Hungering for Justice: Solving Food Insecurity |
Thursday, May 11, 7 p.m.
In-person program at The Center of Clayton
50 Gay Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63105
Doors open at 6:30 p.m., program begins 7 p.m.
Program will also be available on Zoom.
Racially discriminatory political structures of the past and present impact food access and control and contribute to food apartheid in our region. The current state of food insecurity limits access to sufficient, quality food for many of our neighbors to meet their basic needs. Our speakers will discuss the work of Operation Food Search, which focuses on efforts to provide both short- and long-term solutions in collaboration with multiple partners and stakeholders.
Speakers:
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Beverly L. Isom, director of policy and advocacy, Operation Food Search (OFS) |
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Jocelyn Fundoukos, director of communications, Operation Food Search (OFS) |
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Missourians to Speak Out for Direct Democracy |
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Pending legislation - HJR 43 - would impose needless restrictions on Missourians attempting to make their voices heard through the citizen initiative process by undermining majority rule.
For more than 100 years, Missouri voters from across the political spectrum have used ballot initiatives to enact the will of the majority – from protecting the right to farm and constitutional limits on state taxation & spending, to healthcare and ethics reforms. Women’s Voices Raised for Social Justice is proud to support the Will of the People coalition.
The Will of the People Coalition is planning statewide actions to follow a vote by Missouri legislators to undermine Missouri’s citizen initiative process. At 11 a.m. the day following potential passage of such a resolution, Missouri voter advocates will hold press events across the state. Join the St. Louis action at First Unitarian Church at 5007 Waterman Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63108.
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Join the Women's Voices Engagement Team |
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Criminal Legal System Reform Task Force Expands Focus to Learn About Pre-Trial Detention and Private Probation |
Women’s Voices Raised for Social Justice believes our federal and state criminal legal systems need major reform if we are ever to achieve unbiased criminal justice that does not discriminate against anyone because of race, religion, nationality, gender or sexual orientation. The Criminal Legal System Reform Task Force of the Racial Justice Committee is currently working on three areas of reform in Missouri: Clean Slate legislation, Privatized Probation System, and Pre-Trial Detention practices. Clean Slate legislation has been introduced and is under consideration in the Missouri State Legislature, and our efforts have moved into advocacy steps.
Our newest areas of study are Pre-Trial Detention, where we have learned that 80% of people in Missouri local jails have not been convicted and are held because they cannot afford the arbitrary bail set by individual courts; and Privatized Probation, a system of unregulated for-profit agencies used for individuals under supervision for misdemeanors. The private probation system traps people in a cycle of poverty and inequality when they cannot afford the unregulated costs imposed.
Mary Schuman and Anne Litwin, Task Force Co-Chairs. Members: Karen Coulson, Susan Glassman, Lynn Lupo, and Bryna Williams
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Women Mayors Talking: How Gender, Race, and Politics Intersect In Our Communities |
At our April 13th program, WVR was honored to engage with three local women mayors to hear their views on how gender and race influence politics in their jurisdictions: Ella Jones, elected as the first female and African American woman mayor of Ferguson in 2020; Laura Arnold, PhD, elected mayor in 2022—the first new mayor in nearly a quarter century and Nikylan Knapper, JD, the first African-American to be elected mayor of Maplewood, Missouri.
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Planning to Begin for 2023-2024 Programs |
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Would you like to help choose our 2023-2024 programs for the upcoming program year? We'll be meeting on Monday, May 15 at 1 p.m. to make these decisions. Join us and bring your ideas to help us plan another year of great educational programs!
Do you love to write? WVR is looking for someone to summarize our monthly meetings for our website.
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Women's Voices Members Respond to Injustice! |
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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 editor Laura Rose.
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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.
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Annual Dues:
$60 (Regular Membership)
$100 (Silver Level)
$150 (Gold Level)
$20 (Student Membership)
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Send a check (payable to Women's Voices) to:
Women's Voices
7401 Delmar Blvd.
University City, MO 63130
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