The People We Are May 2017

May 2017

Monthly Newsletter of the Professional Women’s Association of Rome Celebrating our Silver Jubilee Anniversary

PWA is an international hub in the heart of Rome where ideas and values, tradition and innovation, diversity, culture and professionalism meet and intersect.

On our journey into the future our travel companions are respect, ethics, and a sense of social responsibility.

This year we celebrate our 25th Jubilee Anniversary.

Is diet always a matter of choice?

Did you ever look at an over-weight person and find yourself thinking he or she must lack self-discipline and will-power, being unable to control their eating?

Most likely you did not even consider the fact that they might be suffering with hypothyroidism, Cushing's syndrome or a severe depression that often causes overeating. Or that he/she does not have the proper information or education to choose healthy ingredients for the plate.

Being obese is hardly ever a person's choice or aspiration. Rather it makes life more difficult and less rewarding, as obese workers are less likely to be hired and promoted during their careers. According to Yale University's Rudd Center obesity discrimination is now more prevalent than bias based on ethnicity, sexual orientation and physical disability.

Another fact: truly healthy, organic and 0km food costs significantly more than industrially produced food, making it accessible only to those who have a higher income. In fact, people living in under-developed countries have very little decisional power over what they put on their plate. Children in low- and middle-income countries are more vulnerable to inadequate pre-natal, infant, and young child nutrition. At the same time, these children are exposed to high-fat, high-sugar, high-salt, energydense, and micronutrient-poor foods, which tend to be lower in cost but also lower in nutrient quality. These dietary patterns, in conjunction with lower levels of physical activity, result in sharp increases in childhood obesity while undernutrition issues remain unsolved.

Supportive environments and communities are fundamental in shaping people’s choices, by making healthier foods and regular physical activity the easiest alternative (the one that is the most accessible, available and affordable), and therefore preventing overweight and obesity. At the societal level it is important to support individuals in following important health recommendations, through sustained implementation of evidence based policies that make regular physical activity and healthier dietary choices available, affordable and easily accessible to everyone, particularly to the poorest individuals.

PWA is proud to include a conference on nutrition in its yearly program and to contribute to the sharing of this important information. Tonight we are delighted to welcome Dr. Cecilia Bersani!

Hanna

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Hanna Suni editor and layout designer www.hamedesign.com newslettereditor@pwarome.org

in this issue

4 May Conference: What We Eat is Who We Are

6 8 10 13 14 16 17 18

How to Follow a Healthy Diet Member Spotlight: Valerie Baxter — the Caterpillar Running for the Board Woman of the Year 2017-18 Don't Worry - Be Happy May Detox ConneXion April Wrap-Up: The Ultimate Accessory Food, Glorious Food

20 Women and Words

4 17

8 18

20 3

PWA MAY Conference

17 May at 19.30 at Grand Hotel Palace

WHAT WE EAT IS WHO WE ARE

What we eat early in life (and what our moms eat while they're pregnant) can affect our genes and regulate our traits − including the development of diseases, even decades later. Our genes can be influenced by all kinds of things, such as: • nutrient deficiencies or excesses (especially at crucial developmental stages); • dietary components (e.g., omega-3 fats, phytoestrogens, cruciferous vegetables, lycopene, folate, carotenoids, and so forth); • sunlight and Vitamin D; • toxins; • bacteria and viruses; • exercise and activity; If we know more about our own unique risk factors, we might be more likely to make healthier choices.For example: Some people can consume gluten without problem. But when others eat gluten, it influences gene expression. Your participation in our conference with Dr. Cecilia Bersani might just inspire you to change your diet and adjust your lifestyle. The proof is in the pudding!

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About Our Speaker

Cecilia Bersani

Biologist & PWA member, Cecilia Bersani has a degree in Genetics & Molecular Biology from Rome University.

As a nutrition specialist she will offer her expertise in women's dietary requirements throughout various stages in life. Be prepared for some sweet surprises... Cecilia will also help to evaluate your present situation, make recommendations for improvements, and you stay healthy!

main sponsor

www.lifecoachitaly.it

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how to follow a

by Hanna Suni www.hamedesign.com

from wikipedia A healthy diet is one that helps to maintain or improve overall health.

