First partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom moderated a talk with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi . SACRAMENTO - Gov. 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. 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. The activist shared that she was involved in a golf cart accident that killed her sister. Jennifer Siebel Newsom's father helped developConservation International, per Marin Independent Journal. Newsom began working with Conservation Internationalafter receiving her undergraduate degree, and her volunteer work allowed her to travel the world. 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. While the governors 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 Newsoms documentary series, Whitson said. In December, the L.A. jury found Weinstein guilty on three counts forcible rape, forcible oral copulation and sexual penetration by a foreign object all of the same woman, identified as Jane Doe 1. Linda Darling-Hammond, president of the State Board of Education, praised Siebel Newsoms consistent and insistent efforts on behalf of Californias children, families and teachers. Jennifer Siebel Newsom's eye-opening experiences as an actor led her to become a filmmaker. 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. [34] The jury was unable to reach a verdict on Newsom's accusation, and that of one of his other accusers, and a mistrial was declared on those charges. When we ignore a womans cries of pain, Siebel Newsom said in the video, when we tell her she is to blame, that she asked for it, that this was just business as usual, when we insist that her memory is imperfect, that perhaps she was too ambitious, we dont just deny her experience, we deny her natural trauma response, which is at first to internally underplay all thats happened for survivals sake. Beyond the camera, Siebel Newsom has been a persistent, outspoken advocate in her husband's administration for students experiencing trauma, anxiety, depression and other emotional hardships. Let us plant more school gardens! Streamlined Medi-Cal coverage for young people to receive free mental health services. As Newsoms First Partner, she plans to launch an effort this fall probing negative effects of media and technology on children. This story was originally published February 24, 2023, 5:00 AM. Today, when shes not running her non-profit MissRepresentation.org, Newsom serves as a board member for PBSs Northern California affiliate KQED, a Global Advisory Board member of the Dove Self Esteem Project (DSEP), and a commissioner on the Girl Scouts Healthy MEdia Commission. And after all these years, it feels like were only getting started. The activist. First partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom has spent decades spotlighting, examining and uplifting the mental well-being of young people. 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 spend time with my family. In the same interview, she shared: "I just played tennis and basketball this morning. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Newsom declares emergency, A man was found dead in California river 25 years ago, cops say. 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. READ ALSO: Jennifer Siebel Newsom Husband: Who Is Gavin Newsom? "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. 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]. I love to be in nature. I lost my older sister," she . 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. Because as she says in the extremely raw video she released on Thursday, after the man she has accused of raping her, the predatory former king of Hollywood Harvey Weinstein, was sentenced to 16 more years in prison, I never asked to join this club. Siebel Newsoms 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. 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. "The title of 'first partner' is a statement of Gavin's and my shared values," she revealed. "(We) would love to work with her and support her efforts.". Her father was a founder of Conservation International. "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. But what Harvey Weinstein did to me was the worst, she said. Gavin Newsom, testified against Harvey Weinstein on Monday in Los Angeles, becoming the fourth woman to accuse the fallen Miramax magnate of . 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. . 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. 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. Her 2019 documentary, "The Great American Lie," explores gender inequality on a systemic level. Her parents were Kenneth and Judy Siebel. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Siebel Newsom was relieved of her privacy about that violation when she testified against Weinstein in November. The Newsoms have four children. No one did.. "I'm 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. During high school, she played varsity . But our bodies do not lie. I'm a social justice documentary filmmaker, and an advocate for women, girls, and their families. 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. [31], Siebel Newsom was one of several accusers against Harvey Weinstein in his 2022 Los Angeles criminal rape and sexual assault trial. Her older sister Stacy died in a golf cart accident in 1981. And all it took was decades of pain for dozens of women, more than 90 of whom have accused him. 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. 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. "How dare . She knows firsthand, she said, what it feels like to be a child who's experienced loss and trauma, like so many California children have endured during the pandemic. "Considering what's going on in the country and the world, it's critical that California succeeds right now. 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. (We) would love to work with her and support her efforts.. 310899-6026 All Rights Reserved. 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. The mom revealed that gender roles affect her relationship with Gavin and their parenting responsibilities. Women lawmakers see new allies in the Newsoms, parents of four children under 10, compared to former Gov. But Sanchez Ceren didnt seem fazed and gave a lengthy answer about progress and work that remains. Jennifer Siebel Newsom Biography. Her testimony was the most dramatic and emotional so far in the three-week . This romance took place back when Jennifer was a budding Hollywood actor, and, although she hasn't had much to say about it, Clooney did tell Esquire that they, "went out for a minute." Thank you so much, Carolyn, for writing such a compelling and informative article. [24][25][26][27], In 2011, Siebel Newsom and her family moved from San Francisco to Ross, where she had grown up. 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. Community schools that offer social services to students and their families. She honed her Spanish while living in Costa Rica, Peru, Ecuador, Argentina and Chile. 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. Melinda Henneberger is The Sacramento Bees local columnist. This year the Newsom administration set aside $4.7 billion for youth mental health programs in California, thought to be the country's largest-ever investment in the emotional well-being of children. her eldest sister Stacey, 8, was killed in a golf cart accident while the family was on vacation in . Jennifer Siebel Newsom (Jennifer Lynn Siebel) was born on 19 June, 1974 in San Francisco, California, United States. 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. Jennifer Siebel Newsom, a documentary filmmaker and actor who is married to California Gov. 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. She heard repeatedly about children's 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. The women's rights activist spoke about her time with the organization as part of an exhibition for the International Museum of Women in 2011. 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. 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. Before Jennifer Siebel Newsom was the first partner of California, she had a fling with George Clooney. It easily passed as part of the state budget. For years, he walked away unfettered, while for years, I nursed my wounds. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. The money will go toward a slew of programs, including: As first partner, Siebel Newsom has pushed for improved nutrition in schools, better access to the outdoors for children and other initiatives related to youth well-being. 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. She and her husband Gavin Newsom are of partial Jewish descent. "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 attends the 2020 Sundance Film Festival - "On The Record" Premiere at The Marc Theatre on Jan. 25, 2020, in Park City, Utah. What, she asked Salvador Sanchez Ceren, did he have to say about the countrys poor record on womens rights? [2] She grew up in the suburb of Ross, California. To improve her skills at public speaking, she began taking classes at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco. SACRAMENTO, Calif. - First partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom has spent decades spotlighting, examining and uplifting the mental well-being of young people. 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. 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. 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.