Women's International Center

Since 1997 Irma Cota has been the President and Chief Executive Officer of North County Health Services, a non-profit community health care organization in San Diego County. It operates thirteen clinic locations, providing comprehensive medical, dental, mental health, as well as health education services and social support services. The access impact NCHS has in the community is reflected by the over 314,000 patient visits to vulnerable populations. Ninety (90) percent of NCHS patients are primarily uninsured or are covered by government insurance.

RECENT EVENT - Living Legacy Award Presentation

at Amare, Rancho Santa Fe, California, USA

May 10, 2017

LIVING LEGACY HONOREES (in alphabetical order)

Maria Pantelia, Ph.D.
Excellence in Philology, Classics, Linguistics
Preservation of Greek Literature

Jeanette Rigopoulos
Vigorous Champion of Greek Culture
Outstanding Community Leader

Her Highness Dr. Princess
Antonia Schaumburg-Lippe of Germany
Leadership, Advocacy for Professional Women
Protection of Animals, Authorship and Law

His Highness Dr. Prince Mario-Max
Schaumburg-Lippe of Germany
Master of Laws
"Prince Charming"
Media, Authorship, Defense of Justice
Humanitarian, Recording Arts and Dance

His Highness Prince Waldemar
Schaumburg-Lippe of Germany
Redefining The Royal Family As
Vibrant and Inclusive

Carol Paraskevi Tohsaku, M.A.
Excellence in Bridging Computer Science with
World Cultures, Health, Earth, and Spirituality

SPECIAL AWARDS:

Marianne McDonald, Ph.D. MRIA
Maverick Award
Giver of New Life to Ancient Literature
Excellence in Theatre, Classics, Philology, Poetry

Outstanding Organization Award
Center For Sustainable Energy
Making the Transition to a Sustainable World
Possible Through the Power of Clean Energy

Sung Family with Abacus Film Director Steve James
Strong and Smart Daughters Award
The Sung Family
Creating Economic Stability While Tirelessly
Defending Liberty and Justice for All

RECENT EVENT - Women’s International Center is proud to co-sponsor two amazing films at this year’s Pacific Arts Movement Spring Showcase - please join us on Sat April 22 at 1pm and 3:20pm! For tickets please email team@wic.org with TICKET REQUEST in the subject line (limited supply). http://festival.sdaff.org/spring2017/

WINDOW HORSES
ANN MARIE FLEMING / ASIAN AMERICAN PANORAMA / CANADA / 2016 / ANIMATION, COMEDY / 88 MINS

Young Canadian Rosie Ming may work at a french fry counter, but she yearns for France – specifically, the France of Cousteau and Baudelaire. To Rosie’s chagrin, her self-published book of poems takes her not to Paris but to a poetry festival in Shiraz, where she meets writers from around the world, including those from China and Iran, the two countries that make up her multi-racial heritage. One Screening Only: Saturday, April 22, 2017 1:00 pm UltraStar Mission Valley

WSUNDAY BEAUTY QUEEN
BABY RUTH VILLARAMA / DISCOVERIES / HONG KONG, JAPAN, PHILIPPINES / 2016 / DOCUMENTARY / 95 MINS

In Hong Kong, Sunday is the one day a week overseas Filipino workers get to congregate in the streets to commune, crack jokes, celebrate birthdays, and, every now and then, throw beauty pageants. Director Baby Ruth Villarama lovingly captures the details of play and fantasy between the harsh, thankless labor that so often reminds the women of the families they left behind in the Philippines. Two showings: Saturday, April 22, 2017 3:20 pm AND Monday, April 24, 2017 7:55 pm UltraStar Mission Valley

RECENT EVENT - FRIDAY MARCH 17 2017 IN STUDIO CITY, CA

RSVP:

A former member of the legislative assembly of Salzburg,this dynamic Princess is an award-winning author and international journalist with a diploma in law, as well as a celebrity television host who also opened her own veterinarian clinic. She has successfully changed laws to better protect people and animals.

RECENT EVENT

USD Ahlers Center International Speaker Series - Please RSVP by Monday March 27 2017:
"Women in Business - Entrepreneurs from Russia"

Join us as we hear from five female entrepreneurs from San Diego's sister city of Vladivostok, Russia, who are here as part of the Open World Leadership program. Russia is investing in initiatives to support entrepreneurship and innovation within its borders, and providing support and infrastructure to small and medium-sized businesses. These five entrepreneurs will share their experiences and the challenges and opportunities they have encountered with starting new businesses and reinventing small, family-owned enterprises in Russia.

