[Herstory] March-April 2006 CWLU Herstory E-Zine

[herstory at cwluherstory.org]

WELCOME to the March-April 2006 issue of the CWLU Herstory E-Zine. 
Explore the CWLU Herstory website at http://www.cwluherstory.org. 
Please send us news tips about upcoming events you know about. Also, 
don't be shy. Send us news about yourself and what you are doing. 
Feminist networking is part of what we are about. Forward our E-Zine 
to colleagues and friends who may want to subscribe.

***************************
HISTORY OF WOMEN HEALTH MOVEMENT IN CHICAGO -- slide show a great success!

An overflowing cross-generational crowd attended the slide show 
presentation by the Coral Norris and Mardge Cohen at Women and 
Children First Bookstore on January 10, 2006. The show covered the 
founding of women health clinics, Jane the abortion service, the 
struggle for reproductive rights, sterilization abuse, and the 
movement's legacy.

Many of the original participants attended. The younger members of 
the audience expressed great enthusiasm about learning about this 
history and, more importantly, what we should be doing now to 
continue the battle for women's health and reproductive rights.

The PowerPoint slide show is a project of CWLU Herstory Project and 
will be available on CD.

***************************
SOUTH DAKOTA ABORTION BAN BRINGS RENEWED INTEREST IN THE CWLU AND JANE

Soon after the South Dakota abortion ban was signed, a blogger who 
calls herself "Molly Saves the Day" published a long blog entry that 
detailed how to perform a D&C as well as information about the 
history of Jane, the Abortion Counseling Service.

You may read it at 
http://mollysavestheday.blogspot.com/2006/02/for-women-of-south-dakota-abortion.html

Her blog entry attracted news media attention and it wasn't long 
before the Herstory Project began receiving media inquiries. With 
help from some media savvy former CWLUers (special thanks to Jean, 
Judith and Heather), we were able to weather the brief media storm 
and get on with our work.

A Newhouse News Reporter named Dru Sefton wrote a pretty decent 
article based on all of this and used a photo of the CWLU 
headquarters along with a quote from former "Jane" Laura Kaplan. We 
found dealing with Dru Sefton to be a refreshing experience. She's a 
well informed journalist who respects her sources and has the old 
fashioned bulldog-like tenaciousness one wishes all newspeople had.

You can read her story at http://www.newhousenews.com/archive/sefton031406.html


***************************
JENNIFER ABOD PREVIEWS "LOOK US IN THE EYE" AT THE SAN DIEGO HISTORY MUSEUM

Jennifer Abod's new film "Look Us in the Eye: The Old Women's 
Project" was SRO at the San Diego History Museum on March 12th. The 
audience applauded the film which deals with the issues of ageism and 
sexism in our society.

Jennifer has plans to show a revised version of the film at the 
National Women's Studies Conference in Oakland in June. She is in 
need of financial assistance to complete the film and welcomes 
donations.

You may visit her website at http://www.jenniferabod.com.

Jennifer is a former member of the New Haven Women's Liberation Rock 
Band and the sister of Susan Abod who was the lead singer of the 
Chicago Women's Liberation Rock Band.


***************************
REGIONAL REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SUMMIT: NOT THE USUAL SUSPECTS

APRIL 3, 2006 Crowne Plaza Hotel, Chicago-Metro, 733 W. Madison, Chicago, IL

*Exact time to be determined. Admission: Free, by invitation only.

Chicago Foundation for Women's "Our Voice, Our Choices" Reproductive 
Health Coalition will host a regional summit to bring together 
grassroots activists and pro-choice leaders from bordering states to 
discuss choice in 2006 and the future of the movement.

Topics such as the health care system, the courts, state legislative 
challenges, and the faith community will be covered. The Coalition's 
model of diverse representatives from various sectors will be shared 
with representatives invited to the summit.

For more information and updates on this event, visit our website 
periodically. http://www.cfw.org


****************************
JUDITH ARCANA, FORMER MEMBER OF JANE, READS FROM HER NEW BOOK OF 
ABORTION POETRY

Judith will be performing work from her new book "What if your 
mother" in Chicago at the end of March, 2006,  Join Judith at one of 
these two local events:

Thursday, March 30-- At The University of Illinois in Chicago, from 
12:30 pm to 1:45 pm in the Cardinal Room East, Student Center. Judith 
will perform and talk with the audience about The Abortion Counseling 
Service of the Chicago Women's Liberation Union (often called 
"Jane"), the underground group that functioned from 1968 to 1973. 
Free admission; public invited. For info, contact: astegi1 at uic.edu, 
312/413.1025.