A healthy diet provides the body with essential nutrition: fluid, adequate essential amino acids from protein,[1] essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and adequate calories. The requirements for a healthy diet can be met from a variety of plant-based and animal-based foods.

A healthy diet supports energy needs and provides for human nutrition without exposure to toxicity or excessive weight gain from consuming excessive amounts. Where lack of calories is not an issue, a properly balanced diet (in addition to exercise) is also thought to be important for lowering health risks, such as obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension and cancer.

Googling health foods can be puzzling. You can find dozens, if not hundreds of different sources, links, suggestions, images and recommendations. Some information is even contrasting and not all experts agree on what is actually good for us and what is not.

Our genetics also have a lot to do on the effects food has on our body. Here are two links to wider lists of health foods and most of them are repeated by both sources.

50 health foods for women 50 foods that are superhealthy Eating out and looking for healthy restaurants in Rome?

Here is a list! Life pizzeria Biologica is actually of a friend of mine, Ettore. I highly recomment it!

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Int in t Th sin hu me Tak

Which are the world's healthiest diets and what do they have in common?

Mediterranean, Nordic and Japanese diets are mentioned by several sources as ones that produce the highest health effects and help these populations live longer.

What it is: A traditional Mediterranean diet, eaten by people in Greece, Italy and Spain, emphasizes seasonality, local produce and traditional preparations. Meals are often community or family events.

Signature foods: Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and olive oil are the stars of the show. Fish, poultry and red wine make moderate appearances, while red meat, salt and sugar are big players.

terested in comparing dietary habits the world? his website shows pie-charts for the ngle food groups and you can see the uge differences in the consumption of eat and dairies, just to name a few. ke a look!

What it is: Scientists designed this diet to contain 35 percent less meat than the average Danish diet, more whole grains and locally sourced produce and more than 75 percent organic produce.

Called the New Nordic diet, it’s similar to the Mediterranean diet in that there is a big emphasis on whole grains, fruits, vegetables, eggs, oil and seafood, while foods like meat, dairy, dessert and alcohol are eaten sparingly. It’s different from the Mediterranean diet in that the Nordic diet uses rapeseed oil instead of olive oil, and the produce is native to the Nordic countries Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.

Signature foods: Whole grain cereals like oats and rye; local fruits and berries like rose hip, lingonberries and bilberries; cruciferous and root vegetables like brussels sprouts, broccoli, turnips, parsnips and beets; rapeseed oil, vegetable oil-based margarine; and low-fat dairy like milk, fermented milk and cheese. Meats include beef, pork, lamb and reindeer, while seafood include herring, mackerel and salmon. The few desserts in the diet include baked goods made with oat bran, or jam for putting on top of cereal. Herbs include parsley, dil, mustard, horseradish and chives.

What it is: This low-calorie yet nutrition dense diet is big on fruits and vegetables but sparse when it comes to meat, refined grains, sugar, salt and full-fat dairy. This diet came about in a very specific historical context; its practitioners lived on Okinawa Island in Japan, which was one of the poorest regions in the country before World War II. Consequently, Confucian ideals like eating only enough food to feel 80 percent full played a big role in the island’s eating culture, as did sharing as much as you could with one’s neighbor.

Signature foods: Sweet potatoes, rice (although not as much as mainland Japanese people eat) green leafy vegetables, green and yellow vegetables like bitter melon, soybean-based foods like tofu and soy sauce. Okinawa residents only ate modest amounts of seafood, lean meat, fruit and tea.

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alias CATERPILLAR

by Hanna Suni

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hen the birds return for their usual morning visit, Valerie Baxter is having her morning coffee and cig, admiring the bright garden in full bloom. She now has the time and patience to truly enjoy nature’s gifts, contrary to 25 years ago, when her life was all about career and travel. «Working on my plants, weeding, watering and caring for them, is extremely rewarding; when I treat them well, they satisfy me with their vitality, colours and blossoming beauty.» But how did this financial consultant from London end up in the Nepi countryside?

