Sigourney Weaver Headlines Local Women’s Speaker Series
Oasis Selected as Supported Charity for Event
Sigourney Weaver, Dr. Jane Goodall and Cathy Rigby are among the remarkable women headlining this year’s SmartTalk lecture series at the historic State Theater in New Brunswick, beginning this January.
SmartTalk brings women together to experience the power of the spoken word. According to SmartTalk Media Executive Chairwoman Karen Menke, which produces SmartTalk, “It stems from the idea that women are inspired by the heart and voice of other remarkable women. It’s more than just a lecture series, but a series of connected conversations.”
The “Connected Conversations”TM come in the form of a moderated question and answer period between the audience and the speaker after the lecture.
“SmartTalk brings women together like nothing I’ve ever been to before,” said Jill Zinckgraf who has been attending for years and will be this year’s moderator as a Director at Oasis-A Haven for Women and Children, which is one of the charities supported by this year’s series. “You hear these amazing stories that inspire you and give you strength and then you get to interact with these great women. Most people don’t get that kind of opportunity.”
The first speaker is Dr. Jane Goodall, renowned chimpanzee expert, on January 16th at 7:30 pm. The series continues one each month with Donna Brazile, political strategist; Frances Mayes, author of “Under the Tuscan Sun”; Olympic Gold medalist Cathy Rigby, and ending in May with Academy Award nominee Sigourney Weaver.
“Many women who attend make it a girls night out. They go to dinner before, or go out afterward,” said Zinckgraf, who lives in Morris Plains and has been driving down to New Brunswick to attend for years.
A national event, SmartTalk is held in theatre venues across the United States. Each year, SmartTalk selects charities in each of its local regions to partner with. This year, it one of its charities is Oasis-A Haven for Women and Children in Paterson, NJ.
Oasis feeds, clothes and educates needy women and children in the Greater Paterson area. They assist impoverished families who strive to achieve economic independence by providing educational programs to equip them with the skills they need to become self-sufficient.
“SmartTalk is about empowering and building women and girls. What better way to do this than by giving back to New Jersey and the local community by supporting a women’s charity like Oasis” said SmartTalk Chairwoman Menke.
"It is an honor to witness the honesty and humility each speaker shares to inspire each of us to fulfill our dreams and journey through self-reflection. This is the very essence of the foundation Oasis was built upon,” said Zinckgraf.
Tickets are available at www.smarttalkwomen.com/tickets or by calling 732-246-7469. For a portion of the proceeds to benefit Oasis, please enter code: OA12 NE.