Sacto: Justice 4 All Includes Women of Color Conference to Set A National Women of Color Agenda

This press release is sent to you with a request that you help us generate more attendees and news coverage in the next couple of days. This mailing is sent to those of you who regularly help get the word out about women of color and grassroots related events. We need help in getting the word to individuals and organizations, including print and electronic media, in the greater Sacramento area, San Francisco Bay Area, throughout California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, New Mexico and Arizona especially, and to those who may have contacts in these areas. There are many online bulletin boards which are widely read to which information could be posted. With each passing day, it has become clearer that there must be ongoing, persistent efforts to end the invisibility and marginalization of women of color and the grassroots by pointing out our under-representation in elective positions, especially in legislatures, executive branches-- the presidency and governorships, and the US and State Supreme Courts. In addition, after nearly 2 years to bring the concerns of women of color to current candidates and political parties, with the exception of Cynthia McKinney and Rosa Clemente, candidates for president and vice president on the Green Party ticket, no others are willing to even mention us. This has been cause for much thought. Although most of our groups will likely vote for Obama, should he become president, we will certainly have to be persistent in calling for attention to the intersection of racism and sexism which only women of color experience and to the racism or sexism and class-ism experienced by the grassroots. We have made this conference as affordable as possible and need everyone to encourage attendance. Large numbers of attendees will help us establish an ongoing infrastructure to work on these issues in the coming years. We will collaborate and cooperate with others working on related issues. Thanks, Suzanne and Akilah Contact: Suzanne Brooks, CEO and Akilah Uwimana Hatchett, CFO, Conference Co-coordinators Justice 4 All Includes Women of Color 3325 Northrop Avenue Sacramento, CA 95864 Phone: (916) 483-9804 (Brooks) Phone: (916) 968-7878 (Hatchett) Email: justice4allwoc@aol.com Web sites http://www.justice4allincludeswomenofcolor.com http://www.womenofcolorday.com PRESS RELEASE For immediate release: September 22, 2008 Justice 4 All Includes Women of Color convenes a Conference to Set a National Women of Color Agenda on Saturday, September 27. 2008, from 9 AM to 4 PM @ Christ Unity Church, 9249 Folsom Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95826. The conference schedule is: 9:00 - 9:30 AM, Registration 9:30 AM - 9:45 AM Welcome and Libation to Ancestors: Akilah Uwimana Hatchett, Suzanne Brooks, Conference Coordinators 9:45 AM - 10:30 AM Opening Presentation: History, Mission and Goals of This Conference, Akilah Uwimana Hatchett, with Q & A session 10:30 AM to 10:45 AM Break 10:45 AM to 11:45 AM Panel Presentations w/ Q&A including Jan Garcia, Bethania Maria, 11:45 Am to 12:Noon Break 12:00 Noon to 1:30 PM Lunch Keynote: Cynthia McKinney, Rosa Clemente or their representative, are trying to re-arrange their schedules to deliver their messages to the conference. Time is reservied for them to speak from 12:10 to 12:35 PM followed by 20 minute Q & A session. 1:00 PM to 1:30 PM: a scene from"Be-YOU (ti-ful) a theatre text performed by author/director Nicole C. Limón and Andrea "Ya-ya" Porras. The full presentation explores issues of love, loss, body image, identity, and culture through the eyes of women and girls as each shares her story based on where she is in her personal journey. 1:30: PM - 1:45pm Break 1:45 PM - 2-45 PM Panel Presentations w/Q&A including Jackie Wright, Katrina Jaggears, Sheila Gautreaux-Lee 2:45 PM - 3:00 PM Break 3:00 PM - 3:45 PM "The Status of Women of Color In the American Political System," summarizing presentation, Suzanne Brooks w/strategy suggestions from all 3:45 PM -4:00 PM Evaluations An additional modification of the upcoming conference: the Friday night reception, originally scheduled for September 26 has been moved to Friday, November 15 at which time there will be a post election event to celebrate the efforts that women of color have made to increase our participation in politics and toward increasing our representation and to prepare to advocate for women of color with the next presidential administration. Conference Format: Will use a roundtable format with all panelists, attendees and vendors/exhibitors in a common circle and with presentations by vendors/exhibitors as well as panelists presenting papers. The work to publish the anthology of conference papers will proceed after the conference. Registration and Vendor/Exhibitor fees have been reduced to $50 each, including lunch and conference materials for all present. Those having difficulty with fees should contact the conference coordinators for further discount or scholarship assistance. Donations are still being accepted to support registration fees for students, seniors, disabled and financially disadvantaged individuals. All panelists are donating their presentations. Still needed is additional funds to compensate Christ Unity Church for the use of their facilities, as well as printing and meal expenses. In-kind donations for lunch, snacks and beverages are also appreciated. Confirmed panelists are: Katrina Alison Jaggears, MLA; Faculty member, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA. Vice President of Black Women Organized for Political Action. Board member, League of Women Voters of San Joaquin County. 