Eldest of four siblings, Valerie grew up in London with her F1 Lotus Team mechanic father and banker mother. A true daddy’s girl, in the garage she helped to tune car engines and spent countless days at the racetrack paddocks of Silverstone and Brands Hatch, enjoying the speed and the smell of petrol. Meeting F1 heroes such as Stirling Moss and Jacky Ickx was like a dream-come-true for her. Passionate about horses, her Saturdays were often spent around the local riding school stables doing odd jobs to earn herself a free horse-ride. Valerie was also an enthusiastic theatre goer and fascinated by history: a regular at the British Museum, Tate Gallery and National Gallery. «I’ve been to the Egyptian rooms and the top floor dedicated to the red Indians about a thousand times, never getting tired of visiting the exhibitions and reliving the

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fascinating tales», Valerie reveals. Since a girl, she has always been an avid reader, starting off with stories about red indians and classics like Black Beauty.

Although she did extremely well at school, nothing seemed to fully satisfy her mother. «You’ll do better next time» was the usual phrase Valerie heard, if she didn’t bring home the best vote of the entire class. This made her study even harder and helped her earn a full scholarship to visit Rome with her school when she was 16.

This first trip abroad not only opened her eyes to the beauty and glamour of foreign countries, but also made her realize how dull the British life – and men – were compared to what she was experiencing in the Eternal City. «There was a long queue of ‘cinquecentos’ following our bus around the capital, with handsome, young boys whistling and waving at us. We were all amazed at the attention», Valerie remembers with a smile.

«Well, the teachers a little less», she adds.

One of those dark, mysterious lads followed Valerie to London, and they got married when she was 20. However, Romans do not adapt well to cloudy England and together the couple moved to Rome. As a woman newlywed she found it difficult to get a job until she eventually landed at the Anglo American Book Company, quickly moving from basic clerical work to setting up a scientific journal subscription service for universities. Finding her ambitions thwarted

with a promise of a partnership which didn’t materialise after twelve years, in 1984 she moved to Blackwell’s, as their sales manager for Southern Europe, (Italy, Spain, Greece and Malta). Based in Rome, those years were filled with frequent travel and great results in increased sales. However, all work and no play caused the marriage to end without children and soon after Valerie met her second husband, an actor at the theater. Together they moved to Nepi in the Tuscia countryside, which then became Valerie’s new homestead, ideal to set up a family. Whilst pregnant Blackwell’s had tried to convince Valerie to increase travel and trade with Malta, so she was forced to resign.

Restless after two years at home with the kids – working for UNICEF and doing other translating and communication jobs – in 1990 she met a top manager of San Paolo Invest. After several interviews with sceptical managers (she was told it was a man’s job) she was hired as a financial consultant, ready to meet the challenge and do intensive training on the job. She was determined to excel and in twelve years, as the only woman in her field, she received several recognitions and awards, among which second position in the TOP 100 list of consultants nationwide. “Receiving the award in the United Nations Building in New York was magical, one of the highlights of my career”, Valerie admits. She believes she was successful because of her macroeconomic approach to investing, thinking about long-term objectives and always considering the client’s lifestyle and values.

After 12 years, she was recruited to Citibank and found the international atmosphere dazzlingly liberal. «I had huge, important clients and no limits in what I could do. I was highly respected by my colleagues and bosses and did very well in negotiations. Those years earned me my nickname, caterpillar, that has stuck with me ever since», Valerie giggles. A gratifying experience with Slow Food in Tuscia and 0km sustainability led her to using her expertise for the development of startups. This evolved in recent times into her own consultancy project called “FullSTEAMahead” where she tutors on sales, effective communication,

assertiveness and marketing.

Valerie came to PWA in 2000 as a guest speaker, talking to the international audience about financial planning for women. She immediately joined the association, as she had finally found a group of other professional women with whom to confront and exchange life experiences and expertise. Since then, Valerie has dedicated her life to PWA, first as Social Director, later as Special Projects’ Director, successfully launching projects such as the IWD (International Women’s Day) and Footloose. «Both events are gatherings where members and guests meet and bond. It is possible to build trust and truly connect, when you spend an entire day together and help each other cross a stream, climb a hill or witness together the beauty and marvels of music, culture and art», Valerie explains.

