EqualityQuilt

New Summer Intern

As the new intern at the Consortium this summer, I'd like to take the time to introduce myself to everyone.  I'm Julia Quanrud from Caledonia, Minnesota, and I'm a senior at Macalester College in Saint Paul.  I'm studying English literature and Hispanic Studies, and I also work with the school's Civic Engagement Center as the Women and Gender Issue Area Coordinator.  My work there involves developing partnerships between Macalester students and community organizations committed to working on women's and gender issues.  After I graduate from Macalester next spring, I hope to continue working with organizations committed to working for women's rights, so I'm very grateful for the opportunity to learn more about the great organizations working in Minnesota and to meet all of you!

Having just returned from living and studying for half a year in Seville (Sevilla), Spain, I'm happy to be back in Minnesota, and just in time for summer!  I love playing sports in the summer, including soccer, Ultimate Frisbee, cycling, and swimming.  You can also find me this summer buried in a book, hiking around the woods of Minnesota, or scoping out the music scene.  I look forward to getting to know you and your organizations!

Stars Who Made Time for Us

Here are some of the powerful women who took time out of horrendously busy days to say hello to teens at Girls Rock the Capitol 2008.   We are eternally grateful.

Far left:  My favorite girl (because of her bright colors) with Speaker of the House Margaret Anderson Kelliher.  Center:  Rep. Kate Knuth and Executive Director of the Legislative Office on the Economic Status of Women Amy Brenengen.  Right:  Another stellar girl with Rep. Phyllis Kahn.  Below:  bunch of brilliant girls with Senator Mee Moua.    These photos and more are part of the "Girls Rock 2008" photo album on right side of the blog.   Enjoy!

Report from Celebration 28

The staff are still glowing from the great pleasure of our 28th anniversary party.  Many, many thanks to all who came and/or supported us financially.  The 10 minute Steps Forward DVD was much appreciated.  (You can have a copy for yourself for $6 mailed to MWC, 550 Rice Street, St. Paul 55103 - it includes footage from magical moments like the grand opening of the Minnesota Women's Building in 1988, founding of groups like Women in the Trades, creation of the Silent Witnesses, the St. Paul Junior League's Shaken Baby project, Gopher Women's Hockey  national championships, Antarctic Women's Expedition, and more.)  The opera was glorious and inspiring.  And thanking the honorees was the best treat of all.   To see photos from this event, click on the album on the right.  We hope for more photos soon from our ambassador to China, Erin Moline!

And for those who missed it at the party or in the Capitol Bulletin, following are the inspiring statements from honorees when asked how we-all can help make women's dreams come true: 

For New Year, Celebrate You

Here's good advice from the blog of the great girls at New Moon.  Being good to yourself is great for every holiday, for grownups as well as kids - and maybe especially therapeutic for us women who are so good at taking care of everyone else at holiday time.  Happy New Year from Bonnie & everyone at the Minnesota Women's Consortium! 

Celebrate!                                       

When was the last time you took a look in the mirror and celebrated you?  Or took a look inside and celebrated you?  I hope that it was today!

It's the season of celebration, which includes Hanukkah's celebration of light at the moment.  So it got me thinking.  Ritual has such a history of importance in many cultures throughout the world, and I know that somewhere deep inside you, you probably have a ritual just waiting for you to touch it and say, "Hey come out and play, let's celebrate something about myself!"  And you know what the most surprising thing might be?  That way to feel good about yourself might start with realizing the good you do others.  You know how when you light a candle, that candle can keep lighting others?  Just like a menorah.  So when you light yourself up inside, you have the potential to light up others, and you still shine as brightly!

Your ritual could be anything.  Something silly, like dancing into the bathroom in the morning!  Something serious, like painting the way your heart looks when you take a deep breath every day.  (I know, where did that come from--but wouldn't it be cool to try it?!)  Something original, like taking a pad of paper outside every day and doing equations that you make up because you just love math!

Holiday Etiquette

As most of us take time off for the holidays or to recuperate at the end of the year, we should heed the advice of this educational video. Or not?

Capitol Bulletin Conquers the World Again!

Once again the Capitol Bulletin has gone abroad! Consortium friend Erin Moline has moved to China and is keeping up to date on women's issues in Minnesota via the Consortium.

