She shared that the tragedy may have led her to strive to become "the nurturer, the protector, the giver who wants to help the less fortunate." I want it to inspire young girls., Since joining the film industry, she has attracted plenty of attention for a time she dated George Clooney and many friends. 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. I still ski hard.". [33] Weinstein's attorney claims what took place was consensual, transactional sex. "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. Jennifer was raised in Marin County, California and spent her summers exploring wildlife and riding horses in Montana. And in one way, Im sorry about that. "I actually think they were made for one another," he said. 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. But Sanchez Ceren didnt seem fazed and gave a lengthy answer about progress and work that remains. A one-stop online hub for youth mental health services that includes hotlines, videos and tips for parents. A recent article in the New Yorker extolling the (probable) next Governor of California reveals that Gavin Newsom helped his mother commit assisted suicide. The San Francisco native also discussed the shame many working mothers like her face. Click here for EdSource's Comments Policy. He held traditional views of family, with him as the breadwinner and his wife maintaining the home and caring for five daughters. Gavin Newsom, is among the accusers of Harvey Weinstein who will . "As we can see from her documentary work, she is keenly aware and informed of these critical issues we face as a society," Cranston said. We dont know anyone who has been raped, she told me. Jennifer was born on June 19, 1974, to Judy and Ken Siebel in San Francisco, California. 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. 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. 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. Theres no timidity with Jen when it comes to things she cares about and causes she holds dear, he said. Most recently, "Fair Play" focuses on the difficulties women face as they attempt to balance work and home lives. Her father also helped developConservation International, a nonprofit environmental organization. Harvey Weinstein lets out a belly laugh at LA rape trial as his attorney ridicules victim, What judge said to Alex Murdaugh is why we should abolish the death penalty | Opinion, California braces for next big snowstorm this weekend. 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. Gavin Newsom, broke down crying Monday at Harvey Weinstein's sex crimes trial, where she is testifying . Diablo State Park keep out visitors eager to see snow, Watch: Connecticut teacher rescues unconscious driver from burning car, Security guard attacked after recording burglary suspects in Oakland. Newsom resides in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, California Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom, and is the proud mother of Montana, Hunter, and Brooklynn. The Newsoms have four children. The film interweaves stories from teenage girls with interviews with, among others, Condoleezza Rice, Lisa Ling, Nancy Pelosi, Katie Couric, Rosario Dawson, and Gloria Steinem discussing the media and its message regarding women. Thank you so much, Carolyn, for writing such a compelling and informative article. [30], Siebel Newsom was registered as a Republican until 2008, before re-registering as No Party Preference. Gavin Newsom said in a recent interview he should have expected his wifes forthrightness. 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. Gavin Newsom, is the first partner of California. the woman is the culprit. "I was this driven, over-achieving perfectionist who excelled in sports," she recalled while tearing up. And that starts with the well-being-- of our children.". 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. I'm a social justice documentary filmmaker, and an advocate for women, girls, and their families. And after all these years, it feels like were only getting started. While this relationship didn't work out, it led Jennifer to find love with Gavin Newsom. Jennifer Siebel Newsom shocked the world with a powerful essay she wrote for HuffPost in October 2017. I really grew up thinking Reagan was the end-all, be-all and then when I started delving into research around his policies and saw the outcomes, I realized that I didnt associate with those policies and didnt think those were the smartest, she said. "I had to learn to ground (them), and myself too. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. First partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom has spent decades spotlighting, examining and uplifting the mental well-being of young people. 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 also interviews a number of notable women to showcase their perspectives, per Vogue. Jennifer Siebel Newsom, United States Actor. In 2020, "The Great American Lie" examined racial and income inequality in the U.S. Siebel Newsom directed the documentary film Fair Play in 2022. Erika Armin, her associate in Girls Club Entertainment, calls Siebel an amazing producing partner and a very special friend. Jennifer writes on Politics and Pop Culture, with occasional detours into Reinvention, Yoga, and Food. From the article: Newsom's sister . It really helped," she told a recent conference of counselors and school administrators in Napa. I tried all sorts of therapies, trying to make sense of it all, trying to heal the physical manifestations of trauma. After being sentenced to 23 years in prison for criminal sexual acts and rape, Weinstein is set to go on trial once again for the multiple sexual assault charges he faces in Los Angeles. "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 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. 