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Loud & Clear

June 2025

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Welcome New Members!


Alison Allman

Robeena Ahmad

Deshunai Barlowe

Marsha Demba

Gayle Rose

Georgean Rustemeyer

Karen Schleicher

Kara Wurtz
Become a Member!
Donate to WVR!

Up Next


Volunteer For the Urban League Tornado Recovery Distribution Site

Sat., June 7 and June 14


What Now? Defending the Two Recent Ballot Initiatives

Thurs., June 12


Criminal Legal System Reform Committee Meeting

Weds., June 18


Freedom Suits Tour

Fri., June 20


Member Meet Ups at the International Institute

Community Bazaars

Fri., June 6

Fri., June 20

Fri., July 18

Words from Our Past President
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Welcome to Summer and new year for Women's Voices as we begin our 21st year as a vibrant organization!!! 


First, I want to congratulate our new 2025-2026 Board members:

  • President - Jean Calandrino
  • President Elect and Secretary - Karen Coulson
  • Treasurer - Kara Wurtz
  • Criminal Legal System Reform - Rochelle Kaskowitz
  • Racial Justice - Anne Litwin
  • Programming - Nancy (Nix-Rice) Liz
  • Membership - Deshunai Barlowe
  • Communications - Michele Steinberg
  • Advocacy - Nancy Price



and a BIG THANK YOU to our retiring Board members: Liz Sondhaus, Margery Doss, Lynn Lupo, and Barbara Harris for their dedication and service.


If you weren't able to attend the Annual Meeting, I want to share our 2024-2025 Highlights: our outstanding monthly programs; continuing racial justice work with Lunch and Learns and tours; Criminal Legal System Reform work on Clean Slate which also led to a grant from Empower Missouri; advocacy work on the election regarding Proposition A and Amendment 3; Lock It For Love; Tornado Relief efforts and last but certainly not least, our wonderful 20 Year Celebration honoring our four founding mothers!!! There's absolutely no doubt that our Voices are being heard and seen in our Community!!!


You may not know that WVR will be offering Summer Programming - the 2nd Thursday of June, July and August at the Center of Clayton @ 7:00 pm. Hope you can join us!!!


I couldn't write a newsletter without a quote and this one, certainly is WVR: “ A community that is engaged and working together can be powerful force”


My requests: Please check our WVR website for ongoing Tornado Relief opportunities and upcoming events. Also, would you consider joining the WVR Board as our Secretary??.  


Have a safe, relaxing summer and as always, reach out if you need anything.


Your ally,

Karen Francis

UPCOMING EVENTS

WVR June Program - What Now? Defending the Two Recent Ballot Initiatives

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Thursday, June 12, 7 p.m.

Center of Clayton

50 Gay Ave.

Saint Louis, MO 63105

Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Program begins at 7 p.m.

Let us know you're coming here.


After voters soundly approved the restoration of reproductive freedoms and the establishment of a paid sick leave policy, the Missouri legislature is working to undo both of those decisions. We will hear from organizers of both Initiative Petitions about the plans for continuing their efforts to defend those voter decisions going forward.


Speakers:

M’evie Mead is a veteran public policy advocate and now Director of Strategic Partnerships at Missouri Jobs with Justice, the driving force behind the ballot measure to protect Missouri workers. 



Jennifer Bernstein is part of the newly-formed PATH Coalition (Protecting Abortion, Truth & Healthcare) defending Amendment 3. In the initial campaign Jen coordinated signature gathering efforts within NCJW and oversaw the state-wide network or Notaries for that effort. 
RSVP for the June Program
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The Freedom Suits Exhibit


Thursday, June 20, 2:30 p.m

Law Library Association

of Saint Louis

10 North Tucker, 13th Floor

Saint Louis, MO 63101

Let us know you're coming here.


Join us to see The Freedom Suits, an exhibit created for the Law Library Association by the Missouri State Archives. 