To see CB in Mexico with Nina, click here - that's two continents covered so far! Write us to share YOUR pics. If you don't actually receive this newsletter in hard copy, you are missing out on twice-monthly happenings, action alerts, women of achievement, & legislative updates from dozens of member organizations, and special features available nowhere else.  Send $35 for a year's subscription to the Capitol Bulletin to 550 Rice Street, St. Paul MN 55103.  Actually you can subscribe via CharityBox back at our website (see "Make a Gift Today" and note you want to subscribe in comments box) if you are an online kind of person.  Which we suspect you are.

Annual Meeting Features Sheletta!

Have you checked out Sheletta Brundidge - KSTP-TV talk show host (you have to get up early on Sunday mornings to see her but you will NOT be sorry), author of "As the Down Low Brother Turns" soap opera in the Spokesman-Recorder newspaper, comic, & full-time mom?  If not, QUICK! register to attend the Women's Consortium annual meeting July 18, 5:30PM at the Four Points Sheraton in Minneapolis.  More info here on costs etc.   Meanwhile, here's a sneak peek at the commercial for CrossRoads, featuring among many others Mai Moua of Leadership Paradigms and Silvia Ontaneda, queen of the Latinas Association. 

Latinas Organizing for Reproductive Health

Recently the Minnesota Women's Building buzzed with the warmth and color and vivacity of 25 Latinas and 7 of their kids as the Asociacion Latinas de Minnesota hosted a two day training session.   The LOLA program - Latinas Organizing for Leadership and Advocacy - was conducted entirely in Spanish.  It was led by the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health and their New York City staff, including executive director Silvia Henriquez and education director Ligia Rivera.  The Consortium was proud to serve as fiscal agent and host for ALM staffer Veronica Flake and leaders Silvia Ontaneda and Migdalia Loyola.  Thanks to financial support from many choice groups we also enjoyed a Friday night reception at the beautiful Veterans Service Building.   The two short videos below are (a) Senator Patricia Torres Ray welcoming the training participants and encouraging continued involvement, and (b) dancers from Raices who livened up the party. Please visit the "Latinas Organizing" photo album on left side of the blog for many more pics.         

My week: Les Soeurs, Latinas, & more

Too long I've been away from the blog!  But glad to say we've had more than 2,000 visitors so far.   Here are some of the recent doings of the Minnesota Women's Consortium.  If you don't know this already, you can very often click on a pic or a link to learn more, see related information, and above all please don't forget to leave me a comment by clicking below the post!

Ran into these beautiful women on a sad occasion, the funeral of Les Soeurs founder Lia Ozols.  It turns out Lia was a major supporter of freedom for her home country, Latvia, besides all her support for women.  These three - Jean Rand, Diane Cummisford, and Mary McEnneny - are among those who banded together over 25 years ago to provide moral support for women filing sex discrimination lawsuits.  Diane continues as co-leader of Workplace Justice, a Consortium member group that meets every other Saturday for similar purposes.  They are not web-icious, but you can reach Diane at 952/996-9291.

Meanwhile, back at the office, we hired Veronica Flake (far right) for the temporary position of Latina Coordinator for the Asociacion Latinas de Minnesota.  ALM will be hosting an intensive two-day training session on reproductive health advocacy for 25 Minnesota Latinas in June.  And, here's a workday pic of Erin and Lorraine trying to make the new list-serve work - with one of the beautiful fabric art pieces in the background.

Bowling for Choice

Pro-Choice Resources sponsors an annual Bowl-A-Thon  with teams of bowlers collecting pledges and a fun evening of strikes & spares.   This is a great alternative fundraiser!   Consortium staffer Erin Parrish bowls for the "Plan Bees," who "Pollinate by Choice."  Note the cute antennae.  L-R in first photo:  Queen Bee Stacey, Erin, Bethany, the other Erin, and Clare.  On the right, Erin P and Erin the Killer Bee.

Girls Coalition of Minnesota

The Girls Coalition of Minnesota hosted its 17th annual Conference on Adolescent Females yesterday and today.  Looked like a wonderful gathering, with dozens of exhibitors, 15 breakout sessions, 3 keynoters, spoken word and Twin Cities Women's Choir performances.  (Click here to hear TCWC.) The mission of the Coalition is to provide resources, training, and networking opportunities that empower adults to create a just and equitable future for girls.   Some of the participants are pictured here. (L) Deb Pridgen of the Girl Scouts and CGM board member, and Makeda Norris of the Urban League, both part of the Respect workshop for those who work with African-American young women.  (R) Maddie Funk, junior high student and member of the Girls Advisory Board, and Tanya Wenning, board member for the Girls Coalition.

