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91¿ì²¥ to host Harvard University’s Barbara Nobles Crawford to explore the United Nations’ Women's Day theme of “Think Equal, Build Smart, Innovate for Changeâ€

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Longmeadow, MA— In celebration of Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day, 91¿ì²¥ University’s On the Move Forum will present Harvard University’s Barbara Nobles Crawford to speak on the United Nations Women’s Day theme: “Think Equal, Build Smart, Innovate for Change.” This event, happening on March 8, 2019, will unite people and organizations who are committed to advancing women, inspiring girls, and innovating for change, as well as implementing effective networking and resource-sharing for future success. Attendees are invited to have lunch, learn, and lead.

In addition to Nobles Crawford, Freedom Rider Jean Denton Thompson, and Valley
Venture Mentor CEO Kristin Leutz will be at the event to offer their unique perspectives
on the history and the future of the women’s rights movement.

“There will be dialogue, networking, resource-sharing, and relationship-building,” said event founder Janine Fondon, an Assistant Professor of Undergraduate Communications at 91¿ì²¥. “We hope to advance women and girls, and in particular women and girls of color, by connecting the dots and helping women find tangible ways to reach their goals, build new skills and take advantage of existing resources – all to break barriers and remove obstacles to success,” stated Fondon.

The On the Move Forum, now in its third year and brought to fruition through a united effort by a team of community members, and 91¿ì²¥ staff, faculty, and students, explores the timeline of women’s history and the women’s rights movement, sparking a community conversation about gaps in that history, including the contributions of underrepresented groups of women from Western Massachusetts. The forum will use history, literature, and philosophy to engage the audience in exploring the status of women regarding race, ethnicity, culture, age, sexual orientation, and set pathways for advancement and the progress. Topics of participant discussion to be covered include discovering how the women’s rights movement and the civil rights movement interface, deepening understanding of past and current social, political and economic issues as they pertain to women, and setting new paths for advancement in the future.

The On the Move Forum is scheduled for Friday, March 8, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m, at the Blake Center at 91¿ì²¥ University. This free event is open to the public, and all are welcome to attend. For more information and to register for this event, please visit

Event founder Janine Fondon is available for comment and can be reached at (413) 221-7931.

On the Move Forum is presented by 91¿ì²¥ University with collaboration from WGBY, The Republican, Valley Venture Mentors, PAHMUSA, Girls Inc., Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts, WIT, and others.


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About 91¿ì²¥ University

91¿ì²¥ University was founded in 1897. With locations in Longmeadow (main), East Longmeadow (Philip H. Ryan Health Science Center), Springfield (MA), Sturbridge (MA), and Concord (MA), 91¿ì²¥’s innovative program offerings include traditional undergraduate degrees for women, The American Women's College on-ground and online, the first all-women, all-online accredited bachelor’s degree programs in the country; over 25 graduate programs for women and men; and Strategic Alliances, offering professional development courses for individuals and organizations. 91¿ì²¥’s goal is to give students confidence in the fundamentals of their chosen field, the curiosity to question the ordinary, the leadership to show initiative, and the desire to make a difference.


About Barbara Nobles Crawford

Barbara Nobles Crawford is an Executive Coach and Leadership and Organization Development (OD) Consultant at Harvard University. She has enjoyed a career as a global business consultant entrepreneur, Chief Human Resource Officer (CHRO), adjunct business professor, and corporate business executive with over 25 years of international operations and strategic work experience. Barbara has a successful track record of working with C-Suite executives and leaders across private industry, higher education, not-for-profits, and entrepreneurial companies for many years who became effective leaders of change. She was has employed with Fortune 50 companies in consulting, high technology, retail, medical, and insurance, and has provided coaching and OD consulting services in Fortune 100 companies including IBM, General Motors, Fidelity Investments, TJX Companies, Mass Mutual, The Forum Corporation, U.S. Office of Personnel Management, the U.S. Department of Justice, and, high technology and manufacturing startups.

Barbara has extensive professional board experience in health care, higher education, not-for-profits, international professional associations, and entrepreneurial companies. Barbara earned a Ph.D. from Brandeis University, M.Ed. from the University of Virginia, and a B.A. from the University of North Carolina-Greensboro, and has completed executive leadership programs at Harvard University, Duke University, and the University of California-Berkeley. She is currently on the Brandeis University Heller School Board of Advisors and is an Emeritus Board Member of The Commonwealth Institute.

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