We’ve got a few important dates coming up, and this is a great moment to start getting involved.

First up: November 10

We’ll (NGO CSW/NY) be hosting our very first YLYP (Young Leaders & Young Professionals) meeting. This is a space for younger members to connect, share ideas, and get more involved in advocacy — especially ahead of CSW (The UN’s Commission on the Status of Women). Please make sure to pass this along to your club’s YBPW members or any young professionals who might be interested. We want them in the room and part of the conversation.

Next: November 12

The  NGO  CSW/NY  Open  Forum  is happening! If you’re curious about CSW or

planning to get involved this year, this is the perfect place to start. You’ll learn what SW is, how NGOs can take part, and what to expect for CSW70.

And starting November 13:

Applications open to host parallel events for CSW70. This is a great chance to highlight the work your club is doing, showcase an issue you care about, or collaborate with other organizations on a global stage.

So, if CSW, youth engagement, or advocacy have been on your mind—even a little—now’s the time to get involved. Let’s make sure all NFBPWC members, especially our up and coming young ones, are informed, included, and ready to lead.

Emily VanVleck
VP Advocacy IFBPW UN Rep

Allies in Action—Partnerships that Power Progress

At the United Nations, collaboration isn’t just encouraged – it’s essential. Every major UN initiative, from peacekeeping to public health, relies on alliances with governments, organizations, and communities.

These partnerships form the backbone of sustainable progress and are embodied in the Sustainable Development Goal#17: Partnerships for the Goals. It reminds us that no nation, agency, or individual achieves equality and justice alone.

Allies in Action at the UN: Around the world, the UN builds bridges across boundaries. Member States unite to confront global challenges like climate change and conflict. UN agencies work alongside nonprofits, academic institutions, and the private sector to develop new ideas and new ways to do things through advancing technologies. Even internally, UN champions cross- department collaboration to ensure humanitarian aid and education efforts reach people who need them most.

These alliances aren’t symbolic. They are the real gears of progress. They are proof that when partners share vision and responsibility, solutions become not only possible but become fact.

What This Means for  NFBPWC: BPW International stands as one of the UN’s recognized allies. Our participation links the experiences of women in business and leadership to global policy conversations. As we focus this month on Allies in Action, it’s the perfect time to reflect on how partnership strengthens every level of our work and what each of us individually and within our Clubs can do:

Collaborate Locally: Partner with a community organization or local business to advance a shared goal.

Connect Nationally: Invite other NFBPWC communities to co-host educational sessions or awareness campaigns that support the UN’s mission.

Engage Globally: Follow UN briefings and events online to learn how cross- sector partnerships are driving real-world change.

Amplify others: Use your platform to elevate the work of other women’s groups and community leaders.

Your Call to Action

Allies make the impossible achievable. Before the month ends, consider how you or your club can strengthen one partnership that supports the UN’s goals. It may begin as a small collaboration, but like the UN itself, every alliance adds up to lasting impact.

Barbara Bozeman
President 2024-2026

Inspire, Innovate, Transform—Together We Shape a Sustainable Future

Greetings BPW Sisters!

I am pleased to report that NAC completed two webinars in September with great success.

Thanks go to BPW Canada members Colleen Babiuk-Ilkiw and Sheila Crook, with technical support from NFBPW President Barbara Bozeman, for a terrific session titled “Advocacy on the Line – Crafting Position Papers to Spark Change”. There was great engagement from many within NAC, showing the dedication our members have to making a difference for women.

We are equally grateful to NAC Training Coordinator Sujata Tiwari for the valuable webinar “Empowering BPW Leaders”. Following in Dr. Lena Madeson’s footsteps, we all want to be strong leaders, whether it’s in our careers or volunteer work. There will be additional Advocacy and Leadership Webinars in the new year so stay tuned!