Ambassadors, Veteran Feminists, New Friends

Some guy philosopher was asked how his generation achieved so much.  His reponse: "We stand on the shoulders of giants."  Arvonne Fraser recently invited two distinguished young women to have dinner with feminist giants - equally awesome and way more fun than climbing onto shoulders.    L-R in the picture:   Anita Patel, director of public policy, YWCA of Minneapolis;  Silvia Ontaneda, board chair, Asociacion Latinas de Minnesota (both also members of the board of the Minnesota Women's Consortium); Gracia Molina de Pick, from San Diego, one of the organizers of the Latinas at the Houston Conference in 1977;  Arvonne Fraser, co-founder of the Center on Women & Public Policy ;  Koryne Horbal, founder of the DFL Feminist Caucus;  Virginia Watkins, past president of Minnesota NOW, past national NOW board member, current board member of Veteran Feminists of America.   

Koryne was appointed by President Carter as U.S. Fifth Ambassador to the

Gender on the Campaign Trail

Click here to listen to a great Minnesota Public Radio show featuring Marie Wilson of the White House Project and Sara Fenlason of the Minnesota Women's Campaign Fund.   Intern Karmann will lend us her impressions from the WHP's recent "Go Run!" training....

Women Presidents on Presidents Day

On Feb. 19, we escorted 21 distinguished presidents of women's organizations to the Capitol to present the women's agenda (Download POPD07message2.pdf)to legislative and executive branch leadership.  Those in the pic are listed at end of this post, and the full list with contact info can be downloaded here. Download POPD07list.pdf   They met with Assistant Majority Leader Senator Tarryl Clark, Commissioner Dan McElroy of the Department of Employment and Economic Development, and Assistant Majority Leader Representative Tina Liebling.  Minority Leader Senator Dave Senjem was not able to join us for the formal presentations, but was glad to learn more about the issues in quick briefing at the end.  Minority Leader Marty Seifert did not attend.  Click here for the excellent news story in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.  More pics in continued story!

Capitol Bulletin Conquers the World

While some of us were partying at C27, others were taking the Capitol Bulletin for an outing.  Board member Nina Rothchild sent this pic from the ancient ruins at Teotihuacan, Mexico.

To share YOUR pics (we hear CB might go to Morocco!), send to info@mnwomen.org. If you don't actually receive this newsletter in hard copy, you are sooo missing out on twice-monthly happenings, action alerts, legislative updates & congratulations from dozens of

SHEroes of C27

Flashbulbs were popping for these wonderful women at the close of Celebration 27.  You can click on the pic to see them better! Bottom row are honorees, L-R:  Bree Halverson of Women in the Trades (WIT); Linda Slattengren, president of the MN Nurses Assn. (MNA); a rose for Mai Moua (who was ill), Hmong Women's Task Force (HWTF);  Monica Little, chair for Minneapolis Girl Scout Council; Mary Treacy, promoter of the Sisters of St. Joseph Justice Commission;  Sarah Warren, Lead Child Care Teacher, YWCA of Minneapolis;  Sen. Patricia Torres Ray,  Asociacion Latinas de Minnesota(ALM); and Anusha Ramachandran, Women's Initiative for Self-Empowerment. 

Standing, L-R:  Honoree Connie Hill, President of St. Paul Business & Professional Women; Board member Silvia Ontaneda of ALM; Honoree Betty Bredemus, CEO of Bredemus Hardware;  and additional board members:   Anita Patel, YWCA; Halee Vang, HWTF; Jan Rabbers, MNA; Barb Pecks, WIT; Jan Jordet, member at large; Deb Pridgen, Girl Scout Council of the St. Croix Valley; Luanne Koskinen of the American Association of University Women- MN; emcee Cathy Wurzer of MN Public Radio and Twin Cities Public Television; Celebration Chair and board vice-chair Dawn Hughes of Employment Action Center; and Consortium board chair, Jen Peterson of the Association for Children for Enforcement of Support.  Wonderful volunteer photographer in the foreground is Danielle Nelson of the MN Women's Political Caucus.