Fit Women Make Fit Leaders

Join us on the Bridge for a Salute to International Women's Day
Saturday, March 5, 2016
The Women's Leadership Alliance will host a program with three dynamic women who are making a big difference in our local community.
Keynote speaker Pamela Eddington, President of Dutchess Community College will speak on the topic of “Fit Women Make Fit Leaders.” An experienced educator and administrator with more than 30 years of service at community colleges in Connecticut and Massachusetts, Pamela R. Edington, Ed.D. assumed the presidency of Dutchess Community College in August 2014. The presidential search committee, board of trustees and campus community chose her after a national search, calling her the “right person at the right time” — a forward-thinking leader with demonstrated accomplishments in key areas that include enhancing student success; developing community-wide partnerships; strengthening educational pathways in science, technology, engineering and math; and fostering campus collaboration. 
Krista Jones Founder of Sparrow’s Nest will talk about her mission to provide meals to families with parents who have cancer. Krista Jones is the Founder and Executive Director of Sparrow’s Nest of the Hudson Valley, a 501(c)3 charity whose mission is to provide meals for the families of Mom’s and Caregivers with cancer. In 2010, one of Krista’s closest friends was diagnosed with Stage IV colon cancer and she began cooking meals for the family. Not long after, Sparrow’s Nest took flight. The grass-roots charity was formed in 2012 providing five local families with home cooked meals prepared with love and care by Krista. To date, Sparrow’s Nest has provided over 1,000 individuals with meals prepared with the same passion as that first meal Krista made for her friend.
Pari Forood will share the latest information on what women can do to protect themselves from breast cancer. Pari has been the Executive Director of the Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation since its inception in 2004. The Foundation has given away over $1.5 million dollars to date for support services, education and outreach for people affected by breast cancer within the 8 counties of the Hudson Valley, NY. Ms. Forood oversees all foundation activities, events, fundraising and publicity and she has written articles for magazines, newspapers, and hospital publications