Work is underway within BPW International with preparations for the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW 70) CSW70 (2026) | UN Women – Headquarters at the United Nations in New York City from March 9 – 20, 2026. While not everyone can attend in person, I hope many of you will participate in the over 700 Parallel Events with the NGO CSW About the NGO CSW Forum | NGO CSW/NY ,many of which are offered virtually at all hours of the day and evening. There are always topics and speakers of interest to everyone to learn more about women’s issues and work being done to make a difference. Watch for more information as it becomes available.

The North America and Caribbean Regional Conference will be held at the Hilton Niagara Falls/Fallsview Hotel in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada from August 23 – 25, 2026. It will include a Youth Symposium for Young BPW members on August 23rd and the Leader’s Summit over the next two days. We will have some amazing speakers on topics of interest to all. It will give you a chance to meet our NAC sisters from the Caribbean Islands and the USA, as well as other members from around the world.

Niagara Falls is very convenient for travel from the USA whether by car, train, or flights into Buffalo. There are regular shuttles from Buffalo Niagara International Airport. I hope you will take the opportunity to attend. Stay tuned for registration/hotel and speaker information!

As you approach Thanksgiving in the USA, I wish you all a lovely weekend with your family and friends, and hope you can rest, relax, and recharge, all the while eating a little too much turkey!

Karin Gorgerat
BPW International Regional Coordinator
North America and Caribbean

For information please email international@nfbpwc.org.

LARISA MILLER
International Relations Chair 2024-2026
International Liaison

Allies in Action

Did you know that BPW International has been part of the Commission on the Status of Women since its founding in 1946?

From the very beginning, BPW Leaders helped shape global discussions about women’s rights. Everything from employment and education to leadership and equity. So many of the policies we take for granted today were influenced by the persistence of BPW voices. Our history with CSW isn’t symbolic. It is built on partnerships.

From those first collaborations between women’s organizations and UN delegates, BPW has modeled what it means to be an ally for equality. We helped build the platform where women’s equality is debated and defined. And it continues every year as BPW members from around the world add their voices to the ongoing global conversation.

As we move closer to CSW70, our focus goes beyond awareness. It’s aboutconnection, collaboration, and collective strength. The theme “Allies in Action” reminds us that advocacy is never a solo effort. Every club, committee, and member can contribute. When we act locally with the CSW theme in mind, we don’t just represent NFBPWC. We demonstrate how allies unite to make progress possible.

What Can You Do This Month? Connect your work to the CSW:

Theme: Review your club’s activities or projects. Can you link them to women’s access to finance, innovation, or technology?

Spotlight Local Changemakers: Highlight women in your community who are advancing empowerment through business, education, or technology.

Co-Host or Support a Parallel Event Proposal: You can create and hold virtual events during CSW70. If your committee or club wants to collaborate on a session that showcases partnership in action, let us know (soon!).

Stay Informed and Share Forward: Follow updates from BPW International and UN Women and share key posts or articles with your networks. Every bit of awareness builds momentum.

Your Call to Action

Before November ends, choose one of these four actions – more if your club is feeling ambitious.

1)  Learn It. Read the CSW theme background brief and note how it connects to your personal and professional world.
2)  Speak it. Bring the topic to your next meeting or event. Even a 5-minute discussion can spark new ideas.
3)  Share it. Post one story, quote, or resource that helps others understand the CSW mission.
4)  Lead It. Volunteer to be your club’s CSW Liaison. Be the bridge between our local work and our global advocacy. Every alliance begins with a conversation. Every partnership builds momentum. When BPW women act with intention, the world listens.

Barbara Bozeman

President 2024-2026

Women in Leadership: Lessons from the United Nations

When the United Nations was founded in 1945, women were not at the table in great numbers. Yet from the beginning, women leaders were present, persuasive, and determined to shape the agenda for peace and equality. Eight decades later, women’s leadership has become one of the UN’s defining goals…an unfinished but urgent priority.

Women Leading at the UN

Today, women hold key leadership positions across the UN system. They head agencies, shape policies, and drive initiatives that touch lives around the globe. UN Women, established in 2010, stands as the most visible expression of this commitment, ensuring gender equality remains a core part of international dialogue. From climate negotiations to peacekeeping missions, women leaders are demonstrating that progress is possible when women’s voices are heard and their decisions respected.

