EqualityQuilt

Progress for Women of Color?

Next in the wonderful series from the Women's Center at St. Cloud State University, which reports on each of the 26 planks from the Houston Plan created at the National Women's Meeting in 1977. The speakers are Debra Leigh, a professor in the theater and film department at SCSU; Sharon Fineday, interim student services coordinator at the SCSU American Indian Center and an enrolled member of the Assiniboine & Sioux Tribe of Fort Peck, Montana; and Dr. Margaret Villaneuva, a professor in the department of community studies.  Can you answer Leigh's question, "Who was the African-American woman seeking the Democratic nomination for the U.S. presidency in 1988?"  The first person submitting the correct answer by pressing "comment" section below will win a free one-year subscription to our socko Capitol Bulletin newsletter.

Title IX and Women in Sports

From the Women's Center at St. Cloud State University:  "Two thousand and seven marked the 35th anniversary of Title IX, the landmark legislation passed in 1972 prohibiting sex discrimination in all areas of education. Title IX has, perhaps, been most visible in the area of sports, consequently a large body of research has documented the physical, social and psychological dimensions of sport in the lives of girls and women. This presentation will address the impact, the numbers, the reactions, and the benefits of Title IX, specifically as it relates to women in sports at the collegiate level."

'Social change is slow; it requires persistence over time, one person, one action at a time. We are still working to realize the promise of Title IX.'  - Donna Lopiano, former CEO of the Women’s Sports Foundation.

Click on the bar below to hear this presentation from the "Women on Wednesday" series from the Women's Center at St. Cloud State University - originally presented on February 20.   The presenters are Dr. Susan Becker, associate director of athletics and senior women's administrator at St. Cloud State, and Dr. Lori Ulferts, head women's basketball coach at St. Cloud State. 

Women Internationally

Here's the February 6 presentation from the series, "Still Fighting for Our Rights, 30 Years Later," hosted by the Women's Center at St. Cloud State University.  The 48-minute discussion below is entitled "International Affairs:  Perspectives on the Role of Women."  It features Dr. Mumbi Mwangi, assistant professor of women's studies with expertise in education, originally from Kenya;  and Dr. Swithina Mboko, visiting professor of women's studies from the University of Zimbabwe, with expertise in international business management. 

For background on the Beijing Platform and its expectations for the role of women in international affairs, go to the Minnesota Women's Action Plan page on this subject.   As International Women's Day approaches, you may also want to connect with the many Consortium groups working internationally:  Girls International Forum, Give Us Wings (Kenya & Uganda), Hadassah, Mila Vocal Ensemble, Zonta International, Organization for Burmese Refugees Abroad, and Women's Human Rights Program at Advocates for Human Rights.   Many additional groups work on international issues such as ending war, or provide assistance to immigrant and refugee women. 

For info on the International Women's Day conference on March 15 in Minneapolis, hosted by the Advocates for Human Rights, click here.

Women Presidents 2008

Presidents on Presidents' Day 2008 was so impressive!   20 presidents introduced their organizations to 6 freshman legislators and wowed us all.  They supported "universal, affordable, portable, high-quality health care recognizing the concerns of women & their families and communities of color."  Click here for their statement.

At press conference, L-R:  Susan K., Minneapolis Zonta; Cyndi Cook, MN Coalition for Battered Women; Pat Sandin, Midwest Health Center for Women; Diane Hendrickson, Nucleus Clinic; Kathy Magnuson, MN Women's Press; Peg Lonnquist, U of MN Office for University Women; Jae Asancheyev, Older Women's League; (obscured) Sarah Stoesz, Planned Parenthood; Jen Peterson, Consortium Chair and ACES president;  Dr. Mai Moua, Professional Hmong Women's Association and Leadership Paradigms, Inc.; Ellie Skelton, Wayside House; Ann Hoxie, School Nurse Organization of MN; Carol Sheggeby, American Association of University Women-St. Paul; Karen Kirkwood, AAUW-MN; Mary Gates, United Methodist Women/Emma Norton Residence.  Not pictured:  Sarit Sharma, Laura Jeffrey Academy; Donna Dunn, MN Coalition Against Sexual Assault;  Raj Chaudhary, SEWA/Asian Indian Family Wellness;  Dr. Nancy Raymond,  Deborah Powell Center for Women's Health;  Jill Hanson Roe, MN Assn. of Family & Consumer Sciences.    The short video below features group introductions by Wayside House, School Nurse Organization, Emma Norton residence, and AAUW.  For links to additional comments, click on the continuation page link.

