Jennifer Siebel Newsom shocked the world with a powerful essay she wrote for HuffPost in October 2017. 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. So Ive always known that, without your mental health, what do you have?. 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. What, she asked Salvador Sanchez Ceren, did he have to say about the countrys poor record on womens rights? Jennifer Siebel Newsom, wife of California Gov. [30], Siebel Newsom was registered as a Republican until 2008, before re-registering as No Party Preference. 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. 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." One of her solutions to these challenges is to get young people outside more, and to eat more-nutritious food. Melinda Henneberger is The Sacramento Bees local columnist. Newsom has three sisters; a fourth died in childhood in an incident involving a golf cart. Jennifer Siebel Newsom, a documentary filmmaker and the wife of California Gov. 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. The California governor's friend, Stanlee Gatti, spoke to SFGate about the chemistry between Jennifer and Gavin. Two things squelched that notion: She grew faint at the sight of blood, and her mentor-doctor in Quito seemed hardened and depressed by his work: I thought, Oh my God, I want to be happy.'. That background, she says, helps her empathize with a range of people, including conservatives featured in her films. 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., In conjunction with a group she founded, California Partners Project, she used the information to create. "Not all that shocking because very similar things happened to me." "This is the first nonprofit organization that I worked for during my teen/college years, so it was truly formative of my passions for international justice and all of the environmental issues that I care about," she revealed. Jennifer Oliver O'Connell (As the Girl Turns) is a contributor at Redstate and other publications. [10] The film went on to screen at numerous other festivals, including the San Francisco International Film Festival, Athena Film Festival and won the Audience Award at the Palo Alto International Film Festival. 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. Harvey Weinstein lets out a belly laugh at LA rape trial as his attorney ridicules victim, What judge said to Alex Murdaugh is why we should abolish the death penalty | Opinion, California braces for next big snowstorm this weekend. 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. When she was 6 years old her elder sister known as Stacy passed away at the age of 8 from a golf cart accident. Jennifer Siebel Newsom was born in San Francisco, California on 19th June, 1974. She has appeared on such television shows as Life, Mad Men, Strong Medicine, and Numb3rs. 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. 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. [9] She later graduated with honors from Stanford University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Latin American studies in 1996 and Master of Business Administration in 2001. As Newsoms First Partner, she plans to launch an effort this fall probing negative effects of media and technology on children. Theres no timidity with Jen when it comes to things she cares about and causes she holds dear, he said. Privacy Policy Who Is Jennifer Siebel Newsom, The First Partner Of California? 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. . Jennifer opened up about why she and her now-husband were first drawn to each other during an interview with The Chronicle (via SFGate). On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. And that starts with the well-being-- of our children.". [citation needed], At Stanford, she was recruited to play on the women's soccer team. 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. . The pace of her life is hectic I only sleep six hours a night and since October it has included almost weekly visits to San Francisco to be with Newsom. During high school, she played varsity basketball, soccer, and tennis. Hes a visionary. Inside, I have fallen apart. So I've always known that, without your mental health, what do you have?". "We need renewed economic and social mobility in this country," Newsom said of the film, per The Representation Project. It really helped," she told a recent conference of counselors and school administrators in Napa. It didn't make sense to me that I should be devaluing my accomplishments to achieve 'success.'" 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 . In 2020, "The Great American Lie" examined racial and income inequality in the U.S. 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. The filmmaker went on to reveal that she was once left alone with the infamous director after he requested to meet with her about a movie role. I lost my older sister," she . And in one way, Im sorry about that. Not because all of this happened to her; many if not most women have multiple stories along these lines. Jerry Brown, who was 81 when he left office. A recent article in the New Yorker extolling the (probable) next Governor of California reveals that Gavin Newsom helped his mother commit assisted suicide. 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. Gavin Newsom said in a recent interview he should have expected his wifes forthrightness. Siebel was 28 when she moved to West Hollywood. "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. 40,000 new school counselors and other mental health professionals. It easily passed as part of the state budget. Although Newsom's confidence may have taken a hit following the accident, she appears to be sure of herself these days, because she went on to say, "I am simply a girl who means well, who wants to make movies and to do good things in the world.". 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. "Through my work with Conservation International, I learned how effective micro-enterprise opportunities are in providing long-term sustainability to indigenous communities. The activist. Her testimony was the most dramatic and emotional so far in the three-week . Newsom declares emergency, A man was found dead in California river 25 years ago, cops say. Her own experiences, as well as those of other parents, have helped shape her advocacy efforts. 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. 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. Her own experiences, as well as those of other parents, have helped shape her advocacy efforts. Its personal. There - dismayed by the way women were presented in front of the camera - she realized she needed to do more work behind the camera. 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. 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. Darling-Hammond said that Siebel Newsom , cares about the states 6 million children with the same sense of concern and compassion she holds for her own four., Californias Community Colleges: At a Crossroads, Adjuncts gig economy at CA community colleges, College And Covid: Freshman Year Disrupted, Education during Covid: California families struggle to learn, Tainted Taps: Lead puts California Students at Risk, Full Circle: California Schools Work To Transform Discipline, Californias Homeless Students: Undercounted, Underfunded And Growing, Eyes on the Early Years Newsletter Archive, Click here for EdSource's Comments Policy, College and Covid: Freshman Year Disrupted, Education During Covid: Families Struggle to Learn. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. At 28 years old, the then-aspiring star moved to Hollywood to pursue acting. Gavin Newsom poses for a photo with a pair of youngsters after the 90th annual State Capitol Tree Lighting Ceremony in Sacramento, Calif., Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021. The women's rights activist spoke about her time with the organization as part of an exhibition for the International Museum of Women in 2011. We dont know anyone who has been raped, she told me. When she was six, her older sister Stacy died at age eight from a golf cart accident. October 10, 2022 / 11:36 PM / AP. As previously mentioned. This film is only one example of how Newsom's work is influenced by her passion for 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. We're needed to be a part of the larger society that is involved in making sure that we create a healthier culture for future generations. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. During an interview with Ms. Magazine, Jennifer explained that her passion for gender equality led her to make this groundbreaking decision. 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. 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. Before Jennifer Siebel Newsom was the first partner of California, she had a fling with George Clooney. The mom of four reminisced on her college years while speaking to Marin Independent Journal. 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. 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. 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. Gavin Newsom, testified against Harvey Weinstein on Monday in Los Angeles, becoming the fourth woman to accuse the fallen Miramax magnate of . [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. I spend time with my family. The book-smart activist later returned to Stanford Business School to receive her MBA, per Marin Independent Journal. Siebel Newsom is the second oldest of five girls and attended Ross Grammar School and The Branson School. 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. Siebel Newsom has stated she carries a lot of guilt as she was present at the time of the accident. It's personal. If Gov. I'm the mother of 3 young children - Montana, Hunter, and Brooklyn. I just played tennis and basketball this morning. Thank you so much, Carolyn, for writing such a compelling and informative article. Streamlined Medi-Cal coverage for young people to receive free mental health services. Her father also helped developConservation International, a nonprofit environmental organization.