I'm a social justice documentary filmmaker, and an advocate for women, girls, and their families. "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. "When I went into acting, my agent told me to lie about my age (I was 28) and take my Stanford MBA off of my resume," Newsom revealed. 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 couldn't help her." Siebel Newsom said . (Tim Mosenfelder) He also said she didn't make her lack of consent clear during the alleged . Their father, who had grown up poor in Illinois, had gone to the University of Wisconsin on an athletic scholarship, and he saw sports as the path to freedom., Siebel remains athletic. 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. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. Who Is Jennifer Siebel Newsom, The First Partner Of California? Jennifer writes on Politics and Pop Culture, with occasional detours into Reinvention, Yoga, and Food. (Video: Jennifer Siebel Newsom . First partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom moderated a talk with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi . 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. [29], Her sister, Melissa Siebel, is married to Joshua Irwing Schiller, son of Boies Schiller Flexner LLP co-founder Jonathan Schiller. Siebel Newsom's efforts are especially welcome after so many years of funding shortfalls in California for mental health services, said Loretta Whitson, director of the California Association of School Counselors. Jennifer was the oldest of four sisters and she studied at Ross Grammar School as well as The Branson School. Gavin Newsom. Gavin Newsom, will be testifying against Harvey Weinstein in his second sexual assault trial that began this week in Los Angeles. [32] In November 2022, Siebel Newsom testified in court that, in 2005, Weinstein had raped her in a hotel room, having lured her there under the pretenses of holding a professional discussion about film projects. Jennifer Siebel Newsom is the First Partner of California, an award-winning filmmaker, and an influential thought leader on gender equality. 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. [1] Jennifer and Gavin wed in July of the same year at her parents' ranch in Stevensville, Montana. [21], In the early 2000s, Siebel Newsom dated actor George Clooney. We break women by ignoring the very real ramifications of sexual assault and violence against them. "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. READ ALSO: Jennifer Siebel Newsom Husband: Who Is Gavin Newsom? Gavin Newsom said in a recent interview he should have expected his wifes forthrightness. [33] Weinstein's attorney claims what took place was consensual, transactional sex. At 28 years old, the then-aspiring star moved to Hollywood to pursue acting. However, my main personal mental health interest is about stopping the criminal lack of meaningful treatment for adults with serious mental illness. He held traditional views of family, with him as the breadwinner and his wife maintaining the home and caring for five daughters. 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. "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.". During high school, she played varsity . "The title of 'first partner' is a statement of Gavin's and my shared values," she revealed. And in one way, Im sorry about that. Is the second of five daughters, though the eldest surviving one. 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. Siebel Newsom has stated she carries a lot of guilt as she was present at the time of the accident. Editorials and other Opinion content offer perspectives on issues important to our community and are independent from the work of our newsroom reporters. "I hope my film will spark a national conversation around how the elevation of stereotypically 'masculine' values has led to extreme social and economic immobility and how, if we elevate more 'feminine' values such as empathy, care, and community, we can fix some of these systemic inequities." When she was six, her older sister Stacy died at age eight from a golf cart accident. 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. She has the governors ear and you know she values the same things, Democratic Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez said of Siebel Newsoms work with the Legislative Womens Caucus. The California governor's friend, Stanlee Gatti, spoke to SFGate about the chemistry between Jennifer and Gavin. "This is a public health emergency," she said. Hi. Gavin Newsom, broke down crying Monday at Harvey Weinstein's sex crimes trial, where she is testifying . (We) would love to work with her and support her efforts.. If people did research into the scandal ? Siebel Newsom went on to college, earning an MBA, and then worked in Hollywood for a few years before turning her skills to documentary filmmaking. 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. Siebel Newsom directed the documentary film Fair Play in 2022. The former actor's interview with Marin Independent Journal revealed that she and her siblings were raised by two financially secure parents. Newsom also played basketball and tennis while in high school, so it is perhaps no surprise that her athleticism helped her secure a spot at Stanford. Her testimony was the most dramatic and emotional so far in the three-week . Her Spanish now allows her to communicate with millions of Californians in a way that her husband cant. I dont have to say things anymore - hes been listening for a long time, Siebel Newsom said of her husband of 11 years. Great article; provides good insights into the motivations of CAs first partner. 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. It became more hectic in March, when for an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle, Siebel blamed Ruby Rippey-Tourk for her much-publicized affair with Newsom. Gavin Newsom, took the stand in Harvey Weinstein's sexual assault trial in Los Angeles on Monday, at times breaking into. Gavin Newsom. The mom revealed that gender roles affect her relationship with Gavin and their parenting responsibilities. 