The women's rights activist spoke about her time with the organization as part of an exhibition for the International Museum of Women in 2011. 310899-6026 All Rights Reserved. Very inspiring seeing the work and dedication Siebel Newsom has done for youth mental health. [12], Siebel Newsom raised $101,111 on Kickstarter to fund the production of her second film The Mask You Live In, which premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival. "So, I started doing research on the representation of women in positions of power and influence and the media's misrepresentations of women.". As a parent, theres nothing worse than seeing your child in pain and feeling powerless to help.. For years, he walked away unfettered, while for years, I nursed my wounds. the woman is the culprit. The pace of her life is hectic I only sleep six hours a night and since October it has included almost weekly visits to San Francisco to be with Newsom. But in the video the first partner posted after his Thursday sentencing, she said some really important things. The Mask You Live In, released in 2015, looks at how boys struggle with expectations around masculinity. Although Newsom's confidence may have taken a hit following the accident, she appears to be sure of herself these days, because she went on to say, "I am simply a girl who means well, who wants to make movies and to do good things in the world.". (Tim Mosenfelder) He also said she didn't make her lack of consent clear during the alleged . Siebel was 28 when she moved to West Hollywood. She talked about growing up in Ross, playing sports at Branson School and Stanford, working in Africa, switching to an acting career and dealing with a family tragedy that shaped her life. "As Gavin introduced me to various women in politics, I saw a complete disconnect between these powerful women in the real world and how the media portrayed powerful women," the movie maker explained. She is the token white chick in a movie now filming in New York. One of her solutions to these challenges is to get young people outside more, and to eat more-nutritious food. She honed her Spanish while living in Costa Rica, Peru, Ecuador, Argentina and Chile. She became the eldest of four sisters after her older sister, Stacey, died in an accident when they were both young girls. On Thursday, Jackson called out California's First Lady for disrespecting his co-counsel's line of questioning. Darling-Hammond said that Siebel Newsom , cares about the states 6 million children with the same sense of concern and compassion she holds for her own four., Californias Community Colleges: At a Crossroads, Adjuncts gig economy at CA community colleges, College And Covid: Freshman Year Disrupted, Education during Covid: California families struggle to learn, Tainted Taps: Lead puts California Students at Risk, Full Circle: California Schools Work To Transform Discipline, Californias Homeless Students: Undercounted, Underfunded And Growing, Eyes on the Early Years Newsletter Archive, Click here for EdSource's Comments Policy, College and Covid: Freshman Year Disrupted, Education During Covid: Families Struggle to Learn. "We need renewed economic and social mobility in this country," Newsom said of the film, per The Representation Project. Streamlined Medi-Cal coverage for young people to receive free mental health services. Jennifer was raised in Marin County, California and spent her summers exploring wildlife and riding horses in Montana. Jennifer Siebel Newsom, a documentary filmmaker and the wife of California Gov. She and her husband Gavin Newsom are of partial Jewish descent. During an interview with Ms. Magazine, Jennifer explained that her passion for gender equality led her to make this groundbreaking decision. Siebel Newsom was relieved of her privacy about that violation when she testified against Weinstein in November. She also interviews a number of notable women to showcase their perspectives, per Vogue. A prosecutor I know once pointed out that when someones house has been broken into more than once, we never ask, Wow, whats wrong with your house that it keeps getting burglarized? Yet even now, we do blame the victims of sex crimes for whats happened to them. [32] In November 2022, Siebel Newsom testified in court that, in 2005, Weinstein had raped her in a hotel room, having lured her there under the pretenses of holding a professional discussion about film projects. Jennifer Siebel Newsom broke barriers when she adopted the title "first partner" in place of the traditional "first lady" after her husband, Gavin Newsom, became the governor of California. "Not all that shocking because very similar things happened to me." Newsom said. Keep reading to find out more about Jennifer Siebel Newsom's many accomplishments. referring to herself as a repeat trauma survivor who'd