“I am honored to welcome First Lady Michelle Obama back to The Women’s Conference. Mrs. Obama and I not only share a commitment to service, women, military families, community health and many other issues, but also share the role of wife and mother, of which she is a stunning example,” said Maria Shriver. “I’m so proud that The Women’s Conference has become a destination where extraordinary newsmakers like Mrs. Obama come together for authentic, honest and civilized conversations that you cannot find anywhere else. I look forward to hearing her speak and share how her life has changed since she first took to our stage in 2007.”

This is Mrs. Obama’s second appearance at The Women’s Conference. In 2007, Shriver gathered for the first time in one place five spouses of the 2008 Presidential candidates: Elizabeth Edwards, Cindy McCain, Ann Romney, Jeri Kehn Thompson and future First Lady Michelle Obama. Shriver moderated a conversation about the rigors of the campaign trail but also the trials and tribulations of balancing motherhood, careers, relationships and personal identity that apply not only to political wives but to women at the Conference and across the country all seeking to be Architects of Change.

At The Women’s Conference in 2007, Mrs. Obama spoke candidly about the challenges of raising strong, confident and nurtured children in the midst of a presidential race, relaying to the crowd a story where she and future President Barack Obama discussed how their young daughters would be impacted by the campaign trail or life in the White House.  “You have to be a good father in addition to being a good president,” Mrs. Obama said. “And you can do both.” The conversation continued The Women’s Conference’s tradition of pairing the world’s most fascinating people together regardless of political affiliation in non-partisan discussion about the issues that matter the most to women.

This year’s conference will be no different  - for the first time ever a sitting governor will convene with the two opposing candidates in an unprecedented conversation: Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, California gubernatorial Candidates Jerry Brown (D) and Meg Whitman (R) will participate in a discussion moderated by TODAY Show anchor Matt Lauer titled “Who We Are, Where Are We Going.” This will be the first and only conversation between Schwarzenegger, Brown and Whitman to discuss the past, present and future of California and the nation.

Also joining Mrs. Obama in the stellar lineup of The Women’s Conference Main Event is former First Lady Laura Bush, Diane Sawyer, Oprah Winfrey, The Honorables Sandra Day O’Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Nicholas Kristof, Robert Redford, Erin Brockovich, Rosario Dawson, Journalists Laura Ling and Lisa Ling, Sarah McLachlan, Poet Mary Oliver, Suze Orman, The Episcopal Church's Presiding Bishop and Primate The Most Rev. Dr. Katharine Jefferts Schori, Howard Schultz, Katherine Schwarzenegger, Jessica Simpson, Brian Williams and more than 150 of the world’s greatest voices, hearts and minds.

This year’s conference has been produced around the overarching theme of “It's Time," which is intended to inspire people from all walks of life to see this challenging moment in history as an opportunity to come together and transform ourselves and our communities as Architects of Change.

Due to popular demand, additional tickets have been released for The Grand Finale featuring the presentation of the prestigious Minerva Awards. The special ceremony will be hosted by Maria Shriver and will feature remarks by Mary J. Blige and by the five 2010 Minerva Award honorees Oprah Winfrey, The Honorable Sandra Day O'Connor, Oral Lee Brown, Sister Terry Dodge and Carolyn Blashek. The Minerva Awards ceremony will culminate with a special musical performance by Sarah McLachlan.

Registration is still open for Maria Shriver’s March on Alzheimer’s on Sunday, which will serve as the official kick off to The Women’s Conference 2010. On Sunday, October 24 from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., more than 5,000 people will gather at the Rainbow Lagoon in Downtown Long Beach and march along the waterfront with Maria Shriver and celebrity co-chairs, including Leeza Gibbons, Jane Fonda, Natalie Maines, Soleil Moon Frye and others to raise funds for and awareness of Alzheimer’s disease. Amber Riley from FOX's hit show Glee will perform live during the candlelight vigil, and appearances by additional cast members will be announced in the coming weeks. A minimum donation of $25 is required to sign-up for the march and all participants will be encouraged to raise additional funds to support the work of the Alzheimer's Association, the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer care, support and research. 

The Women’s Conference’s Main Event on Tuesday, October 26, A Day of Health, Wellness and Transformation and Night at The Village on Monday, October 25 and Night at the Theater on Sunday, October 24 have sold out. 

Also announced last week is the debut of The Modern House Call for Women, a groundbreaking three-day event that will provide a range of free medical, dental, financial and educational services to under-served women in the Long Beach area. The Modern House Call For Women will take place from Friday, October 22 – Sunday, October 24 at The Walter Pyramid at California State University at Long Beach. The Modern House Call for Women is a partnership with health clinics, medical groups and community-based organizations, including the Harbor Dental Society, CA Department of Health and Human Services, the Los Angeles County Public Health Department, Amrit Davaa World Health Corp, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, CareNow, Inc., among many others. All health care and financial services offered at the event – including supplies and equipment – are being donated by generous professionals and organizations throughout California. Some of the free services include vision, dental, mammograms, bone density, immunizations, PAP smears and more.

Patients will be able to sign up on a first-come, first-served basis during a pre-registration event on Sunday, October 17^thfrom 1PM-5PM at Long Beach City College on Pacific Coast Highway (PCC Campus), 1305 East Pacific Coast Highway, Long Beach, CA 90806. Event organizers are expecting a high level of demand for the free medical services, so all patients must pre-register and receive a wristband to access the clinic. 

The Women’s Conference Organization and Patrick Soon-Shiong, MD are serving as Presenting Sponsors for the event. Official sponsors include The Josephine S. Gumbiner Foundation, Herbalife, and The California Endowment.

About The Women’s Conference

Hosted by California First Lady Maria Shriver and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, The Women’s Conference is the nation’s premier forum for women. From October 24 through October 26, The Women’s Conference 2010 will engage more than 30,000 people. The three-day forum will be kicked off this year on Sunday, October 24 with Maria Shriver’s March on Alzheimer’s in Long Beach. Alzheimer’s disproportionately impacts women – both as victims and caretakers of loved one’s suffering from it – and the disease will feature prominently both during the three days of the conference and a full week before as Maria Shriver plans to publish a groundbreaking new Shriver Report focused on Alzheimer’s.  Proceeds from The Women’s Conference’s Main Event, Grand Finale featuring The 2010 Minerva Awards, Night at The Village, A Day of Health, Wellness & Transformation, and Night at the Theater events all support the conference organization’s six WE Programs – WE Educate, WE Invest, WE Connect, WE Act, WE Inspire and WE Honor.