The UN’s own data reminds us there is more work ahead: while gender parity has been achieved at the highest levels of leadership, the pace of change is uneven. Women’s leadership isn’t just about the numbers. Women’s leadership is about influence,impact, and inclusion.

What this means for NFBPWC

As an affiliate of BPW International, NFBPWC has consultative status with the UN through ECOSOC (United Nations Economic and Social Council). That means our members aren’t bystanders. We are active participants in the global dialogue. By learning form the examples of women in leadership at the UN, we can model leadership, bring local expertise to global spaces, and build confidence in our own voices.

• Model leadership at every level: from club chairs to national presidents, our leadership mirrors the values of the UN (diversity, equity, and shared responsibility).
• Bring local expertise to global spaces: our projects on health, climate, entrepreneurship, and advocacy are directly connected to the issues debated at the UN.
• Build confidence in our own voices: if women at the UN can shape treaties and resolutions, NFBPWC members can influence our communities, workplaces, and networks.

How You Can Participate Now

You don’t need to be a UN representative to be part of this story. Here are steps everyone can take this month.

• Watch women in action: Visit UN WebTV and seek out sessions where women leaders take the podium. Notice how they frame arguments, build coalitions, and set agendas.
• Practice leadership locally: Bring what you see to your club or committee. Use it as inspiration for how you moderate a meeting, present an idea, or guide a project.
• Share the story: highlight women leaders at the UN on your own social media or in your networks. Visibility inspires others to step up.

Call to Action

This month, as we spotlight Women in Leadership, look to the United Nations not only as a symbol of global cooperation, but as a source of inspiration. Women at the UN aren’t waiting for permission to lead…they are leading. So should we.

To get involved with NFBPWC’s United Nations efforts, email unchair@nfbpwc.org – or president@nfbpwc.org.

Together, we can ensure that women’s leadership is not the exception but the expectation, at the UN, in our communities, and within NFBPWC.

By Barbara Bozeman, President, NFBPWC

UN Women Ignite the Power of ONE “ONE Woman - ONE Community - ONE Nation: Building a Sustainable & Inclusive World Together”

To celebrate United Nations Day, October 24th, and the UN’s 80th anniversary, it is my pleasure to share ONE story of how UN Women, the lead UN entity on gender equality, ignites our collective power for the economic empowerment and full participation of women in the workplace, marketplace, and community around the world. This journey emboldened by UN Women celebrates the MANY women building an inclusive and gender just world.

Members of the NFBPWC know well, the power of attending the annual UN Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW )and BPW International (BPWI) Leaders’ Summit in New York. I will never forget the Canadian Global Champions with Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director, UN Women (second from left).

awe-inspiring rush; the first and every successive time I entered the United Nations. As a member of ECOSOC  –  an accredited non- governmental organization (NGO), BPW members can attend events and discussions that further the Commission on the Status of Women’s (UNCSW) landmark “agreements” including the Beijing Declaration  and  Platform  for  Action and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).

Developing a deep understanding of the language used and commitments made by Member States to the Agreed Conclusions of the sixty-fifth session empowers women to confidently engage with policy makers to shape national policy.

The big AHA moment

It was, however, at a BPWI Leadership Summitt featuring the 2010 UN Women and UN Global Compact Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) that the proverbial lightbulb went on. When BPWI President Liz Benham introduced the Women Mean Business tag line, Doris Hall the National President and I (then serving as the BPW Canada Secretary and Communications Strategic Advisor) immediately saw the game changing potential of the WEPs.

The role that work and economic empowerment play in promoting self-efficacy and quality of life has been well documented across my professional career in a diverse range of occupational sectors. That day the stars aligned and set the course to harnessing the power of a passionate BPW network, UN Global research and development, and insights from lived workplace experiences.

WOMEN MEAN BUSINESS

The WEPs launched a women’s empowerment journey that would break open decades of stalled progress through fresh dialogue with legislators. Simultaneously, we developed a team of Women’s Economic Empowerment Advocates within the BPW Canada Network. Cultivating a broadened understanding of the business case for the Women Mean Business tag line, saw the national narrative began to shift to valuing the diverse ways women contribute to the National Economy.