As President for the last two years, she envisioned PWA as one of the top women’s associations in Rome and launched the successful People We Are brand project aiming to build a network that truly represents every single member and helps empower women through collective leadership and professional and personal growth. «Attracting so many strong, determined and courageous women as PWA members has been my dream come true», she proudly admits.

An avid learner, Valerie never stops researching, reading and studying. As she was diagnosed with cancer two years ago, she decided to change her diet so that it would support her healing process in the best possible way. Becoming a ‘leaf eater’ – following the Rainbow diet – after a long tradition of beef eating tells something about her character.

Determined, strong and relentless, just like the Caterpillar tractor. But she also has a softer side to her that friends and family know very well. «I am stepping down as President with my heart full of gratitude and joy, and I know that the bright women on future boards will continue to lead PWA with the same values and dedication as I have», she says.

She certainly leaves huge boots to step in, but continues to be such an inspiration to all of us!

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Running for the Board Candidate for President – Valentina Ferretti After Bocconi University, I developed a strong interest in technology and innovation. I continued to nourish such an interest and build up professional skills within worldwide leading IT companies like Intel, Dell computer and Xerox, mainly in the areas of marketing and sales. After an international working experience in the Netherlands from 2005-2007, I managed the generational turnover of my family company, landing in Rome with my husband and son Vittorio.

I am flexible and curious, with a high level of ethics and integrity. I strongly believe in loyalty, commitment and in helping each other.

I love reading, opera, and spending time with friends.

Values: Family – Friendship – Open-mindedness

Candidate for Vice President – Adriana Tempesta I am an Italian Civil Lawyer, and I run my own firm in Ferrara and Rome.

I am specialized in Consumer Law, but I do practice all aspects of civil law.

I live in Rome, where I truly enjoy the beauty of the city and its multicultural opportunities, with my husband and two children (18and 8).

I proposed myself as Membership Director this year because I believe in PWA and its capability of connecting people, activities and ideas and, thanks to my open and talkative character, now as Vice President I believe that I will be able to involve more and more in the life of our Association both members and non-members.

Values: Reliability – Outgoingness – Organization

Candidate for Treasurer – Lisa Rosen I was born in the US and have dual US and Italian citizenship. I have been living in Rome since 1987, having moved here after obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in Finance and Marketing from Houston Baptist University in Texas.

My work experience has always been in Finance, spanning from a consumer goods company such as J&J, to a less-known import company, to my current employment in Kantar Millward Brown, a market research firm. I have done work ranging from Financial and Management Accounting to Financial Analysis and Business Intelligence to Budgeting and Controllership.

I have a strong sense of responsibility and accountability, and would enjoy being a more active and contributive member of PWA through the Board position of Treasurer. The type of work I have accomplished these past 30 years necessarily required a conscientious and strong work ethic and diligence, factors which I believe are also necessary in the role of Treasurer.

I also held the role of Treasurer for two years in PWA 20 years ago!

Values: Commitment – Empathy – Resiliance

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Candidate for Programming Director – Deana Binah I am a facilitator and life designer, basically a catalyst for people’s consciousness, happiness and success, working with techniques that are based on brain research and quantum physics. The approach is very simple but powerful, practical and often joyful, and supports people to connect to their own resources and move from having a problem to finding the solution within themselves, balancing body, mind and soul. My clients have more ease in resolving personal or work related issues and understand better how to create their own reality and to live the life they desire.

I love the supportive atmosphere of collaboration and sisterhood amongst the PWA members and would like to contribute to this energy by providing events to our members that are inspiring, interesting and fun so that we can all grow together, knowing each other even better in order to create a

strong network and a lot of win-win situations for everyone.

Values: Love – Friendship – Consciousness

Candidate for Social Director – Rossella Castaldo Born in Naples, I have lived in several different cities in United States and Italy with my military pilot husband and two children, Dalila (20) and Danilo (18) . After high school I obtained several certifications in fitness (personal trainer, spinning, step among many) and also as personal shopper.