Friday, March 31-- At the offices of the American Civil Liberties 
Union in Chicago, Judith will perform and talk with the audience. 
RSVP necessary for this event, which is a BENEFIT for the Illinois 
Reproductive Justice Fund, a fund of African American Women Evolving, 
Inc. Reservations will be accepted up to 2pm on 3/31 or whenever the 
list is full. We hope for lots of folks with seriously enthusiastic 
check-writing capability. 5:30pm to 7:30pm at 180 N. Michigan Avenue, 
Suite #2300. For RSVP and info, contact: irjf at aaweonline.org, 
312/566.0983.

Judith Arcana was a Jane, a member of Chicago's pre-Roe underground 
abortion service, and is the author of two earlier books about 
motherhood, Our Mothers' Daughters and Every Mother's Son. The poems 
and monologues in "What if your mother" illuminate the painful, 
tender experiences inside the national shouting match, encouraging us 
to think carefully about the intense complexity ignored and obscured 
by slogans and polemics.

To inquire about readings, talks and workshops: jawhatif at earthlink.net

OTHER LOCATIONS OUTSIDE OF CHICAGO AREA:

Tuesday, March 14-- At Eastern Oregon University in LaGrande, Oregon, 
at 4pm in Schwartz Theater, Free admission; public invited. For info, 
contact: rhartman at eou.edu.

Thursday, March 23-- At The University of Southern California in Los 
Angeles, from 6pm to 8pm in Taper Hall of Humanities, #301. Public 
invited/all welcome; free admission (+ sandwiches and salad!). For 
info, contact: mkozar at usc.edu, 213/740.5656

Monday, April 3-- At Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois - 
two events, both in Stevenson 401. At noon, Judith will perform work 
from her new book, and at 3pm, will give an informal talk about the 
history and politics of The Abortion Counseling Service of the 
Chicago Women's Liberation Union Free admission; public welcome. For 
info, contact: rwhite at ilstu.edu, 309/438.2947.

Tuesday April 18-- At The University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth, 
Library Browsing Area, 3pm to 5pm. Judith will perform work from her 
new book + screen/discuss the documentary film "Jane, An Abortion 
Service" Free admission, all welcome. For info, contact 508/910.4582, 
jparker at umassd.edu.

Thursday April 20-- At The Center for New Words in Cambridge, 
Massachusetts, 7 Temple Street. Judith will perform work from her new 
book and talk with the audience at 7pm. Public invited, free 
admission. For info, contact 617/876.5310, 
jaclyn at centerfornewwords.org.



****************************
AURORA LEVINS MORALES, A FORMER MEMBER OF CWLU, NEEDS YOUR HELP

Puerto Rican Jewish writer, historian and activist Aurora Levins 
Morales is in immediate need of your support. Please spread the word 
to people who know and love her work, that donations made at this 
time will make a tremendous difference.People who live in the Bay 
Area and want to help with rides and errands can contact Steve 
Freedkin atsteve at internetaddress.com.

WHAT HAPPENED: On Nov 5, during an epileptic seizure, Aurora fell on 
her head on a concrete floor, resulting in a brain injury. While she 
has some difficulty speaking and major problems with short term 
memory and concentration, pain and fatigue, she is still able to do 
very small amounts of writing. She will be starting rehab soon, and 
expects at least a year of treatment. At the time of her injury she 
was working on two books and a long research article, all of which 
she remembers but cannot currently focus on well enough to set on 
paper, except in very small pieces. She was also doing research for a 
book on Latina health.

Donation checks can be sent to her at 2887 College Ave, Box 274, 
Berkeley, CA 94705-2154.  See full details on Aurora's website at 
http://www.historica.us Contact Aurora: aurora at historica.us


****************************
TRIVIA: VOICES OF FEMINISM

The special "*love and lust*" issue of Trivia: Voices of Feminism, 
featuring Carolyn Gage, Michele Causse, Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg, Lise 
Weil, Harriet Ellenberger, Bonnie St. Andrews, Betsy Warland and many 
more,  is now online!  Read it at http://www.triviavoices.net.

