Women are the Solution...

...along with men.

I have always believed that if given a chance to truly follow our own initiative, instincts and learning from our life experiences, we women could make tremendous progress in correcting all sorts of inequality in the world.

Here is a website and book that illustrate just that.

I heard about this movement on, of all shows, The Colbert Report.  We happen to be big fans of Steven Colbert, one of the premier satirists of our time, but his interview with Sheryl WuDunn about the work she and Nicholas Kristof have been doing to change the way we see activism was truly enlightening.

I am looking forward to reading this book.  While women in the United States do have it better than most in the developing world, we still have a problem with being undervalued.  We see it in our education system, in commerce with the lack of pay parity with men and in the area of health care and child care.  Women in our country have so many advantages yet we still have so many women, children and families in poverty.  Just take a look at these statistics on hunger and poverty from Feeding America:

"In 2007, households that were more likely to experience food insecurity were households with children (15.8%), households with children headed by single women (30.2 percent) or single men (18 percent), households with incomes below the poverty line (37.7 percent), Black non-Hispanic households (22.2 percent) and Hispanic households (20.1 percent)."

We all need to do more about this.  Everywhere.  This website and book share alot of information to point the way.

Posted by Kate Tinnan, WRC Volunteer

The Most Admired Woman in My Life

She was only 13 when her father died. She was her mother's main companion until the latter's death when she was 28. Nevertheless, she earned a Bachelor's degree in English, with a minor in Psychology. And out of that generic preparation, she would create a career in corporate communications and marketing.

After a few years as a copywriter and in public relations for nonprofits, she opened her own public relations and marketing business at the age of 28. In a competitive market in Charlotte, where there are a number of large agencies established and still opening, she has had a successful business for 24 years. She even received the Public Relations Society of America/Charlotte Chapter Infinity Award for lifetime achievement in 2002.

I admire her for having the courage and persistence to attempt all of this on her own. She is my little sister, Dorothy Waterfill Trotter.

--submitted by Betty Waterfill Stone, WRC Board member

Posted by Kate Tinnan, WRC Volunteer

Obama pays tribute to women who helped preserve, protect the environment

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
March 3, 2009


WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, 2009
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

With passion and courage, women have taught us that when we band together to advocate for our highest ideals, we can advance our common well-being and
strengthen the fabric of our Nation. Each year during Women's History Month, we remember and celebrate women from all walks of life who have shaped this
great Nation. This year, in accordance with the theme, "Women Taking the Lead to Save our Planet," we pay particular tribute to the efforts of women in preserving and protecting the environment for present and future generations.

Ellen Swallow Richards is known to have been the first woman in the United States to be accepted at a scientific school. She graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1873 and went on to become a prominent chemist. In 1887, she conducted a survey of water quality in Massachusetts. This study, the first of its kind in America, led to the Nation's first state water-quality standards.

Women have also taken the lead throughout our history in preserving our natural environment. In 1900, Maria Sanford led the Minnesota Federation of Women's Groups in their efforts to protect forestland near the Mississippi River, which eventually became the Chippewa National Forest, the first Congressionally mandated national forest. Marjory Stoneman Douglas dedicated
her life to protecting and restoring the Florida Everglades. Her book, The Everglades: Rivers of Grass, published in 1947, led to the preservation of the Everglades as a National Park. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1993.

Rachel Carson brought even greater attention to the environment by exposing the dangers of certain pesticides to the environment and to human health. Her landmark 1962 book, Silent Spring, was fiercely criticized for its unconventional perspective. As early as 1963, however, President Kennedy acknowledged its importance and appointed a panel to investigate the book's
findings. Silent Spring has emerged as a seminal work in environmental studies. Carson was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously in 1980.

Grace Thorpe, another leading environmental advocate, also connected environmental protection with human well-being by emphasizing the vulnerability of certain populations to environmental hazards. In 1992, she launched a successful campaign to organize Native Americans to oppose the storage of nuclear waste on their reservations, which she said contradicted Native American principles of stewardship of the earth. She also proposed
that Americans invest in alternative energy sources such as hydroelectricity, solar power, and wind power.

These women helped protect our environment and our people while challenging the status quo and breaking social barriers. Their achievements inspired generations of American women and men not only to save our planet, but also to overcome obstacles and pursue their interests and talents. They join a long and proud history of American women leaders, and this month we honor
the contributions of all women to our Nation.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 2009 as Women's History Month. I call upon all our citizens to observe this month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities that honor the history, accomplishments, and contributions of American women.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this third day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-third.


BARACK OBAMA

A Word About The Woman Who Influenced Me The Most

The most influential African American woman in my life is my mom, Frances Willette Goode Dula. My mom, known by those in our community as Willette Dula was born and grew up during the Great Depression. She and her family had precious little possessions. As so many did during that era, they struggled just to have food on the table and a roof over their heads. However, through all of these difficult times, she learned the value of hard work, perseverance, and faith in God, values she passed along to my siblings and me. She also taught me the great value of education. My mom was the first person in her family to graduate from high school. Many days she had to walk to school in all types of weather. But, no matter how harsh the conditions, she went anyway. She wanted to go to college but was unable because her family couldn’t afford to send her to college. In spite of lacking a formal college degree, she became a well respected nursery school and daycare teacher. She is a natural teacher who instinctively knew how to inspire, encourage, and motivate the scores of children she taught over the years, including me. For you see, she was my first teacher who taught me the power and the importance of the 3Rs and so much more. Where I am today is because of who she is.

Arnita M. Dula - City of Hickory Staff Attorney
WRC Board Member