I moved back to Italy and to Rome two years ago and now work as a personal shopper and event organizor in Rome and other fabulous Italian locations. I have organized memorable happenings in magnificent venues such as the Vatican and the Colosseum, and I am looking forward to creating inspiring social events for PWA together with the rest of the team.

Values: Honesty – Sincerity – Genorosity

Candidate for Sponsorship Director – Cecilia Bersani I am a real Roman, in the 7th generation. Biologist, I studied and did research in evolutionary genetics at the Sapienza University in Rome; I'm specialized in Nutrition.I worked for a Neuroscience Research company (MIND) and organized international events and congresses. I have a wonderful son who studied at Bocconi University of Milan. I have worked for many IT companies and multinationals and presently work for IBM. I have volunteered for many associations such as S.Vincenzo, Caritas, UNITALSI, S.Egidio. CIAI, Aiutare i Bambini, Save the Children. I am passionate about the world and glad to use my energy to create useful partnerships for PWA.

Values: Respect for life – One's beliefs – Culture

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Candidate for PR Director – Skaiste Rucyte Originally from Vilnius, Lithuania, I moved to Italy to attend the university in Sardinia, where I studied International and EU law and fell in love with the beauty of the Mediterranean region.

Earning my LL.M. degree, I got my feet wet in a legal office, leading local government projects and enjoying a role as an executive assistant to CEO. I then landed at a luxury travel planning company where I spent nearly two years, learning the ropes of all things a coordinator has to know. I found that dynamic and detail orientated work appealed to my precise and multitasking nature. Before long, I took over a German based company, coordinating more than 20 destinations. In my role as Operations Coordinator at Bliss Moving & Logistics, I have a passion for keeping up with the latest social media trends and PR, in addition to serving as a coordinator, I am a blogger. This profession is part of my life style – youthful, driven and vibrant. Moreover, it gives me an opportunity to connect with people all over the world.

I enjoy jogging, travelling and being called a food and fashion snob who constantly deals with her enormous food and fashion cravings. Although where else can you experience all sinful and delicious fruits of life if not in Rome – the city where the words “dolce far niente” get another meaning.

Values: Self-belief – Curiosity – Gratitude

Candidate for Membership Director – Anastasiya Gorshkova I am the founder of the Anastasiya Craze YouTube Channel and fitness brand, which seeks to motivate and inspire women to stay fit and healthy through daily exercise. A NASM certified trainer, I put my workouts together to help women keep their bodies challenged and their minds engaged.

I was born in Ukraine, immigrating to the United States at the age of 16. I spent 10 years in the banking industry, leaving to explore my true passions: fitness and travel. I speak five languages, and split my time between New York City and Rome, Italy.

Values: Positive attitude – Optimism – Inspiring others

WE ARE STILL LOOKING FOR A SECRETARY AND A NEWSLETTER EDITOR. CONTACT electioncommittee@pwarome.org TO FORWARD YOUR CANDIDACY. 12

Candidates

cast your vote

Karima Hassa

Michela Lazzè

Cristiana Montani Natalucci

Lisa Rosen

Rossana Scazzocchio

Monica Sorcetti

Hanna Suni

Adriana Tempesta

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DON'T WORRY, BE HAPPY!

by Valerie Baxter, PWA President

W

omen are happier than men. Or so they say. Happiness economics surveys conducted by the Public Opinion Research Organization Gallup show that income, education, and health are all predictive of higher life satisfaction.

Women generally have lower incomes, less education, and report worse health than men.

But first of all, we need to make the correct comparison. Draw your own conclusions: «Think of a female who is 40 years old and happily married with a good family life. Her monthly family income is about €4000. She has severe back pain, which keeps her awake at night.»

«Think of a male who is 25 years old and single without many friends. He makes about €2000 per month. He feels he has little control over his job and worries about losing it. He has no health problems but feels stressed sometimes.»

Based on observable factors, women should actually be less happy, not more. And yet, when asked directly if they are happy, women are

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more likely to say they are than men. Not only do women say they are more satisfied with their lives, they think others are most satisfied with their lives, too.

So, what makes for happiness? Women’s dayto-day lives include more negative feelings, yet they report higher happiness overall.

