Seneca Falls Mayor Diana Smith, a member of Friends of the Women’s Rights National Historical Park, served as M.C. for the First Biennial Seneca Falls Dialogues at the New York State Chiropractic College October 11 and 12, 2008.
This weekend of “Leadership, Learning and Celebrating Women’s Human Rights” was held in conjunction with the 160th anniversary of the first Women’s Rights Convention, the signing of the Declaration of Sentiments and the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The program, which attracted more than 100 participants, featured guest speakers, panel discussions, films and student presentations on a variety of topics related to women’s and human rights. Participants also had an opportunity to add their signatures to the book of rededication for the Declaration of Sentiments passed at the 1848 Women’s Rights Convention.
Conference organizers intend to present this program every two years and establish a Women’s Institute for Leadership and Learning as an ongoing educational extension of the Seneca Falls Dialogues.