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. High Stakes: Sports Betting in California, After Ohio's toxic train derailment, Biden orders door-to-door checks, Washington avalanche: Body of 1 climber recovered; 2 others still buried in the snow, Road closures at Mt. Jennifer Siebel Newsom posted the video Thursday to Instagram, after Harvey Weinstein was sentenced to 16 years in prison on three charges of rape and sexual assault - all of the same woman . READ ALSO: Jennifer Siebel Newsom Husband: Who Is Gavin Newsom? I love to be in nature. When she was six, her older sister Stacy died at age eight from a golf cart accident. Her own experiences, as well as those of other parents, have helped shape her advocacy efforts. 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. As Siebel Newsom says, we have so much more work to do. [11] On February 10, 2011, Oprah Winfrey announced that she had acquired the film for the OWN Documentary Film Club. I tried to be two people, be perfect, because I didnt feel like I was enough., She thinks the accident may account for her desire to be the nurturer, the protector, the giver who wants to help the less fortunate., Brooke Siebel calls Jennifer a loving, beautiful sister with a huge heart.. And I really am focused on self-care, because I know that it's challenging being a working mother, but we're needed. At 32, Siebel is strikingly slim, with large, expressive eyes, a tumble of blond hair and a quick, tender smile. 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. She stood alongside him and women lawmakers in May when he announced a parents agenda that includes two more weeks of leave per parent, a bigger tax credit for low-income families and tax cuts on tampons on diapers. Theyre informal conversations at dinner, having breakfast, driving the kids to school, getting coffee in the morning, Gov. Before Jennifer Siebel Newsom was the first partner of California, she had a fling with George Clooney. She co-founded The Representation Project, an organization which works to end gender stereotypes. However, the jury found Weinstein guilty on three counts pertaining to a third accuser, an Italian model/actor. Her father was a founder of Conservation International. My name is Jennifer Siebel Newsom. 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. "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. I just played tennis and basketball this morning. And that starts with the well-being of our children.. You can read more about Jennifer's world at her As the Girl Turns website. ", Darling-Hammond said that Siebel Newsom"cares about the state's 6 million children with the same sense of concern and compassion she holds for her own four.". She explained that she lived with guilt for years after the accident. [7][22][23], She met Gavin Newsom on a blind date set up by a mutual friend at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in October 2006. 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.. All Rights Reserved. I dont have to say things anymore - hes been listening for a long time, Siebel Newsom said of her husband of 11 years. Linda Darling-Hammond, president of the State Board of Education, praised Siebel Newsom's "consistent and insistent" efforts on behalf of California's children, families and teachers. Through her California for ALL Kids campaign, she is championing initiatives to support children's mental and physical health, as well as provide families with the tools to build a solid learning foundation. It really helped, she told a recent conference of counselors and school administrators in Napa. The mom revealed that gender roles affect her relationship with Gavin and their parenting responsibilities. Anyone who does not understand what shes talking about and wants to should read The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma, by Bessel van der Kolk. You can also follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Telegram. During high school, she played varsity basketball, soccer, and tennis. 2023 EdSource. She has had mini-roles in films like Somethings Got To Give with Jack Nicholson and larger parts on several TV dramas and in independent films like The Trouble With Romance, which premiered last month at the Cinequest in San Francisco. I'm married to California Lt. According to the organization's mission, "Conservation International empowers societies to responsibly and sustainably care for nature, our global biodiversity, for the well-being of humanity." [10] The film went on to screen at numerous other festivals, including the San Francisco International Film Festival, Athena Film Festival and won the Audience Award at the Palo Alto International Film Festival. Jennifer Siebel Newsom, a documentary filmmaker and actor who is married to California Gov. 4 in the Harvey Weinstein trial. Siebel Newsom has stated she carries a lot of guilt as she was present at the time of the accident. As an adult who has young siblings who have suffered their entire lives with mental health, it's wonderful