Sac band:The Jazz Generation performs @ 2007 Community Women of Color Day/Diversity Event

The public is invited to the March 4, 2007, 4 to 8 pm Commemoration the 21st annual International Women of Color Day—a celebration which has encouraged local communities to recognize outstanding local women of color and men, women and organizations of any group which is engaged in efforts promoting diversity and cross-cultural collaboration.

The 2007 theme, "The Impulse to Soar," from the words of Helen Keller, draws attention to women who have notable achievements despite disabilities and medical challenges. 2007 marks the beginning of an expanded national/international focus to increase awareness of those whose positive influences on the global community merit greater attention and who are role models for people everywhere. Work has also begun to establish a permanent global headquarters for Women of Color Day.

HIGHLIGHTS:
Locally: The International Association for Women of Color Day, currently headquartered in Sacramento, CA, will coordinate the Sacramento Event, March 4, 2007, at the Ben Ali Shrine (Shriners), 3262 Marysville Blvd, in the Del Paso section of Sacramento. Honorees include Vicky Atay, Hula Dancer; Essie Gilchrist, former president, Stockton AA Chamber of Commerce; Miriam Estrada, Artist; Sabrina Hocker, Singer/, African Americans for Balanced Health; Sandy Lynch, Warrant Officer, California National Guard/served in Iraq; Lula Massey, Gospel Singer; Elizabeth Ramos, High School Achiever; Sarah Richey, Community Activist/Women’s Civic Improvement Association; Betty Williams, President, Sacramento NAACP, Susan Jim, Native American Activist, and SISTAS—Vacaville Women of Color Organization co-chairs Cheryl Gaines and Viola Cooper. Recognition will be given Dennis Yep, Artistic Director, Interactive Asian Contemporary Theatre and the Chicano Consortium.

Nationally/Internationally: In addition to ongoing emphasis on local communities, IAWOCD is implementing a program of greater attention to national/international figures, awarding the first two posthumous Women of Color Day International Leadership awards to Maya Miller and Marie Fielder with special presentations by their daughters.

Marie Fielder, Berkeley, CA. PhD’60, pioneering educator and founding board member of Fielding Institute, and the first African-American woman with a doctorate to teach in the Bay Area, died May 17, 2002. She was 85. Fielder taught in LA public schools and SF State College. She was one of the first researchers to prove cultural bias in IQ tests. In 1961, at the University of California, Berkeley, she earned a reputation for theories on how diverse cultures and groups relate to each other. Active in the civil-rights movement, she advised government and civil-rights organizations, including the U.S. Dept of Education, Black Panther Party for Defense and Justice, and NOW. In 1974 she helped found Fielding Graduate Institute, which specialized in distance learning. She was committed to teacher education programs with democratic and multicultural perspectives.

Maya Miller, philanthropist, championed women's rights and many environmental, liberal and progressive causes for decades, died May 31, 2006, at her Washoe Valley, NV ranch home. She was 90. Miller lived simply, donating millions of inherited wealth to state and national level groups. She was a founder of the Washington, D.C.-based Women's Campaign Fund and an early backer of Emily's List, which supports women candidates in national races. In 1991, Miller and other women in the group Madre broke a U.S. embargo, trucking about $100,000 worth of medicine and food to Iraqi women and children. A world traveler, she was active in Quaker circles, Global Exchange, Ms. Foundation and national and state welfare rights efforts. Other Nevada efforts included a key role in helping to create Sand Harbor at Lake Tahoe as a state park, and start-up support for groups such as the Committee to Aid Abused Women, Citizens Alert, Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada and the Nevada Women's Fund. She was active in human and civil rights efforts in the US, South and Central America.

The Affirmative Action Register will also be recognized at the Sacramento event for its 32 years promoting fair and equitable employment across the nation for women, minorities, veterans and disabled persons, assisting thousands of businesses, academic institutions, medical facilities and government agencies with equal opportunity employee recruitment. The Affirmative Action Register has signed on as the first National Sponsor of Women of Color Day.

Sacramento based ensemble, The Jazz Generation, led by vocalist Suzanne Brooks, will perform at the event's reception. Brooks's voice gives new meaning to familiar lyrics, turns old favorites into fresh experiences, bridging the gaps between generations. With her smooth, mature and trained voice, she delivers sultry, sophisticated, jazz, passionate, moving Gospel and a vast repertoire of standards, R&B pop and a little Country--all in her own style and arrangements. Among their 5 CDs on sale are "Great Women of Jazz: A Tribute" (based on the stage show by Brooks, last performed in August 2006) and "Listening To The Radio" (lyrics & music by Brooks) about 97 year old Sacramentan, Jack Hall.

The Jazz Generation boasts superb musicians: Chris Lee on keyboard, young and dynamic, with imaginative improvisation; Gabe Stivala, an intense and emotional guitarist with Latin roots who also plays bass; Kim Nguyen, a triple wonder on keyboard, bass and flute, with roots in hip-hop, rock and pop, as well as jazz. Mark MacDonald, talented and experienced guitarist and bass player; Drummer/percussionist Dominick Porras in multiple genres, delivers on traps, congas and other percussion instruments.

The atmosphere of The Jazz Generation is a positive experience with always a diversified group that swings, is entertaining and wonderful to observe.

How to participate: Be a National/International Women of Color Day supporter by purchasing advertisements in the annual Women of Color Day Journal with links and advertising space on the Women of Color Day website.

Be a supporter of the local Sacramento Women of Color Day program by advertising, including product, services or congratulatory ads in the Sacramento Community Event program booklet or by purchasing exhibitor/vendor space and/or tickets.
Note: pricing is different for local and national/international participation. Tickets go on sale on January 15, 2007: $10 in advance; $15 at door.
Advertising rates, journal submissions, tickets to the Sacramento event, and other info are availale online at http://www.womenofcolorday.com, by email to IAWOCDay [at] aol.com or by telephone: (916) 483-0904. . Women of Color Day is now celebrated in 20 states and 5 other countries. Visa/Mastercard Accepted

Note: The International Association for Women of Color Day is a social entrepreneurship, not a 501 © 3 organization.
Office: 3325 Northrop Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95864

Location: Ben Ali Shrine (Shriners), 3262 Marysville Blvd, in the Del Paso section of Sacramento.