Jennifer Siebel Newsom broke barriers when she adopted the title "first partner" in place of the traditional "first lady" after her husband, Gavin Newsom, became the governor of California. The summer after high school she played on the junior national soccer team and, in a game against France, suffered a leg injury that dogged her for years at Stanford, where she had been recruited for the soccer team. The activist. 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. "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. California first partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom said on Monday that former Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein's trial in which jurors deadlocked on Newsom's allegations of sexual assault but found him guilty of other charges showed society has "work to do.". "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." LOS ANGELES Jennifer Siebel Newsom, a documentary filmmaker and the wife of the California governor, Gavin Newsom, began testifying on Monday that Harvey Weinstein had sexually . How do I take care of myself? In 2020, The Great American Lie examined racial and income inequality in the U.S. "Not all that shocking because very similar things happened to me." [20] A subsequent investigation by Open The Books, a government transparency organization, found the Representation Project was out of compliance with California charity registration requirements which disclose fundraising activity. 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. Keep reading to find out more about Jennifer Siebel Newsom's many accomplishments. Its not easy, being Gavin Newsoms girlfriend. "This is a public health emergency," she said. [20] While the practice is allowed by California law, outside ethics experts expressed concerns about conflicts of interest; a spokesperson for The Representation Project said Siebel Newsom had not overseen fundraising since 2015. Her own experiences, as well as those of other parents, have helped shape her advocacy efforts. "I had to learn to ground (them), and myself too. Oh, but we do. This year the Newsom administration set aside $4.7 billion for youth mental health programs in California, thought to be the countrys largest-ever investment in the emotional well-being of children. Her father was an investment manager, and her mother is a co-founder of the Bay Area Discovery Museum in Sausalito. "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." She then moved to Hollywood to pursue acting, quickly landing roles in TV and film including Mad Men, LIFE, In the Valley of Elah, Rent and Somethings Gotta Give. Her older sister Stacy died in a golf cart accident in 1981. I'm married to California Lt. She co-founded The Representation Project, an organization which works to end gender stereotypes. 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. I had to find myself again., After graduation she worked at a hospital in Quito, Ecuador, thinking she might become a Third World doctor. While Jennifer made headlines for her inclusive title, there is so much more to learn about the mother of four. 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. As the governor's wife, Siebel Newsom feels she is in a unique position to merge her personal interest in young people's well-being with policies that reach regular Californians. 4 in the Harvey Weinstein trial. However, my main personal mental health interest is about stopping the criminal lack of meaningful treatment for adults with serious mental illness. Sometimes she feels the cards are stacked against her, but my passionate side, the artistic side, says No, I can do it.'. Most recently, Fair Play focuses on the difficulties women face as they attempt to balance work and home lives. This romance took place back when Jennifer was a budding Hollywood actor, and, although she hasn't had much to say about it, Clooney did tell Esquire that they, "went out for a minute." Jennifer Siebel Newsom, the wife of California Gov. She knows firsthand, she said, what it feels like to be a child whos experienced loss and trauma, like so many California children have endured during the pandemic. 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. There are two sides to every story, Siebel told the Chronicle. 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. 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. 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. 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. [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. mayors girlfriend offers glimpse into her, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), S.F. Governor Gavin Newsom, who is an incredibly brave and courageous leader who has inspired me through my work to be brave, to speak the truth, to call out the injustices in our society. Thank you so much, Carolyn, for writing such a compelling and informative article. As a parent, there's nothing worse than seeing your child in pain and feeling powerless to help.". Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. She was a chief backer of the states Farm to School grant program, a $60 million initiative to pay for school gardens, cooking classes and other projects to bring healthier, fresher food to schools and teach children where their food comes from. Jennifer Lynn Siebel Newsom (born June 19, 1974) is an American documentary filmmaker and actress who is the current first partner of California as the wife of governor Gavin Newsom. "The Mask You Live In," released in 2015, looks at how boys struggle with expectations around masculinity. To encourage children to get outside more, she spearheaded the California State Parks Adventure Pass, which gives free admission to all California fourth graders and their families at 19 state parks, and the California State Library Parks Pass, which provides free vehicle passes to state parks available for check-out with a library card. She also interviews a number of notable women to showcase their perspectives, per Vogue. It didn't make sense to me that I should be devaluing my accomplishments to achieve 'success.'" Jennifer Siebel Newsom, Gavin Newsom's wife, is known as Jane Doe No. The Mask You Live In, her second film which she wrote, produced and directed, scrutinizes American society's definition of masculinity. "She knows fully well that comprehensive mental health services in California schools have been inadequate. 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. She heard repeatedly about childrens technology addiction young people who rarely left their rooms because they were glued to their phones, or spent countless hours a day gaming, or were consumed by social media, or had completely disengaged from their families and friends. 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. Its that someone in her position is saying it, out loud and on such a big platform, that makes it a departure. Gavin Newsom, takes the stand in Harvey Weinstein trial", https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/14/us/harvey-weinstein-jury-deliberations-los-angeles-wednesday/index.html, "Harvey Weinstein Found Guilty of Rape in Los Angeles Trial", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jennifer_Siebel_Newsom&oldid=1141212067, First ladies and gentlemen of San Francisco, Stanford Graduate School of Business alumni, All articles with bare URLs for citations, Articles with bare URLs for citations from April 2022, Articles with unsourced statements from November 2016, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Episode: "The Camp, the Counselor, the Mole and the Rock", This page was last edited on 23 February 2023, at 23:03. Jennifer defines herself as a sensitive woman who wears her heart on her sleeve. We dont know anyone who has been raped, she told me. Shes not trying to speak on behalf of any group, shes trying to give voice and a platform to communities that often are not invited or dont have the opportunity or the luxury of being in the room or at the table, Carrillo said. This is a public health emergency, she said. Women lawmakers see new allies in the Newsoms, parents of four children under 10, compared to former Gov. And, it all starts with the women." At 32, Siebel is strikingly slim, with large, expressive eyes, a tumble of blond hair and a quick, tender smile. She is the second oldest of five girls and attended Ross Grammar School and The Branson School. 