DA Women's Caucus Leadership:
News
Global Women's Caucus February 2020 Newsletter
Greetings from your Global Women’s Caucus team! In this issue, we celebrate Black History Month by providing a list of books, articles and podcasts focused on the experiences of African-American women, and we also provide an important, in-depth article that discusses the disparities in health care access for women of color in the US.
We also introduce our new Climate Change initiative and activities around the 50th anniversary of Earth Day and discuss the passage of the ERA legislation in Virginia and what may come next. Finally, we offer three ideas to help you commemorate and be active during Women’s History Month in March.
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GWC Celebrates Black History Month
GWC is proud to join with other Americans in celebrating Black History Month. Check out our lists of books, news stories and podcasts that commemorate the history and achievements of African-American women.
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Disparities in Healthcare Access for Women of Color: Will Democrats Find Solutions?
By Ramya Prabhakar
The 2020 primary season has whittled down the impressive field of Democratic presidential contenders to a mere eight candidates. With the exit of Kamala Harris in early December, the field lost its only woman of color, and with the suspension of the Castro and Booker campaigns, the field became entirely white.
Simultaneously, the platform of the Democratic party has centered around healthcare—and for good reason. Polling continues to show that voters rank healthcare as the most important issue in elections, and Democratic focus on Republican efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act helped them win back the majority in the House of Representatives. And healthcare disparities negatively affect women—particularly women of color. This article lists some of the major risks and causes of disparities between women of color and white women, and then discusses the effects of Obamacare. Read more.
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GWC Launches New Climate Action Team!
The Global Women’s Caucus has launched an initiative to educate voters and participate in activities focused on climate change. As a recent article in Time magazine noted, women are disproportionately impacted by climate change, and the UN estimates that 80% of those who have been displaced by climate change are women.
The GWC hosted an event in Paris to kick-off our climate change initiative and will be participating in Earth Day events and activities. Scroll down to learn more.
Women and the Environment Event in Paris
by Sheila Malovany-Chevallier
On January 26, 2020, I was lucky enough to host(ess) a meeting of the Women and the Environment group of Democrats Abroad France.
The three women scientists, experts in their fields, shared their scientific work with the audience in a talk titled: Is Climate Change a Gender Issue? Alyssa Fischer’s work discusses climate and sustainability, focusing on urban climate challenges and the inclusion of equity into climate conversations. Dr. Cara Maesano is a scientist and researcher in environmental epidemiology and exposure science at INSERM/Sorbonne University. Dana Powers is an environment journalist specializing in renewable energy and chair of the Democrats Abroad France Environment Policy Group.
Click here to read more about this event, and you can also watch a video clip of the event here. Special thanks to Jean-Pierre la Rochelle for filming the event.
Save the Date: April 22nd Climate Action on Earth Day
Many of the world’s largest climate organizations are planning major events for the week encompassing the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day on April 22nd.
Our new GWC Climate Action Team is working on an “Earth Action Week Event Ideas Package,” which will include lots of ideas for how our members can participate. Look for it in our next newsletter.
We would also like to encourage our GWC members to get involved in activities that major climate activist organizations are planning in your area. Check out the Earth Day and Strike with Us websites for more information.
This important anniversary provides us with an ideal opportunity to keep momentum going on the climate emergency, and to make noise around one of the most important election issues out there - climate change!
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ERA was Ratified in Virginia! What’s Next?
By Shari Temple
Virginia ratified the Equal Rights Amendment on January 27, with a vote of 27-12 in the VA Senate and 58-40 in the VA House. It had full support from all Democrats and was supported by several Republicans. Virginia became 38th state to ratify the amendment, achieving the 38-state majority necessary to begin proceedings to amend the Constitution.
Now that this historic milestone has been achieved, what comes next for ERA? Read more about what’s happening in Virginia, in other states as well as the national level, and how you can help ensure that ERA is added to the Constitution.
