| Irene Natividad Washington, D.C. A Super Dynamic Filipina Leader |
Irene Natividad is a woman with many titles: a wife, a mother, a
political activist, and an educator. She is also the Immediate Past
Chair of the National Women’s Political Caucus, an 18-year old
organization dedicated to electing and appointing more women to
political office. Elected in 1985 and re-elected in 1987, Ms.
Natividad has led the 77,000 - member, grassroots group for the
past four years, achieving many gains and planning many new
ones.
Under her tutelage, the NWPC has commissioned several ground-
breaking studies, including “Electing Women to Higher Office:
Lessons from 1986" which tracked voter attitudes towards women
candidates; and the 1987 “New Political Woman” survey, which
examined the factors motivating today’s politically-active woman.
In addition, the NWPC has established new programs promoting
women political leaders. Through her efforts, NWPC:
political activist, and an educator. She is also the Immediate Past
Chair of the National Women’s Political Caucus, an 18-year old
organization dedicated to electing and appointing more women to
political office. Elected in 1985 and re-elected in 1987, Ms.
Natividad has led the 77,000 - member, grassroots group for the
past four years, achieving many gains and planning many new
ones.
Under her tutelage, the NWPC has commissioned several ground-
breaking studies, including “Electing Women to Higher Office:
Lessons from 1986" which tracked voter attitudes towards women
candidates; and the 1987 “New Political Woman” survey, which
examined the factors motivating today’s politically-active woman.
In addition, the NWPC has established new programs promoting
women political leaders. Through her efforts, NWPC:
- Inaugurated its first-ever Minority Women Candidates
Training Program — a project developed in recognition of
the diversity of the American population; - Released an annual Survey of Governor Appointments of
Women which ranked the governors’ records of
appointments of women to state cabinet positions;
- Spearheaded the Coalition for Women’s Appointments, a network of 85 women’s organizations
whose goal is to create a talent bank of women for presidential appointment.
Among the women’s community in Washington D.C., Natividad is known for her commitment to coalition
efforts such as Women’s Election Central which monitors the progress of women candidates across the
nation; the Women’s Roundtable, a coalition of 60 organizations whose focus is the women’s vote; and the
joint press conference in which 22 major women’s organizations voiced their opposition to the Bork
nomination.
A long-time Caucus activist, Natividad served as NWPC national vice-chair for two terms in a row prior to her
election as national chair. As evidenced by all of the above, Irene brings to this position her experienced
leadership and strong commitment to strengthen the Caucus’ reputation as a grassroots women’s political
organization.
A native of the Philippines, Natividad is the recipient of many honors and awards, most recently named as one
of the “100 Most Powerful Women in America” by Ladies Home Journal. Other awards include the 1986
Honored American Award, presented by Americans By Choice; the 1985 Women Making History Award
presented by Women’s Congressional Caucus; the 1987 “Innovator for Womanshare” award from the
Women’s Funding Coalition. She is named in the American and International Who’s Who of Political Woman.
Formerly the Director of the Center for Continuing Education at William Patterson College in Wayne, New
Jersey, Ms. Natividad resides outside of Washington D.C. with her husband Andrea Cortese and their five-
year-old son Carlo. (Verbatim quote from news release from NWPC.)
Graduating as veledictorian/summa cum laude from Long Island University in New York with a Bachelor of
Arts Degree in Comparative Literature and passing her Ph.D. with high honors from Columbia University in
Early American Literature, this dynamic 42-year-old Filipina leader is a pure-blooded Filipina. Her father was
the late Paulo Natividad an engineer from Angeles, Pampanga. Her mother was the former Maria Cleofas
Sangil from Tarlac, Tarlac. Ms. Natividad graduated from high school in Athens, Greece's American School.
"She is one of the most visible Filipino-Americans in the United States because of her political activism
leadership for women movement," remarked a diplomat from the Philippine Embassy last November 8, 1989
during the State Visit of President Aquino in Washington, D.C. where Ms. Natividad ("I feel more comfortable
when friends call me Irene,"she remarked.) was one of the guest speakers.
"If the next president of the United States is a woman, you can bet that one of the principal reasons for her
success will be Irene Natividad," wrote RICE Magazine in their October 1987 issue. "Natividad is in the
business of breaking political barriers, enabling women to lead the way in to America's political future."
In giving up the leadership of National Women's Political Caucus, one the most influential women political
movements in the entire United States - - after four years of successful leadership - - Irene remarked, "It is
time for a new face. This organization is larger than any one personality."
With her trademark, a colorful silk scarf draped over her shoulders, Irene constantly travels around the
country to give lectures and to provide the necessary leadership for women movements.
Washington D.C. Since 1987
Washington D.C. Since 1987
| Copyright© 2006 Filipino Image. All rights Reserved. Advertise | Contract | Subscribe | Publisher | Contact Us |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |