This is a public health emergency, she said. 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. She spent the next year one of the most enriching years of my life working for Conservation International in Washington, D.C., Latin America, Africa and Europe. Im very, very naive when it comes to the press, she says. Her lawyer, Beth Fegan, told CNN, "Like many other women, my client was sexually assaulted by Harvey Weinstein at a purported business meeting that turned out to be a trap. Newsom is one of the women who will testify against him in court. However, my main personal mental health interest is about stopping the criminal lack of meaningful treatment for adults with serious mental illness. 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. She knows firsthand, she said, what it feels like to be a child whos experienced loss and trauma, like so many California children have endured during the pandemic. Her agenda is cultural change", "Girlfriend, uninterrupted / Actress Jennifer Siebel is standing by her man, who happens to be Mayor Gavin Newsom, and says there's no trouble in their romance", "S.F. "And that was traumatic to lose your best friend and your sister. LOS ANGELES Jennifer Siebel Newsom, a documentary filmmaker and the wife of the California governor, Gavin Newsom, began testifying on Monday that Harvey Weinstein had sexually . In 2012 Jennifer was also an Executive Producer of the Oscar-Nominated documentary, The Invisible War, which unveils the epidemic of rape in the U.S. military. 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. Its that someone in her position is saying it, out loud and on such a big platform, that makes it a departure. 2023 FOX Television Stations, from SAT 4:00 AM PST until SUN 4:00 PM PST, Southern Lake County, Northwestern Mendocino Interior, Northeastern Mendocino Interior, Northern Lake County, from SAT 4:00 AM PST until SUN 4:00 PM PST, Mendocino County Coast. [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. And after all these years, it feels like were only getting started. Women lawmakers see new allies in the Newsoms, parents of four children under 10, compared to former Gov. 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. She even graduated with honors. She honed her Spanish while living in Costa Rica, Peru, Ecuador, Argentina and Chile. 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. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. Then, when a victim later comes to terms with whats happened, we say that version of events must be a lie. 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 couldnt help her.. Privacy Policy The book-smart activist later returned to Stanford Business School to receive her MBA, per Marin Independent Journal. 310899-6026 All Rights Reserved. There is a class issue here that is important to acknowledge, too, one that used to keep nice girls, as Siebel Newsom tearfully called herself on the witness stand, from speaking about these things. The couple said their vows just months after their engagement on a ranch in Montana, per SFGate. It didn't make sense to me that I should be devaluing my accomplishments to achieve 'success.'" The summer after high school she played on the junior national soccer team and, in a game against France, suffered a leg injury that dogged her for years at Stanford, where she had been recruited for the soccer team. Newsom's production company, Girls Club Entertainment, allows her to produce these gender inequality-focused projects. 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. I just played tennis and basketball this morning. 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. In 2021, Siebel Newsom toured the state listening to parents' frustrations and challenges during the pandemic, gathering ideas for what could help families cope with school closures, quarantines, loss of loved ones and other hardships. Hes a visionary. 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. "Our kids' brains are still plastic and not fully set, and they're being manipulated by this technology that's creating more isolation and disconnecting us from each other and relationships. When she was six, her older sister Stacy died at age eight from a golf cart accident. 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. I spend time with my family. During high school, she played varsity basketball, soccer, and tennis. Credit: Jennifer Siebel Newsom / Facebook. I'm married to California Lt. 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. 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]. During an interview with Ms. Magazine, Jennifer explained that her passion for gender equality led her to make this groundbreaking decision. This story was originally published February 24, 2023, 5:00 AM. 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. She knows fully well that comprehensive mental health services in California schools have been inadequate. As the governors wife, Siebel Newsom feels she is in a unique position to merge her personal interest in young peoples well-being with policies that reach regular Californians. Jennifer Siebel Newsom, married to Gov. [3][4][5] She was previously the state's second lady from 2011 to 2019 and first lady of San Francisco from 2008 to 2011. In 2020, The Great American Lie examined racial and income inequality in the U.S. [21], In the early 2000s, Siebel Newsom dated actor George Clooney. While pursuing her MBA, Siebel Newsom also studied at the American Conservatory Theater, where she completed a certificate program. READ ALSO: Jennifer Siebel Newsom Husband: Who Is Gavin Newsom? 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. "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." "I hope my film will spark a national conversation around how the elevation of stereotypically 'masculine' values has led to extreme social and economic immobility and how, if we elevate more 'feminine' values such as empathy, care, and community, we can fix some of these systemic inequities." "Through my work with Conservation International, I learned how effective micro-enterprise opportunities are in providing long-term sustainability to indigenous communities. Erika Armin, her associate in Girls Club Entertainment, calls Siebel an amazing producing partner and a very special friend. Jennifer Siebel Newsom, a documentary filmmaker and actor who is married to California Gov. 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. [16] The Representation Project's board members include Jan Yanehiro, Nathan Ballard, Susie McCormick, and Maureen Pelton. 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. So Ive always known that, without your mental health, what do you have?. How do I take care of myself? 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. Her parents were Kenneth and Judy Siebel. As Siebel Newsom says, we have so much more work to do. Let us plant more school gardens! So we knew we had to address that in a holistic way.". 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.. Even though Jennifer Siebel Newsom had a Stanford education under her belt as a young adult, she had aspirations far beyond diving into a traditional career. Gavin Newsom, nearly screamed through tears from the witness stand Monday when she told the court Harvey Weinstein . Jennifer Siebel Newsom, a key witness in Harvey Weinstein's trial, urged the entertainment and tech industries to stand up for women in a video posted Feb. 23. her eldest sister Stacey, 8, was killed in a golf cart accident while the family was on vacation in . 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.'. Siebel Newsom is the second oldest of five girls and attended Ross Grammar School and The Branson School. She is the second oldest of five girls and attended Ross Grammar School and The Branson School. Jennifer lived a life of privilege, grounded in a family ethos that wanted to improve the world and save the environment. I'm an avid outdoors, play all sports, I love to dance. As Newsoms First Partner, she plans to launch an effort this fall probing negative effects of media and technology on children. 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. 40,000 new school counselors and other mental health professionals. Inside, I have fallen apart. [1] The couple announced their engagement in January 2008. He had broken me into a million pieces., Jurors could not come to a unanimous decision on whether hed also violated Siebel Newsom during a business meeting in his hotel suite in 2005. However, although Newsom had a safe home with hardworking parents, she did experience a childhood tragedy that still brings her to tears, as Marin Independent Journal revealed. (Video: Jennifer Siebel Newsom . However, although Newsom had a safe home with hardworking parents, she did experience a childhood tragedy that still brings her to tears, as Marin Independent Journal revealed. Very interesting article giving insight into who Siebel Newsom is and why her interest in mental health. 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. For years, he walked away unfettered, while for years, I nursed my wounds. I love to be in nature. 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. We dont know anyone who has been raped, she told me. 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. During high school, she played varsity . Sometimes she feels the cards are stacked against her, but my passionate side, the artistic side, says No, I can do it.'. Jennifer opened up about why she and her now-husband were first drawn to each other during an interview with The Chronicle (via SFGate). Her older sister Stacy died in a golf cart accident in 1981. Beyond the camera, Siebel Newsom has been a persistent, outspoken advocate in her husbands administration for students experiencing trauma, anxiety, depression and other emotional hardships. Jennifer Siebel Newsom (Jennifer Lynn Siebel) was born on 19 June, 1974 in San Francisco, California, United States. Is the second of five daughters, though the eldest surviving one. Her 2019 documentary, "The Great American Lie," explores gender inequality on a systemic level. She has appeared on such television shows as Life, Mad Men, Strong Medicine, and Numb3rs. 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. But our bodies do not lie. She knows firsthand, she said, what it feels. Theyre informal conversations at dinner, having breakfast, driving the kids to school, getting coffee in the morning, Gov. "The title of 'first partner' is a statement of Gavin's and my shared values," she revealed. And, it all starts with the women." Jerry Brown, who was 81 when he left office. And that was traumatic to lose your best friend and your sister. All comments are moderated for civility, relevance and other considerations. 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. While the governor's recent investment will add additional school counselors to the workforce, there will be an even greater need to access films and curriculum support material such as Siebel Newsom's documentary series," Whitson said. One of her solutions to these challenges is to get young people outside more, and to eat more-nutritious food. 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 . "So, I started doing research on the representation of women in positions of power and influence and the media's misrepresentations of women.". SACRAMENTO, Calif. - First partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom has spent decades spotlighting, examining and uplifting the mental well-being of young people. When I told my own mother that Id been raped, decades after the fact, she at first insisted that that couldnt be the case. 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. She and her husband Gavin Newsom are of partial Jewish descent. 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. She's 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. Jennifer Siebel Newsom's father helped developConservation International, per Marin Independent Journal. Her own experiences, as well as those of other parents, have helped shape her advocacy efforts. 4 in the Harvey Weinstein trial. 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. Gavin Newsom, is among the accusers of Harvey Weinstein who will . 2023 kidsinthehouse.com. Im 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. Her father also helped developConservation International, a nonprofit environmental organization. Their extravagant destination wedding included a star-studded guest list and swanky cabins for those wealthy guests. 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.. And the chief causes for Siebel Newsom, a 45-year-old actress turned documentary filmmaker, are gender equality and societys treatment of women and families. 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. Siebel Newsom has stated she carries a lot of guilt as she was present at the time of the accident. The mom of four reminisced on her college years while speaking to Marin Independent Journal. But Sanchez Ceren didnt seem fazed and gave a lengthy answer about progress and work that remains. Hi. What, she asked Salvador Sanchez Ceren, did he have to say about the countrys poor record on womens rights? The Newsoms have four children. If Gov. San Francisco International Film Festival, "Mayor Newsom, Jennifer Siebel engaged to be married - SFGate", "Jennifer L Siebel, Born 06/19/1974 in California | CaliforniaBirthIndex.org", "Must Reads: Jennifer Siebel Newsom will be California's 'first partner.' On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 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. 