A mother understands taking on extra stress or worry because a child brings a deeper joy. But women are worse off in many ways that we don’t consider when we measure happiness or assume women feel satisfied with their lives: they’re less educated, they have lower incomes, they have worse self-reported health, and they’re more likely to be divorced or widowed. Plus, women have less representation in most governments, face gender discrimination, and are more frequently victims of personal violence.

Do you feel that gender equality and happiness go hand in hand? Do companies and countries perform best when their women are equally paid and respected?

women when they evaluate their privileges and opportunities. My article last month referred to demolishing gender stereotypes, particularly in the domestic environment if women want a more satisfactory and happier lifestyle. The bottom line is, in today’s global workplace, in order for a nation to be productive, competitive and, most importantly, happy, working women need to be equally paid and respected.

For the sake of argument, we could compare how a nation’s gender pay gap (World Economic Forum 2014 ranks Italy 69th in gender equality) relates to its overall happiness. The higher the gender pay gap, the less productive, less healthy, less generous and less happy a nation tends to be.

Evidence supports the idea that women’s rights and roles in the home in the US and Europe have not moved in step with changes in the workplace. Therefore, because women with jobs often do most of the chores and childcare, they shoulder a dual burden that cuts into their sleep and fun. For example, long commutes are thought to make British women more miserable than British men because of the greater pressure on women to meet responsibilities at home as well as at work.

When the dual burden is carefully measured – as it has been across European countries (see European Sociological Review (2012) 28 (2): pp 203-219 by Oxford Univ. Press) – the results illustrate the influence that expectations have on how happy we feel. Experiencing the dual burden leads working women in Sweden, for example, to feel more miserable than their counterparts in Greece, maybe because Swedes’ expectations around gender equality are more ambitious. Fewer than 35% of Swedish women do three-quarters of the housework, compared to 81% of Greek women.

Expectations also lie behind the curious finding that performing household chores makes men statistically less likely to become depressed but contributes to depression in women. Taking on housework seems to encourage men to judge themselves as generally likeable, fair-minded, whilst kindly reducing their wives’ load! On the other hand, taking on housework seems to make women feel exploited. Traditionally minded women perhaps base their identities more firmly on their gender roles, and think only of other

Women are outliving men in every country in the world despite facing higher levels of poverty than men, greater odds of encountering sexual violence and many additional, diverse forms of discrimination. See here for the link But while women are living longer, it’s unclear whether their wellbeing is showing comparable strides. As women gain political, economic and social freedoms, one would expect that they should feel even more contented relative to men. But this isn’t so.

So, what’s the recipe for women’s happiness?

Do we live like there’s no tomorrow? We could certainly do without the stress of multitasking.

Don’t worry, be happy!

We can always take comfort in food to improve our mood. After all, we are what we eat. Think pink for the right foods when it comes to diet: serotonin works with two other hormones, noradrenaline and dopamine, to lift mood, promote relaxation and help deal with stress.

Additionally, studies have shown that foods with high levels of magnesium and vitamin B12 also go a long way to triggering your body’s feel-good chemicals. A study by Johns Hopkins University in the US, found that the sugar and fat content in chocolate has a positive effect on mood. Go for 40g of dark chocolate per day for a natural high, but only if your nutritionist recommends it!

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MAY DETOX CONNEXION

by Hanna Suni

A lovely group of PWA women gathered at Le Tartarughe in the Jewish Ghetto for the Detox ConneXion on May 3rd. The restaurant offers healthy fruit coctails and delicious foods for aperitifs. It was great to meet and exchange news while enjoying a Wednesday evening together!

Our last ConneXion of the season is on June7th, stay tuned for details!!!

