Jennifer Siebel Newsom's smarts got her into California's Stanford University, where she eventually earned a Bachelor's degree in Latin American studies and a Minor in Human Biology. 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.. Erika Armin, her associate in Girls Club Entertainment, calls Siebel an amazing producing partner and a very special friend. It really helped," she told a recent conference of counselors and school administrators in Napa. An internationally recognized speaker, Newsom has spoken at The World Bank, TEDxWomen, Google, Deutsche Bank, Charles Schwab, Fortunes Most Powerful Womens Summit, Soroptimist International of the Americas Conference, Harvard University, MIT, The California Senate, and The National Coalition of Girls Schools to name a few. Her testimony was the most dramatic and emotional so far in the three-week . 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. "Throughout the trial, Weinstein's lawyers used sexism, misogyny, and . "The title of 'first partner' is a statement of Gavin's and my shared values," she revealed. She then moved to Hollywood to pursue acting, quickly landing roles in TV and film including Mad Men, LIFE, In the Valley of Elah, Rent and Somethings Gotta Give. Lots of commentators thought Alex Murdaugh might walk because the motive was so illogical, but since when did any reason to commit murder make rational sense, asks Melinda Henneberger. "So, I started doing research on the representation of women in positions of power and influence and the media's misrepresentations of women.". Im very, very naive when it comes to the press, she says. Before Jennifer Siebel Newsom was the first partner of California, she had a fling with George Clooney. [11] On February 10, 2011, Oprah Winfrey announced that she had acquired the film for the OWN Documentary Film Club. What, she asked Salvador Sanchez Ceren, did he have to say about the countrys poor record on womens rights? Melinda Henneberger is The Sacramento Bees local columnist. Newsom is one of the women who will testify against him in court. [1] The couple announced their engagement in January 2008. In 2002, Siebel Newsom moved to Hollywood, where she concentrated on building her acting career. Hes a visionary. As Siebel Newsom says, we have so much more work to do. I still ski hard.. So we knew we had to address that in a holistic way.. Miss Representation premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival to mostly positive reviews. 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. "This is a public health emergency," she said. Shortly after the Newsoms married, Siebel Newsom found herself dissatisfied with the roles Hollywood gave her - like the love interest of male characters and a one-episode appearance as a prostitute in the Mad Men TV series. Both Newsoms say they constantly discuss their political priorities. In conjunction with a group she founded, California Partners Project, she used the information to create toolkits for families, schools and others to help children overcome technology addiction. The film premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival and was picked up by Oprah Winfreys OWN network. Jennifer Siebel Newsom, the wife of California Gov. At 32, Siebel is strikingly slim, with large, expressive eyes, a tumble of blond hair and a quick, tender smile. Newsom said. First partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom has spent decades spotlighting, examining and uplifting the mental well-being of young people. 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. Very inspiring seeing the work and dedication Siebel Newsom has done for youth mental health. During high school, she played varsity . This realization may have been what led Newsom to become a gender equality advocate as California's first partner. Click here for EdSource's Comments Policy. Her Spanish now allows her to communicate with millions of Californians in a way that her husband cant. "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. Victims of sexual violence have one hell of an ally in the newly unshackled Jennifer Siebel Newsom, feminist documentary filmmaker and wife of California Gov. Gavin Newsom. Her father was an investment manager, and her mother is a co-founder of the Bay Area Discovery Museum in Sausalito. 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., In conjunction with a group she founded, California Partners Project, she used the information to create. The film examines how the media has underrepresented women in positions of power. Gavin Newsom, takes the stand in Harvey Weinstein trial", https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/14/us/harvey-weinstein-jury-deliberations-los-angeles-wednesday/index.html, "Harvey Weinstein Found Guilty of Rape in Los Angeles Trial", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jennifer_Siebel_Newsom&oldid=1141212067, First ladies and gentlemen of San Francisco, Stanford Graduate School of Business alumni, All articles with bare URLs for citations, Articles with bare URLs for citations from April 2022, Articles with unsourced statements from November 2016, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Episode: "The Camp, the Counselor, the Mole and the Rock", This page was last edited on 23 February 2023, at 23:03. I wouldnt be with him if he werent.. But in the video the first partner posted after his Thursday sentencing, she said some really important things. Newsoms wife couldnt convince Weinstein jury, what happens to ordinary women? And Christian Mills of Mill Valley and Hollywood, an industry jack-of-all-trades, says Siebel incredibly loyal, compassionate and sensitive- always attracts a big crowd at industry events. It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2011, followed by her launch of The Representation Project nonprofit group that writes curricula about gender in media. Who Is Jennifer Siebel Newsom, The First Partner Of California? I really grew up thinking Reagan was the end-all, be-all and then when I started delving into research around his policies and saw the outcomes, I realized that I didnt associate with those policies and didnt think those were the smartest, she said. Jennifer lived a life of privilege, grounded in a family ethos that wanted to improve the world and save the environment. [7][22][23], She met Gavin Newsom on a blind date set up by a mutual friend at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in October 2006. An advocate for women, girls, and their families, Jennifer Siebel Newsom uses her skills as a filmmaker, speaker, and CEO of the non-profit social action organization MissRepresentation.org to uncover the glaring injustices we live with every day yet fail to adequately see and ultimately change. I was this driven, over-achieving perfectionist who excelled in sports, she says, wiping away a tear. 