EqualityQuilt

Monday Member Spotlight: Mature Voices Minnesota

Monday Member Spotlight:  Mature Voices Minnesota

Who They Are

Mature Voices Minnesota (MVM) has two active regions in Northwest Metro and West Metro.  These groups hold meetings with presentations and discussion of the important issues of the day impacting seniors (individuals over the age of 50).  Similar geographic-based groups are being contemplated for East Metro and South Metro regions.

Their Mission

Mature Voices Minnesota brings forth the voice of mature Minnesotans and their families to assure that older adults can live healthy, independent, affordable, and dignified lives in their communities.

What They Do

MVM focuses on issues that are especially pertinent for Minnesota seniors.  Significant activity is centered on the key areas of health action, property taxes, and housing, transportation & utilities. Last year, MVM partnered with the MN Women's Consortium in creating three videos for the National Council on Aging and Eldernomics Minnesota's One Away campaign.

 

Find out more about the Mature Voices Minnesota by visiting their website.

 

Monday Member Spotlight: Life-Work Planning Center (Mankato)

Monday Member Spotlight: Life-Work Planning Center (Mankato)

Who They Are

Executive Director Jean Willaert and Fiscal Manager Laurie Wiebesiek work alongside counselors Jill Hahn, Christine Olson, and Maritza Navarro to provide transitional and pre-employment services for women.

Their Mission

To increase the self-sufficiency of women and their families.

What They Do

The LWPC serves women in transition, including Displaced Homemakers; Non-Displaced Homemakers; Latina Women and Youth; and Women transitioning from Welfare to Work.  The organization provides a supportive environment where women can gain pre-employment skills, participate in workshops, peer counseling, computer tutoring.  They also offer resources, referrals and advocacy for clients.

Find out more about the Life-Work Planning Center by visiting their website.

Monday Member Spotlight: Laura Jeffrey Academy

Who They Are

Laura Jeffrey Academy is an all girls, tuition free charter school located in Saint Paul. LJA serves grades five through eight and offers a comprehensive approach to education. Their curriculum and learning environment is meant to help girls become well rounded, competent, compassionate, and intelligent individuals.

Their Promise

"...provide an environment where students are free to learn, to explore their potential, to discover their brilliance and develop their intellect."

What They Do

Through their comprehensive approach to education LJA strives to help girls achieve seven principles;

Mutual Responsibility and Individual Accountability

Searching for Truths

Building Empathy

Generosity of Spirit

Becoming Competent

Acknowledging Paradox and Dilemma

Recognizing Strength in Vulnerability

For more information on Laura Jeffrey Academy visit their website.

Friday Highlights: What You Might Have Missed This Week

"Pregnancy Centers Come Under Fire for Abortion Info"

NARAL Pro-Choice Minnesota released a report this week which chronicled the types of information given to women who seek help at crisis pregnancy centers. Get the full story from the Star Tribune.

"Birth Control for Men?"

Ms. Magazine's blog takes another look at what new birth control methods developed for men might look like. For the full story see the Ms. Magazine Blog.

"Duluth Joins Campaign to Defeat the Marriage Amendment"

The Duluth City Council just announced they voted to formally oppose the Marriage Amendment which will appear on the ballot in November. Check out MNUnited.org or the Duluth News Tribune for more information.

"Taboos Undercut Nepal's Marital Rape Law"

Some women in Nepal are trying to figure out how to handle marital rape and domestic violence. Get the full story at WomensENews.org.

"Pittsburgh's Milk Truck Breaks for Nursing Moms"

A new organization is blooming in Pittsburgh. Figure out why it might soon be easier to breastfeed on the streets from WomensENews.

Peace and Safety Everywhere: Bluff Country Family Resources

Celebration 32 is getting ever closer! Today, check out Bluff Country Family Resources, the 2012 Peace and Safety Everywhere honoree.

Bluff Country Family Resources provides help to survivors of domestic violence, child abuse, sexual violence, stalking, and homelessness. BCFR is located in Hokah, MN and is one of the few resources of its kind available to rural Minnesotans. They provide a 24 hour crisis line, legal advocacy, and emergency shelter (among many other services) - making BCFR an indispensable organization.

Congratulations Bluff Country Family Resources! We look forward to honoring you at Celebration 32!

For more information on BCFR click here.

Self-Determination: Minnesotans United for All Families

The countdown to Celebration 32 continues! Today, learn a little about 2012's Self-Determination honoree: Minnesotans United For All Families.

