Along with our Board of Directors, we’re delighted to have you with us tonight for our Summer Kickoff event. Get ready for an evening of inspiration and empowerment with our Women of Courage: Lili Bernard, Cathy Schulman, and Victoria Stewart.
5:00 p.m.
Reception and Meet & Greet Our Special Guests
5:30 p.m.
Welcome and Opening Remarks: Emily Liu Foy and Brenda Robinson
About The Representation Project: Dr. Caroline Heldman and Holly Martinez
Women of Courage Panel: Moderated by Kat Gordon
Closing: Dr. Anna Malaika Tubbs and Brian Brokaw
Many warm thanks to our generous host, Marina Berti and our sponsor, Farmers Insurance!
We are thrilled to introduce to you tonight, our new Executive Director:
Holly Martinez is the Executive Director of The Representation Project (TRP), where she leads the organization’s work to challenge gender stereotypes and shift norms. As the leading gender watchdog organization, TRP uses film and media as a catalyst for cultural transformation.
Holly joins The Representation Project with years of experience advocating on behalf of women and girls. Most recently, Holly served as the Executive Director for the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls, advancing women-focused initiatives including the nation-leading California Equal Pay Pledge campaign, the Women’s Recovery Response to the pandemic, and historic efforts to bring medicated abortion access to all of California’s public UC and CSU health centers.
Holly has dedicated her career to improving the well-being and economic vitality of California’s underserved communities. Her work to expand outdoor access at the California State Parks Foundation led to the adoption of the first-ever California State Park Adventure Pass. At Golden State Opportunity Foundation, she led the implementation of the inaugural Calfironia Earned Income Tax Credit to economically empower California families to claim millions in cash-back refunds. As Senior Director of Dewey Square Group’s Social Innovation and Philanthropy Practice, she drove impactful campaigns, most notably California’s expansion of Medi-Cal with the passage of the Affordable Care Act.
Earlier in her career, Holly served former California First Lady Maria Shriver as Chief of Staff, and then worked as the Director of AmeriCorps in the Office of the Governor to promote civic engagement and service.
A Sacramento native, Holly graduated from California State University, Sacramento earning her BA in Communications and Public Relations. Today, Holly resides in West Sacramento with her husband, Mike and their two children, Alex and Allison.
Lili Bernard is a Cuban-born survivor activist and interdisciplinary artist of mixed African, Caribbean, European and Chinese descent. Her work examines issues of sexism, racism and trauma. A mother of six whom she birthed in a ten-year span, Lili is an award-winning exhibiting fine artist, actor, published writer, independent curator, educator, community organizer, public speaker and founder of BAILA: Black Artists in Los Angeles. Lili attended Cornell University and The City University of New York and received her MFA in Visual Arts/Public Practice from Otis College of Art and Design.
In the fine arts, Lili’s numerous credits include a 2017 solo exhibition at Museum of African Diaspora and favorable reviews in a multitude of mainstream art periodicals, including ARTnews Magazine. As an actor who has performed extensively in NYC Off-Broadway theatre, on television Lili starred in the BBC film Murder in Oakland, co-starred in Stephen King’s Golden Years, and guest-starred on Seinfeld and The Cosby Show. A Cosby survivor-turned public-figure antirape activist, Lili influenced the abolishment of the statute of limitations on rape prosecution in California with her #EndRapeSOL peers, as well as the gubernatorial signing of three #MeToo bills on employment sexual harassment and assault. Currently, she serves as co-chair of #ERAnow and is Co-Founder of Stand With Survivors.
Veteran executive and Academy Award® winning producer Cathy Schulman is the President and CEO of Welle Entertainment, a film and television production company committed to producing content that appeals to diverse audiences, with an emphasis on women and girls. Welle is a leading content supplier and producer for major motion picture studios, networks, and streamers.
Schulman’s current romantic dramedy THE IDEA OF YOU, starring Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine, is the number one film on Amazon Prime and garnered over 50 million views in its first two weeks streaming. Schulman recently produced the epic action drama THE WOMAN KING starring Viola Davis, released by Sony/ TriStar Pictures in 2022, grossing over $100 million at the global box office and named as one of AFI’s top ten films of 2022. Schulman also holds a top ten AFI certificate for CRASH, for which she won the Best Picture Oscar in 2006.
Schulman, who has recently added screenwriting to her repertoire, was the showrunner and executive producer of the Showtime series THE FIRST LADY. Directed by Susanne Bier and starring Viola Davis, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Gillian Anderson, the series is a reframing of American leadership told through the lens of the women at the heart of the White House.
Welle recently produced the YA hit drama FIVE FEET APART, starring Cole Sprouse and Haley Lu Richardson, and the Netflix hit comedy film OTHERHOOD, starring Angela Bassett, Patricia Arquette, and Felicity Huffman.
Before founding Welle, Schulman served as the Head of Production for STX Entertainment, where she managed the studio’s annual twelve-picture slate, including box office hits BAD MOMS and the critically acclaimed dramedy EDGE OF SEVENTEEN. As President of Artists Production Group (APG), she oversaw multiple films including Martin Scorsese’s GANGS OF NEW YORKS, and as President of Mandalay Pictures, she championed films including Richard Linklater’s BERNIE and Lisa Cholodenko’s THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGGHT. Schulman’s many noteworthy producer credits include over 30 films and shows including THE ILLUSIONIST and DARFUR NOW.
Schulman was the President of Women in Film from 2007-2018. She is the co-founder of Reframe, the industry’s leading systemic change project, where she established the ReFrame stamp, which recognizes productions that are making strides towards female-driven content, gender equality, and representation of women in key production roles. As a top spokesperson for gender parity issues in media, Schulman designed the multi-year Annenberg School gender data project, introduced Unconscious Bias Training to Hollywood , and established the WIF sexual harassment hotline.
Schulman is a two-decade-long Board Member of Film Independent and has served as a Council Member of the Producers Guild of America. She is a member of the AMPAS and has taught graduate-level film producing at UCLA and Chapman, where she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate. Schulman gave the 2016 media address for International Woman’s Day at the United Nations. She is a graduate of Yale University, with a double major in Theater Studies and History of Art.
Victoria Stewart is a seasoned leader in the insurance industry and political advocacy, with two decades of experience in government relations. As the Farmers Insurance Group’s Director of Government and Industry Affairs for several western states, she serves as a key strategist for improving the insurance market to benefit constituents across various states in the region, including Californians.
Victoria’s career commenced in California’s State Capitol, where she began as an administrative assistant in a state senator’s office. Over the years, she ascended through various roles, including Legislative Director, Capitol Director, and Chief of Staff for the vice chair of the Assembly Insurance Committee. Her extensive tenure navigating legislative and regulatory landscapes has earned her widespread respect within California’s political circles.
Victoria’s impact extends beyond her professional achievements. She was significant in co-founding We Said Enough, a Sacramento-based #MeToo initiative dedicated to safeguarding women lobbyists and Capitol staffers. She has been influential in raising resources for advocacy, positive change and to foster safer working environments for women in influential positions.
Victoria holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from California State University, Sacramento. Victoria lives in Sacramento, CA with her seven-foot tyrannosaurus-rex, Sine Die.
No matter who you are or where you live, intersectional gender stereotypes are hurting you and those you love. Through film, education, and activism, The Representation Project awakens consciousness, spotlights the cost of these stereotypes, and invites everyone to build a more equitable future.
Your presence today directly supports our ongoing efforts. Learn more HERE. Thank YOU!