Friday, July 1:  10:15 - 11:30 a.m.

Workshops

 

Women & Disabilities: Moving the Agenda

Josie Byzek, Leslie Macklin, Lorre Leon Mendelson,

Stephanie Ortoleva, Ginny Rogers, Joanne Tosti-Vasey   

Room: Symphony I

Come and talk with us about the intersections between gender and disability rights and discuss how to further unite the women's rights and disability rights movements.  Explore current and proposed public policy in areas of health care, anti-discrimination laws and voting rights, as well as strategies for greater effectiveness.

 

 

Beijing+10: Thinking Globally & Organizing Locally to Help Our International Sisters

Medea Benjamin, Cindy Domingo, Erin Hanna, Jan Strout

Room: Carmichael-McTyeire

While the global movement for women's human rights grows larger and gains strength, the U.S. and many other governments continue to oppose gender equality, peace and social justice. With an eye toward  ideals put forth by the Beijing Platform and the U.N. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), learn how local-level organizing can result in global-level progress for women's rights.

 

 

Building a National Grassroots Campaign: Winning Over-the-Counter Emergency Contraception

Jessica Bearden, Tia Koonse, Latifa Lyles,

Kelly Mangan, Cari Sietstra

Room: Kirkland

With all the current obstacles and restrictions, do we really have control over our own bodies? Hold an undeniable right to birth control?  Learn how, as a grassroots movement, we can take back what is ours for good. We will discuss how chapters can help win access to emergency contraception for all women, regardless of age or circumstance.

 

Why We Still Need the ERA

Toni Van Pelt, Dorie Rothman

Room: Calhoun

Many people in the U.S. have fallen prey to the backlash campaign of misinformation and believe that equal rights for U.S. women are included in the Constitution. Worse yet, they may admit there's no Equal Rights Amendment, but believe women have all the rights they need and that these hard-earned rights are immune to political attack. Take a "timeline tour" of the feminist movement that illustrates how long women have fought for the respect, rights and dignity all women deserve, and learn how to be effective in the struggle today. Come to soak up the latest ERA news to take home and get active.

 

 

Call Off the Vigilantes: Where is the Safe Harbor for Immigrant Women?

Mónica Hernandez, Emily Hall, Zenaida Mendez, Jennifer Vessels

Room: Neely

Sit in on a panel discussion on the issues immigrant women face when living through or trying to escape a situation domestic violence or sexual assault. Immigration law that specifically affects women in violent situations and the personal experience of an immigrant woman will be featured along with the common experiences immigrant women share. We will discuss how we can add these women's needs to the big picture of making a violence-free world for women.

 

 

Hot Topics in Women's Health

Ann Fonfa, Tara Grandberry, Karen Johnson,

Mary Kinnunen, Katherine Prown

Room: Serratt

The number and nature of women's health concerns keeps growing and changing with every passing year. This workshop explores myriad  issues including: reducing cancer risk, the dangers of silicone breast implants, reckless mass-media promotion of breast implants, the danger of pthalates in cosmetics and household products, senseless bans on vaginal birth after Caesarian section, universal health care and the importance of positive body images. Join this sure-to-be lively discussion on numerous topics of importance to all women.

 

 

 

Film

 

CHISHOLM '72: Unbought & Unbossed

Room: Symphony II/III

"CHISHOLM '72 — Unbought & Unbossed" tells the story of Shirley Chisholm, the first-ever woman of color to run for the presidential nomination and the first presidential candidate endorsed by NOW.  Chisholm, a determined and unapologetically liberal Black woman, championed the causes of the poor, the young, minorities, gays, women, and other marginalized people during her 1972 campaign, and fought the bigoted opposition and blatant disregard of her candidacy from the establishment and the media.  Chisholm saw the presidential race itself as an opportunity to draw people to politics who traditionally did not participate. In her words, "I ran for the presidency, despite hopeless odds, to demonstrate sheer will and refusal to accept the status quo."  Featuring stirring archival footage, period music, interviews with supporters, opponents and observers, and Chisholm's own commentary — then and shortly before her death in January, 2005— "CHISHOLM '72" is a remarkable recollection of a campaign that broke new ground in politics, and truly reached out to 'the people.'