UN WOMAN: a grassroots force for change

The empowering force of UN Women continued to influence our journey. Seed funding provided by Foreign Affairs Canada supported the UN Women Empowerwomen Knowledge Gateway.

To support the Planet 50-50 by 2030 campaign, the UN Women empowerwomen platform, was used to launch the Global Community Champions for Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) Challenge.

The WEE Challenge was the tipping point in creating a custom Canadian WEPs awareness campaign. A Canadian WEPs Rally and insights from the BPW Women’s Empowerment Advocates garnered the attention of BPW International President (Freda Miriklis), who coordinated an exploratory meeting with the UN Women and Global Compact WEPs team. President Doris Hall and I shared our rationale and vision for an expanded WEPS strategy. With 98% of the Canadian economy comprised of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) there was a clear need to promote the benefits of the WEPs beyond CEOs of large corporations. The UN WEPs Team supported our WEPs Canada strategy and off we went.

Officially being named a Global Community Champion for Women’s Economic Empowerment and having the opportunity to serve as a mentor for the next cohort of WEE Changemakers remains a humbling lifetime hallmark. I owe it to the synergy of ideas sewn by these changemakers for the genesis of the:

The Canadian Coalition to empower women

The CCEW (Canadian Coalition to Empower Women), spearheaded by BPW Canada, promoted the WEPs with businesses of all sizes and government at all levels, including nonprofit, labour, and business professional organizations. On the cusp of the global pandemic we moved beyond awareness, to showcasing how Canadian WEPs signatories benefited from applying the WEPs principles in their organizations. Today, the Global UNWEPs include businesses of all sizes and business and professional organization such a BPW are invited to sign on to the WEPs.

Women’s empowerment pivot

Although COVID initially disrupted progress, the Generation Equality Forum (GEF) convened by UN Women during the pandemic, with funding secured from the Government of Canada Women and Gender Equality  (WAGE),  and  the  COVID  Response  and Recovery Fund, would see our journey accelerate and pivot to a Women’s Empowerment IDEAS4GE roject. The IDEAS4GE project, is but ONE of 57 hundred approved Generation Equality – Commitment Maker Advocacy Initiatives.

Ideas for gender equality

Stakeholders and diverse partners came together in hybrid events across Canada. They generated inclusion, diversity, equity, and access (IDEAS) to advance women’s economic empowerment and gender equality in the workplace, marketplace, and community. Participants invited to be IDEAS4GE Solution-builders used these ideas to co-create a series of impactful solutions.

This is but ONE journey of BPW Members working in partnership for a more gender-just world, ONE Woman, ONE Community, and ONE Nation at a time.

Enjoy the Journey!

Sheila CrookGlobal Community Champion for Women’s Economic

Empowerment

The countdown to CSW70 has already begun. But you don’t need to wait until March to take part. Every member of NFBPWC has a role to play, and the time to get involved is now. Whether you have a project to showcase or an idea to explore, or you are just curious about the UN process, there are concrete ways you can contribute today.

1) Share Your Stories and Projects: Our greatest strengths are the lived experiences of our members. Did your club launch a mentorship program? Lead a local advocacy effort? Organize a community event around women’s health, education, and entrepreneurship? These activities, experiences, and stories can become the foundation of a CSW Parallel Event or contribute to the messaging we carry forward as an organization.

1)  Contribute: Email a short description (even just a paragraph) of your project or idea to csw@nfbpwc.org. It doesn’t have to be polished / just the seed of an idea.)
2)   Join a Planning Team: Hosting a Parallel Event doesn’t require years of UN experience. It does require enthusiasm, collaboration, and a willingness to learn. Teams of two or three can make an event happen. If you’re curious about moderating or supporting with tech or helping shape the content, this is your chance to grow alongside other members.