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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. She has been featured in media outlets such as NPR, ABC, MSNBC, Fox News, Forbes, The Chicago Tribune, O Magazine, and Vogue. 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. As Newsoms First Partner, she plans to launch an effort this fall probing negative effects of media and technology on children. 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. She is the second oldest of five girls and attended Ross Grammar School and The Branson School. Beyond the camera, Siebel Newsom has been a persistent, outspoken advocate in her husband's administration for students experiencing trauma, anxiety, depression and other emotional hardships. 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. [1] The couple announced their engagement in January 2008. But our bodies do not lie. What, she asked Salvador Sanchez Ceren, did he have to say about the countrys poor record on womens rights? 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.. 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. "When children experience these challenges, we have to realize it's not their fault. "Throughout the trial, Weinstein's lawyers used sexism, misogyny, and . Siebel Newsom has stated she carries a lot of guilt as she was present at the time of the accident. "Based on my years in the industry and unfortunately, my own personal experience with Harvey Weinstein, I can tell you that I believe every single word that was written in the extremely disturbing, but not all that shocking, New York Times piece published yesterday," Newsom penned, referring to the article that detailed Weinstein's history of crimes against women in Hollywood. Very inspiring seeing the work and dedication Siebel Newsom has done for youth mental health. She later graduated with honors from Stanford . 2023 EdSource. "I had to learn to ground (them), and myself too. No one did.. 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. But for her, the topic transcends professional duties. Siebel Newsoms efforts are especially welcome after so many years of funding shortfalls in California for mental health services, said Loretta Whitson, director of the California Association of School Counselors. And the chief causes for Siebel Newsom, a 45-year-old actress turned documentary filmmaker, are gender equality and societys treatment of women and families. As previously mentioned. 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. 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. 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. She explained that she lived with guilt for years after the accident. Newsom's production company, Girls Club Entertainment, allows her to produce these gender inequality-focused projects. Jennifer Siebel Newsom Biography. There - dismayed by the way women were presented in front of the camera - she realized she needed to do more work behind the camera. Click here for EdSource's Comments Policy. Inside, I have fallen apart. Jennifer Siebel Newsom speaks at the "Bans Off Our Bodies" reproductive rights rally at Los Angeles City Hall on May 14, 2022. During high school, she played varsity basketball, soccer, and tennis. the woman is the culprit. They hold onto trauma, and that trauma manifests in multiple ways. Jennifer lived a life of privilege, grounded in a family ethos that wanted to improve the world and save the environment. And, it all starts with the women." 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. Its that someone in her position is saying it, out loud and on such a big platform, that makes it a departure. In 2002, Siebel Newsom moved to Hollywood, where she concentrated on building her acting career. 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. For years, he walked away unfettered, while for years, I nursed my wounds. Her older sister Stacy died in a golf cart accident in 1981. If Gov. She talked about growing up in Ross, playing sports at Branson School and Stanford, working in Africa, switching to an acting career and dealing with a family tragedy that shaped her life. 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. The couple got engaged in 2008 while Gavin was still the mayor of San Francisco. "She knows fully well that comprehensive mental health services in California schools have been inadequate. [30], Siebel Newsom was registered as a Republican until 2008, before re-registering as No Party Preference. At Branson, Siebel was a top student, president of the junior class and a standout athlete, playing varsity tennis, soccer and basketball. Newsoms wife couldnt convince Weinstein jury, what happens to ordinary women? 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. The mom of four reminisced on her college years while speaking to Marin Independent Journal. Gavin Newsom, became visibly appalled when asked to recreate how she faked an orgasm on the stand as she gave evidence during the sexual. The woman died on Christmas Day and is the cousin of Lt. ICSO deputy dies in crash while responding to call - KYMA Since her husbands inauguration, Siebel Newsom has launched a campaign pushing California companies to pay workers equally and urged her husband to expand paid family leave. It may be safe to say that Jennifer is an expert in balancing her career and motherhood, because her resum is just as impressive as her husband's. This realization may have been what led Newsom to become a gender equality advocate as California's first partner. She is the director, writer, and producer of the film Miss Representation, which premiered in the documentary competition at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. When she was six, her older sister Stacy died at age eight from a golf cart accident. And that starts with the well-being of our children.. A recent article in the New Yorker extolling the (probable) next Governor of California reveals that Gavin Newsom helped his mother commit assisted suicide. Victims of sexual violence have one hell of an ally in the newly unshackled Jennifer Siebel Newsom, feminist documentary filmmaker and wife of California Gov. So I've always known that, without your mental health, what do you have?". After graduating with honors from Stanford University and Stanfords Graduate School of Business, Jennifer worked in Africa and Latin America, helping women entrepreneurs create their own socially and environmentally responsible businesses. And after all these years, it feels like were only getting started. 