Women's Voices Raised for Social Justice

Many of our members frequently write letters to the editor or commentary articles, and many regularly communicate with local, state and national representatives. Whether they do it as individuals or as members of Women's Voices, our members are speaking out, and their voices are being heard. Here are some other events our members have attended, and efforts undertaken by the whole group:

Trash Collectors

St. Louis Earth Day Festival 2007 was a great success. Early that morning four Women's Voices members and two of their spouses showed up to clean up the streams in Forest Park and before parade time they were at the Women's Voices Environment Focus Group Booth in front of the Muny showing off their full bags and muddied bodies.

Sniff, the Clean Air Dragon

Carrying our banner and maneuvering Sniff the Clean Air Dragon through the crowd, we managed to dominate the parade as evidenced by the front page photo in the Post Dispatch the next morning.

Amtrak Hat

We were pleased at the enthusiasm with which people took Amtrak schedules and information. Nearly every child who passed was glad to put on an Amtrak engineer's hat.

Environment Focus Group Booth

We talked to many people about the work of Women's Voices, global warming, installing CFLs, using public transportation and our efforts to encourage area mayors to sign the U. S. Mayors' Climate Protection Agreement.

Over fifty people signed up to be added to our WV email list. It was a long, hard day for the members of the WV-EFG who were able to participate. But it was a rewarding undertaking and we'll do it again next year.

First Freedom Dinner

Rep. Sally Faith, Norella Huggins

Four members of Women's Voices, Norella Huggins, Pat Soraghan, Marilyn Ratkin and Barbara Finch, traveled to Jefferson City on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2007, to talk to legislators and participate in the First Freedom dinner, which was co-sponsored by Voices and 11 other state-wide organizations.

Speakers at the dinner focused on issues concerning the separation of church and state. Women's Voices shared the following with legislators:

Every child in Missouri deserves access to a quality education, and the only way to achieve this is to adequately fund public education. Tuition tax credits and school vouchers are not a means to this end.
The concept of "intelligent design" does not belong in the science curriculum in Missouri public schools.
The issue of stem cell research has been decided by the voters; it should not be put back on the ballot for a re-vote.

Pat Soraghan, Rep. Ron Casey,
Norella Huggins

As a result of this dinner, Rep. Brian L. Baker from Belton, MO, a conservative Republican member of the House of Representatives, circulated a letter to his colleagues criticizing some of the sponsoring organizations, including Women's Voices. Read Rep. Baker's letter (which quotes liberally from our website, and focuses particularly on our positions on reproductive choice and gay rights). Read our president's response to Rep. Baker's charges.

Prior to the dinner, members met with Senator Michael Gibbons, president pro tem of the Senate, and two of his staff members to discuss their concerns about health care issues. While the legislature is crafting a new plan called Missouri Health Net, members of Women's Voices expressed their belief that every resident of the state deserves to have access to quality, affordable health care.

April 21, 2007 - Kirkwood, Missouri

Prevention First Rally
More than a dozen members of Women's Voices joined with other advocates from Planned Parenthood, NARAL Pro-Choice Missouri and the Missouri Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice at a post-Lobby Day rally in Kirkwood Park on April 21. Featured speakers were Congressman Russ Carnahan and his wife, Debra, who urged the crowd to continue working to keep access to reproductive choice safe and legal.

Several members of Women's Voices joined more than 400 others on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2007, for an Anti-War Rally in Tower Grove Park. It was a cold winter day, but participants were energized by their outrage against with war in Iraq and their commitment to bringing the troops home. Photos were taken of two groups of protesters and participants were urged to circle their faces in the photos and send them to their senators and representatives in Congress.

The rally in St. Louis coincided with a major protest march against the war which was held the same day in Washington, D. C. Women's Voices member Tresa McCallie attended this event, along with her husband, Franklin.

2006 Activities
2005 Activities

First Freedom Dinner

Heartland Presidential Forum

Walk As One 2007

Earth Day 2007