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Contact the . MissionTo identify, research and discuss critical issues To mobilize, energize and inspire ourselves and others to action To work as individuals and in community for social justice Help support the work of our organization with a tax-deductible donation: Use this button to target your donation to the Melanie Shouse Memorial Advocacy Fund: Who We AreWe are a group of ardent, progressive St. Louis area women who finally got fed up.We became so concerned about the direction of this country and where its priorities seem to be that we decided we must do something. From our frustration and determination, Women's Voices Raised for Social Justice was born. We are not fund-raisers. We are not envelope-stuffers. We are not a single-issue group. And we do not want to re-invent the wheel. Therefore, we have built an organization that enables us to study many different issues and take action for a variety of causes. We frequently support other progressive organizations in their efforts. But first, we study and learn about the issues. Our members are curious, creative, competent and caring. We believe in doing something meaningful in support of our values, and we have great fun and camaraderie in doing so. If you would like to add your voice to ours, we welcome you to join us. |
Next Meeting: September 9, 2010Way Beyond HousingSpeaker: Chris Krehmeyer,
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Five Years and Counting
Barbara L. Finch, President
Five years ago this spring, four of us (Ruth Ann Cioci, Joanne Kelly, Ann Ruger, and I) sat on Joanne's front porch and tried to imagine something new. At the time we were truly ticked off. The election of 2004 had greatly disappointed us. We were bogged down in an unjust war. Our president was trying to privatize Social Security. Everywhere we looked (except in the executive suites of corporate America), people seemed to be struggling. We wanted to know why, and what, if anything, we could do to make things better.
We loved hanging out at Joanne's and thinking about what might be. But finally, in a great leap of faith, we each ponied up $20 ($20!! You can't imagine what a big decision this was!) to rent a meeting room at the University City Public Library on a Sunday afternoon. Each of us invited between 15 to 20 like-minded friends to join us for an afternoon of exploration. At the end of that session, Women's Voices was born.
It has been a fascinating five years. Some of the decisions we made early on (like keeping this an organization for women only) turned out to be sound. Some decisions (like monthly focus group meetings) didn't work so well. But our initial concept, that we would be an education and advocacy organization, seems to be meeting the needs of most of our members. And we have racked up a few hard-won victories: Remember our friend-of-the-court brief in the Voter ID case? Remember the stem cell initiative? Remember health care reform?
In truth, it would have been a lot easier to be a single-issue organization. We would have been more focused; our work could have been more targeted. But there are a lot of single-issue organizations around town, and very few "umbrella" groups that tackle a variety of causes. We figured we were smart and dexterous enough to do more than one thing at a time.
It also would have been a lot easier to be a direct-service organization. There is something incredibly satisfying about being able to meet the short-term needs of people. But again, there are lots of groups that provide direct service, and not so many who are willing to advocate and work for systemic changes in our society. (I remember one particular afternoon on Joanne's porch, when Ruth Ann announced: "I don't want to just make sandwiches for the homeless! I want to cure homelessness!")
So here we are, five years into it, and we still haven't cured homelessness, or poverty, or racial disparities, or hunger, or inadequate health care, or poor education. We still have to fight to make sure that women can make their own reproductive choices. We still need to improve our system of criminal justice. We still need to learn more about critical social and economic issues, and we still need to work to make our voices heard on behalf of those who are less fortunate than we are.
For the past four years I have had the privilege of serving this organization as president. It has been an incredible honor and learning opportunity for me. Now it's time to pass the baton to someone else who will continue the work. She has my full, whole-hearted support, and I know all of our members will back her completely and work with her as she positions Women's Voices to make a bigger, better impact on our community.
In truth, we are a unique group. We are one of the few multi-issue social justice organizations in this community that is not associated with a religious organization. We are smart and we work hard. We work well with others. And, in lots of ways, we're still ticked off. There is much work to do. I look forward to another five years in the company of all of you.
Speak Out!
The Golden Rule Writ Simple by Barb Finch
I don't know Kathy Conley-Jones, but I wish I did. I think I'd like her.
Conley-Jones is owner of the Conley Financial Group in St. Louis. In an article in the St. Louis American in May, this obviously successful African-American woman was quoted as saying:
"Success is not about money. It's living in a way that you don't hurt other people."
Wow! This is the golden rule writ simple...simple enough for a preschooler to understand. But it must be too complicated for corporate CEOs, local, state and national political decision-makers, and other "in charge" individuals.
