Cecile Richards (daughter of Ann Richards) new PP President

[Horse with no Name]

Cecile Richards is a leader in national progressive politics with more than 20 years of experience in support of reproductive freedom and social justice. Ms. Richards most recently served as founder and president of America Votes, a coalition of more than 30 national organizations, including the Planned Parenthood Action Fund. America Votes was created to maximize voter registration, education, and mobilization among grassroots organizations. Under her leadership, America Votes organizations collaboratively spent more than $350 million on political activities in 2004, and collectively the coalition members represent more than 20 million Americans. Directly before serving as president of America Votes, Ms. Richards worked as deputy chief of staff for Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, where she played a key role in the Congress member's election as the first woman Democratic leader of the House of Representatives.

Ms. Richards has a long history of work in the reproductive rights community. She created and directed a national pro-choice ID project for the Turner Foundation, where she worked closely with PPFA affiliates and the national staff. She formed and served as president of Pro-Choice Vote, the largest 527 political committee in the 2000 election cycle. Ms. Richards has served on the boards of many organizations, including the Planned Parenthood Action fund in the late 1990s and NARAL Pro-Choice America. She is a regular speaker at national and state organizations' conferences.

During the political ascendancy of the religious right in the 1990s, Ms. Richards formed the Texas Freedom Network (TFN) to combat the anti-choice, radical policy agenda of the extreme right in Texas. The TFN has organized a network of more than 10,000 clergy and community leaders across the state and served as a model for other advocacy organizations, and its work has been featured in such media outlets as the Washington Post, New York Times, Mother Jones, and other national publications.

Ms. Richards began her career organizing low-wage garment workers on the Rio Grande border. Her years as a union organizer included running the nationally recognized "Justice for Janitors" campaign in Los Angeles, CA, a successful effort to increase access to health care and better wages for immigrant janitors.

During her career, Ms. Richards has had the opportunity to serve on international delegations, including international observer teams for presidential elections in Mexico and Panama, and as part of a labor delegation to observe conditions of maquiladores in Mexico. She also served as a guest speaker to the European Union on the issue of religious fundamentalism.

As the daughter of former Texas Governor Ann Richards, Cecile Richards was raised in a family committed to social justice and public service. She and her husband have three teenage children.

[xchrom]

1. kick ass mom -- kick ass daughter!

:woohoo:

[mom cat]

2. I was about to say that if she kicks ass like her mom...

This is great!:kick:

[FreedomAngel82]

6. Yay!

Impressive resume.

[Horse with no Name]

7. Her resume reminds me of a young, female

Jimmy Carter.
I'd say she is a star on the horizon.:thumbsup:

[Fridays Child]

3. A cool lady and someone to watch!

[spuddonna]

4. If she has half the smarts her mom had...

...she'll be an incredible advocate for women's rights! :)

[Jax]

5. Rock solid

go Cecile, and bring Mom along anytime!