EqualityQuilt

Hooray for Muslim Girl Scouts

Thanks to Rachel Smoka of the Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valleys for alerting us to the New York Times article on this - with beautiful photos including (on right) Consortium friend Farheen Hakeem....   

To Muslim Girls,
              Scouts Offer a Chance to Fit In
MINNEAPOLIS — Sometimes when Asma Haidara, a 12-year-old Somali immigrant, wants to shop at Target or ride the Minneapolis light-rail system, she puts her Girl Scout sash over her everyday clothes, which usually include a long skirt worn over pants as well as a swirling head scarf.  She has discovered that the trademark green sash — with its American flag, troop number (3009) and colorful merit badges — reduces the number of glowering looks she draws from people otherwise bothered by her traditional Muslim dress.   Click here to  see & read more.   

 

Check out Photos

Hello blog friends!  Here at the Consortium we are still unpacking and otherwise recovering from the wonderful Women's Dreams conference.  We will keep posting some of the substantive notes from the 15 workshops and two plenary sessions as well as other features, so stay tuned and please send your rants, comments, suggestions, etc. as we keep moving history forward.  Meanwhile, here's the "certificate" we presented to Minnesota attendees at the Houston conference of 1977.  Please enjoy the new photo album with images from the conference, on left side of the blog.    And Joyeux Tofurkey!  We are thankful to be part of the amazing community of progressive women.- Bonnie

Conference in Brief

Thank you to all of you who came out to the Women's Dreams Conference this past Thursday and Friday! It was revitalizing to see so many individuals from five states come together in support of a commitment to realizing women's and girls' dreams. From the inspirational words of our keynote speakers and panelists, to the rejuvenating and educational workshop presentations, to the thoughtful debates and comments raised by workshop participants, the conference highlighted the many memories we carry with us of our past achievements and struggles, as well as the hopes we have for our future successes. In the words of one participant, "The combination of renewing old and making new connections was terrific!"

It was a special treat to honor the Minnesota           representatives to the 1977 National Women's Meeting in Houston. Although the ceremony highlighted their contributions to the Houston meeting, we loved seeing how involved these women still are in advocating for myriad women's issues. If anything, the range of issues brought up throughout the conference and the passion such issues inspired helped to demonstrate the many tools we have with which to achieve our dreams. We hope to have a more detailed report of the conference out to you soon. Thank you again to all those who helped make this conference a success. We hope you found it as exciting, thought-provoking, and fruitful as we did! (- by Allison MacWilliams-Brooks, who was not able to attend the whole conference but has been plowing through the pages of notes you-all took.  Thanks Allison!-BPW)

Women's Dreams Conference

There are only 5 more days to register for the Women's Dreams, 1977-2007 & Beyond Conference, set for November 15-16.  Meet 11 of Minnesota's delegates to the Houston Meeting in 1977; hear a redefined agenda for the future from Bella Abzug's daughter Liz and 4 young Minnesota leaders; discuss the intersections of sexism, racism, homophobia, ageism; receive your copy of the Consortium's new report, Women Uniting Across Class Differences; be the first to read Arvonne Fraser's new book, She's No Lady; check out 16 workshops... We will count registrations at 4:30PM on Monday, November 11 - and electronic is best as there's no snail mail delivery on Veterans Day.

 REGISTER NOW!

Conference cost is $90, which includes Thursday night hors d'oeuvres and wine or soda plus breakfast, lunch, and snacks on Friday.  A member discount (for those listed as delegates, alternates, presidents of member organizations; or paid-up Capitol Bulletin subscribers; plus Seneca Falls Society & Advisory Council members) is available for $65.

Individual scholarships and scholarships for Greater Minnesota participants are still available for those applying in advance. For scholarship information please call 651/228-0338.

You will not want to miss this historic event!

Community Battered Women's Programs

Listen to Lupe Serrano, director of Casa de Esperanza, describing a new approach to engaging whole communities in violence prevention work.  Hers was the second in the series, "Still Fighting for Our Rights," from the Women's Center at St. Cloud State.   Click here for the previous speech by Vivian Jenkins- Nelsen.  And don't forget to register for the Women's Dreams Conference, Nov. 15-16!