2009 NJ Governor's Conference for Women Sold Out
Record Number of Women Expected to Attend Event


TRENTON - Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Commissioner Joseph Doria today announced that the 2009 Governor's Conference for Women will no longer accept registrations online or via fax and mail because of limited space. More than 1,600 women, a record number, have signed up for this year's conference, which will take place May 12 at the Atlantic City Convention Center. Registration will still be allowed onsite the day of the conference.

"The number of women coming to this dynamic conference is a testament to the great reputation the Women's Conference has developed over the years as an event where women from across the state can come together to network, learn and get inspired to do great things," Commissioner Doria said.  "Governor Corzine and we at the DCA recognize how important women are to families, communities and businesses. This conference is designed to support and empower the women who fill these roles."

The theme of the 2009 Governor's Conference for Women is "Shaping the Future." Attendees can choose from 17 different educational sessions on such topics as healthy living, career development, personal finance, leadership and business startups. There will also be sessions specifically on the economy and what women can do to survive today's tough financial environment. More than 80 women are scheduled to speak at the conference, including Maya Angelou and Cokie Roberts.

Dr. Angelou is hailed as one of the great voices of contemporary black literature and as a remarkable Renaissance woman. She was among the first African-American women to hit the bestsellers lists with I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, which was published in 1970 to great critical acclaim. Dr. Angelou authored 11 other best-selling books and numerous magazine articles, earning her Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award nominations. She has made hundreds of television appearances, written and produced prize-winning documentaries, and starred in theatrical productions in the nation's largest cities.

Ms. Roberts co-anchored the weekly ABC interview program This Week with Sam Donaldson from 1996 to 2002. She is currently a political commentator for ABC News and a senior news analyst for National Public Radio. Ms. Roberts has been inducted into the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame, and was cited by the American Women in Radio and Television as one of the fifty greatest women in the history of broadcasting. She is also the bestselling author of such books as We Are Our Mothers' Daughters, an account of women's roles and relationships throughout American history, and Ladies of Liberty.

Additional conference highlights include a networking reception on Monday, May 11, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Crown Ballroom of the Sheraton Atlantic City Convention Center Hotel where Lisa Jackson, the first African-American administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, will be recognized. Also, attendees can visit an enhanced health fair all day long for free health screenings and healthy giveaways, and check out more than 55 exhibitor tables.

The Governor's Conference for Women is hosted by the DCA's Division on Women and the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, a DCA affiliate. The conference is self-sustaining, funded entirely through sponsorship opportunities and registration fees.

For more information on the conference, visit us online at www.njwomensconference.com.


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