The annual Muse Women’s Conference brings together local women & teens with internationally recognized artists, authors, athletes, entrepreneurs, activists, and social change leaders to celebrate International Women’s Day and kick-off Women’s History Month. Our fifth event is scheduled for March 3rd-5th, 2017 in Bend, Oregon.
This three-day event will include a Salon Series, Art Show, Community Yoga Class, 5K Run, Workshops, and our main conference day program. More details will be available January 1st.
Global Activist Zainab Salbi shares how she founded Women for Women International, the largest women’s organization in the world.
Guys can MUSE too. MOsley WOtta wowed our crowd with words of wisdom.
Self-reflection is part of the conference program.
Muse Founder Amanda Stuermer welcomes all to join the conversation.
WHAT OUR MUSES ARE SAYING
Kind words from our Muses about their experience at the annual Muse Conference in Bend, Oregon. If you’d like to submit a comment about one of our programs or events, share your thoughts here.
PRESENTERS
Each year, we feature the voices, stories and conversations of numerous women and girls who are creating positive change in their lives, in their communities, and in our world. We are honored to share their wisdom and inspiration through our salons, conference day programming, and workshop series.
A few of our Past Muse Presenters include:
Activist, Author, Speaker
Myrlie Evers-Williams
Myrlie Evers-Williams worked alongside her husband, Medgar who was a pioneering visionary for civil rights in the 1950s and early 1960s in Mississippi. Following his assassination, she continued the pioneering work they had begun together and becoming the first woman president of the NAACP.
Activist, Author, Organizer
Amy Richards
Amy Richards is best known for creating the Third Wave Foundation as well as for her writings on contemporary feminism. Besides her books, Manifesta, Grassroots and Opting In, Richard’s writings and opinions can be found in numerous anthologies and media outlets, including NPR, The New York Times, Bitch, The Chicago Tribune, and Feminist.com.
Activist, Author, Speaker
Dr. Tererai Trent
Raised in rural Zimbabwe, Dr. Trent has become one of today’s most internationally recognized voices for quality education and women’s empowerment and was chosen as Oprah Winfrey’s “favorite guest of all time.”
Nobel Laureate
Shirin Ebadi
Shirin Ebadi, an Iranian lawyer, a former judge and human rights activist and founder of Defenders of Human Rights Center in Iran. was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003 for her significant and pioneering efforts for democracy and human rights, especially women’s, children’s, and refugee rights.
Pilot, PhD student
Kyleanne Hunter
Kyleanne Hunter is currently a Sie Center for International Security and Diplomacy Research Fellow and PhD Student at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies. Kyleanne spent over a decade as an officer in the United States Marine Corps. and was the first female cobra pilot in her squadron.
Founder, Director
Hellen Nkuraiya
Hellen Nkuraiya, born into a traditional Maasai family and sold twice into marriage, has fought for prevention of FGM, advocated for girls education and protection of widows with the building and directorship of a distinguished primary boarding school and widows village.
Human Rights Defender
Maha Babeker
Global Activist, Author
Lynne Twist
Editor, Artist
Maranda Pleasant
Maranda Pleasant, Founder and Publisher of three National Publication: ORIGIN, Mantra Yoga & Health and Thrive, is a former Conflict Journalist, Photographer and Artist using art for impact with a passion for telling the stories of the voiceless.
Director, Filmmaker
Melissa Lowery
Melissa Lowery is a filmmaker, Diversity Director at Jesuit High School in Portland, and the the director of Black Girl in Suburbia, a feature documentary that looks into the experiences of black girls growing up in predominately White communities.
Executive Director
Julie Falk
Julie Falk is the executive director of Bitch Media, is a nonprofit, independent, feminist media organization dedicated to providing and encouraging an engaged, thoughtful feminist response to mainstream media and popular culture.
Dancer, Speaker, Educator
Jill Catherine
Jill Catherine, a performance speaker, body image expert, cultural dancer/drummer, and communications professional, helps others integrate as a whole person of body-mind-spirit to follow their heart, as founder of 44Hearts and spokesperson for Ophelia’s Place.TRAVEL TO BEND
welcome to the perfect inspiration + recreation destination
The Muse Conference is proud to welcome attendees to beautiful Bend, Oregon where we will gather to celebrate women and girls creating positive change locally, nationally and globally.
Nestled between the High Desert and the Cascade Mountains, Bend offers a lovely backdrop for visitors with an intimate setting, ideal for mixing inspiration and recreation.
Centrally located, we highly recommend reserving at the Oxford Hotel. With a luxurious approach and distinctly Oregon touches, The Oxford Hotel is also within easy walking distance of conference venues, premium shopping areas, a diverse collection of restaurants and bars, and a number of other attractions. The boutique hotel has an intimate footprint with 59 eco-friendly, urban decor suites all elegantly appointed.
Find more lodging, attractions, recreation, and a map of Bend at VisitBend.com.
FLYING TO BEND
The Bend Redmond Roberts Field Airport (RDM) Airport is only 20 minutes away from the downtown Bend, host to a number of Muse-related activities.
Flights are provided by Alaska, United, Delta, and American Airlines. These carriers offer arriving and departing flights daily to and from Denver, Los Angeles, Portland, Salt Lake City, San Francisco and Seattle.
DRIVE TIME TO BEND
- Portland: 3 hours
- Seattle: 6 hours
- Boise: 5 hours
- San Francisco: 8 hours
Please allow additional travel time as needed, weather conditions are variable and the views are amazing!
ATTRACTIONS NOT TO MISS
These are just a few of the attractions and beautiful spots to visit while in Bend. Check out Visit Bend’s website for more trip ideas and how to make the most of your stay.
- Mt. Bachelor
- Old Mill District
- Tumalo Falls
- Cascade Scenic Byway
EVENT SPONSORS
If you would like to become a MUSE sponsor, please see our sponsorship opportunities.
We’d like to extend a special thank you to the Bend Cultural Tourism Fund.
The Bend Cultural Tourism Fund (BCTF) is a grant program dedicated to enhancing the local economy through the promotion and cultivation of Bend’s cultural tourism programs. Grants allocated through the BCTF support art and culture based projects and programs that attract tourists to the City of Bend.
Visit Bend established the BCTF with the goal of attracting cultural tourists during the shoulder seasons and winter months – a time of year when the city’s tourism industry struggles, yet a time when cultural tourism organizations are most active.
Muse Conference is supported in part by a grant from the Bend Cultural Tourism Fund.
SUSTAINING PARTNERS
PRESENTING PARTNERS
SUPPORTING PARTNERS
Cudd Foundation, Cascade Journal, Nancy R. Chandler Visiting Scholar Program at COCC Foundation, Heather TenBroek, The Pine Tavern, The Source Weekly, The Oxford, Bounce America, The Bulletin, Good Tiger Yoga, Jenny Green Gallery, M&T Visions
EVENT PARTNERS
BigFoot Beverages, Brooks Resources, Bryant, Lovlien & Jarvis, Mike & Gail Davis, Deschutes Brewery, InFocus, Groove Yoga, Therapeutic Associates, Picky Bars, Oiselle, G5, Desert Orthopedics, Steve & Heather Anderson/Kobold Brewing, Wall Street Suites, Bend Vacation Rentals, Ward Family Fund
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Simply Baked, Humm Kombucha, Oregon Spirit Distillers, The Swig Rig, BellaTazza, Nancy P’s Cafe & Bakery, Bucha Buena, Little Bite Cafe, Earth 2o, Dr. Jared Anderson, Made in Nature, Patagonia @ Bend, The Wilds