The Newsmakers Lesher Speaker Series recently selected Opportunity Junction as its nonprofit partner for an event featuring guest speaker Right Honorable Theresa May, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
During the event on March 9, Mrs. May shared her experiences and perspectives as a woman in the political sphere. She was the second female in British history to hold the Prime Minister position, preceded only by Right Honorable Margaret Thatcher, and has served as the Member of Parliament for Maidenhead for over 20 years.
As part of the partnership, OJ staff and board members were invited to attend the event and meet with Mrs. May during a private reception. Incoming OJ President and CEO Brianna Robinson expressed her excitement in meeting the former UK leader.
"Meeting with Right Honorable Theresa May was an honor and an inspiration,” Brianna shared. “Her experiences and perspectives as a female political leader were incredibly insightful. We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with the Lesher Speaker Series and engage with influential leaders like Mrs. May to further our commitment to empowering individuals and building stronger communities."
The Lesher Speaker Series aims to promote public discourse and support the East Bay Area’s nonprofit community by selecting nonprofit partners for each event. This partnership provides opportunities for nonprofits like OJ to engage with influential speakers and further their missions.
Outgoing OJ President and CEO Alissa Friedman also remarked on a memorable and inspirational evening.
“One thing that stuck with me was how differently she was treated as a woman. If she displayed any emotion at all, even appropriate emotion, that was all the press would talk about,” Alissa said. “I also was impressed with the accomplishments she made during her tenure, like increasing funding for mental health. I knew little about her time as PM beyond the difficulties brokering a deal for Brexit.”
To learn more about the Newsmakers Lesher Speaker Series, visit https://www.lesherspeakerseries.org