Women's Ways of Leadership

Dr. Mai Moua made this presentation as part of the series, "Still Fighting for Our Rights 30 Years Later," at St Cloud State University Women's Center recently.  I know Mai draws from her doctoral thesis, in which she asked women who define themselves as bicultural what leadership means to them.  She is super smart and connected with at least three of our member organizations - her consulting firm Leadership Paradigms,whose mission is to challenge and transform one's ways of knowing and being;   Hnub Tshiab ("A New Day") which seeks lasting cultural, institutional, and social change for Hmong women; and Professional Hmong Women Association  (nurturing the personal and professional growth of Hmong women).  Ultra-connected women, that's us!   

Lesbian Rights - from St. Cloud

Next in this wonderful series from our friends at the St. Cloud State University Women's Center.  The speakers are Beth Berila, Polly Kellogg, and Angie Witte.  To view the whole list and hear other podcasts from the series, click here.   And please consider connecting with OutFront Minnesota, PFLAG (Parents, Families, Friends of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgendered persons), NOW (National Organization for Women-Minnesota), or Calliope Women's Chorus (all Consortium member groups working on lesbian rights).  - Bonnie

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!

Women Making Waves

Thanks to Jane Olsen (left) of the St. Cloud State University Women's Center for sharing this kickoff speech from her fabulous "Women on Wednesday" series.  (You can hear the rest of the series by clicking here.) And double thanks to Vivian Jenkins Nelsen (right) who presented this talk on "Making Waves:  An Overview of Women's Political Evolution." Vivian was an elected delegate from Minnesota to the Houston National Women's Meeting in 1977, founder of the Inter-Race Institute, and board chair of the League of Women Voters of Minnesota.  Vivian will also keynote our November 15 conference on "Women's Dreams: 1977-2007 & Beyond."   To register for the conference, click here. 

Women of Tajikistan

Great visit this week from 10 women of Tajikistan (some fasting for Ramadan), where the government says  64% of the people live in poverty but the women say more like 80%.   Many thanks to our member groups who helped me pass on info/resources that might help these women working so hard for change:  Women's Human Rights Program of Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights, which is just now completing a report on the devastating levels of domestic violence in Tajikistan;  and Amy Brenengen, new director of the Office on the Economic Status of Women, who shared her deep background on economic issues at WomenVenture, JobsNOW, and elsewhere. The woman in the second photo is a Tajik TV producer taking some footage of the meeting.

Interesting to have translators in both Tajik & Russian, as the women had many comments & questions.  Click below to hear a bit of the conversation!  -Bonnie

More movie clips to entice you...

Here are links to the original movie trailers from the remaining films that will be shown at the Feminist Film Fest.

North Country will be shown Tuesday, August 28 at 11:30AM and 5:30PM (RSVP required for 5:30PM).

And Rabbit-Proof Fence will be shown Wednesday, August 29 at 11:30AM.

For a listing of all movies and clips see the last Feminist Film Fest posting.

Feminist Film Fest

Don't miss the Minnesota Women's Consortium Feminist Film Festival in honor of Women's Equality Day! Spend your lunch hour with us, snacks and great movies! All showings at 550 Rice Street, St. Paul. Please RSVP to 651/228-0338 for the Tuesday and Friday evening show.

• Mon., August 27 at 11:30AM: Real Women Have Curves (PG13- 86 min.)
• Tues., August 28 at 11:30AM & 5:30PM: North Country (R- 126 min.)
• Wed., August 29 at 11:30AM: Rabbit-Proof Fence (PG- 94 min.)
• Thurs., August 30 at 11:30AM: Water (PG13- 117 min.)
• Fri., August 31 at 11:30AM & 5:30PM: Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death (PG13- 90 min.)

See an earlier clip from Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death. The following is a clip from Water and Real Women Have Curves.

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. 

Feminist Movies: Cannibal Women?

Soon we will host our annual Women's Equality Week film festival.  August 26, 1920 is the day American women gained the right to vote.   We will show movies August 27-31 from 11:30 to 1:30 each day, and this year we will re-screen two of the movies on Tuesday and Friday evening.  The big question is, which movies??  We try to cover several continents, include women who are not often visible on the big screen, and include some humor among our five choices.   Suggest your own favorite?  Here's a clip from one being considered:  Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death (1988).   Click on the comments link, anybody?

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.         

Women Uniting Across Class Differences

Our recent event on this topic was led by Dr. Mai Moua, CEO of Leadership Paradigms, Inc.  We had delicious food and outstanding sistership, with more than 30 member groups represented.  The room was packed with 70 attendees, and many people noted our visible diversity of age and racial/ethnic groups is increasing.   We hope to follow up with newsletter articles, resources and a useful report on this issue.   Many thanks to Mai,  panelists, & all who drove through rain and hail!