Approximately 400 lawsuits by enslaved people suing for their freedom were filed in Missouri. At least one third of them were successful. This is a remarkable statistic given that African American enslaved people were not allowed to appear in court and testify in their own lawsuits.
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Member Meet Ups


12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Friday, June 6

Friday, June 20

Friday, July 18


The International Institute

3401 Arsenal St

St. Louis, MO 63118


Meet up with other WVR members while supporting immigrant business owners.


Hosted by the International Institute, community members are invited to share a meal, build connections, and enjoy a unique lunch experience every other Friday from 12:00–2:00 p.m.

TORNADO RELIEF
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The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis is hosting a large scale resource drive to serve affected community members.


Join WVR on Saturday, June 7 and Saturday June 14 to help distribute tornado relief. 


Arrive by 11:30 a.m.

Event runs from 12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.


Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis

1408 Kingshighway Blvd

St. Louis, MO 63113
Let us know you're coming here.

If you would like to make a monetary donation to help communities in need, several local organizations have fund drives or Amazon wish lists:

Action St. Louis


Affinia Healthcare Donations 

and Wish List


American Red Cross of Missouri


Better Family Life


Gateway 180 Wish List


Heatup/Cool Down STL


Little Bit Foundation

Wish List

NCJW and SLPS Wish List


Northside Youth and

Senior Service Center


Restore St. Louis 


St. Louis Community Foundation


United Way


Urban League of STL


Youth In Need
 

RECENT ACTIVITIES
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May Program Highlights: Beyond The “Isms” Countering Cultural Biases


Our May speaker was Helen Turner, Education Director of the St Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum. Her presentation was geared to help us understand the various types of bias we all hold, how to recognize it and keep it from being expressed in negative ways in our actions. She also touched on how to deal with bias other might hold against us and how to redirect biased comments or action when we observe them toward others.

 

We all hold a variety of identities that can create advantages or disadvantages as we move through the world: race, gender, age, education, physical and mental strengths, family, religion, citizenship, wealth, body characteristics, etc.


Within each of those categories, the variables tend to be ranked as negative, neutral or favorable based on their proximity and access to POWER.


Read a summary of the program here.
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WVR Celebrates 20 Years!


In May of 2005 four friends were together when their conversation turned to concerns about where the country could be headed under the newly elected administration, and they asked themselves (as we do today) what they could do to make things better. Out of these conversations came the start of Women’s Voices Raised for Social Justice. On April 26, 2025, more than 70 people gathered to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Women’s Voices and to honor the four Founders: Ruth Ann Cioci, Joanne Kelly, Barbara Finch and Ann Ruger. It was a joyful occasion filled with fun stories, moments of pride and aspirations for a strong future. 


Read more here.


See photos from the celebration here.
Make a Donation in Honor of Our Founders

Have something to submit for Loud & Clear?


Loud & Clear is the official monthly e-newsletter of Women's Voices Raised for Social Justice and is usually distributed on the first Monday or Tuesday of the month. The general deadline for article submission is the Wednesday prior to publication. Click here to contact us about the newsletter.

Membership Info

Even if you can’t come to meetings or become personally involved, your membership is important…and greatly appreciated.


Benefits of Membership

When you join Women’s Voices you:

  • Make our voice stronger when we advocate with elected officials.
  • Provide support to the organization by adding your name to our advocacy efforts.
  • Provide ideas and suggestions to help determine how to define our positions and choose our causes.
  • Participate in advocacy activities in any way that you want or is possible for you.
  • Take pride in your affiliation with a strong, progressive group of women working for social justice.
  • Help cover our administrative and outreach costs through your dues.

Annual Dues:


$60 (Regular Membership)

$100 (Silver Level)

$150 (Gold Level)

$20 (Student Membership)

New members join here

Renewing members renew here or

Send a check (payable to Women's Voices) to: 


Women's Voices

698 W. Lockwood Ave.

Saint Louis, MO 63119

womensvoicesraised.org
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Women's Voices Raised for Social Justice | 698 W. Lockwood Ave. | Saint Louis, MO 63119 US

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