to know that more attention is being paid to our youth and their needs. I always felt that if children could get the mental help they need at a young age it could potentially prevent them from having mental hardships as adults. Jennifer Siebel Newsom's eye-opening experiences as an actor led her to become a filmmaker. My friends say I am way too open and trusting.. She has appeared on such television shows as Life, Mad Men, Strong Medicine, and Numb3rs. No one did.. That background, she says, helps her empathize with a range of people, including conservatives featured in her films. got her into California's Stanford University, began working with Conservation International, explores the underrepresentation of women in influential roles, multiple sexual assault charges he faces in Los Angeles. [13][14], Siebel Newsom's third film was The Great American Lie.[15]. No one did.. "Considering what's going on in the country and the world, it's critical that California succeeds right now. [2] She grew up in the suburb of Ross, California. The film premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival and was picked up by Oprah Winfreys OWN network. Why is this extraordinary? Nov. 14, 2022. This trauma settles within the very cells of our DNA, and it passes down from generation to generation.. 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. Jennifer Siebel Newsom (Jennifer Lynn Siebel) was born on 19 June, 1974 in San Francisco, California, United States. 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. In an interview with the Independent Journal, Siebel tried to downplay the gossip and paint a fuller picture of herself. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). I had to learn to ground (them), and myself too. "I didn't do either but my confidence was really shaken as I realized that everything I had worked for and done in my life had no value in that town. The Mask You Live In, her second film which she wrote, produced and directed, scrutinizes American society's definition of masculinity. 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. During high school, she played varsity . 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. A 2007 Marin Independent Journal article quoted Newsom as saying that she was involved and that she. 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. One of her solutions to these challenges is to get young people outside more, and to eat more-nutritious food. 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. She was a chief backer of the states 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. Newsom said. Siebel Newsom was relieved of her privacy about that violation when she testified against Weinstein in November. Jennifer Siebel Newsom, wife of California 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. 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. 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. 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. Husband of Jennifer Siebel Newson I had to find myself again., After graduation she worked at a hospital in Quito, Ecuador, thinking she might become a Third World doctor. Who Is Jennifer Siebel Newsom, The First Partner Of California? She intends to testify at his trial to seek some measure of justice for survivors and as part of her life's work to improve the lives of women.". Her older sister Stacy died when Jennifer was 6, her sister was 8, from a golf cart accident from which she carries a lot of guilt as she was present at the time of the accident. She and her husband Gavin Newsom are of partial Jewish descent. Is the second of five daughters, though the eldest surviving one. 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. "Through my work with Conservation International, I learned how effective micro-enterprise opportunities are in providing long-term sustainability to indigenous communities. She opened up about how she views motherhood as a gender equality activist in an essay she wrote for Glamour in 2019. She even graduated with honors. for youth mental health services that includes hotlines, videos and tips for parents. Thursdays sentencing means that whatever comes of Weinsteins appeal in New York, where hes currently serving 23 years, the Oscar-winning rapist will almost certainly spend the rest of his life watching that awards ceremony from behind bars. But what Harvey Weinstein did to me was the worst, she said. 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. There are two sides to every story, Siebel told the Chronicle. 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. I'm a social justice documentary filmmaker, and an advocate for women, girls, and their families. She became the eldest of four sisters after her older sister, Stacey, died in an accident when they were both young girls. After completing her education, Siebel Newsom traveled to Africa, Latin America, and Europe on assignments with Conservation International, a global environmental coalition.