WAND Women Speakers' Bureau
Speaker: Mary Jane Mahan

Region Atlanta, GA and outward nationwide Honorarium None Expenses to be covered Travel, lodging, meals (if applicable) Topics of focus Federal budget priorities, women’s political empowerment Preferred audience Radio; students

Mary Jane Mahan is a writer and entrepreneur enjoying life in her 30s. Her parents are very proud of her Interpersonal Communication degrees from Villanova University and the University of Georgia, although they cried when she moved from her hometown of Philadelphia for the beautiful South.

Mary Jane cut her activist teeth while helping to bring the AIDS Quilt to her college. She discovered Women's Action for New Direction (WAND) in 1998 while at a rummage sale and joined the Atlanta board immediately after a WAND program taught her that our US Congress bills can be overridden by the World Trade Organization.

Mary Jane life experience includes six years as a public health media specialist, two years co-founding a consumer education project, five years as a bartender and waitress and 18 months as a wing on her rugby club. She's learned that framing your message is key and that a smile will carry you through anything. Building bridges and walking the talk are her new mantras.

Mary Jane believes everything is achievable through mindful listening, compassionate dialogue, deep breathing, following intuition, having a sense of humor, maintaining joy, practicing forgiveness and focusing on what you want rather than what you don't have. The writings of Einstein, Marianne Willamson and Thict Nat Han inspire her.

Mary Jane loves vegetarian cooking, napping with cats, walking and her relationship with her younger brother John, a Marine Corp reservist who recently toured Iraq. According to John and their mother, peace is definitely possible in a household where "the tree-hugger and the bunny killer meet on common ground".

Mary Jane is experiencing a personal renaissance in science and math. She recently learned to appreciate grits.