felt responsible for her sister's accidental death in a golf cart accident when she was only 6, then had been . Her older sister Stacy died in a golf cart accident in 1981. As we can see from her documentary work, she is keenly aware and informed of these critical issues we face as a society, Cranston said. 40,000 new school counselors and other mental health professionals. "And that was traumatic to lose your best friend and your sister. Great article; provides good insights into the motivations of CAs first partner. A 2018 interview with Mamalode revealed that the budding actor's career was put on hold not because she couldn't land roles, but because she didn't want to fall victim to misogyny in Hollywood. "How dare . Because as she says in the extremely raw video she released on Thursday, after the man she has accused of raping her, the predatory former king of Hollywood Harvey Weinstein, was sentenced to 16 more years in prison, I never asked to join this club. It didn't make sense to me that I should be devaluing my accomplishments to achieve 'success.'" Newsom subsequently launched MissRepresentation.org, a social action campaign whose mission is to shift peoples consciousness, inspire individual and community action, and transform culture. Born in San Francisco, she moved at age 4 to Ross with parents Ken and Judy Siebel, he an investment manager, she a community volunteer and co-founder of the Childrens Discovery Museum in Sausalito. Women lawmakers see new allies in the Newsoms, parents of four children under 10, compared to former Gov. Harvey Weinstein allegedly lured Siebel Newsom to his hotel room. Shes produced four award-winning documentaries focused on mental health, equity, gender and related topics, starting in 2011 with Miss Representation about how depictions of women are too often focused on beauty and sexuality, and the impact on young people. Newsom's mother, Judy Siebel, was a community volunteer, while her father, Ken Siebel, was an investment manager. However, my main personal mental health interest is about stopping the criminal lack of meaningful treatment for adults with serious mental illness. Personal Quotes (6) I was drawn to the performing arts out of a desire to connect emotionally and on a deeper level with our humanity. [1] The couple announced their engagement in January 2008. Jennifer Lynn Siebel was born in San Francisco, to Kenneth F. Siebel Jr., an investment manager, and Judy Siebel (ne Fritzer), the co-founder of the Bay Area Discovery Museum in Sausalito. She shared that the tragedy may have led her to strive to become "the nurturer, the protector, the giver who wants to help the less fortunate." This year the Newsom administration set aside $4.7 billion for youth mental health programs in California, thought to be the countrys largest-ever investment in the emotional well-being of children. It's personal. She co-founded The Representation Project, an organization which works to end gender stereotypes. "We are so grateful for the support of both her and the governor's office in acknowledging the vital role this plays in student success, in school and in life. Husband of Jennifer Siebel Newson And, she is currently writing, directing, and producing her next documentary series, The Mask You Live In, which exposes the extremes of masculinity imposed on our boys and men and the resulting sociological, economic, and political impact. How do I take care of myself? Why is this extraordinary? mayor's girlfriend offers glimpse into her life and career", "OWN Acquires Miss Representation for OWNs Documentary Film Club", "The Mask You Live In by Jennifer Siebel Newsom Kickstarter", "Meet the 2015 Sundance Filmmakers #79: In 'The Mask You Live In,' Jennifer Siebel Newsom Confronts Our Narrow Definition of Masculinity", "From the red carpet to college campuses, #AskHerMore inspires gender equality", "Miss Bigelow: Choices fundraiser shadowed by loss of Merla Zellerbach", https://amp.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article251851903.html, "Newsom Twosome: Jennifer Siebel Newsom's Charity Is Out of Compliance But Solicits Donations from State Vendors & Governor's Campaign Contributors", "Jennifer Siebel Newson a leader of new generation of feminists", "Lt. Gov. READ ALSO: Jennifer Siebel Newsom Husband: Who Is Gavin Newsom? "When children experience these challenges, we have to realize it's not their fault. One of those privileges was there was an accident. She knows fully well that comprehensive mental health services in California schools have been inadequate. This after defense attorney Mark Werksman called her just another bimbo who slept with Harvey Weinstein to get ahead.. She spent a high school summer working in the rain forests of Costa Rica. SACRAMENTO - Gov. They hold onto trauma, and that trauma manifests in multiple ways. Gavin