Trivia had a long history as a print publication, ending this phase 
in 1995. It has been recently revived as an online magazine.


***************************
WHEN IT 'CLICKED' - BECOMING A FEMINIST

Open Mic and fundraiser for Chicago Women's Health Center

Definition: FEMINIST is a person of any gender who believes in and 
strives for gender equality.

DATE/TIME: Thursday, May 11th, 6:30 pm PLACE: T's Bar and Grill, 5025 
N. Clark (773.784.6000) COST: Free  (but please eat, drink, be merry 
and donate!) WHO: All genders welcome!

Come tell and hear real-life stories poems and works of spoken word! 
Dazzle the audience with your revelations: When was the first time 
you realized things weren't exactly equal? When did you first become 
a feminist? What experiences and encounters shaped your identity, be 
it silly, solemn or sexy? Regale your tales of hilarity, fury, bliss, 
or heartbreak. Celebrate your audacious and gutsy endeavors, your 
side-splitting and playful stunts, or your tenacious and admirable 
triumphs.

Share your stories, poems or works of spoken word (they can be read/ 
performed by yourself or someone else.)  They should be true and 
short (1-5 minutes). Please let me know if you are able to commit.

Chicago Women's Health Center facilitates the empowerment of women by 
providing access to gynecological healthcare, alternative 
insemination, health education, and counseling services in a 
respectful environment where women pay what they can afford. 
http://www.chicagowomenshealthcenter.org, 3435 N. Sheffield, Chicago 
IL, 60657. (773) 935.6126

Contact Alexis Canalos, acanalos at uchicago.edu, (773.597.5225) or at: 
(773.935.6126 x.229) info at chicagowomenshealthcenter.org .

****************************
POSTERS ABOUT SOCIAL CHANGE AND PROTEST

The Graphic Imperative website is now online  at 
http://www.thegraphicimperative.org. The web exhibition includes the 
poster "Lipstick" originally done by Cuban artist Jose Gomez Fresquet 
and widely distributed by the Chicago Women's Graphics Collective.

The Graphic Imperative is touring and may be seen in Philadelphia 
during April-May and in New York June-August. Visit their website for 
more details.


****************************
VFA  WILL HONOR HELEN REDDY IN LOS ANGELES  MAY 1ST

Helen Reddy wrote the anthem "I Am Woman" for the feminist movement, 
but more than that, she inspired and in turn was inspired by our 
activism. Her memoir, "The Woman I Am" will be published on May 4 by 
Tarcher-Penguin, and a retrospective collection of her music CDs will 
be released on May 6.

WHEN: Monday May 1, 1:30-5 p.m. WHERE: The Feminist Majority 
Foundation, 433 S. Beverly Drive, Los Angeles, California

Tickets are $50. Selected hotel: Crowne Plaza Hotel, 1150 S. Beverly 
Drive, Los Angeles, Ph: 310-553-6561, ADMISSION BY PRIOR RESERVATION 
ONLY.  To buy tickets email: sheilaT at sheilatobias.com


****************************
SUMMER 2006 TEACHER INSTITUTE AT THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS - 4 SESSIONS

The Institutes provide educators from grades 4-12 across the nation 
with the opportunity to engage in intensive study and exploration of 
a specific topic using the staff expertise and facilities of the 
Library of Congress. Participants in our summer institutes will:

- Discover Library of Congress primary source materials - Develop 
strategies for using primary source digital content in teaching - 
Engage in inquiry learning in hands-on workshops - Learn from Library 
of Congress subject matter experts - Network with other teachers from 
across the country and share ideas and experiences - Leave with a 
plan for creating a lesson or activity to be used with your students.

Session 1 (June 7-9) Incorporating Primary Sources into the Teaching 
Process This institute will help teachers take advantage of the 
instructional power of primary sources-that is, the documents and 
objects left behind by the participants in past events.

Session 2 (July 12-14) Teaching Across the Curriculum Using the Fine 
and Performing Arts All great artists are shaped by the times in 
which they lived, and the materials that fine and performing artists 
left behind can provide powerful insights into their times for 
students today.

Session 3 (July 19-21) Women's History: Beyond Rosie the Riveter and 
the Suffragettes Many classroom activities on women's history focus 
on the crucial role played by the suffrage movement of the 19th 
century, or on the ways in which women assisted in the war effort 
during World Wars I and II.