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. In the piece, the first partner of California revealed that she was one of Harvey Weinstein's many victims. The activist. 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. "Considering what's going on in the country and the world, it's critical that California succeeds right now. October 10, 2022 / 11:36 PM / AP. Gavin Newsom, became visibly appalled when asked to recreate how she faked an orgasm on the stand as she gave evidence during the sexual. 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. Alex Tourk is a nice man and it saddens me that his wife did that to him. Rippey-Tourk is the wife of Alex Tourk, Newsoms campaign manager, who has since resigned. 40,000 new school counselors and other mental health professionals. [17][18][19] In 2021, The Sacramento Bee revealed that from 2011 to 2018, Siebel Newsom earned $2.3 million from her film work through her nonprofit organization, which had received $800,000 in donations from companies with business before California's government as her husband Gavin Newsom's political career ascended, and continued to draw her salary after he became governor. On Thursday, Jackson called out California's First Lady for disrespecting his co-counsel's line of questioning. She explained that she lived with guilt for years after the accident. Gavin Newsom was wrapping up a meeting with the president of El Salvador in April when his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, spoke up in fluent Spanish. "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. During high school, she played varsity basketball, soccer, and tennis. Jennifer Siebel Newsom Biography. She opened up about how she views motherhood as a gender equality activist in an essay she wrote for Glamour in 2019. When she was six, her older sister Stacy died at age eight from a golf cart accident. ", Darling-Hammond said that Siebel Newsom"cares about the state's 6 million children with the same sense of concern and compassion she holds for her own four.". While this relationship didn't work out, it led Jennifer to find love with Gavin Newsom. "How dare . "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. But she went even further in Thursdays video, referring to herself as a repeat trauma survivor whod felt responsible for her sisters accidental death in a golf cart accident when she was only 6, then had been sexually assaulted by a high school classmate and by the trusted coach of her national soccer team. From the article: Newsom's sister . Amy Cranston, executive director of the Social Emotional Learning Alliance for California, said Siebel Newsom's advocacy has helped draw attention to the youth mental health crisis and promote wellness in schools. That makes for some uncomfortable conversations with her parents, who she said are still proud of her political work with Newsom. So I've always known that, without your mental health, what do you have?". And I really am focused on self-care, because I know that it's challenging being a working mother, but we're needed. 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. Her parents were Kenneth and Judy Siebel. It is our fortune to have her involved in creating impactful child-related policy as a mother of young children, a good listener, and as someone who has the sensitive and critical eye of a filmmaker that worked on related topics of significance. Community schools that offer social services to students and their families. Siebel Newsom directed the documentary film Fair Play in 2022. There - dismayed by the way women were presented in front of the camera - she realized she needed to do more work behind the camera. "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.". But she went even further in Thursday's video, 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. Its personal. 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. He makes me laugh., Despite the ruckus, she says, she and Newsom are still solid., 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 accident involving a golf cart, and I was a participant., She carried feelings of blame and guilt for years. 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.. Since her husbands inauguration, Siebel Newsom has launched a campaign pushing California companies to pay workers equally and urged her husband to expand paid family leave. In 2020, The Great American Lie examined racial and income inequality in the U.S. 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. [24][25][26][27], In 2011, Siebel Newsom and her family moved from San Francisco to Ross, where she had grown up. She is the second oldest of five girls and attended Ross Grammar School and The Branson School. "We need renewed economic and social mobility in this country," Newsom said of the film, per The Representation Project. So we knew we had to address that in a holistic way.". Only she was allowed to give a victim statement in court, where she said his crimes against her had left her feeling heartbroken, empty and alone for many years. Newsom began working with Conservation Internationalafter receiving her undergraduate degree, and her volunteer work allowed her to travel the world. The mom of four reminisced on her college years while speaking to Marin Independent Journal. She spent a high school summer working in the rain forests of Costa Rica. Siebel Newsom is the fourth woman Weinstein is accused of sexually assaulting who has taken the stand in Los Angeles. But Sanchez Ceren didnt seem fazed and gave a lengthy answer about progress and work that remains. She has covered crime, local and state government, hospitals, social services, prisons and national politics. Two things squelched that notion: She grew faint at the sight of blood, and her mentor-doctor in Quito seemed hardened and depressed by his work: I thought, Oh my God, I want to be happy.'. Jennifer Siebel Newsom, a filmmaker and the wife of California Gov. First partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom moderated a talk with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi . One of her solutions to these challenges is to get young people outside more, and to eat more-nutritious food. With the pandemic, the surge in youth technology use, and a general increase in vitriol and polarization, she said she feels a sense of urgency about her job and the stakes for Californias children. 