U.S. Congressman Don Beyer

I wanted to share another update with you regarding the Fourth Annual Women’s Conference and Forum: “Breaking Through: Women Work For Change.” This year, I am proud to announce Alexandria’s Naomi Wadler will receive the Clara Mortenson Beyer Women and Children First Award for her advocacy in support of gun violence prevention.

Wadler, 11, organized youth protests at her school in the wake of the mass shooting in Parkland, Florida earlier this year. Her subsequent address to crowds at the March For Our Lives in Washington D.C. became an international sensation.

I first met Naomi at my Alexandria town hall on gun violence, held weeks after the Parkland shooting. I am thrilled to welcome her back to speak to constituents about her experience as an activist, and to impart her wisdom to people who want to work for change. I doubt that anyone who heard her speak at my town hall in March has forgotten her inspiring words about the need to stop gun violence. Naomi is a prodigy of advocacy, and I look forward to continuing to learn from her next month at our Annual Women’s Conference in Arlington.

We first created the Clara Mortenson Beyer Women and Children First Award while I was an Ambassador to Switzerland in 2011. It is named after my grandmother, who is credited with convincing the Roosevelt Administration to appoint Frances Perkins, the first female Cabinet Secretary in the United States. My grandmother served as Secretary Perkins’ right hand, working on child labor issues. She was the first woman appointed as US representative to the International Labor Organization in Geneva.

This year's conference will be held at Founder's Hall on October 13. Registration and additional information are available here.

Naomi Wadler (Credit: Wadler Family)