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Inspiring Boldness Speaker Leymah Gbowee Challenges Students to Live Boldly

On Monday, November 15, Marymount welcomed Nobel Peace Laureate, Leymah Gbowee as a featured guest in the Inspiring Boldness Speaker Series. Ms. Gbowee is world-renowned as a Liberian peace activist, social worker, and women's rights advocate.
In highlighting the pathway to becoming courageous young women with boldness, Ms. Gbowee shared four steps for girls to follow: to find who they are; to find their voice, to dominate their space in the world, and lastly, to find their purpose. 

She challenged students to consider what they're truly passionate about; what keeps them up at night. "These are the things that you are passionate about," Ms. Gbowee said. "These are the ways that you can make a difference in the world. If it's homelessness, you can do something. If it's racism, you can make a difference. Think about what keeps you awake and use that to make a difference in the world."

In a heartfelt moment during her presentation, Ms. Gbowee invited a student to the front of the room and addressed the young girl's question of, "How can I find my voice? Especially when I don't feel confident." Ms. Gbowee gently hugged the student and encouraged her to practice every day looking at herself in the mirror and speaking affirmations. "Say to yourself, I am smart. Say, I am worthy. Say, I am beautiful. Speak life into yourself."
 
On that same evening, Ms. Gbowee spoke intimately with parents of current students, Alumnae, Marymount Trustees, faculty, and staff. She challenged attendees to support the journey of liberation for women in Liberia and girls globally by sharing in her vision of empowerment beyond financial contributions. Her goal is to continue bringing awareness to the ongoing struggles of the disenfranchised and opportunities to make changes that directly impact people the safety, education, and well-being of young women worldwide. 

Ms. Gbowee is noted for the Women of Liberia Mass Action for Peace that helped bring an end to the Second Liberian Civil War in 2003. In addition to a documentary film, Pray the Devil Back to Hell, Ms. Gbowee also has a TED Talk entitled Unlock the IntelligencePassion, and Greatness for Girls and several stellar international televised interviews. 
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