Reinette Senum is an everyday woman living in Nevada City. She also is a green pioneer of the 21st century.

Senum has traveled throughout 50 countries, climbed many mountains and was the first woman to cross Alaska solo on skis.

See Jane Do followed Senum over the past year, participating in the Community Congress she started to create one of the greenest small towns in America, celebrating her success as mayor of Nevada City, traveling with her to the Sierras and observing the development of the APPLE Center for Sustainable Living.

Despite her independence, Senum realizes forging a new frontier requires community; through this revelation, she has accomplished a tremendous amount in a short time.

Senum will share her story and strategies in her workshop, “Women Don't Build Canoes,” at See Jane Do's Passion into Action Conference on Saturday, Jan. 23, at the Gold Miners Inn–Holiday Inn Express, Grass Valley.

Why is the work you are doing so important for everyday women?

I don't believe in the word “no.”

Why is it so important for women to participate in an event like the Passion into Action Conference?

Not to sound '60s… but, we're all sista's here.

Who were some of the women who inspired your work?

As a child and teenager, I was enthralled with the likes of aviator Amelia Earhart, astronaut Sally Ride, feminist Gloria Steinem, and the Bionic Woman.

At age 10, I became an official, card-carrying member of the Bionic Woman Club. It was the only club I was willing to join at the time.

My mother was my ultimate mentor, having the most everlasting impact upon my life.

What do you love most about your work?

It's very intuitive-based. I love the combination of tapping into the needs of my community as they arise as well as those of the planet, and collectively working with people I deeply admire and respect to create local solutions.

What inspired you to share your passion?

I got fed up — but not until my 30s. Over the course of my life, I became conscious of a growing dissatisfaction, frustration and anger over the direction our country and our leaders have and continue to take us. I decided to sublimate the oodles of frustration and put it to good use.

In 2004, after I educated myself on the theory of peak oil, I had my first internal paradigm shift. This altered the perception I held of our world and my place in it.

After absorbing the reality of peak oil, my initial instinct to take on a global issue, such as our world's oil addiction, seemed a tad-bit daunting.

I kept thinking of my miniscule self on this vast planet with a world population of nearly 7 billion people, and I couldn't help but ask myself, “What could one person possibly do?”

It was not until I read the book “The Tipping Point,” and after doing a simple math equation, I realized that all I needed to do was create the world I wish to see in my very own backyard. “Tipping Point” author Malcolm Gladwell, highlighted that by reaching just 15 to 20 percent of a population, “the levels at which the momentum for change becomes unstoppable” is possible.

With Nevada City having a population of only 3,000 people, that meant only 450 people, effectively, needed to be reached.

Now, this seemed doable.

What are you hoping will be the biggest take-away from the Passion into Action Conference?

Until women are recognized, educated and paid at the same level as men, the planet will be in peril. Until women are fully represented throughout government, education and the business sector, the massive inequities will continue.

No one is going to do this for us. We must find our own way and support one another in doing so.

Most women today are yearning for and sensing this calling from our planet. By utilizing animated story telling, humor and stories from the edge, I will share tips and strategies to assist women in navigating the fast changing waters of our times. Sharing tools I have learned along the way — tools good enough to build a canoe.

What is your message to women around the world?

It's time, ladies.

ooo

See Jane Do is a multi-media program, capturing the stories of everyday women doing extraordinary things for the planet, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on KVMR 89.5FM the first Wednesday of every month. Visit SeeJaneDo.com.