2008 graduate of The Women's Campaign School @ Yale. Expertise in voter registration issues, especially women's participation in campaign organizing and elections. She will address Question #11 from the conference suggested topics, providing observations on how women are faring in the political process and giving suggestions on how women who are interested in politics can get involved from local to national levels. Dr. Jan Garcia, Faculty member, University of California, Davis. Panelist for Question #19, has been a community organizer and columnist for the Davis Enterprise in the City of Davis for several years. She has helped children of color find their voices and stand up for themselves at high school and middle school levels. She has documented hundreds of cases of institutionalized discrimination against children of color in primary grades and has sponsored many speakers, exhibits and programs addressing all aspects of discrimination and how it impacts everyone in the community. She will address how parents and other in the community can get involved to create a safe, multicultural environment in which children of all backgrounds can learn and study. Dr. Bethania Maria, Attorney at Law. Former Chair, Women's Studies, California State University, Sacramento. Panelist for Question #20 Currently an attorney specializing in discrimination, especially as it relates to immigration. She has a long history as a community organizer and women's rights advocate. She will share her experience fighting for the rights of women from academia to the courts, sharing her observations on the status of women as it relates to immigration and legal issues. Reverend Sheila Gautreaux-Lee, Certified Radical Forgiveness Facilitator; Choir Director of Christ Unity Church; published author; classically trained/recorded/educated singer. Panelist for Question #18. she will present her masterful explanation of the feminine divine goddess in everyone and how that role is demonstrated through the evolution of time. Jackie Wright: President, Wright Enterprises, a full service public relations firm serving the corporate, non-profit and government sectors. A seasoned media and public relations professional, Wright has 20 years of media experience, including more than a decade of award-winning journalism experience in radio, television and print communications. She is a graduate of the University of Georgia’s Henry W. Grady School of Journalism. Previously, she served as Public Affairs Manager for CW Bay Area (a duopoly with CBS), where she was responsible for public and community relations; as Executive Director, Office of Public Engagement and Information, for the San Francisco Unified School District; and as Executive Director, San Francisco County, for the American Red Cross. She will discuss media training, community outreach, social and cause related marketing and fundraising. She has worked for CBS Television, United Way, Andersen Consulting, WNGC Radio Station, WXAG Radio Station, KALW Radio Station, the Lorraine Hansberry Theatre, American Women in Radio and Television and Leadership San Francisco. Akilah Hatchett: CFO, Justice 4 All Includes Women of Color; Owner, K.I.N.K.S., International. She has a long history as a advocate and activist for human and civil rights, for people of African heritage worldwide, for people of color, especially women and children of color. She has developed numerous community and campus programs facilitating the empowerment of oppressed people. She has traveled to Africa, Latin America and Europe in her work. She is an expert in hair locking and in the social, political and spiritual connections it has. She will be the opening conference speaking addressing some of the circumstances leading to the conference and the circumstances confronting women of color today. Suzanne Brooks, CEO, Justice 4 All Includes Women of Color; CEO, International Association for Women of Color Day; Owner, Creative Concepts Systems; Singer/Songwriter/Manager, The Jazz Generation band; Playwright, "Great Women of Jazz: 1890-1990." Writer; recorded artist. Human/civil rights activist, programs to counter discrimination and to empower. Youth advocate, English/ESL teacher. MA English; BA English & Education. ABD Educational Leadership & Change and ABD Adult Education. Former AA officer, education administrator/faculty: Washington State U, Penn State U, Univ. of Nevada Reno, California State University Sacramento, Heald College. Will discuss her paper, "The Status of Women of Color in The American Political System," sequel to collaborative paper she wrote 24 years ago. BlogTalkRadio shows in Florida, Pennsylvania, California and Washington, DC are advertising and promoting the conference: They include: judyjoyjones, musicwoman (divajc47), andreaonline and officialmwm (million woman march)