Newsom's baby boy Hunter born", "Lt. So she wrote, directed and produced the documentary film, Miss Representation, which exposes the underrepresentation of women in positions of power and influence in America and challenges the medias limited and often disparaging portrayals of women, which make it difficult for the average woman and girl to feel powerful herself. [9] She later graduated with honors from Stanford University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Latin American studies in 1996 and Master of Business Administration in 2001. My name is Jennifer Siebel Newsom. "This is a public health emergency," she said. [1] Jennifer and Gavin wed in July of the same year at her parents' ranch in Stevensville, Montana. Jennifer Siebel Newsom, one of Harvey Weinstein's accusers who testified against him on Monday, is no stranger to the limelight. [7] Siebel Newsom earned many roles in television, film, and theater. Very inspiring seeing the work and dedication Siebel Newsom has done for youth mental health. "You know the kind of thing where people finish each other's sentences? Newsom was a well-rounded student and was also involved in sports. Jennifer Oliver O'Connell (As the Girl Turns) is a contributor at Redstate and other publications. At 28 years old, the then-aspiring star moved to Hollywood to pursue acting. When Siebel Newsom was 6, her older sister died in a golf cart accident, which she said fostered a sense of guilt and a need "to help people because I couldn't help her." Siebel Newsom said . The mom of four reminisced on her college years while speaking to Marin Independent Journal. When she was six, her older sister Stacy died at age eight from a golf cart accident. We have discussions that Im not always interested in having, but Im always listening to (my dads) perspective and hoping hes listening to mine, she said. Thank you so much, Carolyn, for writing such a compelling and informative article. And all it took was decades of pain for dozens of women, more than 90 of whom have accused him. Streamlined Medi-Cal coverage for young people to receive free mental health services. As Californias first partner, a term she prefers to the traditional first lady because it is gender neutral and could apply to the spouse of a future woman or LGBT governor, Siebel Newsom is marrying the activism shes done through her filmmaking with the governing agenda of her husband, a Democrat in his first term leading the nations most populous state. She has appeared on such television shows as Life, Mad Men, Strong Medicine, and Numb3rs. After being sentenced to 23 years in prison for criminal sexual acts and rape, Weinstein is set to go on trial once again for the multiple sexual assault charges he faces in Los Angeles. Not because all of this happened to her; many if not most women have multiple stories along these lines. Siebel has stated she carries a lot of guilt as she was present at the time of the accident. When she was 6 years old her elder sister known as Stacy passed away at the age of 8 from a golf cart accident. Gavin Newsom. Erika Armin, her associate in Girls Club Entertainment, calls Siebel an amazing producing partner and a very special friend. The former actor's interview with Marin Independent Journal revealed that she and her siblings were raised by two financially secure parents. I'm a social justice documentary filmmaker, and an advocate for women, girls, and their families. "I'm always going be the person to say that the elephant in the room is technology addiction and social media addiction and everything that comes with that," she told EdSource. She was a chief backer of the state's Farm to School grant program, a $60 million initiative to pay for school gardens, cooking classes and other projects to bring healthier, fresher food to schools and teach children where their food comes from. A recent article in the New Yorker extolling the (probable) next Governor of California reveals that Gavin Newsom helped his mother commit assisted suicide. Her father, the son of steel mill workers, put himself through college on a scholarship and then went into the wealth management business where Siebel Newsom said he reaped benefits from so-called Reaganomics that favored less taxes and government regulation. Newsom traveled to countries throughout Latin America, Africa, and Europe during her time as a volunteer, per Yahoo!. Her father was a founder of Conservation International. Linda Darling-Hammond, president of the State Board of Education, praised Siebel Newsoms consistent and insistent efforts on behalf of Californias children, families and teachers. Siebel Newsom then widened her scope, focusing on how society treats men and boys with her film The Mask You Live In and exploring how gender values influence the U.S. economy in The Great American Lie, which premiered this year. As previously mentioned. When Siebel Newsom was 6 years old, her older sister died in an accident, leaving her to navigate grief and emotional upheaval at a young age. My friends say I am way too open and trusting.. Jerry Brown, who was 81 when he left office. Very interesting article giving insight into who Siebel Newsom is and why her interest in mental health. And that starts with the well-being of our children.. