Charlie Romney-Brown began Women's Voices-Defining Destiny in Washington DC in 1992 with Betty Friedan, Hillary Rodham Clinton and Elisabeth Drew, among others, speaking. By the time Charlie left DC, over 500 women were involved. In 2002, she and Ann Bourne launched Women's Voices in Santa Fe. Since then, New Mexico's First Lady Barbara Richardson, Actor Ali Mac Graw and Pulitzer Prize winner Patrick Oliphant have presented.

Our first three years have been rich in the development of friendships and initiating community involvement. We have contributed to the community in meaningful new ways such as raising over $2500 for the New Mexico Women's Foundation, as well as contributing funds to the Rape Crisis Center, Presbyterian Hospital Babes in Need, NARAL, and the Santa Fe Conservation Trust.

About WOMEN'S VOICES Founder

Cheryl "Charlie" Romney-Brown was born in Salt Lake City, Utah of a founding Mormon Pioneer heritage. In 1976, she returned to school and obtained her B.A. in English from the University of California at Berkeley. In 1980, she entered a Master's Program at Georgetown University and received her M.A. in English and Liberal Arts. She has completed all course work for a doctorate at Georgetown.

Ms. Romney-Brown taught Women's Literature at Georgetown University from 1991 through 1998. Ms. Romney-Brown's. Her book of poetry entitled "Circling Home" was published in September, 1989 by Scripta Humanistica. It was subsequently displayed as part of the exhibit of "William Wordsworth and the Age of Romanticism" which won critical acclaim at the New York City Library. In addition, her work has been included in the following literary magazines: Whetstone, "Visions, Late Knocking", Ploughshares"," Pulpsmith" and the "Maryland Review" Several of her poems were collected in the American Poetry Anthology, 1985. Deborah Tannen included one of her poems in her best seller You Just Don't Understand. Her work can also be seen in Henry Abrams' book American Beauties which was distributed in conjunction with the Museum of American Art. Mrs Mubarak, wife of the President of Egypt, incorporated her work in her opening address at the International Environmental Conference sponsored by the Egyptian government in December, 1989. In May, 1990, She was one of five poets selected to read at the National Zoo in celebration of National Poetry Month. Ms. Romney-Brown has given readings on both the West and East Coasts and was featured on National Public Radio's show "The Poet and the Poem" on October 4th, 1989. She has received several fellowships from The Virginia Center of the Creative Arts.

She founded the International Speakers Bureau and Defining Destiny, a Woman's Literary Forum, a group of five-hundred women to whom she brought leading women thinkers such as Betty Friedan and Elizabeth Drew. She also arranged literary programs and interviewed writers for the Smithsonian Associates Program and has contributed articles to the Washington International Magazine. In addition, Ms. Romney-Brown was a member of President William S. Clinton's Committee on Women's issues, At the Table, "The International Women's Health Forum" and a member of the National Council on Brain Injury. She is a member of "Leadership America," is listed in "Who's Who in International Poetry," PEN, the Poets and Writers Society of America, Academy of American Poets and is a founding member of the Museum of Women in the Arts and the Folger Poetry Board at the Folger Library in Washington D.C.

Ms. Romney-Brown now makes her home in Santa Fe where she has founded Women's Voices and is currently writing a historical novel.