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December 18, 2005
A Woman I Admire -- Constance Rice
Posted at December 18, 2005 05:55 PM in Women's Issues .
Connie Rice is a woman I very much admire. I remember listening to her speak many years ago at a conference and what I came away with that day is the knowledge of a woman who puts everything – her mouth, body, thoughts and hard work – with people. The Los Angeles Times designated her one of 24 leaders considered the "most experienced, civic-minded and thoughtful people on the subject of Los Angeles," and in 1999 California Law Business named her one of California's top 10 most influential lawyers.
Connie – Condi – Rice. Well yes, there are similarities, they are cousins. Though they are similar in intellect—well, depending on where you sit that’s debatable—they are very different in terms of their convictions and where they have chosen to focus their convictions. I personally am on the side of Connie who is and has always been on the right side and that side is the fight for people, the common man, families and women.
Connie Rice, a former litigator at Morrison & Foerster and, in the early 1990’s when I first heard her speak, served as counsel to the Watts gang truce. She also spearheaded a statewide campaign to save equal opportunity programs in the state of California. She is Co-Director of the Advancement Project located in Los Angeles and serves with other heavy hitters, namely an attorney I had the pleasure of working with during my years at Morgan Lewis & Bockius, Stephen English who, while there, spearheaded a number of pro bono projects for those who were discriminated against in housing. Steve is a Co-Director along with his wife, Molly Munger – I run into her dad every now and then – who is also a very talented and civic minded attorney in her own right.
These talented litigators teamed up to form the Advancement Project, a democracy and justice action group, that works with communities seeking to build a fair and just multi-racial democracy in America. Using law, public policy and strategic communications, Advancement Project acts in partnership with local communities to advance universal opportunity, equity and access for those left behind in America.
The following video is a rare find. Connie appears here on Town Hall Los Angeles at a conference on Women Leading Women: Power and Sex in the New Millennium. In this video she is the featured speaker and talks about men, women, gangs, feminism and how women should use non-traditional means to penetrate the glass ceiling—she and Molly Munger have done some pretty daring things. The video is an hour long and you will not be disappointed in Connie’s observations as well as her bold and fearless adventures.
I cannot tell you the impact watching this video had on my life. It reminded me of the woman I used to be and turned my focus, not only in the direction of remembering, but it brought me back to who I am and what I need to do.
Enjoy her talk. She’s witty, intelligent and very straight forward – one of the reasons I admire her – and she tells it like it is. You can view the video by clicking here or click below to watch here.
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Links: About Connie Rice: http://www.pbs.org/now/politics/rice.html The Advancement Project: http://www.advancementproject.org/ The Women's Foundation of California -- A very good organization to be a part of and to support: http://www.womensfoundca.org/site/c.aqKGLROAIrH/b.963905/k.CBBE/Home.htm