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. Inside, I have fallen apart. Gavin Newsom, became visibly appalled when asked to recreate how she faked an orgasm on the stand as she gave evidence during the sexual. Amy Cranston, executive director of the Social Emotional Learning Alliance for California, said Siebel Newsoms advocacy has helped draw attention to the youth mental health crisis and promote wellness in schools. Jennifer Siebel Newsom Biography. To encourage children to get outside more, she spearheaded the California State Parks Adventure Pass, which gives free admission to all California fourth graders and their families at 19 state parks, and the California State Library Parks Pass, which provides free vehicle passes to state parks available for check-out with a library card. Gavin Newsom. As a parent, there's nothing worse than seeing your child in pain and feeling powerless to help.". Jennifer Siebel Newsom posted the video Thursday to Instagram, after Harvey Weinstein was sentenced to 16 years in prison on three charges of rape and sexual assault - all of the same woman . See Jennifer Siebel Newsom, MBA's video on Meet Jennifer Siebel Newsom Inspiring stories about mothers taking a stand, Women reduced to Barbie Dolls despite achievement, Advice for parents: hyper-sexualization of our girls with slutty Halloween costumes, Boys and media and "The Mask You Live In", How dads can make a difference and support their daughters, How girls can find their voice in the classroom, How parents can create positive images for daughters, How parents can raise their daughters beyond youth, beauty & sexuality, How parents should handle offensive media with their kids, Making the documentary Miss Representation, The effects of athletics on girls' self esteem, The reality of sexual assault in the military, What Jennifer Siebel Newsom hopes everyone learns from Miss Representation, What parents can do in a culture of hyper-sexualization and pornography, What parents should tell their children about commercials, More Parenting Videos from Jennifer Siebel Newsom, MBA >, Three important rules about your baby's first foods, Postnatal depression and loneliness advice, The importance of spending quality time during early childhood, Bonding with your baby after a less-than-perfect birth. "This is the first nonprofit organization that I worked for during my teen/college years, so it was truly formative of my passions for international justice and all of the environmental issues that I care about," she revealed. Thursdays sentencing means that whatever comes of Weinsteins appeal in New York, where hes currently serving 23 years, the Oscar-winning rapist will almost certainly spend the rest of his life watching that awards ceremony from behind bars. [31], Siebel Newsom was one of several accusers against Harvey Weinstein in his 2022 Los Angeles criminal rape and sexual assault trial. "Throughout the trial, Weinstein's lawyers used sexism, misogyny, and . Harvey Weinstein lets out a belly laugh at LA rape trial as his attorney ridicules victim, What judge said to Alex Murdaugh is why we should abolish the death penalty | Opinion, California braces for next big snowstorm this weekend. Newsom has received the Emerging Artist Award from The White House Project, Champion for Kids award from Common Sense Media, and the Visionary Award from Vision 2020, among others. Its not easy, being Gavin Newsoms girlfriend. If Gov. She stood alongside him and women lawmakers in May when he announced a parents agenda that includes two more weeks of leave per parent, a bigger tax credit for low-income families and tax cuts on tampons on diapers. "I think we went to therapy once (after my sister died), and then it was like, move on, everything's fine, we're just going to pretend like nothing happened," she said in a recent interview with EdSource, her eyes filling with tears. The money will go toward a slew of programs, including: As first partner, Siebel Newsom has pushed for improved nutrition in schools, better access to the outdoors for children and other initiatives related to youth well-being. Jennifer Siebel Newsom (Jennifer Lynn Siebel) was born on 19 June, 1974 in San Francisco, California, United States. Her three younger sisters were athletes, too: Melissa, Jessica and Brooke, who later played tennis at Duke. [16] The Representation Project's board members include