Dear Friends,

Spring has arrived! Which means it is time for the New-York Historical Society's annual Strawberry Festival. This year, we are pleased to award Mika Brzezinski, co-host of MSNBC's "Morning Joe," with our Women in Public Life Medal. Diana DiMenna, who has been so instrumental in our institution's rebirth as a great center for the enjoyment of historical learning, will present the award. We will also honor respected library and education advocate Patricia D. Klingenstein with our Public Service Award.

New-York Historical's annual Strawberry Festival provides a platform for exploring the opportunities and challenges that women face in our country. The issue has never been more topical with a seeming avalanche of new books and articles contemplating what it means to “have it all.”

Ms. Brzezinski's book Knowing Your Value touches on these important issues by examining the role of women in the workplace, why the gender wage gap still exists, and what can be done to close it. It was published in May 2011 and is New York Times Bestseller. Strawberry Festival guests will receive a signed copy of Ms. Brzezinski's latest book Obsessed: America's Food Addiction--And My Own.

Ms. Brzezinski joins a list of outstanding women who have been honored at the Strawberry Festival. Past recipients of the distinguished service award include Hillary Clinton, Kirsten Gillibrand, Michelle Obama, Anna Quindlen, Lesley Stahl, Christine Quinn, and Wendy Wasserstein.

I hope you will join us on May 14 to honor these outstanding women, and support future women in public life.