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APRIL CONFERENCE: THE ULTIMATE ACCESSORY PWA offered members and guests an intriguing presentation on 20th century jewels by Amanda Triossi, jewelry historian, author, curator, lecturer on the history of Western jewelry design and independent consultant to luxury goods companies. Amanda led us through the centuries introducing - among others - the Art Deco 20's, the symmetrical motifs of the 50's and the bold, rounded

The lucky winners of the raffled volumes, Alejandra Pero and Paola Fiorentino.

shapes of the 80's. A true expert, her presentation was adorned by beautiful photos and detailed stories, that made the evening truly special and valuable. Amanda graciously donated two rare volumes she has curated for Bulgari that were raffled to raise funds for the ME2scholarship. The presentation was followed by a lovely cocktail at the elegant lounge of the Grand Hotel.

by Hanna Suni

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by Cristiana Montani Natalucci, Community Director Food, the magic word that can influence everything for us! Ancient culture considered it almost a divine element and they respected food as poison or treatment, at the same time.

Nowadays, in an era characterized by extreme consumer behaviour, we don’t recognize value in food, because we presume its eternity.

Consequently, we eat a lot, too much, destroy the planet because we produce food in such a massive way, and, above all, we become sick due to the fact that we nurture ourselves wrongly. Food is health but also disease.

Chronic diseases, such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes represent 60% of all deaths. Out of the 35 million people who died from chronic disease in 2005, half were under 70 and half were women.

Many researchers now believe that these problems are partly related to diet. While they used to believe that diseases-such as type II diabetes, obesity, heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers - were caused by a single gene mutation, they are now generally attributing these conditions to a network of biological dysfunction. The food we eat is an important factor in that dysfunction, in part because our diets lack the necessary balance of nutrients (Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 2004).

So, it’s fundamental to be aware of the impact of health on our bodies. The food we eat gives our bodies the "information" and materials they need to function properly. If we don't get the right information, our metabolic processes suffer and our health declines. If we get too much food, or food that gives our bodies the wrong instructions, we can

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become overweight, undernourished, and at risk for the development of diseases and conditions, such as arthritis, diabetes, and heart disease.

Food acts as medicine, to maintain, prevent, and treat disease. If we start thinking about food as a messenger with the duty to carry the right information to the different body systems in order to function perfectly, we will be able to change our perspective on food.

The quote from a popular textbook, Perspectives in Nutrition, Wardlow and Insel describes how the nutrients in food are essential for our physical functioning. "Nutrients are the substances in food that are essential for growth, development and maintenance of body functions. Essentially meaning that if a nutrient is not present, aspects of function and therefore human health decline. When nutrient intake does not regularly meet the nutrient requirements dictated by cell activity, metabolic processes slow down or even stop."

In other words, nutrients give our bodies instructions on how to function. In this sense, food can be seen as a source of "information" for the body.

Thinking about food in this way gives us a view of nutrition that goes beyond calories or grams, good foods or bad foods. This view leads us to focus on foods we should include rather than foods to exclude.

We can look upon food as a way to improve health and reduce disease by helping the body to efficiently maintain its function.

So, our ancestors were right: food is the source of life, we have to respect it!

NEWS FROM OUR NETWORK Ferragamo sceglie la startup dei tessuti fatti di agrumi. La Orange Fiber Capsule Collection La maison sceglie la startup per la prima collezione moda realizzata con tessuti ricavati dai sottoprodotti della lavorazione industriale delle arance Salvatore Ferragamo e Orange Fiber, la startup di Adriana Santanocito ed Enrica Arena che produce innovativi tessuti eco-sostenibili, hanno lanciato in occasione della Giornata della Terra 2017, la prima collezione di moda realizzata con tessuti ottenuti dai sottoprodotti della spremitura delle arance.

Salvatore Ferragamo è il primo marchio ad utilizzare l’esclusivo tessuto Orange Fiber. Cogliendo l’essenza e le potenzialità espressive dell’innovativo tessuto ricavato dagli agrumi, Salvatore Ferragamo ha dato vita ad una Capsule Collection, omaggio alla creatività mediterranea. Più esattamente così è nata la Orange Fiber Capsule Collection.

PWA è stata lieta ad accogliere la Dott.ssa Arena come speaker nel maggio 2016, e vuole fare i migliori auguri per un futuro pieno di soddisfazioni!

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women and words

poem Elvira La Rocca painting Rosanna Chiani

Non puoi chiedermi di mostrarti la mia anima, non puoi leggere il mio cuore dai miei occhi, dubbi e affanni che non trovano riposo dietro maschere che indossiamo tutti i giorni.