Jan Yanehiro, Nathan Ballard, Susie McCormick, and Maureen Pelton. [21], In the early 2000s, Siebel Newsom dated actor George Clooney. We are so grateful for the support of both her and the governors office in acknowledging the vital role this plays in student success, in school and in life., Darling-Hammond said that Siebel Newsom cares about the states 6 million children with the same sense of concern and compassion she holds for her own four.. Newsom has three sisters; a fourth died in childhood in an incident involving a golf cart. Linda Darling-Hammond, president of the State Board of Education, praised Siebel Newsom's "consistent and insistent" efforts on behalf of California's children, families and teachers. So we knew we had to address that in a holistic way.". She explained that she lived with guilt for years after the accident. [2] She grew up in the suburb of Ross, California. Governor Gavin Newsom, who is an incredibly brave and courageous leader who has inspired me through my work to be brave, to speak the truth, to call out the injustices in our society. As Siebel Newsom says, we have so much more work to do. Most recently, Jennifer has focused her energies on helping individuals recognize their power as consumers and citizens to right wrongs in the media and beyond. Newsom said he arrived at 11 p.m. at the familys multi-million dollar home in a Sacramento suburb after a long day in June finalizing his state budget and found about two dozen women there discussing Michelle Obamas book Becoming with his wife. Is the second of five daughters, though the eldest surviving one. Siebel Newsom went on to college, earning an MBA, and then worked in Hollywood for a few years before turning her skills to documentary filmmaking. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); We welcome your comments. She has enormous empathy for the traumatic experiences young people and their families experienced during the pandemic and has been instrumental in organizing awareness around these issues as well as resources for social-emotional supports and practices for schools, Darling-Hammond said. Siebel Newsom's efforts are especially welcome after so many years of funding shortfalls in California for mental health services, said Loretta Whitson, director of the California Association of School Counselors. In the piece, the first partner of California revealed that she was one of Harvey Weinstein's many victims. She holds a vibrant vision for whole-child, whole-family, whole-community education systems that truly nurture all students so that they can thrive feeding their bodies with nutritious food, their minds with opportunities for deep inquiry, and their hearts with a sense of belonging, acceptance and love.. After graduating with honors from Stanford University and Stanfords Graduate School of Business, Jennifer worked in Africa and Latin America, helping women entrepreneurs create their own socially and environmentally responsible businesses. "When I went into acting, my agent told me to lie about my age (I was 28) and take my Stanford MBA off of my resume," Newsom revealed. "It's a demonstration of our commitment to gender equity and inclusivity values that go to the heart of our 21st century partnership and who we are as a state." She has been featured in media outlets such as NPR, ABC, MSNBC, Fox News, Forbes, The Chicago Tribune, O Magazine, and Vogue. I tried to be two people, be perfect, because I didnt feel like I was enough., She thinks the accident may account for her desire to be the nurturer, the protector, the giver who wants to help the less fortunate., Brooke Siebel calls Jennifer a loving, beautiful sister with a huge heart.. When Siebel Newsom was 6 years old, her older sister died in an accident, leaving her to navigate grief and emotional upheaval at a young age. As Newsoms First Partner, she plans to launch an effort this fall probing negative effects of media and technology on children. Governor Gavin Newsom celebrates birth of his baby boy", "More Bay Area transplants: Gavin Newson bought Sacramento's most expensive home in 2019", "Boies Schiller law firm loses several attorneys over issues involving Harvey Weinstein, Elizabeth Holmes, founder's kids", "Newsom's girlfriend stumbles into wrong party", "California governor's wife among accusers at Weinstein trial", "Jennifer Siebel Newsom, wife of California Gov. She won the Pulitzer Prize for commentary in 2022, was a Pulitzer finalist for commentary in 2021, for editorial writing in 2020 and for commentary in 2019. "We had so much in common, we were blown away from our love for Africa to our interests in political issues to art and the wine business and college sports," she revealed. Victims, she said, often find lifesaving protection in initially telling even themselves that nothing terrible has