Famed feminist, writer and lecturer Gloria Steinem will speak about the feminist movement Saturday at an event sponsored by the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum.

"I think this lecture is going to be of interest to women and men who have either lived through the times of the feminist revolution or came of age after," said Jackie M, director of education and public programs for the museum. "It was a huge issue — not that it isn't now, especially for women."

Steinem was asked to speak because she is the museum's 2009 Woman of Distinction. The talk coincides with International Women's Day, and Steinem was the ideal person to help the museum celebrate, said Jackie M (her full name).

Steinem, who began her career in journalism in the early 1960s, became a leader of the women's rights movement throughout the 1960s and 1970s. She founded the feminist Ms. magazine in 1972 and the nonprofit pro-choice organization Choice USA in 1992.

"She's a person who really created her own destiny in spite of a number of odds that she may have had to face at a time when she was approaching her career as a journalist," the O'Keeffe Museum's education director said. "She began to work to support the cause of other women because she realized she wasn't the only person who was feeling this kind of limitation. Her work affected women around the world."

Steinem was not available for an interview.

The event will raise money for the summer Art and Leadership Program for girls; the 10-week museum program is in its 11th year. The museum also runs some after-school programs that have similar philosophies.

According to Jackie M, "This (program) helps them in terms of the creative solution. We do leadership-skill building, and they choose where to apply those skills."

In a news release, one parent said her daughter was able to experience things that the family could not afford.

"Our family had a bad financial situation," the parent, whose name was not released, said in a news release. The two parents were in an accident, and the family became homeless. Although the parents still managed to get their children to school, they weren't able to offer extra activities.

"We had no money for after-school programs, and we were so excited for (our daughter) to be nominated to participate in the Art and Leadership Program. It gave her an opportunity that financially we were unable to, and we are so grateful for it," the parent said.

All students attend the program on full-tuition scholarships, and they can attend up to three years. Events like this help pay for those scholarships.

The O'Keeffe's Jackie M said it's an important program to help develop essential skills.

"Some of the students grow in their ability to express themselves and their ability to set goals and know what they want," she said. "They are able to make decisions and feel more self-confident."

Contact Ana Maria Trujillo at 986-3084 or atrujillo@sfnewmexican.com.

IF YOU GO

What: Women of Distinction lecture by Gloria Steinem
When: 7 p.m. Saturday
Where: The Santa Fe Community Convention Center
Cost: Tickets start at $35 for nonstudents; $15 for students
For more information: Tickets can be purchased at www.ticketssantafe.org.