military.

Kight is the first female adjutant general of the California National Guard and first African-American female National Guard Adjutant General in the nation.

Shriver flanks returning from active duty overseas veterans Monique Clifton, Senior Airman and Jessical Oliff, Sergeant, recipients of assistance fromTalbots clothing stores in obtaining civilian apparel to aid in finding a job.

An All Women’s Color Guard.

Dozens of children participated in the California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom.

Chefs Cat Cora (above) and   Biba Caggiano below gave cooking demos and signed books.Maria Shriver officially recognized the Minerva Award Exhibit at The California Museum. Among the women warriors working on the frontlines of humanity throughout California present at the event were:
·    Betty Chinn, ’08 Minerva Award recipient, who works with the homeless in Eureka.
·    Ramona Delgado, ’06 Minerva Award recipient, co-founder of Sacramento’s WEAVE, the first domestic violence shelter in California.
·    Jennie Hernandez Gin, ’06 Minerva Award recipient, co-founder of WEAVE.
·    “Sweet” Alice Harris, ’07 Minerva Award recipient, founder of Parents of Watts.
·    Dr. Kathy Hull, ’09 Minerva Award recipient, Executive Director of George Mark House in San Leandro, the first free standing children’s hospice in the country.
·    Sister Jennie Lechtenberg, ’05 Minerva Award recipient, founder of PUENTE Learning Center in Los Angeles.
·    Janice Mirikitani, ’05 Minerva Award recipient, poet and founder of Glide Foundation in San Francisco.
·    Ivelise Markovits, ’08 Minerva Award recipient, founder of Penny Lane in Los Angeles, which works with foster children and families.
·    Captain Maureen Pennington, ’07 Minerva Award recipient, United States Naval nurse and health advocate.
·    Christy Porter, ’07 Minerva Award recipient, Executive Director of Hidden Harvest, innovative poverty/food program outside Palm Springs.
·    Helen Devore Waukazoo, ’09 Minerva Award recipient, co-founder of American Indian Friendship House in San Francisco. Services for recovering substance abusers.

Dr. Kathy Hull (left), founded the George Mark Children’s House in San Leandro, CA, the first freestanding residential pediatric palliative care center in the United States, and Captain Maureen Pennington, a United States Navy nurse, managed a string of trauma centers located 10 minutes by helicopter from the front lines in Fallujah, Iraq.

Azure Antoinette, of Get Lit, read a poem at the end of the Minerva introductions of the Minerva Award recipients and the Quilt Project recognition.

For more information and program updates, keep checking back at CaliforniaMuseum.org.

The California Museum, 1020 O Street • Sacramento, CA 95814 • (916) 653-7524

SacPress Photos | Kati Garner

Day at the Museum: Come Celebrate, Honor and Meet California’s Remarkable Women—All Day Long

2010-02-17T22:34:32Z

On Thursday, March 4th, California First Lady Maria Shriver and The Women’s Conference are partnering with The California Museum to celebrate National Women’s History Month with an extraordinary all-day free event – Day at The Museum. The California Museum will be open for a free day of education, inspiration and empowerment.

Plus, we'll have a number of special guests including astronaut Sally Ride, environmental activist Erin Brockovich, and Iron Chef Cat Cora. It's going to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

(This is a great opportunity for all those who have been unable to make it to The Women's Conference in Long Beach. Tickets sell out fast, the trip is a bit of a committment from Sacramento, etc. But, the event is here! In downtown Sacramento! A free open house version of The Women's Conference is AMAZING in my book.)

All are invited to drop in at any time during the day and to bring friends, family and colleagues. You - women, sisters, mothers, girlfriends, and men (yes, men can come too!) - will have an opportunity to meet and be inspired by the many remarkable women who have shaped – and are continuing to shape – our state through arts, sports, public service, business, literature, cuisine and philanthropy.

The event will begin early with an old fashioned Meet-and-Greet over coffee, as attendees will have the opportunity to meet California's women elected officials. Included in some of those officials are Speaker Emeritus Karen Bass and SF District Attorney Kamala Harris.

The California Museum’s Minerva Award Exhibit and Minerva Arts Project will then come to life, as the public will be able to meet and hear from a number of recipients of The Minerva Awards, which are given by Maria Shriver every October at The Women’s Conference. Many of these inspiring women are pioneers and trailblazers in various professions who are serving on the front-lines of humanity with programs created to combat poverty, addiction, homelessness and other social ills and challenges.

The Minerva Arts Project will be unveiled with an exhibit of over 20 Minerva quilts made by girls in juvenile detention centers, some of whom will be represented at the opening.

Throughout the day, The California Museum will be filled with inspiring California women speaking about their lives and work – authors signing books, chefs demonstrating their skills, filmmakers showing their works, musicians performing and artists exhibiting their pieces.

In the afternoon, the First Lady's Office will be hosting a dessert reception to announce a special partnership with Talbots to support our women in uniform by distributing gift cards for professional attire as these soldiers return from service overseas and embark on civilian life.

At around 5:30 p.m., Maria Shriver will moderate one of her hallmark “Once in a Lifetime Conversations.”

All these activities will revolve around the many exhibits on display at The California Museum, which include California’s Remarkable Women, the California Hall of Fame, Native California Baskets, Uprooted—Japanese American internment during World War II, African American Treasures and California Canines.