E dovresti andare oltre quello sguardo asciugare quella lacrima nascosta e tenerla stretta al cuore per capire perchĂŠ nasce la paura dell'amore.

Quel sorriso che depongo, come veste che abbandona le mie membra e che lascia respirare la mia pelle.

Prigioniera di un dolore che nascondo mentre l'anima ricerca la sua luce.

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Self-Defence course with Mark Baxter

either Saturday 3rd June or Sunday 4th June 10am - 4pm (with one-hour lunch break)

at Villa Borghese 25 pre-paid only sign up now - only a few places left at info@pwarome.org

PWA main sponsor

Life Coach Italy s.r.l. contribuisce allo sviluppo del potenziale umano per il benessere personale e organizzativo. Conta su un vasto network di qualificati professionisti che operano da anni in vari settori negli ambiti Life e Corporate, con particolare riferimento alla metodologia del Coaching in linea con gli standard di qualità di International Coach Federation.

• • • •

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PWA Jubilee Summer Party on Wednesday June 14th at Villa Giulia, Via Salaria 125 at 20.30 hrs Join us to celebrate the conclusion of our Jubilee Year 2016-17

Presentation of the New Board and Team Celebrating the Woman of the Year Awarding the ME2-Contest Winner Beautiful setting of the distinguished Roman family villa

Menù Tartine assortite Frittate a quadrelli con verdure di stagione Spiedini mozzarella e pomodoro Hummus con sfoglie croccanti Ricottine di bufala al profumo di pistacchio Cous cous con brunoise di verdure agli agrumi Riso venere con verdure zenzero e gamberi Trofiette al pesto di pistacchio e datterini confit Insalata fantasia Focaccia farcita stracchino e prosciutto Pizzottelle Napoletane Fritti assortiti Spiedini di frutta fresca Torta Prosecco Corner Vino bianco e rosso Acqua minerale Spremuta di limone e menta

members 38 guests 42

PWA Jubilee Year 2016/17 Event program

conneXions special events June 7

June 3 or 4 - Self-defence course June 14 - Jubilee Summer Party

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Check out www.pwarome.org

Membership news New Members Welcome!

We would like to welcome Bliss Moving as Corporate member who has recently joined our Association. PWA is a place that grows with each member, therefore we are looking forward to enjoying PWA together with you!

Make sure to take advantage of all that PWA has to offer, from our monthly events to scholarships and Expert Resources, from the Mentoring programs to TimeOut Professional TimeBank. If you’d like to join, visit our website and contact MembershipDirector@pwarome.org .

2016-2017 PWA Board and Team members President Valerie Baxter President@pwarome.org Secretary Secretary@pwarome.org Treasurer Treasurer@pwarome.org Programming Director Christine Sterpetti Programming@pwarome.org Membership Director Adriana Tempesta MembershipDirector@pwarome.org Associate Member coordinator Nicole Giacomarra MembershipAssociate@pwarome.org Social Director Laura Rizzi SocialDirector@pwarome.org Vice President &Sponsorship Director Valentina Ferretti Sponsorship@pwarome.org PR Director Marta Schneider PR@pwarome.org Newsletter Editor Hanna Suni NewsletterEditor@pwarome.org Webmistress Rossana Scazzocchio Webmistress@pwarome.org Community Director Cristiana Montani Natalucci Media@pwarome.org Mentoring Consultant Maria Banks Mentoringconsultant@pwarome.org Special Projects Annalisa Cicerchia SpecialProjects@pwarome.org Think Tank Alessandra Tacconelli Thinktank@pwarome.org Media communications assistant Karima Hassa Media2@pwarome.org Legal Advisor Adriana Tempesta Legal@pwarome.org

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Our In-Kind Donor

PWA Professional Women’s Association is a recipient of a Google Grants award. The Google Grants program supports registered nonprofit organizations that share Google’s philosophy of community service to help the world in areas such as science and technology, education, global public health, the environment, youth advocacy and the arts. Google Grants is an in-kind advertising program that awards free online advertising to nonprofits via Google AdWords.

Our partners and sponsors

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