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. 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. That makes for some uncomfortable conversations with her parents, who she said are still proud of her political work with Newsom. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); We welcome your comments. "The Mask You Live In," released in 2015, looks at how boys struggle with expectations around masculinity. October 10, 2022 / 11:36 PM / AP. Her parents were Kenneth and Judy Siebel. Victims, she said, often find lifesaving protection in initially telling even themselves that nothing terrible has happened. It really helped," she told a recent conference of counselors and school administrators in Napa. Siebel Newsom is the second oldest of five girls and attended Ross Grammar School and The Branson School. "It's a demonstration of our commitment to gender equity and inclusivity values that go to the heart of our 21st century partnership and who we are as a state." As Siebel Newsom says, we have so much more work to do. Only she was allowed to give a victim statement in court, where she said his crimes against her had left her feeling heartbroken, empty and alone for many years. For the most part, Jennifer Siebel Newsom's childhood was stable. But in the video the first partner posted after his Thursday sentencing, she said some really important things. Thank you so much, Carolyn, for writing such a compelling and informative article. In conjunction with a group she founded, California Partners Project, she used the information to create toolkits for families, schools and others to help children overcome technology addiction. 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.. Theyre informal conversations at dinner, having breakfast, driving the kids to school, getting coffee in the morning, Gov. The eldest of four girls (Jennifer lost her elder sister Stacey in an accident when they were kids), Jennifer dedicates her time and energy to helping our most vulnerable. . [17][18][19] In 2021, The Sacramento Bee revealed that from 2011 to 2018, Siebel Newsom earned $2.3 million from her film work through her nonprofit organization, which had received $800,000 in donations from companies with business before California's government as her husband Gavin Newsom's political career ascended, and continued to draw her salary after he became governor. San Francisco International Film Festival, "Mayor Newsom, Jennifer Siebel engaged to be married - SFGate", "Jennifer L Siebel, Born 06/19/1974 in California | CaliforniaBirthIndex.org", "Must Reads: Jennifer Siebel Newsom will be California's 'first partner.' In fact, the San Francisco native was recruited by Stanford after she got their attention as a talented high school soccer player, according to Marin Magazine. 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. [citation needed], At Stanford, she was recruited to play on the women's soccer team. That background, she says, helps her empathize with a range of people, including conservatives featured in her films. So we knew we had to address that in a holistic way.". In conjunction with a group she founded, California Partners Project, she used the information to create toolkits for families, schools and others to help children overcome technology addiction. Jennifer Oliver O'Connell (As the Girl Turns) is a contributor at Redstate and other publications. Privacy Policy She opened up about how she views motherhood as a gender equality activist in an essay she wrote for Glamour in 2019. "Through my work with Conservation International, I learned how effective micro-enterprise opportunities are in providing long-term sustainability to indigenous communities. Community schools that offer social services to students and their families. Siebel was 28 when she moved to West Hollywood. In the piece, the first partner of California revealed that she was one of Harvey Weinstein's many victims. She's produced four award-winning documentaries focused on mental health, equity, gender and related topics, starting in 2011 with "Miss Representation" about how depictions of women are too often focused on beauty and sexuality, and the impact on young people. 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. To improve her skills at public speaking, she began taking classes at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco. I still ski hard.". Jennifer Lynn Siebel was born in San Francisco, to Kenneth F. Siebel Jr., an investment manager, and Judy Siebel (ne Fritzer), the co-founder of the Bay Area Discovery Museum in Sausalito. But she went even further in Thursdays video, referring to herself as a repeat trauma survivor whod felt responsible for her sisters accidental death in a golf cart accident when she was only 6, then had been sexually assaulted by a high school classmate and by the trusted coach of her national soccer team. referring to herself as a repeat trauma survivor who'd felt responsible for her sister's accidental death in a golf cart accident when she was only 6, then had been . Is the second of five daughters, though the eldest surviving one. Most recently, Fair Play focuses on the difficulties women face as they attempt to balance work and home lives. Siebel Newsoms parents instilled a commitment to service, and she followed in her fathers footsteps by working with the nonprofit Conservation International in Latin America and Africa in between getting her bachelors degree and an MBA at Stanford University. Melinda Henneberger is The Sacramento Bees local columnist. But for her, the topic transcends professional duties. My friends say I am way too open and trusting.. [34] The jury was unable to reach a verdict on Newsom's accusation, and that of one of his other accusers, and a mistrial was declared on those charges.