The event, held on Monday March 8th 2010, at the Verne Riffe Center in Columbus, had a turnout of 850 women from all over Ohio. We heard from amazing women leaders, learned about important issues affecting women and girls in education, economics, and health, and discussed how to continue to advance the status of women and girls in Ohio. We were able to learn and grow from our differences and commonalities throughout the day as we met new and interesting women from every corner of Ohio. It was wonderful to have the support of so many Ohio organizations and businesses.

A major success of the day came, when, during his speech, Governor Ted Strickland signed an Executive Order establishing an Ohio Council on Women and Girls. This memorable day soon came to a close in the Capitol Theatre with our keynote speaker, Valerie Jarrett, a senior advisor to President Obama, who came from Washington to take part in honoring International Women’s Day and promoting the status of women and girls.

Similar events that took place simultaneously at the Franklin Pre-Release Center and at the Ohio Reformatory for Women were also successful with close to 350 women participating at the combined sites.

Sunday’s March 7th Young Women’s Summit brought girls from all around Ohio to Columbus School for Girls to learn and share from each other as they looked to the future to develop their leadership skills.  The simultaneous events at the Scioto Juvenile Correctional Facility and at the University of Toledo were also huge successes.

Your support was integral in making Momentum 2010 a possibility, so thank you for championing our cause. We know that you are the right leaders to carry on the message.

Let’s keep the Momentum going!`