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Friday, July 1:  1:00 - 2:15 p.m.

Workshops

 

Sexploitation:  Trafficking, Prostitution & Pornography

Margaret Baldwin, J.D., Stephanie Cleveland, Jan Erickson,

Robert Jensen, Ph.D., Chyng Sun, Ph.D.

Room: Carmichael-McTyeire

Increased recognition of sex trafficking as a serious global problem has led to closer examination of the factors driving the demand for prostitution and sexual slavery. Scholars and activists pinpoint pornography and the rising acceptance by the mainstream as a major cause for demand of prostitution and trafficking—especially in wealthy destination countries like the U.S. Mass-media dissemination of pornographic and sexually-explicit materials contribute to a flourishing commercialized sex industry. The violent objectification of the female body perpetuates sexually subservient roles and second-class social status for women. Only by focusing on ways to reduce demand will this destructive trade come to an end.

 

 

We Use Protection! Keeping Reproductive Rights Safe from the Religious Right

Rosemary Dempsey, Madeline Halperin-Robinson, Cari Sietstra, Marjorie Signer, Duchy Trachtenberg

Room: Gold

Now, more than ever, the proactive defense of our reproductive rights is critically important for feminists today. With a razor-thin majority on key issues in the Supreme Court in jeopardy with an impending resignation, we may see Roe v. Wade overturned  and the abortion rights battle sent back to the states. Eeek—since a woman's right to choice will be in serious jeopardy in almost all states. Sadly, our scope must be broad since other areas of reproductive health care now suffer serious attack from access to contraception to comprehensive sex education. Come learn about new campaigns and organizing challenges.

 

 

Equal Marriage is a Feminist Issue

Melody Drnach, Lisbeth Melendez, Patricia Sanders 

Room: Platinum

Choice, right to privacy, economic justice, racial justice, protecting the constitution, fighting discrimination... sound familiar?  Equal marriage is a feminist issue for all these reasons and more. Join us in a discussion about how marriage equality intersects with all of the other feminist issues for which NOW activists care so passionately. We will also discuss the current and future state of marriage equality at federal and state levels.

 

Tools of the Trade: Feminist Skills Exchange

Stephanie Goodwin, Chris Henderson, Allendra Letsome

Room: Calhoun

What feminist "wave" or "branch" are you part of?  No matter!  We can all improve our effectiveness—and our relationships with our fellow feminists—by opening our feminist "toolboxes" and sharing the tools with others.  The Feminist Skills Exchange helps you gain new skills and create relationships with new people through sharing and mentoring.  Join this workshop to learn how to create a new type of community and grassroots-building program within your own state. In addition to building a stronger, more diverse and active NOW community, this workshop will teach you how to help strengthen individual feminists by increasing their skill base and creating more opportunities for mentoring, connection and dialogue.  

Seeking Justice for Poor & Struggling Families

Edna Harvin Battle, Lisalyn Jacobs, Ronnie Steinberg

Room: Serratt

Where are we in our struggle to help women and children avoid or climb out of poverty? Is there any hope in the looming reauthorization of the 1996 welfare law? What about fair pay and livable wages?  Why is it that women who have so little have to pay so much? Let's come together and tackle these tough questions and design ways to get the grassroots motivates to grapple with issues of poverty.

 

Political Institute

 

From the State House to the White House:

All Politics Start Locally

Linda Berg, Jean Carter-Wilson, Pat LaMarche,

Vanessa Salinas, Alma Sanford

Room: Neely

In order for women to achieve full equality, we must sit in all the seats of power.  We must be represented on the school boards, water boards, in local governmental councils, state legislative bodies, the Congress and the White House. Share lessons learned with women who have organized political campaigns at the local, state and national levels.

 

 

 

Issue Hearings

 

Emerging Issues

Room: Symphony I

 

Administrative & By-Laws

Room: Kirkland

 

 

 

Film

 

Voices from the Street: Countdown to a March

Room: Symphony II/III

This "film celebration" by documentary film-maker Sue Rumph focuses on the record-breaking March for Women's Lives. "Voices from the Street" provides a rare and behind-the-scenes look at the work and people who made the March a reality, and features interviews with local and national activists. Perhaps most importantly, the film reminds us what we can achieve through collaborative effort as well as what is at stake in the ongoing fight for our reproductive rights.