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 California's children. The woman died on Christmas Day and is the cousin of Lt. ICSO deputy dies in crash while responding to call - KYMA Its personal. While this relationship didn't work out, it led Jennifer to find love with Gavin Newsom. 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. "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.". Our kids brains are still plastic and not fully set, and theyre being manipulated by this technology thats creating more isolation and disconnecting us from each other and relationships. When she was six, her older sister Stacy died at age eight from a golf cart accident. 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. This film is only one example of how Newsom's work is influenced by her passion for gender equality. As he recalled it, They just got into these deep conversations, and those conversations carry over to: What are you going to do about it, Gavin?. Actress-film producer Jennifer Siebel, who grew up in Ross, got in hot water last month for her public comments about Newsoms affair with a married woman. Considering whats going on in the country and the world, its critical that California succeeds right now. 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. To get more reports like this one, click here to sign up for EdSources no-cost daily email on latest developments in education. . I'm a social justice documentary filmmaker, and an advocate for women, girls, and their families. They hold onto trauma, and that trauma manifests in multiple ways. Newsom said. Siebel Newsom was relieved of her privacy about that violation when she testified against Weinstein in November. 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. 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. Jennifer Oliver O'Connell (As the Girl Turns) is a contributor at Redstate and other publications. Jennifer Siebel Newsom shocked the world with a powerful essay she wrote for HuffPost in October 2017. [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. Both Newsoms say they constantly discuss their political priorities. Jennifer Siebel Newsom, United States Actor. She said the jurys still out when asked if it will be hard for her as the governors wife to take on two mega-industries that drive Californias economy, Silicon Valley and Hollywood. 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. You can also follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Telegram. If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. "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. Sarah Morris / Getty Images Jennifer Siebel Newsom, filmmaker and the wife of California Gov. The film examines how the media has underrepresented women in positions of power. When she was six, her older sister Stacy died at age eight from a golf cart accident. [24][25][26][27], In 2011, Siebel Newsom and her family moved from San Francisco to Ross, where she had grown up. Editorials and other Opinion content offer perspectives on issues important to our community and are independent from the work of our newsroom reporters. Gavin Newsom, will be testifying against Harvey Weinstein in his second sexual assault trial that began this week in Los Angeles. 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. for youth mental health services that includes hotlines, videos and tips for parents. 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. "The Mask You Live In," released in 2015, looks at how boys struggle with expectations around masculinity. "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. "I had to find myself again." California first partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom said on Monday that former Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein's trial in which jurors deadlocked on Newsom's allegations of sexual assault but found him guilty of other charges showed society has "work to do.". At 32, Siebel is strikingly slim, with large, expressive eyes, a tumble of blond hair and a quick, tender smile. This after defense attorney Mark Werksman called her just another bimbo who slept with Harvey Weinstein to get ahead.. Siebel Newsom was deeply affected when her older sister died at age 8 in a golf cart accident . 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. I still ski hard.. 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. The California governor's friend, Stanlee Gatti, spoke to SFGate about the chemistry between Jennifer and Gavin. This trauma settles within the very cells of our DNA, and it passes down from generation to generation.. Jennifer Siebel Newsom, the wife of California Gov. Most recently, "Fair Play" focuses on the difficulties women face as they attempt to balance work and home lives. The couple got engaged in 2008 while Gavin was still the mayor of San Francisco. It really helped," she told a recent conference of counselors and school administrators in Napa. [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. 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. 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 . When she was six, her older sister Stacy died at age eight from a golf cart accident. "I had to learn to ground (them), and myself too. Community schools that offer social services to students and their families. As an adult who has young siblings who have suffered their entire lives with mental health, its wonderful to know that more attention is being paid to our youth and their needs. I'm the mother of 3 young children - Montana, Hunter, and Brooklyn. I tried all sorts of therapies, trying to make sense of it all, trying to heal the physical manifestations of trauma. 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. She explained that she lived with guilt for years after the accident. [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. In the same interview, she shared: "I just played tennis and basketball this morning. mayors girlfriend offers glimpse into her, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), S.F. I had to learn to ground (them), and myself too. At 28 years old, the then-aspiring star moved to Hollywood to pursue acting. Thank you so much, Carolyn, for writing such a compelling and informative article. . 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.