Contribute: Raise your hand to join a planning team. You’ll gain experience, connections, and a deeper understanding of how civil society voices influence global dialogue

3)  Build Awareness in Your Club: Not everyone can attend CSW in person. But everyone can engage with its mission. Bring CSW updates to your local meetings, highlight UN Women resources, and spark conversations about how global themes connect to local issues. Awareness fuels action.

Contribute: Share this,article with your club and invite one new member to join our next CSW info session.

1)   Mark Your Calendar for the Vision Session: A vison and planning session will be scheduled soon. This is where we’ll brainstorm, connect, and set the stage for NFBPWC’s participation in CSW70. Your presence matters – whether you come with a project idea or simply an eagerness to learn.

Why Act Now?

Because CSW isn’t just about March. It’s about shaping the global conversation all year long. When NFBPWC members step up now, we ensure our local voices echo on the global stage in 2026.

What are Parallel Events? Parallel Events are civil society led sessions that run alongside the official/formal CSW proceedings. Hosted by NGOs, they create space for organizations like NFBPWC to highlight projects, share solutions, and spark global partnerships.

They are significant in that they are accessible, flexible, and diverse.

• Accessible: Any NGO with ECOSOC consultative status can apply to host.
• Flexible: They can be in-person in New York or fully virtual, allowing the widest participation globally.
• Diverse: Topics span everything from entrepreneurship and education to sustainability, health, human rights, and beyond.

What does it take to host a virtual parallel event:

A Global Milestone: The UN Turns 80

United Nations Committee – September 2025

Submitted by Barbara Bozeman

Global change never takes a holiday - and this September, the United Nations marks a milestone: it’s 80^th anniversary. Since the UN Charter was signed in 1945, the world’s challenges have shifted, but the need for cooperation, equality , and shared action has only grown stronger.

A Global Table, A Shared Agenda

Every September, the world gathers in New York for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Presidents, prime ministers, diplomats, and civil society leaders meet to set priorities, address global challenges, and remind us that the world’s problems and their solutions are shared.

This year, the 80^th session of the UNGA carries special weight. It’s not only the usual high-level discussions, but also a commemoration of eight decades of international cooperation. The High-Level General Debate will bring heads of state to the podium to share their visions forpeace, development, and humanrights.

Additional highlights include the UN’s 80^th Anniversary High-Level Meeting, the SDG Moment, Global Goals Week and a Climate Summit – all moments that spotlight global commitments to the future.

Why is this important to NFBPWC? Through BPW International’s consultative status with ECOSOC, our organization has a direct line into the work of the United Nations. What is discussed at UNGA influences the issues we advocate for in our communities and the opportunities we have to contribute to global change.

By watching and learning, we build the knowledge to link our local projects with international priorities. And when we do that, we bring NFBPWC’s mission – empowering women and advancing equality – into the broader story of global progress.

How can you be a part of it?

What is great about today’s UN is that you don’t have to be in New York to witness history and stay informed. UN WebTV streams these high-level events live and makes  them  available  on-demand. From your own home, you can:

• Watch world leaders outline their priorities for peace, equality and sustainability

• Take note of what goals or initiatives resonate with you.

• Share what you learn with your community, your workplace, or your BPW club.

https://webtv.un.org/en/schedule

Call to Action: This month dedicate one hour to the UN’s80^th Anniversary.

• Choose an event to watch on UN WebTV.

• Write down one insight or idea that inspires you.

• Share it – with a friend, on social media, or at your next BPW meeting.

When we stay curious, connected and informed, we ensure that NFBPWC voices remain part of the global dialogue. Let’s celebrate the UN’s 80 years not only by watching history, but by helping to shape the decades ahead.

DON’T WAIT FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO “KEEP UP WITH THE UN!”

Be part of it.Explore the headlines.Sign up for updates. Stay curious.

Stay Connected with the United Nations:

For those who want to follow more closely, here are key links to bookmark:

• UnitedNationsMainWebsite– https://www.un.org

• UN News – https://news.un.org

• UN WebTV (Watch live & on-demand events) – https://media.un.org/en/webtv

• UN Women – https://www.unwomen.org

• Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – https://sdgs.un.org/goals

• UnitedNationsonLinkedIn– https://www.linkedin.com/company/unitednations

To learn more or to get involved with our United Nations efforts, email unchair@nfbpwc.org.