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Friday, July 1:  2:30 - 3:45 p.m.

Workshops

 

The War on Drugs: 

Women & Children in the Crossfire

Angelyn Frazer, Jean Marlowe, Deborah Small, Scarlett Swerdlow

Room: Carmichael-McTyeire

The current laws and policies targeting drug use and users can wreak havoc on women and families. The discriminatory nature of drug policy particularly devastates low-income people and communities of color in the U.S. Explore why an expanding number of feminists demand drug-policy reform, and learn about initiatives we can pursue to make it happen.  

 

 

The Power of the Purse:

Make an Impact through Consumer Feminism

Scheherezade Daftary, Liz Funk, Erin Hanna, Erin Matson

Room: Gold

We've heard about conspicuous consumption. Well, what about conscientious consumption? Consumer feminism can be a powerful tool to show companies what we value and why.  Learn about sweat-free labor companies and industries with "feminist-friendly," "blue" and "green" policies and practices, as well as how to understand yourself as a feminist in a consumer-driven world.  

 

 

Social Security: Economic Threat of a Lifetime

Jan Erickson, Kimberly Fountain, Latifa Lyles, Ronnie Steinberg

Room: Platinum

George W. Bush made it a central theme of his second term to convert Social Security, a guaranteed disability, survivor and retirement insurance program, to a system of risky stock market investment accounts. His cronies on Wall Street lick their chops over the prospect of trillions of dollars flowing into the stock market, while people in the U.S. stand to lose tremendously from the dismantling of our most important safety net. Women, in particular, will suffer because of their disproportionate dependence on Social Security for retirement income, survivor benefits and disability assistance. Come to learn how to counter this threat to women's economic security.

 

 

Putting an End to Violence against Women

Stephanie Chalifoux, Lisalyn Jacobs,

Emily Nourse, Elle Shaaban-Magana

Room: Calhoun

Where are we in our decades-old determination to put an end to domestic and family violence, sexual assault and abuse?  What will the recently introduced Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) 2005 really do? How can we make sure VAWA passes with real improvements to the system of programs targeted at ending, treating and preventing violence? How can we make our campuses safe and stop the cycle of violence before young people enter the world of work and family? Visit this workshop to dig in and find out!

 

 

Sisters Know No Borders:

Advocating for Women's Rights Worldwide

 Medea Benjamin, Marie Clarke Brill,

Laura Ross, Kristin VanHooreweghe

Room: Serratt

Join us to discuss how U.S. trade, military action, foreign aid and imperialistic policies affect women and families here at home and all across the world. Find out how local actions and efforts make our world a more just, safe and healthy place by ensuring dignity, respect for human rights and economic justice for all women.

 

 

Fertilizing New Grassroots for NOW:

Ideas for Chapter Action

Michelle Colón, Andrea Moore Emmett, Anna Worthen

Room: Neely

Need help getting new members in your chapter or NOW Campus Action Network? It's often easier than people think, and members brought in by chapter activism are much more likely to be future activists. In today's political climate, when almost all of our rights are under attack, NOW chapters can thrive. A panel of activists from different sizes of chapters from a cross-section of the country will lead a discussion of problems chapters face bringing in new members and keeping them.

 

 

Issue Hearings

 

Constitutional Equality & Legal Strategies

Room: Symphony I

 

Disability Rights

Room: Kirkland

 

 

 

 

Film

Tying the Knot:

A History of Equal Marriage in the U.S.

Room: Symphony II/III

When a bank robber's bullet ends the life of police officer Lois Marrero, her wife of thirteen years, Mickie is honored as her surviving spouse but denied all pension benefits. When Sam, an Oklahoma rancher, loses his beloved husband of 22 years, long-estranged cousins of his late spouse try to lay claim to everything Sam has. As Mickie's and Sam's lives are put on trial, they are forced to confront the tragic reality that in the eyes of the law their marriages mean nothing. From an historical trip to the Middle Ages, to gay hippies storming the Manhattan marriage bureau in 1971, "Tying the Knot" digs deeply into the past and present to uncover the meaning of civil marriage in America today.

