Conversation with Women of TCS
March 6, 2026
To commemorate International Women’s Day, the students had a Conversation with several women from the TCS community. They are Carla Rivas, Ruth and Carla’s mom; Charlotte Breeden, Rylee’s mom; Penina Jobita, Ethan’s Aunt; and Lisa Knickmeyer, volunteer and sponsor for several TCS students.
The students had many questions about challenges that the women had faced and how society has changed over the years. The women represented a variety of experiences and viewpoints with diverse backgrounds with Ms. Carla from El Salvador, Ms. Penina from Kenya, Ms. Charlotte with roots in the Jim Crow South and Ms. Lisa whose dad was in the foreign service so lived and worked in many countries.
The discussion ranged from personal family experiences and gender roles to job and career issues to policy concerns on birth control and family planning.
It was an honest, rich and personal conversation that deepened both understanding and relationships. We are thankful for the presence and contributions of all of the women in our community and especially thankful for Ms. Penina, Ms. Lisa, Ms. Charlotte and Ms. Carla for so generously sharing their thoughts, experiences and time with us.