Session 4 (August 16-18) Incorporating Primary Sources into the 
Teaching Process See session one description.

Participants may only attend one session and must have experience 
using the Internet for research. The number of participants for each 
session is limited to 20. There is no charge for the institute or 
materials. Participants will be responsible for transportation and 
lodging in Washington, D.C. The deadline to apply for the Summer 
Institutes is April 14, 2006.

Register for this event at: 
http://memory.loc.gov/learn/summerinstitute/ Please send any 
questions about the Institutes to summerinstitutes at loc.gov

****************************
SIGN UP FOR THE COMMUNITY-CAMPUS PARTNERSHIPS FOR HEALTH CONFERENCE


Community-Campus Partnerships for Health is a nonprofit organization 
that promotes health through partnerships between communities and 
higher educational institutions.  Become a member today at 
http://www.ccph.info

Join CCPH for their 9th Conference, May 31-June 3, 2006 in 
Minneapolis, MN! Register today for 4 days of skill-building, 
networking & agenda-setting


**************************** BOOK  NEWS!

SISTER CHICAS: Reading, Discussion, and Reception featuring Lisa 
Alvarado, Ann Hagman Cardinal and Jane Alberdeston Coralin

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5, 2006 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Chicago Foundation for 
Women offices, One E. Wacker, 20th Floor, Chicago, IL

The Lesbian, Latina, and Young Women's Leadership Councils of Chicago 
Foundation for Women and the Institute for the Study of Women and 
Gender in the Arts and Media at Columbia College Chicago will host a 
reading, discussion, and reception to celebrate the release of the 
novel SISTER CHICAS (Penguin/NAL). Written by Lisa Alvarado, Ann 
Hagman Cardinal and Jane Alberdeston Coralin, the novel tells the 
story of three young Latina friends in Chicago. Addressing issues 
such as culture, body image, self-concept, and sexuality, the novel 
presents the reader with an image of strong female relationships.

Call (312) 836-0126, ext. 229 to RSVP or email RSVP at cfw.org (Please 
be sure to indicate which event you are RSVPing for). For more 
information about the book:   http://www.sisterchicas.com/

****************************
UIC Gender and Women's Studies Program, WISE, the City Design Center 
and the College of Art and Architecture proudly present: "Only Girl 
Architect - Lonely"

A Reading and Discussion by Susan F. King, AIA LEED AP of her 
recently published essay in the book entitled "Chicago Architecture: 
Histories, Revisions, Alternatives", edited by Katerina Ruedi Ray & 
Charles Waldheim. King traces the history of practicing women 
architects over the past 100 years in the Chicago area and "in 
particular, their persistent and successful efforts to form 
long-standing professional associations and informal networks that 
today still characterize architectural practice in the city."

City Design Center, 820 W. Jackson, Suite 330 Tuesday, March 28th, 
2006, 2pm CONTACT: Colleen Norton - cnorto1 at uic.edu or 312-996-2455

****************************
OCTAVIA BUTLER 1947-2006

Renowned science fiction writer Octavia Butler died February 24, 
2006. One of the few Black female science fiction writers, her work 
explored the dense complexities of race and gender with intelligence 
and passion. The winner of science fiction's Nebula and Hugo awards, 
she was also the recipient of a MacArthur genius grant--the only 
science fiction writer so honored.

Visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octavia_Butler to learn more about 
her life and work. Then give your imagination a treat and read her 
books.

****************************
AS ALWAYS, VISIT CHICAGO'S WOMEN AND CHILDREN FIRST BOOKSTORE 
CALENDAR FOR THE BEST IN FEMINIST BOOK EVENTS

You may check their calendar 24 hours a day at 
http://www.womenandchildrenfirst.com

The bookstore is located in Chicago's historic Andersonville 
neighborhood which is a great place for city hike.



**************************** INTERNSHIPS AND JOBS

INTERNSHIPS at Chicago Chapter of the National Organization for Women (CNOW)

Chicago NOW (CNOW) is dedicated to raising awareness of issues that 
affect women and girls in the Chicagoland area.  Their main focus 
areas are employment equity, violence against women, women's 
healthcare, lesbian rights and rep  A CNOW internship is great 
preparation for ongoing leadership, organizing, and activism 
throughout your life.