 

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Saturday, July 2: 9:00 - 10:15 a.m.

Workshops

 

It's My Prerogative:

Young Feminists Taking Back Popular Culture

Veronica Bohanan, Adele Coble, Scheherezade Daftary,

 Liz Funk, Tara Grandberry, Angela Vo, Camillia Williams

Room: Symphony I

When Britney Spears mouths the breathy lyrics to "It's My Prerogative," is she promoting a feminist prerogative?  Popular culture tends to serve up conflicting messages about what is empowering to women. These mixed messages cannot go unchallenged.  Join in an interactive panel with young feminists discussing how to reshape women's role in media including hip hop and feminism, media and body image, and taking back the streets.

 

 

Finding Justice for Mothers and Children through Family Law

Renee Beeker, Marcia Pappas, Kimberly Stenerson, Bobbie Walton

Room: Carmichael-McTyeire

Family court has become a dangerous place for abused women and children. Mothers are losing custody of their children to abusive ex-spouses in the courts due to embedded sexism and increased activism by fathers' rights advocates. This presentation will provide an overview of common problems and provide a template to design a local Family Court Watch program. Activists can help by collecting data and volunteering as "court watchers." Court watch programs help empower litigants to hold accountable the very system meant to serve the public, protect victims and uphold our laws.

 

 

Straight Talk about White Privilege

Patricia Ireland, Jessie Washington

Room: Serratt

White people who readily agree that racism is a huge disadvantage to people of color, often refuse to see that racism also means they have unearned, unjust advantages. This interactive workshop isn't a call for white guilt, but rather for taking responsibility for working to dismantle the white supremacist culture as we dismantle the male supremacist culture, and coming up with concrete plans to do so.

 

 

Internet Activism: Basics & Beyond

Meaghan Lamarre, Sandy Smith Madsen, Kris Moody

Room: Gold

Most everyone knows how to surf the web. But how many activists feel comfortable using the web for organizing purposes? This workshop explores basic skills for internet activism, including e-mail alerts, discussion groups, mailing lists, purchasing a domain name and creating a basic web site. We'll also talk about how the internet, and blogging especially, is changing the way we think about and do activism. Join us with your ideas and questions.

 

 

Political Institute

 

Seeing through the Political Rhetoric: 

Is That Candidate Really a Feminist?

Linda Berg, Gail García McWilliams, Linda Tosti-Lane

Room: Neely

Almost all candidates say they support women's rights, but do they really? There's a world of difference between someone who says they support "choice" and one who understands what that really means.  And when they say everyone should be treated equally, do they really mean it?  Our panelists have spent years extracting the real meaning of political speak from candidates.  What they say and what they mean are sometimes miles apart.

 

 

 

 

Issue Hearings

 

Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender Issues

Room: Calhoun

 

Economic Justice

Room: Platinum

 

Violence Against Women

Room: Kirkland

 

 

 

Film & Action Planning

 

Señorita Extraviada, Missing Young Woman Action Planning for the Women of Juarez

Diana Castañeda, Olga Vives

Room: Symphony II/III

"Señorita Extraviada, Missing Young Woman,'' a film by Lourdes Portillo, tells the haunting story of the more than 350 kidnapped, raped and murdered young women of Juárez, Mexico. This compelling investigation unravels the layers of complicity and the murky history of grossly under-reported human rights abuses that have allowed for the brutal murders of women living along the Mexico-U.S. border. The climate of violence and impunity continues to grow, and the murders of women continue to this day. After the film, we will discuss what NOW can do to stop the brutal murders, and form a powerful plan of action to protect the young women in Juarez.

 

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Saturday, July 2:  1:45 - 3:00 p.m.

Workshops

 

Battle over the Judiciary:

It's the Supreme Court, Stupid!

Gail García McWilliams, Kathy Rodgers, Eleanor Smeal

Room: Symphony I

Do not believe the hype. All the talk about changing Senate rules has nothing to do with the nominee being considered at the time —as loathsome as that individual may be—but everything to do with clearing a path for the next Clarence Thomas or Antonin Scalia to walk onto the U.S. Supreme Court.  What is at stake for women in this judicial battle?

