This month's guest bloggers, Public Diplomacy Officer Kathy Giles-Diaz and Economic Officer Naomi Walcott, write about women in our workforce, in honor of International Women's Day.
Jim
Reflecting on Women's Achievements
Public Diplomacy Officer Kathy Giles-Diaz, far right, participates in the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Seisenryo Annex at the Kiyosato Educational Experiment Project (KEEP) in Hokuto, Yamanashi.
Women in the workforce have made great strides in recent years, and International Women's Day on March 8 is a perfect time to reflect on their achievements. In the U.S. women make up 49% of the workforce, and many women continue to work even after they have children; as of 2009, 71% of all American women with children under 18 worked outside the home. In the U.S. Embassy, women work in every section of our Mission and at every Consulate. We are proud to introduce you to two of the many Embassy women employees who are so integral to our success in Japan.
Consular Officer Megan Phaneuf, second from left, participated recently in an Embassy volunteer event at the Swan Cafe & Bakery, which serves as a vocational training ground for individuals with special needs.
Megan Phaneuf works in the Consular Section as a visa officer. She is active in the Embassy community, serving as a board member of our Employee Welfare Association and coordinating a career development program for recently hired State Department employees. Megan's tour in Japan ends this spring, and she will transfer to the U.S. Embassy in Iraq with her husband, Ed Luchessi, also a Foreign Service Officer. Outside of work, Megan enjoys boxing and running, and she completed the Tokyo Marathon in 2009.
Economic Officer Naomi Walcott recently gave a presentation about American culture to students at Sakuramachi Elementary School in Setagaya Ward, Tokyo.
Miki Hiroe works as a Cultural Affairs Specialist. She helps manage the Embassy's exchange programs and educational outreach. Last year Miki helped organize one of the Embassy's largest events, the Ryugaku Fair showcasing study abroad opportunities in the United States. The event was so successful that she is now organizing a similar event for October. Miki has worked at the Embassy since 2007 and has an 8-year-old daughter and a 5-year-old son. Outside of work, she just started taking viola lessons and dreams of playing in a trio with her children, who practice violin.
The U.S. Embassy and our Consulates strive to promote a welcoming work environment for all employees. We are honored to have the opportunity to work among such talented women who exemplify the important role of women in both the U.S. and Japanese workforce.
Happy Woman's Day! Proud to be a woman.