Left:  Dr. Moua leads the discussion.  Center:  Small group discussion, including Consortium board member Halee Vang (right), Sasha from Pro-Choice Resources (center), and Jae from Older Women's League(left).  Left:  Board members Anita Patel (YWCA Minneapolis) and Deb Pridgen (Girl Scouts) - normally very serious types - help clean up leftover pizza.  Movie clip below:  Marlene Larson of the Life-Work Planning Center in Mankato explains how class differences play out even in her own household.

Batgirl & Pay Equity

Funny but sad that Batgirl still needs to work on "equal pay for equal work."  We need her for pay equity.   The Pay Equity Coalition had a bill at the state legislature this year, to check whether there is a wage gap in large businesses seeking state contracts (click here to read it).  The proposal passed 7 committees.  However, in the end the Coalition decided to spend another year on public education to build support for 2008.   Holy Minnesota Statutes, Batman!

Download a status report from PECOM president Patty Tanji, and write her to be on the email list for future plans.   Check our past Capitol Capers posts, surf to our website for the May 2 legislative update in the Capitol Bulletin newsletter, or write Erin to be on our list-serve for weekly action alerts from member organizations.   - Bonnie

Happy 30th Birthday Calliope!

Listen to "You Get Proud by Practicing," one of the pieces Calliope Women's Chorus has commissioned over the years. YGPBP and much more will be performed this coming Saturday, April 28, 7:30PM at Mayflower Congregational Church in Minneapolis, and Sunday, April 29, 7:30PM at Sundin Hall, Hamline University, St. Paul.  Tickets at the door or calliopewc@aol.com. Click on Download you_get_proud.doc for the rest of the words.

You Get Proud by Practicing
Words, Laura Hershey
Music, Diane Benjamin

Power makes you proud, and power
Comes in many fine forms
Supple and rich as butterfly wings.
It is music
when you practice opening your mouth
And liking what you hear
Because it is the sound of your own
True voice.

It is sunlight/ When you practice seeing
Strength and beauty in everyone,
Including yourself.

Women Came to the Capitol (& Women's Building)

On March 14, the Consortium hosted its annual Women Come to the Capitol event.  New this year was "Discovering the Capitol through Technology" - did you know for example that you can use the House Information website to generate mailing labels for all 134 state representatives?  Besides Government 101, How to Lobby, The Media, and meeting with their own legislators, attendees chose sessions on health care access, economics, safety, and the media.  The 3-minute movie below shows Sue Fust, Director of Citizens for A Safer MN, on their work to reduce gun violence.  On Sue's left is Donna Dunn from the MN Coalition Against Sexual Assault, who reviewed their work this session.  Thanks to Bharti Wahi for organizing an intense & meaningful day.

Tibetan Women of Minnesota Rally

On March 12, 1959, the women of Tibet took to the streets in protest of the Chinese occupation and the brutal treatment of all Tibetans.  Before, during and since that day, many Tibetan women have been imprisoned, tortured, and killed.  Today on the 48th anniversary of that day, the Regional Tibetan Women’s Association held a rally at the State Capitol Rotunda. Download tibetan_womens_statement.pdf

The small snippet of the movie below shows the singing of the Uprising Song – but the audio cannot do justice to their beautiful strong voices rising up into the crystal dome.  Mrs. Kunsang Chony Lhewa (center far right in the photo, in green), Vice President of the RTWA, explained to me afterwards that when many Tibetans escaped to India, they created their own new Constitution which guarantees women equal rights.  And did you know that Minnesota is the second largest resettlement area for Tibetan refugees in the United States, after New York City? 

Download tibet_what_you_can_do.doc to help Tibetan women, or visit the international website of the TWA.  To connect with the Tibetan women of Minnesota, write to Kalsang Wangdu, communications director (she is in center front in the photo, in black and white). 