 

 

Religion, Spirituality & Women's Rights:  Reclaiming "Moral Values"

Cliff Fiedler, Marjorie Signer, Jessie Washington

Room: Gold

When did the Religious Right get the copyright to the term "moral values?" Historically, religious leaders have played an important role in our society, using faith-based principles to promote inclusive values of equality and fairness.  Feminists and other progressives have a proud and impressive history of pursuing moral values—fighting for women's suffrage to marching for civil rights and peace. Religious, spiritual and moral influences are still threaded throughout the work of today's progressive movement. However, the conservative right-wing seems to have seized control of defining and applying moral values. How have beliefs and values turned from important personal creeds to political hammers? How does the faith-based context of today's progressive struggles relate to reproductive rights, comprehensive sex education and LGBT rights?  How can we build pro-choice, pro-woman, pro-democracy coalitions and alliances?

 

 

Ten Easy Tips for Effective Communication

Lisa Bennett, Jenny Thalheimer

Room: Carmichael-McTyeire

In this fast-paced session, you'll get practical advice on the basics all feminist communicators should know. Raise the public profile of your chapter through compelling messaging. Get the media to cover your event. Bring in new members with eye-catching publications. Jump into the world of affordable advertising. Maximize the impact of your web site and email lists. Design a strategic communication plan to guide your work. And more!

 

 

No More Business as Usual:

Feminists Demanding Corporate Responsibility

Martha Burk, Terry O'Neill, Olga Vives

Room: Serratt

As our culture becomes corporate-ized, giant companies increasingly engage in harmful and discriminatory behavior. Why do the rungs of the corporate ladder support the "old boys' club" so effectively, but provide unequal footing for women and minorities? Why are Wal-Mart's executives among the wealthiest people in the world, while they outsource their employees' health care and income security to the taxpayers? And why are women still struggling toward a respectful workplace and pay equity for their hard work?  Join this discussion about how to dismantle this "cult of power" and demand corporate responsibility.

 

 

Political Institute

 

Young Feminists Step Up!

Atima Omara-Alwala, Suzannah Porter, Stephanie Strazisar

Room: Neely

In 2004, great strides were made in moving the youth vote from disengagement to political participation. As young feminists, we must continue to fight political apathy and embrace the second job of citizenry. From grassroots activism to running for office, young feminists must step up to the plate and assume a powerful presence on the field.  Helping young women build a political resumè and placing them in the pipeline is a vital step for the movement. Join this roundtable discussion with young political organizers and candidates. 

 

 

Issue Hearings

 

Health & Reproductive Rights

Room: Platinum

 

Civil Rights & Racism

Room: Kirkland

 

Global Women's Issues

Room: Calhoun

 

 

 

Film

 

Sisters of '77: The Spirit of Women

Room: Symphony II/III

SISTERS OF '77 tells the story of an historical event that revolutionized the women's movement.  On a historic weekend in November of l977, 20,000 women and men left their jobs and homes in cities and small towns around the country to end discrimination against women and promote their equal rights.  For four days at the first National Women's Conference in Houston, Texas, they caucused, argued and finally hammered out a Plan of Action.  The film's archival footage breathes life into heated debates over issues like the Equal Rights Amendment, reproductive freedom, lesbian rights, and minority rights.  The compelling story features inspiration from civil rights leaders and feminist activists, bringing a deeper understanding of the history and legacy of the Sisters of '77. 

 

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Saturday, July 2:  5:30 - 6:45 p.m.

Workshops

 

Equity in Education:

Counteracting Threats to Title IX

Veronica Arreola, Natalia Averett, Jan Erickson,

Linda Joplin, Sue Klein, Eleanor Smeal

Room: Symphony

This workshop teaches NOW activists ways they can counteract threats to Title IX and ensure equality in education at all levels for students and educators. Former NOW President Eleanor Smeal will provide a short history of how Title IX came about in connection with efforts to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment. Other panelists will discuss current attacks on Title IX including: a Department of Education "clarification" on athletic programs that threatens to undermine 33 years of progress, a right-wing push to use public funds for single-sex schools and classrooms that will turn educational equity back 150 years and new initiatives to remove barriers to women and girls in the "hard" sciences, math, engineering and information technology fields.