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. Jennifer Siebel Newsom is the First Partner of California, an award-winning filmmaker, and an influential thought leader on gender equality. 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. "When children experience these challenges, we have to realize it's not their fault. 2023 EdSource. As Californias first partner, a term she prefers to the traditional first lady because it is gender neutral and could apply to the spouse of a future woman or LGBT governor, Siebel Newsom is marrying the activism shes done through her filmmaking with the governing agenda of her husband, a Democrat in his first term leading the nations most populous state. Privacy Policy In December, the L.A. jury found Weinstein guilty on three counts forcible rape, forcible oral copulation and sexual penetration by a foreign object all of the same woman, identified as Jane Doe 1. Let us plant more school gardens! She heard repeatedly about children's technology addiction -- young people who rarely left their rooms because they were glued to their phones, or spent countless hours a day gaming, or were consumed by social media, or had completely disengaged from their families and friends. Then she enrolled at Stanford Business School, in part to satisfy a personal yen for entrepreneurship, but also to please her family, a pattern for much of my life.. Linda Darling-Hammond, president of the State Board of Education, praised Siebel Newsom's "consistent and insistent" efforts on behalf of California's children, families and teachers. Even though Jennifer Siebel Newsom had a Stanford education under her belt as a young adult, she had aspirations far beyond diving into a traditional career. In the piece, the first partner of California revealed that she was one of Harvey Weinstein's many victims. From the article: Newsom's sister . Siebel Newsom directed the documentary film Fair Play in 2022. Considering whats going on in the country and the world, its critical that California succeeds right now. Gavin Newsom, broke down crying Monday at Harvey Weinstein's sex crimes trial, where she is testifying . Jennifer was born on June 19, 1974, to Judy and Ken Siebel in San Francisco, California. 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. 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. Yet they're respectful of each other. Inspired by the pregnancy that produced her first child, a girl, Siebel Newsom decided to go behind the camera to make her first documentary Miss Representation, which examines Hollywoods fixation on womens looks. This film is only one example of how Newsom's work is influenced by her passion for gender equality. Streamlined Medi-Cal coverage for young people to receive free mental health services. He had broken me into a million pieces., Jurors could not come to a unanimous decision on whether hed also violated Siebel Newsom during a business meeting in his hotel suite in 2005. The documentary filmmaker and politician's wife spent years as an actress in Hollywood before linking up with California's top lawmaker. 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. At 12, Siebel visited Kenya and Tanzania with her family, and thats when I realized I kind of grew up in a bubble a very beautiful, magical bubble. She worked in Africa when she was 18 and again after college. While pursuing her MBA, Siebel Newsom also studied at the American Conservatory Theater, where she completed a certificate program. Hes a visionary. [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. You can read more about Jennifer's world at her As the Girl Turns website. Newsom said. Amy Cranston, executive director of the Social Emotional Learning Alliance for California, said Siebel Newsom's advocacy has helped draw attention to the youth mental health crisis and promote wellness in schools. [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. As a parent, theres nothing worse than seeing your child in pain and feeling powerless to help.. Prior to registering as an independent voter, she accidentally registered with the far-right American Independent Party, before correcting her party to "decline to state". When we ignore a womans cries of pain, Siebel Newsom said in the video, when we tell her she is to blame, that she asked for it, that this was just business as usual, when we insist that her memory is imperfect, that perhaps she was too ambitious, we dont just deny her experience, we deny her natural trauma response, which is at first to internally underplay all thats happened for survivals sake. Today, when shes not running her non-profit MissRepresentation.org, Newsom serves as a board member for PBSs Northern California affiliate KQED, a Global Advisory Board member of the Dove Self Esteem Project (DSEP), and a commissioner on the Girl Scouts Healthy MEdia Commission. Newsom has received the Emerging Artist Award from The White House Project, Champion for Kids award from Common Sense Media, and the Visionary Award from Vision 2020, among others. But for her, the topic transcends professional duties. The Newsoms have four children. The mom of four reminisced on her college years while speaking to Marin Independent Journal. 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. (We) would love to work with her and support her efforts.. But our bodies do not lie. 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Her older sister Stacy died when Jennifer was 6, her sister was 8, from a golf cart accident from which she carries a lot of guilt as she was present at the time of the accident. Gavin Newsom, is the first partner of California. READ ALSO: Jennifer Siebel Newsom Husband: Who Is Gavin Newsom? Siebel Newsom is also a mother of four who, like most parents, experienced the anguish of watching her children suffer through emotional distress during the pandemic. 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. 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. (Video: Jennifer Siebel Newsom . She was a chief backer of the state's Farm to School grant program, a $60 million initiative to pay for school gardens, cooking classes and other projects to bring healthier, fresher food to schools and teach children where their food comes from. her eldest sister Stacey, 8, was killed in a golf cart accident while the family was on vacation in . Siebel Newsom then widened her scope, focusing on how society treats men and boys with her film The Mask You Live In and exploring how gender values influence the U.S. economy in The Great American Lie, which premiered this year. Jennifer Siebel Newsom, a documentary filmmaker and the wife of California Gov. The story roused a firestorm among Newsom followers, and Siebel added fuel to the flames with subsequent comments on a blog saying Rippey-Tourk had a checkered history and was bad news., Gun-shy, Siebel says she has promised Newsom not to discuss him in the press, but her emotions spill over: He makes me happy.