[7]. They do. Her testimony was the most dramatic and emotional so far in the three-week . Newsom said he arrived at 11 p.m. at the familys multi-million dollar home in a Sacramento suburb after a long day in June finalizing his state budget and found about two dozen women there discussing Michelle Obamas book Becoming with his wife. [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. If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. . During high school, she played varsity basketball, soccer, and tennis. In the piece, the first partner of California revealed that she was one of Harvey Weinstein's many victims. I wouldnt be with him if he werent.. He makes me laugh., Despite the ruckus, she says, she and Newsom are still solid., 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 accident involving a golf cart, and I was a participant., She carried feelings of blame and guilt for years. The former actor's interview with Marin Independent Journal revealed that she and her siblings were raised by two financially secure parents. "This is a public health emergency," she said. 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. The pace of her life is hectic I only sleep six hours a night and since October it has included almost weekly visits to San Francisco to be with Newsom. Siebel Newsom is the second oldest of five girls and attended Ross Grammar School and The Branson School. 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. Its personal. One of her solutions to these challenges is to get young people outside more, and to eat more-nutritious food. So we knew we had to address that in a holistic way.". "I tried to be two people, be perfect, because I didn't feel like I was enough," she said. So I've always known that, without your mental health, what do you have?". SACRAMENTO, Calif. - First partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom has spent decades spotlighting, examining and uplifting the mental well-being of young people. . 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. The mom of four reminisced on her college years while speaking to Marin Independent Journal. The former actor went on to explain that she hopes other spouses of elected officials are inspired to take on the title of first partner. 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. Siebel Newsom has stated she carries a lot of guilt as she was present at the time of the accident. Her own experiences, as well as those of other parents, have helped shape her advocacy efforts. Gavin Newsom. 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. And all it took was decades of pain for dozens of women, more than 90 of whom have accused him. 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 is the second oldest of five girls and attended Ross Grammar School and The Branson School. Newsom's mother, Judy Siebel, was a community volunteer, while her father, Ken Siebel, was an investment manager. See Jennifer Siebel Newsom, MBA's video on Meet Jennifer Siebel Newsom Inspiring stories about mothers taking a stand, Women reduced to Barbie Dolls despite achievement, Advice for parents: hyper-sexualization of our girls with slutty Halloween costumes, Boys and media and "The Mask You Live In", How dads can make a difference and support their daughters, How girls can find their voice in the classroom, How parents can create positive images for daughters, How parents can raise their daughters beyond youth, beauty & sexuality, How parents should handle offensive media with their kids, Making the documentary Miss Representation, The effects of athletics on girls' self esteem, The reality of sexual assault in the military, What Jennifer Siebel Newsom hopes everyone learns from Miss Representation, What parents can do in a culture of hyper-sexualization and pornography, What parents should tell their children about commercials, More Parenting Videos from Jennifer Siebel Newsom, MBA >, Three important rules about your baby's first foods, Postnatal depression and loneliness advice, The importance of spending quality time during early childhood, Bonding with your baby after a less-than-perfect birth. But in the video the first partner posted after his Thursday sentencing, she said some really important things. 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. Harvey Weinstein allegedly lured Siebel Newsom to his hotel room. 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. Hes a visionary. Credit: Jennifer Siebel Newsom / Facebook. Her parents were Kenneth and Judy Siebel. 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 . They hold onto trauma, and that trauma manifests in multiple ways. For 10 years, she was a reporter for The New York Times in New York, Washington, D.C., and Rome. 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. 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. 40,000 new school counselors and other mental health professionals. 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. 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. So Ive always known that, without your mental health, what do you have?. 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.". I'm an avid outdoors, play all sports, I love to dance. Newsom, who doesnt speak the language, learned what she had asked through a translator and worried his host would be offended. Privacy Policy How do I take care of myself? She has been featured in media outlets such as NPR, ABC, MSNBC, Fox News, Forbes, The Chicago Tribune, O Magazine, and Vogue. That talk with her book club led Siebel Newsom to bring a host of other topics to her husbands attention, keeping him up long past midnight. Jennifer Siebel Newsom Biography. The California governor's friend, Stanlee Gatti, spoke to SFGate about the chemistry between Jennifer and Gavin. The couple said their vows just months after their engagement on a ranch in Montana, per SFGate.