For Immediate Release: September 5, 2007                            

Afghan Business Women to Tour Capitol

A group of Afghan business women will tour the Oklahoma State Capitol on Thursday, September 6. The group will be hosted by Sen. Kathleen Wilcoxson, R-Oklahoma City. Wilcoxson said the tour would begin at 12:45 at the tourism desk on the first floor of the Capitol.

“I’m absolutely thrilled that these women are visiting Oklahoma,” Wilcoxson said. “We live in a country where many people take democracy and the opportunity to pursue entrepreneurship for granted—but these women know how precious such opportunities are. I think they must be very courageous, and I’m looking forward to visiting with them.”

The business owners are in the United States working on a high level business training and mentoring program called “Peace Through Business,” sponsored by the Women Impacting Public Policy Institute, headed by Oklahoma business woman Terry Neese, in partnership with the U.S. State Department, U.S. Afghan Women’s Council, and Northwood University. The women are visiting Oklahoma for the
mentoring and cultural exchange component of the program.

Following the tour of the State Capitol, Wilcoxson and Lt. Gov. Jari Askins will host the women at a discussion and reception at the Presbyterian Health Foundation Center.

“I know there is much these women can learn from this experience, but also, it is an opportunity to learn more about the challenges they face in Afghanistan—and to talk about our shared desired for a better opportunity and quality of life for future generations,” Askins said.

For more information, contact:
Senator Wilcoxson's Office: (405) 521-5618