Event is free to attend, but RSVP is necessary by Monday March 27 2017 https://sandiego.secure.force.com/events/targetx_eventsb__eventsplus_newcontact

Who & What: 5 dynamic entrepreneurs from our San Diego sister city Vladivostok in Russia will present their projects, discussing some of the opportunities and challenges of business creation, ownership, and management. Presentations are in Russian and will be translated on site by an interpreter. Complimentary luncheon to follow.
Where: Mother Rosalie Hill Hall (MRH), Room 102
University of San Diego, Ahlers Center for International Business
When: 12:15-1:15 panel Thursday, March 30, 2017
Meal: Buffet style luncheon including vegetarian entree choice.
Cost: Complimentary with gratitude to our co-sponsors Women’s International Center, San Diego World Affairs Council, San Diego International Sister Cities Association.

RECENT EVENT - SATURDAY APRIL 8 2017 IN SAN DIEGO’S BALBOA PARK:

VOLUNTEERS OF ALL AGES AND INTERNS EXPLORE OPPORTUNITIES AT INTERNATIONALLY FOCUSED NON-PROFITS FAIR BALBOA PARK

For the third consecutive year, the Women's International Center is honored to be featured as part of the Worldview Project's Spring 2017 Harmony in Action Cross-Cultural Non-Profits Fair on Saturday April 8th 2017 in San Diego's Balboa Park. From 10am until 2pm on the lovely Patio B (just left of the Casa del Prado Theater), several non-profit organizations will exhibit. This special event invites all interested potential future volunteers of all ages and interns looking for projects and opportunities to consider some of these finest non-profit international organizations operating in San Diego and beyond. Women's International Center and other organization leaders are happy to share information about how to become involved in our world-changing missions. Click here to see the participating organizations.

Recent EVENTS:

Brigadier-General Carmelita Vigil-Schimmenti - Officer in the US Air Force who in 1985 became the first Hispanic female to attain the rank of Brigadier General, served also as chief of the USAF Nurse Corps, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carmelita_Vigil-Schimmenti nominated by Zona Murray, Maj Gen. James McMonagle (RET) and Mrs. McMonagle.

Denise Mueller Competition athlete (Ironman, marathons), current national criterion champion, 15 time national champion, competing to be the first woman to set the bicycle land speed record, dedicated Soroptimist and Rotarian http://theprojectspeed.com nominated by Zona Murray.

SPOTLIGHT ON WOMEN SPEAKER SERIES EVENTS:

Two chances to hear our Living Legacy Honoree Dilkhwaz Ahmed speak locally!
Dilkhwaz Ahmed (Founder License to Freedom in San Diego, Living Legacy Honoree) will give a presentation on her work in Iraq helping minority Yezidi women victims of Isis violence.

Thursday June 2 2016 4pm Rancho Bernardo Library, 17110 Bernardo Center Dr, San Diego, CA 92128. Free event, free parking, light refreshments served.

Sunday June 5 2016 Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (all spiritual beliefs welcome) in the Founders Hall, 1036 Solana Drive, Solana Beach, 92075 CA USA 12:45-1:45pm (following the 11am Music Sunday Service) Free event, free parking, light refreshments served.

RECENT EVENT:
Volunteers Of All Ages and Interns explore opportunities at internationally focused non-profits fair Balboa Park

The Women's International Center is honored to be featured as part of the Worldview Project's Spring 2016 Harmony in Action Cross-Cultural Non-Profits Fair on Saturday April 16th 2016 in San Diego's Balboa Park. From 10am until 2pm on the lovely Patio B (just left of the Casa del Prado Theater), several non-profit organizations will exhibit. This special event exposes potential volunteers of all ages and interns looking for projects and opportunities to some of the finest non-profit international organizations operating in San Diego and beyond. Women's International Center and other organization leaders are happy to share information about how to become involved in our world-changing missions. Click here to see the participating organizations.

RECENT EVENT:
Thursday, November 5, 2015 7:00 pm, California, USA

Women’s International Center and the USD International Center are pleased to co-present this 16th Annual Pacific Arts Movement San Diego Asian Film Festival opening night award-winning film: Miss India America.

Description: From beginning to end, MISS INDIA AMERICA combines the hilarious fever of competition with overflowing heart. Behind Tiya Sircar’s madcap lead performance and Kosha Patel’s hilarious turn as Seema, “stylist to the stars,” the film battles “playing by the rules” and “playing to win” with utmost charm. Awards: Best Narrative Film, 2015 CAAMFest; Best Actress, Best Screenplay, 2015 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival.

