Community Connections Events

The conference is hosting a series of Community Connections events, including presentations, workshops, and a networking event. These events form a community-oriented track for the conference. We hope conference participants in more traditional scholarly positions will also use these events to meet with and learn from community activists.

A Legacy of Conflict & Possibility
An Examination of Racism Between Women of Color & White Women

Thursday October 8th, 8-9:30 AM
Carmen Lane, Lane Leota Group

M. Carmen Lane, a diversity educator and consultant, will facilitate an experiential workshop using Gestalt theory and practice to examine authentic communication between women of color and white women. Carmen will integrate her personal experience as a woman of color doing work in feminist communities with her knowledge of working with groups to create change. She is principal consultant for The Lane-Leota Group and has worked with grassroots social justice organizations wanting to walk their talk.

For more information, email the Lane Leota Group thelaneleotagroup@comcast.net.

Learn About the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame

Thursday October 8th, 10:30 AM - 12 PM
Sandy Soifer, Executive Director, Michigan Women's Hall of Fame

You may not realize that Michigan was the first state to have a museum solely dedicated to the history of women. Learn more about the historic Cooley-Haze House where the center is located in Lansing and the first 25 years of the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame. Learn more about the remarkable achievements of the nearly 250 inductees and you can sign up to tour the museum.

For more information, email Sandy Soifer ssoifer@michiganwomen.org.

Place-based Community Organizing and the Leadership Role of Women

Thursday October 8th, 2-3:30 PM
Joan Nelson, Allen Neighborhood Center and MSU Outreach and Engagement Fellow

This presentation will explore the inter-weaving of community organizing and feminism. Discussion will focus on the predominance of women in the "neighborhood movement" and community-based organizations generally; and how this has played out over the past forty years in one urban neighborhood: the Eastside of Lansing.

For more information, email Joan Nelson joann@allenneighborhoodcenter.org.

Building a Collaborative Community
Using Decentered Organizing Techniques for Social Change

Friday October 9th, 8-9:30 AM
Peggy Roberts, Power of We and MSU Outreach and Engagement Fellow

Peggy will present on principles for effective community coalition-building, drawing upon the history of modern community organizing in the city of Lansing.

For more information, email Peggy Roberts proberts@ingham.org.

The Women's Center of Greater Lansing Working toward women's economic equality on the grassroots level

Friday October 9th, 10:30 AM - 12 PM
Cindie Alwood, Co-Director, Women's Center of Greater Lansing and Director of Michigan Women Work!
Manuela Kress, Co-Director, Women's Center of Greater Lansing

Join us in exploring how a local grassroots women's center assists women to realize their potential. We'll have a lively discussion on how feminism and the economy play a critical role in helping women establish economically self-sustaining careers.

Topics to be discussed will also include student preparedness to meet the challenges and situations of the women who come to the Women's Center of Greater Lansing, finding funders who care about the women we serve and the realities of being a grassroots service provider in a recession economy.

For more information, email Cindie Alwood c-alwood@sbcglobal.net or Manuela Kress manuelaphd@yahoo.com.

What's Community Got To Do With It?

Friday October 9th, 2-3:30 PM
Penny Gardner, PhD, Coalition for Adoption Rights Equality, and Assist. Professor, MSU, WRAC
Alicia Paterni, Disability Specialist, Michigan Works
Dessa Cosma, Senior Field Organizer, Planned Parenthood
Bernadette Brown, Director of Policy, Triangle Foundation

In this panel of activists we will demonstrate our work in creating community to advance social justice work. In the context of Choice, LGBT Rights, Pride and Powerful Disability Activism, and Promoting Feminism, community is created and is effective towards a more just and equal society.

For more information, email Penny Gardner gardne45@msu.edu, Alicia Paterni apaterni@camw.net, Dessa Cosma dessa.cosma@ppmchoice.org, or Bernadette Brown bernadette@tri.org.

Community Networking Event

Friday October 9th, 4-5:30 PM
Kellogg Center, Riverside Room (lower/garden level)

Please join the FemRhet 2009 Community Connections committee for a Greater Lansing networking meetup for organizers and engaged citizens. This event gives community leaders, conference participants, MSU students, and the community at large an opportunity to share their visions of engagement and collaboration. Those with a desire to volunteer or intern in the community are especially encouraged to attend.

This event is free and open to the public; conference registration is not required.

For more information, email Franny Howes howesfra@msu.edu.

Domestic Violence
Digging Deep Determines Destinies

Saturday October 10th, 10:30 AM - 12 PM
Rina Risper, Eve's House

Rina Risper, President and Publisher of Lansing's The New Citizens Press and long-time advocate for Eve's House (a residential program for women seeking healing from domestic abuse) will discuss her own experience as a domestic violence survivor and a woman of color and how these experiences prompted her to become an advocate for domestic violence prevention. In addition to working with Eve's House, Rina has also done programming with middle-school girls including poetry programs throughout Lansing. Her presentation will demonstrate how personal experience informs community-based work and how community-based work sustains personal empowerment. Her presentation will include an interactive component.

For more information, email Rina Risper tncp@comcast.net.

Pre, Mid, and Post Incarceration
The struggle of womyn advocating for their incarcerated loved one

Saturday October 10th, 2-3:30 PM
Maria Zavala, Northwest Initiative (NWI)
Velia Koppenhoefer, Mother to Efren Paredes, Jr., Latino youth who was wrongfully convicted and is still incarcerated
Monica Jahner, NWI and ARRO

The panel will present on ex-offender reentry and community organizing for prisoner and ex-prisoner rights, with particular emphasis on the role women of color play in this advocacy.

For more information, email Maria Zavala ometeotl30@gmail.com, Velia Koppenhoefer vkopp58@yahoo.com, or Monica Jahner moni@att.net.