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Up Next
Thurs., May 8
Volunteer Opportunity
Gun Lock Bundling
Tues., May 13
Thurs., May 22
Advocacy Meeting,
Mon., May 19
Criminal Legal System Reform Meeting,
Weds., May 21
Save the Dates:
Summer Series of Monthly Programs
Thurs., June 12
Thurs., July 10
Thurs., August 14
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As I write this letter to you, I am still “high” from our 20th Anniversary Celebration on April 26 when we honored our founding mothers: Ruth Ann Cioci, Barbara Finch, Joanne Kelly and Ann Ruger. They truly are SHEROES! Their story: They were frustrated over the 2005 Presidential election, so they met on a front porch to discuss their frustrations. They decided to rent a room at the U City library and invite like-minded friends, the outcome of which was the beginning of Women's Voices Raised for Social Justice! The anniversary party was a special moment in our history, and it was great to see so many members in attendance. I wish all of you could have been there.
I hope you plan on attending our May 8 program: “Beyond The ‘Isms,’ Countering Cultural Biases.” We will also highlight our 2024-2025 year and elect new officers at our Annual Meeting via Zoom the end of May.
Normally these would be our final programs for the year, however, with so much going on in our country and the world, we have decided to have programs during the summer. More information will be coming out, so be looking for it!
May is the month we celebrate Mother's Day and get the kids, or in my case grandson, ready for proms and graduations, but it is also Mental Health Awareness Month. It is estimated that only half of the people with mental illnesses receive treatment. There is help through the National Mental Health Hotline at 866-903-3787, or the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
It was a privilege to be your President this year as we transitioned to again being a member-led organization. Women’s Voices is where we have an opportunity to learn about issues and advocate for change, or, in the words of John Lewis, “get in good trouble.” To continue our mission, we need your support financially and your participation on our committees. Please consider this a personal ask. :-)
As always, please reach out to me president@womensvoicesraised.org if you need anything, or have a question or idea for WVR. As they say in the Broadway musical, SUFFS, “we'll keep on marching.” Have a beautiful and safe summer.
Your ally,
Karen Francis
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WVR May Program- Beyond The “Isms” Countering Cultural Biases
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Thursday, May 8, 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.
Join Helen Turner, Director of Education at the St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum, for a powerful exploration of today’s most pressing forms of bias—from antisemitism and racism to sexism and other unconscious “isms.” Drawing from her expertise in Holocaust and Genocide Studies, Turner unpacks how prejudice evolves, manifests, and persists in both overt and subtle ways.
Speaker: Helen Turner, Director of Education at the St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum
Turner holds a Masters degree in History specializing in Holocaust and Genocide Studies. She spent 10 years with the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County, NY, before moving to St Louis in 2022 to lead the Education Department for the Kaplan Feldman Museum.
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Volunteer Opportunity
Gun lock bundling for distribution throughout the community
Tuesday, May 13 & Thursday, May 22
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Webster Hills United Methodist Church, McKelvey Room
698 W. Lockwood Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63139
Use the entrance on Lockwood Court.
We have lots of locks to bundle with printed materials. If you can help, please drop in at any time and join us. Bring a stapler if you have one. We'll provide the cookies. Hope to see you there!
| | BRAND NEW: SUMMER SERIES PROGRAMMING | | |
Considering the upheaval in our Missouri and Federal governments over the past few months, Women’s Voices Raised has decided NOT to take our traditional summer break in programming. Instead we will continue through June, July and August offering informative speaker presentations each month.
Stay tuned for details.
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April Program Highlights: Show Me the Money: Saint Louis City Finances?
Guest speaker Shameem Clark Hubbard – Alderlady for the 10th Ward (Forest Park/Central West End area) joined us for a Q&A discussion about the financial affairs of the City of St Louis and the impact of those decisions on the broader region. She has a well-earned reputation as a bridge-builder among a variety of constituencies and a knowledgeable, candid voice on city issues. Participants found her very informative and trustworthy, and expressed interest in having her back in the future.
Read a summary of her candid comments 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.
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Clean Slate: We’ll Be Back Next Year
As those of you who have followed our advocacy work on a “Clean Slate” initiative for Missouri know, legislators of both parties introduced bills this session that would automate the process of sealing certain eligible criminal records. Despite House leadership support and unanimous support (twice) in the House Economic Development Committee, the House bill was not passed due to concerns from the courts system about the costs of implementation. Action on the Senate bills stalled while awaiting House action.
The Criminal Legal System Reform Committee (CLSR) began educating ourselves about the national Clean Slate Initiative four years ago. Our advocacy efforts intensified after Women’s Voices hosted a program in 2022 that focused on reentry services for justice-involved people in the St. Louis area. It was eye-opening to learn of the obstacles that faced anyone with a criminal record, and of the unfairness of the existing petition process.
All who qualify should get the 2nd chance they have earned. It is also in our community’s best interest to have healthy, self-sufficient individuals and families who, with obstacles removed, are more likely to engage in their neighborhoods, seek more education, volunteer at their children’s schools, and pay taxes.
It was disappointing to see passage of a Clean Slate bill stymied this session, but when those bills are reintroduced in next year’s session, we will be back.
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Missouri Historical Society Accepts Women’s Voices Oral Histories
On April 25, Liz Sondhaus, Past WV President, presented the Missouri Historical Society with oral histories she recorded with founders Barbara Finch and Joanne Kelly. Society librarians were thrilled with the gift and stated this example of St. Louis’ social justice history is exactly what they want to include in their collection. They also noted that we are the first nonprofit to provide such valuable local historical material to the Society. The oral histories will be reviewed in the Society’s regular monthly review meeting and are very likely to be approved as a permanent part of the collection.
Here is the statement the Society provided to Women’s Voices read at our recent 20th Anniversary celebration:
“Thank you to Women's Voices Raised for Social Justice for this gift of the oral histories of your organization to the Missouri Historical Society. The archives that comprise MHS's collections are critical to scholarly research and the foundation of MHS’s thought-provoking exhibits and educational programs. Collection donors like you help us share the story of our rich and vibrant history. Thank you for your consideration of our institution.”
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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 us about the newsletter.
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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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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
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