Program updates and exciting announcements will be posted here, so keep check back for more information! We hope to see you there!

A Day At the Museum Details:

Date: March 4th, 2010
Time: 7:30am to 7:30pm
Location: The California Museum, 1020 O Street • Sacramento, CA 95814
Parking: All-day parking is available for $5.00: 2311 6th Street, Sacramento CA 95818
(Located between 6th and 8th Streets, and W and X Streets in downtown Sacramento, ¼ mile from the Museum.) A free shuttle service will run between the lot and The Museum.

For more information and program updates, please visit http://www.californiamuseum.org/

TEAM MARIA Joins in The Audi Best Buddies Challenge

2009-09-16T01:59:18Z

TEAM MARIA set out early Saturday, September 12 on the fundraising bike ride from Carmel through Big Sur to Hearst Castle Beach in support of Best Buddies International, a community for helping people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

TEAM MARIA exceeded their goal to raise $30,000 for Best Buddies by earning $80,000 in only six weeks.

TEAM MARIA had riders on each of the four distance legs of the race – all riders completed the Challenge. TEAM MARIA includes Capitol insiders: Former Speaker Fabian Nunez; Staff from Dewey Square Group and Lucas Public Affairs and First Lady Maria Shriver's friends, family and staff.

For more insight on The Audi Best Buddies Challenge and TEAM MARIA, visit Greg Lucas’ blog: http://californiascapitol.com/blog/?p=733. Visit www.bestbuddies.org to learn more about the benefits of Best Buddies International.

TEAM MARIA Is already planning for the 2010 Best Buddies Challenge!

What's happening at the Capitol: May 20, 21, 22

2009-05-20T03:45:13Z

Wednesday, May 20

8 a.m.-4 p.m. California Hunger Action Coalition will be holding a Hunger Action Day on the north steps of the Capitol. "Each May, hundreds of anti-hunger advocates from all over the state meet in Sacramento to educate their legislators about hunger and support anti-hunger legislation. Low-income advocates, soup kitchen volunteers, nutritionists, food bank supporters and others concerned about the 3.1 million Californians experiencing hunger travel by bus, car and airplane once each year to participate in this important event," says the event's webpage. 350 people are expected.

9 a.m.-3 p.m. American Heart Association will be holding an educational California Lobby Day on the south steps of the Capitol for a crowd of approximately 150 people. "Come out and voice your support against stroke, heart disease, childhood obesity, and [for] tobacco tax increase," says a Craigslist flyer for the event.

9 a.m.-5 p.m. California Department of Toxic Substance Control will be displaying a boat made from recycled plastic on the lawn north of the traffic circle to an expected audience of 20 people.

10 a.m.-1 p.m. California Association of Professional Scientists will be holding their annual State Scientist Day on the west steps of the Capitol. With an expected turnout of 3,000 participants, third, fourth, fifth and sixth graders are all invited to participate in the hands-on science fair with booths from the California Coastal Commission, Department of Fish and Game and the Department of Conservation (Recycle Rex will appear at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.). Teachers can still register their classes by calling (916) 441-2629, according to the event's website.

11 a.m.-4 p.m. Two fuel-cell vehicles will be displayed on the east steps of the Capitol, followed by a press conference.

Noon-1:30 p.m. Natural Products Association West will be holding its seventh annual advocacy event, "Health Matters," just south of the fish pond. 100 people are expected.

1:30-3 p.m. The Association of California Water Agencies will be holding a rally near the fish pond. In attendance will be around 1500 representatives of public water agencies, other water organizations, and their supporters. "The purpose of the rally is to press for action on a comprehensive water solution. The event is intended to raise the visibility of the state’s water challenges and keep the water issue before state leaders and the public," says the event's website.

Those who register here, can check in at the west lobby of the Convention Center starting at 8:30 a.m., before attending a luncheon at 11:45 a.m., and march from the Sheraton Hotel to the Capitol at 1 p.m.

Thursday, May 21

9 a.m.-5 p.m. California Department of Toxic Substance Control will be displaying a boat made from recycled plastic on the lawn north of the traffic circle to an expected audience of 20 people.

10 a.m.-3 p.m. The Sacramento Transportation Management Association will be holding a carpooling, bicycling and transit information rally on the west steps of the Capitol as a part of May Is Bike Month's Bikefest. 500 participants are expected.

11 a.m.-4 p.m. The Office of First Lady of California Maria Shriver has scheduled a groundbreaking ceremony for a new garden. It can be found at 13th Street between L and N (the east side of the Capitol) according to one political blog.

6:30 p.m.- all night? If the California Supreme Court decides to uphold Prop 8, Equality Action NOW will hold a march at 6:30 p.m. from the Sacramento Gay and Lesbian Center to the State Capitol's west steps. Says a press release, "a second rally with speakers and entertainment will take place, followed by a march around the Capitol grounds. On return to the West Capitol Steps, participants will be invited to speak at an open mic. Speakers of all ages, all walks of life, gay, straight, children of gay couples, parents of gay individuals, students and couples who were married and who want to marry will be invited to tell their stories. If crowd interest remains high, Enrique Manjarrez, Youth program Coordinator, Sacramento Gay & Lesbian Center will lead an all-night youth rally."

Friday, May 22

4-7:30 p.m. A private wedding will be held near the old rose garden at the Capitol in front of an audience of 100 people.