March 1 - Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools

Wyandotte West – March 9, 2009Washington to be keynote speaker at women's luncheonby Bettse FolsomPauletta Pearson Washington, actress and wife of the movie star Denzel Washington, will visit Kansas City,Kansas March 12 at the Jack Reardon Convention Center, 501 Minnesota.She will be the keynote speaker for the KCK School Foundation for Excellence second annual Women’sLeadership Luncheon. The theme of the conversation this year is “Dare to Believe.”“These women have done a tremendous job in humanity and creating to make sure that students are gettingan education,” Washington said. “I was very glad they asked me to come. I am hoping that I can share somestories that will encourage and inspire people to go for it.”She has been married to Denzel Washington for 32 years, while most Hollywood marriages last less than fiveyears. She said their strong faith in God has been the reason for their successful marriage.“We first met briefly when we were working on a television show, “Wilma,” at the same time,” she said.“However, we weren’t formally introduced until a year later at a party he was hosting. We had a greatconversation and 32 years later, here we are.”The Washingtons are very spiritual and live outside the fantasy of Hollywood. They have friends who are notpart of the movie industry. The hardest challenge to them is trying to stay focused, however, she said herparents were great role models.“Before I got married, my mother told me that 85 percent of the success of our marriage would fall on me,”Washington said. “I was shocked because it was the time where women’s rights were an issue. However, afterthinking about it, I saw that my parents made a great team and put God first in their lives.”She said she would like women to gain more unity. The so-called unity that women have, they don’t, shesaid. Women, once thought of as secondary citizens, have come a long way, even running for president.However,Washington believes that women need to have equal rights, but not forget to embrace their femininity.“We are so busy and occupied being the caretakers and the nurturers,” Washington said. “I would like to seeus embrace ourselves.”Washington said it makes her sad to see that there are cultures and practices in this world where some womenare still treated as property. However, it seemed that those traditions are embedded, and the women can't evenhelp themselves.“I have met people like kings and queens and presidents and farmers and miners,” Washington said. “Peopleare people and the position that they hold are sometimes taken out of context. Everyone is human.”At the luncheon Washington will be sharing some of her stories as a young woman at the brink of integration,and that anyone can make it by daring to believe they can. She believes that she and her husband have walkedthe path of incredible success and it can be done.“My advice to young women is to get some faith and rely on something bigger than you,” Washington said.“No matter how smart, how pretty and how much money you make, you will never overcome the obstacles youwill face today by yourself. Find something greater than yourself to rely on.”To learn more about attending the luncheon, go to http://www.kcksffe.org/ or contact Shelley Coulter at 913-279-2091 or shcoult@kckps.org. Tickets are $75.