Cast and Crew Scheduled to Attend! $15 for film only, $25 for film and after-party.
Location and Time: Museum of Contemporary Art, Sherwood Auditorium, 700 Prospect Street, La Jolla, CA 92037 USA
Opening Night! Thursday, November 5, 2015 7:00 pm
Tickets: For a limited number of discounted tickets at $10 through Women’s International Center, please email us a ticket request at team@wic.org and we will email you your tickets which you can print up and show at the door, or simply show the digital ticket on our email on your portable device at the door and the qr code (the speckled black square on the ticket) can be scanned.
http://festival.sdaff.org/2015/films/miss-india-america/

RECENT EVENT:
November 29 - December 2, 2015 Kyoto, Japan

World Engineering Conference and Convention 2015
Promoting Female Leaders in Engineering

The World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO), established to foster peace and socioeconomic progress around the world by encouraging advances in engineering and international exchange, holds a World Engineers' Convention (WEC) at intervals of four years. The 1st WEC took place in Germany in 2000, the 2nd in China in 2004, the 3rd in Brazil in 2008, and the 4th in Switzerland in 2011.

The World Engineering Conference and Convention (WECC2015), the 5th WEC, will be held in Kyoto, Japan, in 2015. This event will showcase Japan as a nation built on scientific and technological innovation to achieve sustainable development in the 21st century. WECC2015 will also provide a forum for sharing information focused on innovations required to make sustainable development a reality and advances in fundamental technologies to achieve this vision. Adopting both local and global perspectives, WECC2015 aims to make a productive contribution to worldwide peace and socioeconomic progress.
Conference: http://www.wecc2015.info/index.html
Women in Engineering: http://www.wecc2015.info/more/index.html

Spotlight on Women in SciencE Panel Recent EveNT:
5 Ocean Scientists from San Diego's Sister City Vladivostok, Russia

What: Our last Spotlight event featured 5 emerging Ocean Scientists from Vladivostok, Russia - San Diego's Sister City. Co-presented with the San Diego World Affairs Council, our event featured a panel discussion in which 4 marine biologists and an oceanographer briefly presented their work in order to further the advances of ocean research internationally. A professional interpreter assisted our dialogue and for more information on the specific areas of research including micro algae, toxins, pollution, and the ocean as a source of food, please explore this link.
Where: UCSD Women's Center (Student Center West, Bldg 290, Above Hi-Thai Restaurant, near Main Gym)
Date and Time: Tuesday, April 28, 2015 Noon-1:30pm
Meal: Buffet style luncheon including vegetarian entree choice and salad prepared by David Chenelle, President and Member Chefs de Cuisine Association of San Diego.
Cost: Complimentary with gratitude to our co-sponsors San Diego World Affairs Council, San Diego Sister Cities Association, Budget Blinds, and Bionic Sisters Productions.

RECENT EVENT:
INAUGURAL INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY EVENT

The first International Women's Day Summit in Kuwait was held this year under the generous patronage of His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, who was honored recently by the United Nations as a Humanitarian Leader. In celebration of this honor, the IWDS was dedicated to him, as Kuwait gets named "Capital of Women" and this inaugural summit has the goal of "Empowering Women." Women's International Center was honored to be featured on a panel about women's empowerment and the status of women internationally.

RECENT EVENT:
BICSR Bahrain International Corporate Social Responsibility Conference

Outstanding keynote speakers from around the world, insightful and practical approaches to Corporate Social Responsibility and a phenomenal platform of panelists including experts in the field of environmental sustainability, the business world, trade unions, international organizations, civil society, government and academia who share the latest trends in CSR. 9th -11th Feb. 2015 at the Gulf Convention Centre, Gulf Hotel, Bahrain. http://www.bicsr.com

Women's International Center participated as part of the World Federation of Engineering Organizations Women in Engineering Committee. Read more on our blog https://womensinternationalcenter.wordpress.com

ON Sept 16-19 2014 We went to
Seoul, Korea For
World Peace Summit

Co-Presented by the International Women's Peace Group http://internationalwomenspeacegroup.org HWPL and the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy. Advocates of International peace building based on cross cultural understanding, inter-faith communication and cooperation gathered among present and past world leaders to make a commitment to the cessation of wars, violence and intolerance. IWPG Chair Maria Kim and HWPL M.H. Lee have dedicated their lives to building a global network of messengers of peace. The Women's International Center was represented by Dr. Bridget McDonald.

Video

The Women's International Center would like to thank Mylene Dautel from the Normandy Business School as well as Lise Calligaris, a student from l'Institut Supérieur de Communication et Publicité (ISCOM), a communications, marketing, public relations and advertising school in Paris, for dedicating their summers 2014 to an internship with us. We express our gratitude to Noémie Auvray who is interning with us this year in 2015 from the University of La Rochelle. France.