MN United is an organization which seeks to defeat the proposed marriage amendment to the Minnesota constitution. In November, Minnesotans will be asked to vote yes or no to an amendment which, if passed, would prohibit same-sex couples from legally marrying. MN United is coalition based - they have the support of many different groups and individuals who all want to see the marriage amendment defeated. Their task will not be easy; in every other state where an amendment banning marriage for same-sex couples was proposed the amendment was passed. MN United believes in the importance of family and marriage for all people and intends to work tirelessly for a Minnesota that does too.

Congratulations to Minnesotans United for All Families and we'll see you at Celebration 32!

For more information on MN United click here.

 

Woman-Centered Health Care for All: Pro-Choice Resources

Celebration 32 is one day closer! Take a look at Pro-Choice Resources, the 2012 honoree for Woman-Centered Health Care for All.

Pro-Choice resources is a unique, grassroots organization which provides several far-reaching services (education, financial, advocacy) in regards to women's reproductive health. Pro-Choice resources is the only organization of its kind and operates through collaboration of staff and volunteers. Though based in Minnesota, their resources and services span the globe; making reproductive health services more accessible for all.

Congratulations Pro-Choice Resources and we'll see you at Celebration 32!

For more information on Pro-Choice Resources (and the Birds & Bees Project) click here.

Equal Place at the Table: Minnesota Lynx

Celebration 32 is getting closer, so what better way to get excited about this annual event than learning a bit about 2012's honorees?

    This year the Equal Place at the Table award will be presented to the Minnesota Lynx. Not only are the Lynx awesome (they currently rock the WNBA's national title) but their achievements help move women forward in the realm of professional sports. A successful women's team like the Lynx helps reaffirm how far women have come - and boosts confidence that there is still much that can and will be achieved. The Lynx are also a long time member and supporter of the Minnesota Women's Consortium where their support and success are immeasurably appreciated.

Congratulations to the Lynx and we look forward to honoring you at Celebration 32!   

For more info on the Minnesota Lynx click here.

Let’s talk….and Walk. SlutWalk, that is

Guest post by Shannon Drury, Minnesota NOW 

As president of Minnesota NOW, I have a responsibility to our membership that I will fulfill our organization’s mission, which is unchanging since our inception in 1971: “to bring women into the mainstream of American society NOW, exercising all privileges and responsibilities thereof, in truly equal partnership with men.” It can certainly be argued that American women are in the social and political “mainstream” in 2011, but what can’t be denied is the fact that sexual violence remains a stubborn and pernicious problem.  Conservative estimates (via RAINN) guess that one in six American women will experience sexual violence in her lifetime.  It is a rate far higher than the incidence of breast cancer, yet I can think of no branded products on the market nor any 10K runs that seek to “raise awareness” of the rape epidemic.

One campaign to end the silence about rape is Take Back the Night.  Another was founded by our now-defunct Duluth NOW chapter and was called “I Heart Consensual Sex.”  Still another is what I’m writing about today—the event called SlutWalk Minneapolis.

If you’re unfamiliar with the history of SlutWalk, here’s a brief primer: in January of 2011, a Toronto police officer named Michael Sanguinetti told a group of college students that ‘women should avoid looking like sluts in order not to be victimized.’  What began as a grassroots plan to protest the police attracted widespread attention (due in no small part to the action’s purposely confrontational name), and an estimated 1500 people gathered on April 3, 2011 to raise awareness of sexual stereotypes and the persistence of victim-blaming in Canadian society.  Since then, SlutWalks have been replicated in London, Stockholm, and Sao Paulo, with walks in the works in locations as far flung as Mexico City, Johannesburg, and Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

Monday Member Spotlight: Life-Work Planning Center

Life-Work Planning Center is a Minnesota pre-employment program for women and a Minnesota Displaced Homemaker Program. They are one of the six components within the Displaced Homemaker Program of the state of Minnesota, originally designed to meet the personal, financial, and employment needs of displaced homemakers.

As a rural-based regional effort, Life-Work Planning Center provides assistance and support to individuals who want and/or need to enter or re-enter the job market. Clients help to develop their own action plans and participate in a combination of workshops, support groups, and one-to-one peer counseling sessions. Many of their services include workshops, one-to-one peer counseling, computer tutoring, resources and referrals, and advocacy. They provide a supportive environment where women can explore career and job options, build self-esteem, acquire confidence to make decisions, set goals, and become self-sufficient.

Life-Work Planning Center serves women in transition including displaced homemakers, non-displace homemakers, Latina women and youth, teen and young moms, and women transitioning from welfare to work in Blue Earth, Brown, Faribault, LeSueur, Martin, Nicollet, Sibley, Waseca, and Watonwan counties.

Click here for more information on Life-Work Planning Center.