Greetings from International Women's Day

A tidbit from Maria Jose Alcala, keynoter for this March 3 event at the U of MN and director of the United Nations Population Fund - followed by greetings from Consortium groups:  Sally from the Center on Women & Public Policy, Aviva from the Women's Human Rights Program, Karen & Carol from AAUW and St. Paul AAUW, Nora from OWL, Karmann from the Consortium & Kathleen from Midwest Health Center for Women, Vanessa & Stephanie from Women Against Military Madness.  Sorry some came out sideways - I'm still learning!  Also there's background noise from all the people touring exhibits.  But I wanted you to see some of the living breathing wonder-women.... Bonnie

Blue Canoes and more

 

The monotypes shown here are "Blue Canoe" and "Water Reeds" by Barbara Harman, board member for the Women's Art Registry of Minnesota (WARM).  Along with sister WARMer Alice Giannobile, Barbara has filled the Minnesota Women's Building with 42 gorgeous images like this, in the hallways, lobby, kitchen, and in the Consortium space.  Looking up from my desk, I see  Alice's "I Shall Not Want," both austere with its simple tree/stand/bowl subject and rich with disappearing background stamps of fabric and soft butterflies.  Having such things near nourishes & renews our social change work every day.  WARM exhibits will continue all year, changing over every two months.  Do stop by (550 Rice Street, St. Paul, 9-4:30 M-F, 651/228-0338) and tour on your own or ask to see staff favorites.   

Academy Award Material?

Minnesota Women's Consortium Board Chair Jen Peterson and Executive Director Bonnie Watkins goof around - and force the entire crowd to wish a happy 27th birthday to the Consortium and all its friends - before the start of the program at Celebration 27.   It was a magical evening with many old and new friends all around. Thanks to camerawoman Karmann Peters.   (P.S. we have improved the beginning of this piece with technical wizardry by Johnny...but he failed to make me sound less Minnesoh-tan....) - Bonnie

Monday Musings + SAFPlan, MN Advocates

* We are excited about the big Celebration (Download C27flyer2color.pdf) event Wednesday evening - for sure an outstanding party, so give us a call at 651/228-0338 if you're planning to come. * I fried my laptop so apologies to those I'm not responding to fast enough  this week.  *  Lorraine wrapped up all kinds of year-end financial reports, AND got new plastic roller thingies to go under our chairs, much needed!  * Erin is  working on this week's E-Consortium Notes and next week's Capitol Bulletin, AND scheduling legislative appointments for the girls coming to Girls Rock! the Capitol on February 28. 

* Bharti and Karmann are monitoring the fast-breaking action at the Capitol.   SAFPlan encourages you to attend a hearing on HF 298, a pro-family planning bill, set for next Tuesday, February 6 at 2:30PM.  Contact Peg LaBore at 651/645-0478 if you can be there, or for more info. 

* My femi-geek skills are not quite up to putting this interview on the blog itself, but you should be able to click on this link to hear a wonderful interview of Aviva Breen, board chair for our member group Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights, on the Minnesota Public Radio "Midday" show recently.  (Not certain this will work for Mac people - click on "comment" below & let me know.) Aviva (that's her on the right) touches on their work with domestic abuse in Bulgaria, education for girls in Nepal, and much more.   -- Bonnie

Blogging for Choice & Celebration Musical Guests

Feministing says we should all "blog for choice" today, the 34th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision that continues to save so many women's lives.  Thank you, thank you to all those who have fought for our precious right to control our bodies. 

We're delighted to announce that the Women's Drum Center and the Mila Vocal Ensemble will each perform small samples of their work at Celebration 27 -- Wednesday evening, January 31, 6PM to 9PM at the Science Museum of Minnesota in St. Paul.  DO call us at 651/228-0338 to reserve your spot.  There will be tables full of Girl Scouts, Vixens footballers, St. Paul Trades & Labor, Democratic Women's Leadership Coalition, MN Nurses Association ... Wow.   DO check in a day or so to hear a sample of the Drum Center's work.  And meanwhile enjoy this clip - "Bulgaria Begala Evena" from the Mila Ensemble.

Enforcement of Child Support

Listen to Consortium board chair Jen Peterson of ACES discuss the new Minnesota law changing how child support amounts are set - beginning about halfway through this January 2 "Minnesota Matters" program from Air America Radio (you can drag the gold band halfway across).  Contact ACES, the Association for Children for Enforcement of Support, for more informaton.

Welcome from the Tradeswomen

A message from the annual meeting of Women In the Trades (including friends from the Vixens pro football team). WIT's website is being reconstructed, so for now best to phone them at 651/228-9955.   

Sing! We Go On

Listen to "We Go On" written by Tracy E. Tracy, arranged by Mary Bussman, and sung by the Twin Cities Women's Choir. This song is from their just-released 10th anniversary CD, "Sing!Perform! Affirm!" and provided courtesy of the Twin Cities Women's Choir. Be sure to click on "comments" below to tell them how they inspired you.

I'm Dreaming of Child Care Funding

Consortium friend Pat Gill offers these sentiments for the holiday season and beyond. If you like this, write me or comment below -- and I'll ask Pat for her femi-jingle about pensions for older women. -Bonnie