Story from an ERA Warrior: Shari Temple
Shari Temple is the ERA Project Coordinator for Democrats Abroad. She is also a member of the Global Women’s Caucus. She traveled to Virginia last month to meet other ERA Warriors. Click here to read her story about her involvement with ERA.
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March is Women’s History Month. Three Great Ways to Celebrate!
March is Women’s History Month, and we have provided three ways that you can get involved to commemorate women’s history and make an important political impact:
1. Exercise Your Right to Vote by Participating in the Democrats Abroad Global Presidential Primary.
2. Participate in activities and events on International Women’s Day.
3. Join us for a Women’s History Month webinar, featuring Ramona Houston, Ph.D., PMP: “Black/Brown Power, Whiteness and Women: The 2020 Election Challenge—Democrats, Be the Light! Save America! (…And the World!)”.
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Chair’s Corner: Why Volunteer with the DA Global Women's Caucus?
By Ann Hesse
As Global Caucus chair, I receive quite a lot of email. But the emails I am always happiest to see in my in-box are the ones that say, “Hi, I’d like to volunteer!”
So, in order to encourage more of you to go ahead and step up in this crucial election year, I’d like to take a moment to give you all a better idea of what it really means to join our team.
What is a “global” volunteer?
Our Global Women’s Caucus is over five thousand strong, with members in over 100 countries. We have large, active caucus groups in many major cities that plan in-person events at the country and local level.
Because many of our members live far outside of city centers, we also have a vibrant online team that provides support worldwide. We work to create many remote and online activist opportunities for our far-flung members.
We have several teams which focus on various issues, and they do research, educate our members, write and share articles on our media platforms, develop event tool kits and create online “calls to action.”
These are our teams:
- Communications
- Equal Rights Amendment
- Reproductive Justice
- Candidate Information
- Books Abroad Feminist Literature Club
- Women and Climate
Our goal for 2020 is to raise awareness around all our issues, stress the importance and impact of voting, and to propel a “blue wave” of new leaders who are committed to women’s rights into power on Election Day.
How can you get involved?
If you are interested in volunteering for an “in-person” Women’s Caucus group near you, let us know your location, or just ask your local DA leadership to connect you with your nearest Women’s Caucus leader. (If your area has no group yet, consider launching one! We will help you!)
If you’d like to volunteer for one of our global teams, please indicate which teams you have an interest in, and we will put you in touch with the appropriate team leader.
It would also be helpful to know which aspects of our various projects you would most like to work on, and to have a bit of information about your interests, background, location and availability.
A Last Word:
In the face of ever-increasing horror around the world, many of us have found that using our skills and creativity for this good cause is enough to keep that awful feeling of helplessness and pessimism at bay. We work “for free,” but what we get in return is a priceless feeling of pride, calm and even a good night’s sleep.
All we need now is your fresh ideas, creativity and dedication! Go ahead and drop us a line!
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Thank you for reading, and as always, stay tuned on our Facebook page for all the latest news.
In solidarity,
Your GWC Team
GWC launches Women and Climate Action Team with Paris Event
GWC Chair Ann Hesse traveled to Paris to moderate an event organized by the DA France Women’s Caucus on January 26. 2020
This event launches our new Global initiative:
WOMEN AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Here are some of the issues addressed:
Is Climate Change a gender issue? What is the connection? A UN Report tells us that “Women commonly face higher risks and greater burdens from the impacts of climate change in situations of poverty, and the majority of the world’s poor are women. Women’s unequal participation in decision-making processes and labor markets compound inequalities and often prevent women from fully contributing to climate-related planning, policy-making and implementation.”
Three DA France experts addressed climate change and gender questions and wowed the audience. All three of them are ready to press forward on our GWC initiative.
Our experts:
Alyssa Fischer is a climate & sustainability expert with a focus on urban climate challenges and the inclusion of equity into climate conversations. She presented an overview on urban policies and talk about how perceptions of climate change differ between men and women.
