Gainesville Commission on the Status of Women

“Activists Among Us: the Gainesville Women’s Movement Across Generations.”

A public history program sponsored by the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program at the University of Florida.

THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 2010, 6:30 to 8:30

LOCATION: Matheson Museum, Gainesville, Florida

Co-sponsors and volunteers needed for this event. Please help us spread the word!

“Activists Among Us: the Gainesville Women’s Movement Across Generations” will take place on Thursday, April 8, 2010 from 6:30-8:30 pm at the Matheson Museum. Sponsored by the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program, the panel discussion will bring together local activists from the 1950s through the present to discuss the ongoing struggle for social justice, gender equality, and human rights. The panel will also serve as a springboard for the collection and preservation of historical materials on the history of women’s activism in Gainesville.

Moderated by Dr. Patricia Hilliard-Nunn, this event will include members from Gainesville Women for Equal Rights, an interracial organization of women whose active work for civil and human rights changed the course of history in Gainesville. It will also include Gainesville activists in the pivotal women’s liberation movement of the 1960s. Serving as one of the main centers of feminist activity nationwide, Gainesville feminists posed radical challenges to male authority, and ushered in a new era of social change and opportunity for women.

Welcome: The Mayor of the City of Gainesville, The Honorable Pegeen Hanrahan

Panelists: Vivian Filer, Kathie Sarachild, Jane Hiers, Rosa B. Williams, Sallie Ann Harrison and Corky Culver.

Co-sponsors include: the University of Florida Department of History, the UF Center for Women’s Studies and Gender Research, George Smathers Libraries,  UF Center for the Humanities and the Public Sphere (Yavitz Fund), the Women’s Studies Graduate Student Association, the History Graduate Society, The Gainesville Women’s Commission, The Emily Dickinson Society, and the Civic Media Center.

For more information please call the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program at 352-392-7168 or email portiz@ufl.edu

In our efforts to acknowledge the outstanding contributions of women to our community, the Education Committee of the Gainesville Commission on the Status of Women, Inc. invites you to submit nominations for our 2009 Ida B. Wells and Elizabeth Cady Stanton Awards. For the past two decades, these awards have honored women who, in working for women’s and/or civil rights, have also benefited the community, but whose efforts have not yet received recognition.

Ida B. Wells (1863-1932) was a crusading journalist who fought against racial injustice and lectured around the world about the lynching of African Americans. She also worked for suffrage and helped to found the first black suffrage organization. Despite segregation, Wells argued that black and white women should work together to achieve equality.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815-1902) was instrumental in calling the first women’s rights convention at Seneca Falls, N.Y., in 1848 and became a leader of the women’s movement. The convention passed the Declaration of Sentiments, which set the agenda for the women’s movement well into the 20^th century. Stanton also helped to found the National Woman Suffrage Association and edited The Woman’s Bible.

Last year the Commission was pleased to present the Ida B. Wells Award to Deloris E. Rentz for her educational outreach programs and her community leadership activities. Mickie Edwardson received the Elizabeth Cady Stanton Award for her leadership in the Gainesville Chapter of the United Nations Association and her work with the Social Justice Council of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.

This year the awards are scheduled to be presented at a special celebration of Women’s History Month on Thursday, March 25 at the UF President’s House.  The event is co-sponsored by both the University of Florida and many community organizations. Please find the nomination form enclosed, and note that the nominations are due by February 12, 2010. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me at 378-4853 or ejrenner at hotmail dot com.

Sincerely,

Lisa Renner

Chair, Education Committee

GCOSW Nomination Form

The Gainesville Commission on the Status of Women cordially invites you to our Annual Holiday Dinner*

Tuesday, December 15^th, 2009

Cocktail hour will begin at 5:30 pm

Northwest Grill

5115 NW 39^th Avenue

Cost $25.00 per person

Come and be social with the Gainesville Commission on the Status of Women (GCOSW). Join us for a meet and greet at The Top Restaurant, 30 N Main Street, Tuesday September 22^st at 5:30pm. “Meet up” for members and those interested in finding out more about us.

The Gainesville Commission on the Status of Women is accepting applications for its mini-grants program starting in August 2009. Check out the Mini-grants page for more information!

Challenging Interpersonal Violence: Creating Safe Connections in Communities.

Start Time: 8:00 am
Date: May 21, 2009
End Time: 5:00 pm

Location:

Trinity United Methodist Church
4000 NW 53rd Avenue
Gainesville, Florida

Click here to view program brochure.

Purpose
This program provides a forum to discuss the impact of interpersonal violence and trauma in our communities and to explore the various pathways to healing for the purpose of intervening, preventing, and promoting recovery from various forms of oppression including child abuse, domestic violence, elder abuse, sexual abuse, stalking, hate crimes, and murder. This conference is relevant for those who work in law enforcement, child advocacy, mental health, victim services, domestic violence shelters, education, medical settings, the judicial system, and for survivors and other members of the public who are concerned with these issues.