happened. "Based on my years in the industry and unfortunately, my own personal experience with Harvey Weinstein, I can tell you that I believe every single word that was written in the extremely disturbing, but not all that shocking, New York Times piece published yesterday," Newsom penned, referring to the article that detailed Weinstein's history of crimes against women in Hollywood. Her older sister Stacy died when Jennifer was 6, her sister was 8, from a golf cart accident from which she carries a lot of guilt as she was present at the time of the accident. As a two-hour interview moves to a close, Siebel tries to explain why she is driven to "give back." On a family vacation in Hawaii when she was 6, her sister Stacey, 8, was killed in an. She heard repeatedly about childrens technology addiction young people who rarely left their rooms because they were glued to their phones, or spent countless hours a day gaming, or were consumed by social media, or had completely disengaged from their families and friends. The San Francisco native also discussed the shame many working mothers like her face. Who Is Jennifer Siebel Newsom, The First Partner Of California? Regardless, she didn't allow the injury to deter her from joining the collegiate soccer team, and the blond beauty is still quite the athlete years later. She received the Mike Royko Award for Commentary and Column Writing from the News Leaders Association in 2022 and 2019, as well as the Scripps Howard Walker Stone Award for Opinion Writing in 2018. former king of Hollywood Harvey Weinstein, I never asked to join this club. That background, she says, helps her empathize with a range of people, including conservatives featured in her films. The woman died on Christmas Day and is the cousin of Lt. ICSO deputy dies in crash while responding to call - KYMA Most recently, "Fair Play" focuses on the difficulties women face as they attempt to balance work and home lives. Siebel Newsom is also a mother of four who, like most parents, experienced the anguish of watching her children suffer through emotional distress during the pandemic. Jennifer lived a life of privilege, grounded in a family ethos that wanted to improve the world and save the environment. First partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom moderated a talk with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi . The former actor went on to explain that she hopes other spouses of elected officials are inspired to take on the title of first partner. I always felt that if children could get the mental help they need at a young age it could potentially prevent them from having mental hardships as adults. For 10 years, she was a reporter for The New York Times in New York, Washington, D.C., and Rome. Her testimony was the most dramatic and emotional so far in the three-week . This is a public health emergency, she said. [20] A subsequent investigation by Open The Books, a government transparency organization, found the Representation Project was out of compliance with California charity registration requirements which disclose fundraising activity. Personal Quotes (6) I was drawn to the performing arts out of a desire to connect emotionally and on a deeper level with our humanity. She is one of the most generous and kind-hearted people I know.. We're needed to be a part of the larger society that is involved in making sure that we create a healthier culture for future generations. The mother of four went on to reveal that the accident shaped her into who she is today. Diablo State Park keep out visitors eager to see snow, Watch: Connecticut teacher rescues unconscious driver from burning car, Security guard attacked after recording burglary suspects in Oakland. In fact, my son Hunter and I take a dance class together. As the governor's wife, Siebel Newsom feels she is in a unique position to merge her personal interest in young people's well-being with policies that reach regular Californians. Newsom's production company, Girls Club Entertainment, allows her to produce these gender inequality-focused projects. [citation needed], At Stanford, she was recruited to play on the women's soccer team. When Siebel Newsom was 6 years old, her older sister died in an accident, leaving her to navigate grief and emotional upheaval at a young age. I'm an avid outdoors, play all sports, I love to dance. Siebel Newsom directed the documentary film Fair Play in 2022. Weinstein, who was already two years into a 23-year sentence for a rape and sexual assault conviction in New York, faced a 24-year sentence for the Los Angeles verdict as of December 2022.[35]. High Stakes: Sports Betting in California, After Ohio's toxic train derailment, Biden orders door-to-door checks, Washington avalanche: Body of 1 climber recovered; 2 others still buried in the snow, Road closures at Mt.