Dr. Cara Maesano is a scientist and researcher in environmental epidemiology and exposure science at INSERM/Sorbonne University, focusing on how the physical environment affects public health. She is part of C40's Women4Climate mentorship program, through which she investigates and educates on issues relating to the health impacts of Climate Change. She provided an overview of health impacts of Climate Change.
Dana Powers is an environment journalist specializing in renewable energy and chairs the Democrats Abroad France Environment Policy Group. She addressed the nexus between gender, population and climate change.
Jean-Pierre LaRochelle filmed this event and we will soon make it available as part of an educational toolkit for all of us to learn from and enjoy.
If you are interested in volunteering for this team, contact Ann at womenscaucus@democratsabroad.org
Watch the video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LavYeFsA5M&feature=youtu.be
Some fun photos from the event:
Two Smart ladies DA France Women’s Caucus Co-chairs Connie Borde and Sheila Malovany-Chevallier
Ann Hesse preparing with guest
Cara Maesano
Pleased with a successful event and launch for a very important project!
Upcoming Events
Tuesday, March 24, 2020 at 02:00 PM · 6 rsvps
Black/Brown Power, Whiteness and Women: The 2020 Election Challenge—Democrats, Be the Light! Save America! (…and the World!)”
The Global Women's Caucus, the Global Hispanic Caucus, and the Global Black Caucus have teamed up for a Women's History Month webinar
In this webinar, "Black/Brown Power, Whiteness and Women: The 2020 Election Challenge—Democrats, Be the Light! Save America! (…and the World!)” Ramona Houston, Ph.D., PMP, discusses how racial politics is at the root of Trumpism, which is precipitating the deterioration of American politics as well as America’s standing as a beacon of hope and leadership for the world. In this webinar, Dr. Houston briefly explores the historical development of racism and whiteness in America, arguing that Democrats must understand this history and its manifestations to effectively dismantle Trumpism as well as develop more powerful multi-racial/multi-cultural coalitions and a stronger Democratic Party. According to Dr. Houston, women play a vital role in this process.
Ultimately, Dr. Houston challenges Democrats to “Be the Light!” especially during the critical upcoming 2020 Elections—both locally and nationally. Whether Black, Brown, or White, progressive or conservative, rural or urban, domestic or abroad, Ramona contends that ALL Democrats individually and collectively must work strategically and aggressively to destroy Trumpism, secure the Presidency, and win local elections. By being the Light Democrats will usher in a greater and more perfect union, and most importantly, save America and the world!
This is an online event. You must RSVP to receive the connection information.
ABOUT RAMONA HOUSTON
Ramona Houston, Ph.D., PMP, enjoys a multifaceted career as a scholar, social impact strategist, and speaker. American race relations, social responsibility, and higher education are the principal spheres of her work. An American historian, Ramona, specializes in 20th century American history, civil rights, and race relations, specifically it's African American and Mexican American dimensions. Through her publications/presentations, Ramona explores Black/Brown relations, promoting the importance of diverse groups working together to increase their capacity and effectiveness in advancing social change and social justice.
A Project Management Professional (PMP), Ramona is also Founder and Chief Strategist of Kaliráh Strategies, a boutique firm that helps business enterprises as well as professional athletes and entertainers to design and execute their social impact strategy. Ramona is proud of the results. Through Kaliráh Strategies Ramona and her team advance the social causes clients believe in, strengthen their community, enhance their brand, and, ultimately, enrich their legacy.
Whether she is producing scholarship, coordinating philanthropic projects, or speaking, Ramona seeks to fulfill her professional mission of “Inspiring minds, connecting communities, realizing visions and impacting the world.”
Ramona is a graduate of The University of Texas (Ph.D. in History) and Clark Atlanta University (BA in Spanish and History). A native of Brownwood, Texas, Ramona currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband Terreon Gully and their princess Chase, a thirteen-year-old Pomeranian. To contact or learn more about Ramona, visit www.ramonahouston.com. Follow her on Twitter @ramonahouston.