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. I had to find myself again., After graduation she worked at a hospital in Quito, Ecuador, thinking she might become a Third World doctor. When she was six, her older sister Stacy died at age eight from a golf cart accident. Her interest in acting segued into establishment of her own production company, Girls Club Entertainment, where she has developed a number of film projects, including one on gang warfare in South Central Los Angeles, and a documentary celebrating women heroes. To improve her skills at public speaking, she began taking classes at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco. Nov. 14, 2022. Newsom resides in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, California Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom, and is the proud mother of Montana, Hunter, and Brooklynn. 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. Great article; provides good insights into the motivations of CAs first partner. Then, when a victim later comes to terms with whats happened, we say that version of events must be a lie. Jennifer Siebel Newsom's father helped developConservation International, per Marin Independent Journal. The California governor's friend, Stanlee Gatti, spoke to SFGate about the chemistry between Jennifer and Gavin. [6][7][8], Siebel Newsom is the second oldest of five girls and attended Ross Grammar School and The Branson School. In fact, my son Hunter and I take a dance class together. SACRAMENTO - Gov. I'm the mother of 3 young children - Montana, Hunter, and Brooklyn. Soon she landed on Newsweek's List of "150 Fearless Women Who Shake the World", Fast Companys League of Extraordinary Women, and San Francisco Business Times Most Influential Women in Business. "(We) would love to work with her and support her efforts.". [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. I'm a social justice documentary filmmaker, and an advocate for women, girls, and their families. "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. If Gov. Sarah Morris / Getty Images Jennifer Siebel Newsom, filmmaker and the wife of California Gov. "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. During high school, she played varsity basketball, soccer, and tennis. 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. I tried all sorts of therapies, trying to make sense of it all, trying to heal the physical manifestations of trauma. Editorials and other Opinion content offer perspectives on issues important to our community and are independent from the work of our newsroom reporters. My friends say I am way too open and trusting.. A good percentage of entertainment and tech that were putting out into the world is questionable in terms of the impact its having on our kids minds and hearts and well-being, she said. 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. [16] The Representation Project's board members include Jan Yanehiro, Nathan Ballard, Susie McCormick, and Maureen Pelton. Newsom was a well-rounded student and was also involved in sports. She has the governors ear and you know she values the same things, Democratic Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez said of Siebel Newsoms work with the Legislative Womens Caucus. Jennifer Siebel Newsom, a documentary filmmaker and actor who is married to California Gov. Shes not trying to speak on behalf of any group, shes trying to give voice and a platform to communities that often are not invited or dont have the opportunity or the luxury of being in the room or at the table, Carrillo said. The mom revealed that gender roles affect her relationship with Gavin and their parenting responsibilities. Gavin Newsom, is among the accusers of Harvey Weinstein who will . "I will always bear the responsibility of our children in a way Gavin never will," she wrote. It became more hectic in March, when for an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle, Siebel blamed Ruby Rippey-Tourk for her much-publicized affair with Newsom. They do. 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. Community schools that offer social services to students and their families. for families, schools and others to help children overcome technology addiction. 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. Jennifer Siebel Newsom fends off shame-the-victim tactics in Harvey Weinstein rape trial Lois Beckett in Los Angeles The same grotesque stereotypes that the documentary film-maker has exposed. Gov. 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But for her, the topic transcends professional duties. 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. A recent article in the New Yorker extolling the (probable) next Governor of California reveals that Gavin Newsom helped his mother commit assisted suicide. She is the token white chick in a movie now filming in New York. Inside, I have fallen apart. Newsom, who doesnt speak the language, learned what she had asked through a translator and worried his host would be offended. The eldest of four girls (Jennifer lost her elder sister Stacey in an accident when they were kids), Jennifer dedicates her time and energy to helping our most vulnerable. 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. "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. Jennifer Siebel Newsom, Gavin Newsom's wife, is known as Jane Doe No. Yet they're respectful of each other. "The Mask You Live In," released in 2015, looks at how boys struggle with expectations around masculinity. Jennifer Siebel Newsom, married to Gov. However, my main personal mental health interest is about stopping the criminal lack of meaningful treatment for adults with serious mental illness. While speaking with Mamalode, she revealed that Hollywood's inaccurate portrayals of women inspired her to produce her documentary, "Miss Representation." 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. Gavin Newsom, nearly screamed through tears from the witness stand Monday when she told the court Harvey Weinstein . Jennifer Siebel Newsom (Jennifer Lynn Siebel) was born on 19 June, 1974 in San Francisco, California, United States. She and her husband Gavin Newsom are of partial Jewish descent. 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. Jennifer Siebel Newsom, wife of California Gov. Gavin Newsom, will be testifying against Harvey Weinstein in his second sexual assault trial that began this week in Los Angeles. 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.