 

Feminists Behaving Badly: Outrageous Actions for the Advancement of Women's Rights

Carol Moseley Braun, Janet Canterbury, M.D., Patricia Ireland

Room: Carmichael-McTyeire

Non-violent protest does not mean passive! Direct action may include demonstrations, disruption, satire and civil disobedience. Participants will explore women defying our passive stereotype to gain media and political attention. Panelists will describe some of their outrageous actions and discuss NOW's principles for non-violent civil disobedience.  Small groups will then plan actions around issues facing feminists today.

 

"If it isn't documented, it didn't happen:"

Using Information Power to Secure Our Rights

Kara Covington, Diane Jordan, Pamela Reed, Laura Ross

Room: Kirkland

Learn to protect yourself through documentation. Various institutions undermine and attempt to discredit women who file sexual harassment claims or other claims protected under civil rights laws such as Title VII.  By utilizing documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act and knowing how to verify all claimed experiences and references on short notice, women can secure their rights and prove their cases.

 

Meeting the Challenges & Building Coalitions: Latinas in the U.S. (En Español)

Deyanira Bautista, Erin Hanna, Zenaida Mendez, Rosalba Polanco, Fatima P. Torres, Olga Vives

Room: Gold Room (Cuarto de Oro)

According to a recent Census Bureau report, Latina/os constitute the largest ethnic minority in the U.S. The rise in Latina/o population has an increasingly dramatic effect on U.S. culture. Latinas are the youngest population demographic and at the same time the poorest. The discussion, in Spanish, will look at how Latinas can work with women's groups like NOW and organizations of color on issues such as economic justice, education, reproductive justice and the war on drugs to develop a Latina Feminist agenda in the U.S.

De acuerdo al buró del Census de los EU, la población Latina en los Estados Unidos es la mayoría dentro de las minorías. El aumento en número de Latinos está provocando un efecto dramático en la cultura Estadounidense. Las Latinas son las más jóvenes de la población y a la vez las más pobres de la nación. En este taller hablaremos de como las Latinas en los Estados Unidos podemos trabajar juntas con organizaciones nacionales y étnicas para desarrollar una agenda Feminista en los Estados Unidos. La lucha por la justicia social y económica, derechos reproductivos, educación y la llamada guerra contra las drogas son algunos de los temas que trataremos en este taller.

 

Feminist & Transgender Communities:

Fostering Understanding & Building Bridges

Mandy Carter, Marisa Richmond, Lisa Weiner-Mahfuz

Room: Calhoun

Join us for a discussion about the role that sex and gender play in feminist movements. We will discuss gender binaries, transgender issues, gender fluidity and the relationship between sex and gender. Gender is something that impacts both the Transgender and Feminist communities. However, both movements have defined, redefined and pushed the boundaries around gender in different ways. Come and explore the intersections and differences between the Transgender and Feminist communities.

 

Sounds Like A Plan:  Chapter Development & Membership Recruitment

Barbara Hays, Jennifer Rachels, Kourtney Stamps

Room: Neely

Idea: a plan, scheme, project; something one knows, or imagines. Are you fresh out of these when it comes to working with your chapter officers, new members, diversity opportunities, coalition partners, politicians in general? We'll do some fun role playing, provide handouts and walk though exercises that will help you with your chapter's direction and vision!

 

 

Political Institute

 

Feminists Running for Office:  We Need You!

Robin Davis, Grace Diaz, Bertha Smith

Room: Neely

Tired of putting up with a lousy school board member, city council member or state legislator? Ever think about finding someone better for the job or taking it on yourself? Join this freewheeling discussion of what you need to do before running for office and how you can help elect feminists. Bring your ideas, your experience and your enthusiasm. 

 

 

 

Film

 

"Love, Labor, Loss:" A Film-Based Organizing Campaign for Global Women's Health

Room: Symphony II/III

"Love, Labor, Loss" is a documentary film and community organizing campaign intended to use the power of film to shed light on obstetric fistula—a childbearing injury affecting over 2 million women in the developing world.  Learn how the producers of the film developed, funded and distributed their film to ensure that women's reproductive health issues in the developing world do not go unnoticed in this conservative climate. The workshop will include a screening of the video and a group discussion on how the film can be used as a tool for social change.