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About Midge Costanza
Midge Costanza is a frequent key note speaker at many community events. The following introduction was presented at the annual Helen Hawkins Luncheon, San Diego State University Women's Studies Department in January 2004. The introduction was written by Women's Studies graduate student Carissa DiGiovanni. Ms. DiGiovanni captured the spirit of Midge -
"Margaret "Midge" Costanza's resume is so varied, detailed, and accomplished that it appears to be a compilation of several successful women's curriculum vitas. Currently, Midge is an adjunct professor at San Diego State University in the Political Science, Communication and Women's Studies Departments, a frequent lecturer at community events, consultant, trainer of executives and political campaigns, professional speaker, bank director, and member of several boards of directors.
She has formerly been a Presidential Advisor to President Jimmy Carter, Liasion to Governor Davis of California on Women's Issues, campaign manager for Robert Kennedy's New York senatorial race and for Barbara Boxer's California senatorial race, an executive assistant, an executive director, a campaign coordinator, and a special correspondent. In all her diverse endeavors, she manages to make clear both her dedication to human rights and her concern for communities. She is a constant breaker of glass and other ceilings.
Midge was the Presidential Advisor to President Carter-the first woman to hold such a position. In this position, she advised on areas of business, trade, health, neighborhoods, religion, the arts and humanities, civil and human rights, world hunger, and ethnic and minority groups. Her human rights commitment was demonstrated in her position as Presidential liaison for marginalized groups in America-women, minorities, seniors, veterans, youth, and the physically challenged were, for the first time, allowed significant access to the President.
She also made history by asking gay activists to meet with her in the White House, the first official acknowledgement of gay rights. As Jean O'Leary, executive director of the National Gay Rights Advocates put it, "That meeting opened the doors for gay rights to be discussed on a national level."
Besides advocating for oppressed people herself, Midge also works to ensure that there will be others to represent their political needs. To that end, she successfully coordinated feminist and anti-war activist Barbara Boxer's U.S. Senate race in 1992. Because of her national and local attention to the needs of a diversity of people, she has been a recipient of numerous honors, distinctions, and awards. These include NOW's Susan B. Anthony Award, as well as the San Diego Women's Times Newspaper Women of the Year Honor. Additionally, Boston has even observed "Midge Costanza Day," in order to recognize Midge's commitment to true democracy for all Americans.
Today, Midge continues to make new strides in the arena of women's leadership, and to focus on community needs
Contact Us: Midge.Costanza@att.net