CNOW will be accepting 1 summer intern, and 1-2 per semester in the 
2005/6 academic year.  They can accommodate any level student, 
depending on experience, training, and supervision needs. These are 
not paid positions although college credit can be arranged.

Responsibilities include (but are not limited to and depend on experience):

- Organizing: collaborating with other community and advocacy groups, 
events, staffing programs, attending issue team meetings and engaging 
our volunteer corps to assist with all of the above - Activism: 
opportunities to represent CNOW at press conferences, demonstrations 
and rallies, represent CNOW at City Council and Cook County Board 
meetings, informing the CNOW membership of pressing feminist news via 
action alerts - Fundraising: helping with the annual fundraiser 
"Women Who Dared" and other fundraising events - Administration: 
returning referral calls, sorting mail, organizing the chapter 
calendar, updating the chapter website

Interested applicants should send a cover letter stating why you want 
to be a part of CNOW and resume to cnowweb at yahoo.com by May 15th, 
2005.See their website for more details, http://www.chicagonow.org.

***************************
National Women's Studies Association Summer Internship

The NWSA is seeking a summer intern for the national office in 
College Park, Maryland. The Special Projects Intern will work closely 
with the executive director on some key initiatives, from researching 
international outreach possibilities to developing web resource 
materials and assisting with data collection projects.

The intern will work on other initiatives as assigned and may develop 
projects based upon his or her interest areas and background. She or 
he will be expected to attend the national conference from June 14-18 
in Oakland, California to provide conference support for the national 
office staff.

Internship Dates and Compensation: The Special Projects Intern must 
be available to work 8 consecutive weeks for 20 hours a week during 
the summer, although the intern may select the start date according 
to her or his academic schedule. The intern will receive a $1500 
stipend payable in two installments plus travel expenses if the 
intern attends the national conference. (Please note that the intern 
must arrange her or his own housing.)

Application Requirements: Prospective interns must submit a cover 
letter, resume, and names of three references by Wednesday, March 15. 
Emailed applications should indicate "Summer 2006 Internship" in the 
subject line:

Allison Kimmich, Executive Director. National Women's Studies 
Association 7100 Baltimore Avenue, Suite 502, College Park, MD 
20740-3627 (301) 403-0525, Fax: (301) 403-4137, nwsaoffice at nwsa.org

****************************

The Midwest Academy hiring community organizing interns

The Midwest Academy, a 32-year-old national training institute for 
progressive direct action organizing, will hire 10 or more community 
organizing interns for a paid ten week Summer 2006 program. The 
stipend will be $3000, and will be paid biweekly.

Preference will be given to applicants living in or near the area 
where they will work, or in school nearby. Applicants in suburban 
locations must have use of a car. Mileage will be reimbursed. Details 
about locations will be posted as soon as available.

They are looking for young people who are ready to work hard and take 
on new challenges and responsibilities, who have a passion for social 
justice, and who want to learn solid skills in the field of 
organizing.They are particularly looking for people who want to 
explore a career in progressive organizing in Illinois. Fluency in 
Spanish or other languages relevant to recent immigrants will be a 
plus for suburban locations.

To apply: Fill out the application at www.midwestacademy.com. Likely 
candidates will be interviewed via telephone. Review of applications 
will begin February 15 and continue until positions are filled; the 
target date to complete hiring is March 31st. Questions? Review the 
website, then email Judy Hertz at mainterns at aol.com.


***************************

THAT'S IT FOR THIS ISSUE

Please send us any news about former CWLUers, upcoming events and 
feminist happenings. We depend on you to be our eyes and ears. Do you 
need research assistance? Do you provide a service? Do you need a 
service? Do you have a cool project you need help with? Are you 
looking for a job? Do you have a job to offer? Let us know and we'll 
try to include it. Feminist networking is part of what we are about. 
E-mail infogal at cwluherstory.org with your contribution.


-- 



CWLU Herstory Website Project
http://www.cwluherstory.org
infogal at cwluherstory.org
PO Box 548
Oak Park, IL 60303-0548
708-386-7197

A Project of the University of Illinois
Center for Research on Women and Gender
http://www.uic.edu/depts/crwg/

"We stand now where two roads diverge. But unlike the roads in Robert 
Frost's familiar poem, they are not equally fair. The road we have 
long been traveling is deceptively easy, a smooth superhighway on 
which we progress with great speed, but at its end lies disaster." - 
Rachel Carson