If "don't hurt other people" was the bottom line, would we have the abandoned housing, crumbling buildings, and infrastructure mess that we have in North St. Louis today? Would we have hungry children, inadequate public schools, and lack of services for children in our community?
If they really didn't want to hurt other people, would our state legislators continue to make it ever more difficult for women to access legal abortion services? Would they continue to deny access to affordable health care to low-income families? Would they continue to make it easier for people to carry concealed weapons? Would they continue to make it more difficult for people to vote? Would they try to prohibit possible life-saving stem cell research in our state?
If we really tried to honor other people, would we force some individuals to lie about their sexual orientation in order to serve in our armed services? If we truly cared about not harming people, wouldn't we insist on safer working conditions and more environmental protections?
Social justice will be a reality when everyone does more than give lip-service to Conley-Jones's mantra. Meanwhile, we all have a lot of work to do. May we be successful...and do that work without hurting other people.
They Seem Benign by Mary O'Reilly
Two joint resolutions in the Missouri legislature--SJR31 and HJR62-would amend the state constitution:
SJR31 would provide that students may engage in private and voluntary prayer, acknowledgment of God, or other religious expression and express their religious beliefs in school assignments without discrimination based on the religious content of their work. The amendment would stipulate that students not be compelled to participate in academic assignments that violate their religious beliefs and would require all public schools to display the Bill of Rights of the U.S. Constitution.
HJR62 is a similar measure.
It is obvious that these amendments are designed to inhibit the teaching of evolution, since there is no need for them otherwise, and to insert the authors' own religious views into the classroom or campus. If you believe that students deserve to be taught scientific theories supported by the majority of respected scientists, please contact your state representatives. You can find them here: http://www.senate.mo.gov
Encouragement for Social Welfare Warriors!
Courtesy of St. Louis American
Rogers was an early supporter of Women's Voices and says she was thinking of this organization when she wrote her column. She writes "....when injustices raise their ugly heads, it's the network of activists and organizers who confront them and demand justice for its victims......They take turns putting their finger in the dike that holds back the turbulent waters of 'isms' that threaten to take away people's dignity as well as their rights. They are the force that the enemy hopes will stay under-funded, under-appreciated and most importantly, under-recognized."
Read the rest of Rogers' compelling column here: http://www.stlamerican.com/articles/2010/01/29/news/columnists/ljamala04.txt
Sign Language
Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down Awards
to Missouri Treasurer Clint Zweifil for proposing that $127 million, about 33% of Missouri's housing budget be used for 400 affordable housing units for the poor and mentally ill.
to St. Louis law firm Bryan Cave. The firm is scheduled to receive the ABA's (American Bar Association) prestigious Pro Bono Publico Award for 47,000 hours of free legal services in 2009.
to those non-profit Blue Cross/Blue Shield health insurance plans that have amassed billions of dollars in extra cash in the last decade, even while they hit their individual customers with significant premium increases.
to the new Old North Grocery Co-op in the Old North St. Louis neighborhood. The co-op is the first grocery store in the community in recent memory, and will enable residents to purchase fresh produce and a variety of healthy foods.
to the hundreds of volunteers who are spending one day each month in the city's 21st Ward, where they are rehabbing dozens of homes under the sponsorship of Rebuilding Together St. Louis, Boeing, and Alderman Antonio French.
and congratulations to documentary film maker Sandra Pfeifer, whose film about East St. Louis, "Against All The Odds," received the best documentary feature award at the 9th annual Route 66 International Film Festival.
to ll states that have this year passed additional laws regulating or restricting abortion services. Women who reside in these states are finding it increasingly difficult to make decisions regarding their reproductive health.
to the Environmental Protection Agency, which set a new health standard that coal-fired power plants and other industries will have to meet on sulfur dioxide, a pollutant that triggers asthma attacks and causes other respiratory problems.
to BP.
to the city of Clayton, which is partnering with the Environmental Protection Agency in an effort to become a "Green Power Community." City government, residents and businesses will attempt to purchase renewable power in amounts that meet or exceed the EPA's requirements.
to members of the 2010 Missouri Legislature, who refused to consider any revenue enhancement measures for the state while slashing budget expenditures in the areas of health care, mental health, education and social services.
to voters in St. Louis County who voted in favor of a half-cent sales tax increase to fund bus, metro and call-a-ride services.
