New London — Academy Award-winning documentary film producer Geralyn White Dreyfous will give the keynote address at the inaugural Women's Leadership Forum, which will be held at the Coast Guard Academy on Oct. 2.

The daylong event organized by women from the Southeastern Connecticut Women's Network and the U.S. Coast Guard Women's Leadership Initiative is titled "Honoring Our Past, Empowering Our Future."

Lisa Giordano, who is co-chairing the forum with Cmdr. Erica Mohr of the Women's Leadership Initiative, said she's been wanting to host such an event for some time now. Giordano said she sees a need for programs teaching girls and young women about leadership and leadership skills.

The forum is open to all ages and will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a number of events going on throughout the day. Registration begins at 9 a.m.

The day will start with a brunch celebrating the 40th anniversaries of women's entrance into the academy, the founding of the SECT Women's Network and the founding of Safe Futures.

Dreyfous, the documentary filmmaker, will kick off the afternoon program with a discussion on film as a tool for social change.

After Dreyfous' address, there will be a panel on "Ethical Leadership for a Sustainable Future." Panelists include Vice Adm. Sandra Stosz, the first female superintendent of a U.S. service academy; Grace Jones, past president of Three Rivers Community College; Maryam Elahi, president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut, Attallah Sheppard, national award-winning poet and leadership teacher, and Chris Soto, founder and director of Higher Edge.

There also will be a resource fair featuring local organizations that support leadership initiatives for women and girls.

The afternoon program is free for students, and organizers have invited junior high and high school students from all over southeastern Connecticut to attend. High school junior and senior girls will have the opportunity to apply for a college sponsorship, and freshman and sophomore girls, and junior high school girls also will have the opportunity to apply for book scholarships.

Tickets are $55 for the entire day, $35 for just the afternoon program and $30 for just the brunch. For more information or to buy tickets, go to www.cgaalumni.org/WLF or call (860)-442-2683.