“Inspire, Innovate, Empower, Transform – Together We Shape a Sustainable Future”

Greetings BPW Sisters! I hope you are all having a wonderful summer and are having some time to relax.

As the International Federation of Business and Professional Women celebrates it’s 95^th anniversary on August 26th, I hope you have had an opportunity to reflect on the vision of our founder Dr. Lena Madeson Phillips. She was an amazing woman, and she was years ahead of her time. She wanted to unite women in the United States and founded the National Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs in St. Louis, Missouri in 1919. From there she had an international vision and USA, along with Austria, Canada, France, Great Britain and Italy founded the International Federation in 1930 in Geneva, Switzerland. She believed that gaining economic equality would enable women to achieve equality in education, social and political aspects of society. She was quoted to say “if our motive is right, if we have faith, vision and courage, accomplishment must come.” What a wise woman, and these words still ring true today!

NAC will be holding 2 Webinars in September and I hope you will mark your calendars to attend. Following in Dr. Lena Madeson’s footsteps, Advocacy work is important to improve the lives of women, along with developing strong leadership. Registration details are below:

September 15 7 pm EDT NAC Advocacy on the Line – Crafting Position Papers to Spark Change https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/mlnHICS KRQOeaG5ZpldMWA

September 29 7 pm EDT Empowering BPW Leaders https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Dt- 5hPNvTA2VZ5igQO3eJg

I wish you all the best as we move into September, with back to school and back to work.

Respectfully submitted,

Karin Gorgerat

BPW International Regional Coordinator

North America and Caribbean

Better Together: Women Leading the Future of Peace, Development, and Human Rights

Each September, the world turns its eyes to New York as the United Nations General Assembly gathers to set the global agenda. This year’s theme, Better together: 80 years and more for peace, development and human rights, offers us a timely reminder that while governments and institutions carry responsibilities, it is people who build the fabric of peace and progress. And within that, women play a defining role.

For eight decades, the United Nations has stood as a symbol of international cooperation, yet peace, development, and human rights remain fragile and unevenly distributed. Women continue to face disproportionate barriers to safety, education, economic participation, and leadership. At the same time, history demonstrates that when women stand together, societies are more resilient, businesses are more sustainable, and communities are more just.

For business and professional women, the call is even clearer. We are not simply participants in the workplace; we are architects of the future. Our choices as leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators, and advocates set the stage for generations to follow. The balance sheets we prepare, the policies we implement, the partnerships we cultivate - each has an echo that reaches far beyond boardrooms and businesses. These decisions affect families, communities, and ultimately, the stability of nations.

To be better together means rejecting isolation and competition as the dominant models of success. It means understanding that the rise of one woman does not come at the expense of another but opens the door wider for all. It means mentoring young women who are only beginning to glimpse their potential, and it means amplifying the voices of those too often left unheard.

This responsibility is not optional. At a time when conflicts are increasing, when technology is outpacing regulation, and when inequality continues to erode trust, women have the opportunity - and the obligation - to lead differently. We bring to the table empathy, collaboration, and a holistic vision of progress that connects profit to purpose. If the next 80 years are to be marked by greater peace, more  inclusive development, and stronger protection of human rights, it will be because women refused to stand on the sidelines.

As members of NFBPWC and the international BPW community, we carry this legacy forward. Our networks span cultures, continents, and sectors. That diversity is our strength. Together, we can build not only businesses that thrive but societies that endure.

The United Nations theme is a global call, but for us it is also personal. Better together is not just an aspiration; it is a mandate. The future is watching, and it will remember whether we stood together as women, as professionals, and as leaders committed to peace, development, and human rights for all.

Larisa Miller

BPW GALWAY & NFBPWC USA NFBPWC INTERNATIONAL

Relations Chair (2024-2026) International Liaison

UN Standing Committee