to members of the U.S. House of Representatives, who passed the much-needed health care legislation by a three-vote majority on March 21! And a concurrent ...
hearty congratulations and much thanks to so many members of Women's Voices, who worked so long and so hard for this bill.
to State Rep. Cynthia Davis, R-O'Fallon, who has come out in favor of feeding people who don't want to be fed. House Bill 1235, sponsored by Ms. Davis, would require mandatory feeding tubes for terminally ill patients - but only for those patients who have said they don't want them. The feeding tubes would have to remain in place for at least 60 days before they could be withdrawn.
to efforts in the Missouri legislature to eliminate the minimum wage increases approved by voters in 2006.
to more than 90 nursing homes in Missouri that have payday loan operations in their facilities. This arrangement lets lenders deduct the loan, interest and fees directly from the paychecks of nursing home workers. And a concurrent ...
to the state of Missouri's weak laws that regulate payday loans. Missouri allows interest rates of up to 1,980 percent on these transactions.
to proposals under consideration in the Missouri legislature that would replace the state income tax with a wide-ranging and greatly increased state sales tax. If any of these proposals were enacted, sales taxes would have to increase dramatically, which would pose additional hardships on low and middle-income families. In addition, sales taxes would be imposed on practically every purchase, from doctor visits to funerals.
to Rep. Bill Deekin (R-Jefferson City), who has once again proposed the creation of a death penalty study commission. If passed, the legislation would force a two-year moratorium on executions in the state while the study takes place.
to Rep. Michael Frame (D-Eureka), who has pre-filed a bill that, if passed, would enable early voting in Missouri. More than 30 states offer early voting options, making it easier and more convenient for citizens to cast their ballots in general elections.
on an initiative petition that, if passed, would eliminate the St. Louis city earnings tax. While taxes are generally unpopular and it's easy to be against many of them, elimination of this tax would have a disastrous effect on the city's ability to function and to protect its citizens.
to the U. S. Senate for passing historic health care reform legislation on Christmas Eve. When reconciled with the bill previously passed by the House, and signed by President Obama, this legislation will bring us closer to making access to quality, affordable health care a reality for all Americans.
to Governor Jay Nixon who campaigned to insure every Missouri child but now has decided not to participate in the new federal program that would provide health care to 27,500 of Missouri's 108,000 uninsured children. The federal law would use programs such as food stamps to identify eligible children. Although the federal government pays the majority of the cost Nixon feels it is an expensive option. Children's advocates say the state would save money by providing children with routine care who now go to emergency rooms where care is expensive.
to Emerson CEO David Farr, who said in a recent speech that "cap and trade, medical reform and labor rules" were hurting his business and vowed "not to shrink and roll over for the U.S. government." Farr reportedly said, "I'm not going to hire anybody in the United States. I'm moving." In addition to a variety of electrical equipment, Emerson manufactures garbage disposals.
to anti-stem cell activists in Missouri, who recently filed their 30th ballot proposal aimed at undermining the lifesaving efforts of doctors and researchers on behalf of Missouri patients
to the Indiana Court of Appeals and the League of Women Voters. The court ruled 3-0 that the Indiana Voter ID law must be declared void because it regulates voters in a way that is not "uniform and impartial." The judges say the ID law treats in-person voters and mail-in voters differently. The League of Women Voters challenged the law on state constitutional grounds after the U.S. Supreme Court had upheld it. The Indiana law required voters to show government-issued photo identification.
to former President Jimmy Carter for his article Losing My Religion for Equality, in which he expands on this statement issued by The Elders, an independent group of eminent global leaders: "The justification of discrimination against women and girls on grounds of religion or tradition, as if it were prescribed by a Higher Authority, is unacceptable."
to Ameren UE for its planned methane-to-electricity project, which will use gas produced by decomposing garbage to generate enough electricity to power 10,000 homes.
to Washington University for planning to close the Center for the Study of Ethics and Human Values. (Read article) One objective of the Center's interdisciplinary program has been to enable faculty from different schools to work together and focus on understanding complex ethical issues. Dr. Ira Kodner, Director and Founder, has spoken on embryonic stem cell research and the need for quality affordable healthcare at meetings many of our members have attended.
to residents of the north St. Louis area, who have joined together to form the Northside Community Benefits Alliance. The new organization is designed to engage residents in grassroots community planning and development.
to Kaldi's Coffee in Kirkwood for installing recycling bins for customers to deposit paper, plastic, and glass.
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