2002 Celebration of Women’s History: Women Sustaining the American Spirit
Thursday, February 28
Opening Reception
Presentation: Memories of Love and War
Kathleen Cleaver
4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Illinois Room, CCC
UIC, in conjunction with the City of Chicago’s Commission on Human Relations
Advisory Council on Women, will hold an opening reception for the City’s kick-off
celebration of Women’s History Month. This program will feature Kathleen
Cleaver, a major voice in the Black Liberation movements of the 1960's and
70's with former husband Eldridge Cleaver. Cleaver continues to speak
out against racism, sexism, and economic inequality. Cleaver will talk
about her personal story of transformation during the tumultuous revolutionary
movements of the ‘60's and ‘70's. She will also discuss the feminist
role in the race-based civil rights struggle of the Black Panthers.
In 1966, Cleaver became active in the Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee
(SNCC). From 1967 to 1971, she was the Communications Secretary of the
Black Panther Party and the first woman member of its Central Committee.
Her writings and essays have appeared in numerous magazines, books, and newspapers,
and her memoir, Memories of Love and War, is forthcoming from Random
House. Cleaver’s presentation will begin at 5:00 p.m. Free catered
reception.
Friday, March 1
"Machine Gun Blues: African-Americans and the Vietnam War"
Kimberley L. Phillips
Lecture 1:00-2:00 p.m.
Discussion: 2:00-2:45 p.m.
Reception 2:45-4:00 p.m.
Addams Hall, Room 207 830 South Halsted Street
The Visiting Lecturers Series, The Humanities in African-American Culture: The Ethics of Liberation African-American Cultural Center
Kimberley Phillips' lecture, "Machine Gun Blues," examines how the experiences of African-American military personnel during the Vietnam War impacted and reshaped both black and mainstream American culture and politics. Phillips pays particular attention to how Jimi Hendrix's later music was shaped by his military experiences in the early 1960s and by his awareness of the roles played by Black soldiers in Vietnam. Phillips also discusses how such notables as Langston Hughes, Marvin Gaye, Muhammed Ali and Dick Gregory, like Hendrix, expressed complex and critical understandings of war and militarization through autobiographies, literature, and films about war. She challenges the perception that these celebrities were outside of black political debates about war, violence, and U.S. social policy produced for and consumed by African-American audiences.
This event is free and open to the academic community and the public.
If you have a disability that needs accommodation in order to participate in this event, please call prior to the event. The African Cultural Center is served by the elevator in Burnham Hall. A ramp on the second floor connects the two buildings. For more information, call (312-996-9549)
Funding of this series is provided, in part, by a grant from Illinois Humanities Council, the Gladys Kreible Delmas Foundation , and the Student Activities Funding Committee of the University of Illinois at Chicago.
March 4 - April 5
Art Exhibit: Bringing Art to Life: Women and the Arts at Hull-House
Exhibit Reception: Friday, March 8, 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
A. Montgomery Ward Gallery, CCC
This exhibit, curated by Peggy Glowacki of the Jane Addams Hull-House
Museum, examines the women at Hull-House, their legacy to the arts, and the
social settlement established by Jane Addams and Ellen Gates Starr in 1889.
From the beginning, Hull-House connected the role of art equally to social
and aesthetic arenas. Drawing from the recently published Women
Building Chicago 1790-1990: A Biographical Dictionary, the exhibit
highlights these women’s contributions to visual and handicraft art, music,
dance, and theater.
Art Exhibit: Role Models
Exhibit Reception: Thursday, March 28. 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Art Lounge, 1st Floor, CIU
This interactive exhibit allows participants to create yarn wrap dolls in
the image of women who have been an inspiration in their life. The dolls
are on display with corresponding descriptions written by participants.
Tuesday, March 5
Coffeehouse Series West
Film: Ghost World
4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Recovery Room, CIU
Wednesday, March 6
Coffeehouse Series East
Performance: Josie
7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
A. Montgomery Ward Gallery, CCC
Josie is a folk singer and solo artist who has a great stage presence and a
beautiful voice.
Her belief in singing music that is uplifting to women is embodied in such
songs as "Free," "Love Yourself" and
"Unkunvenshunal Girl.”
Wednesday, March 6
Panel Presentation and Discussion
Women of Faith Building Chicago
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
UIC Newman Center
Rima Lunin Schultz, co-editor of Women Building Chicago 1790-1990: A Biographical Dictionary, will lead a panel discussion about the role of women of faith in developing Chicago's religious institutions, educational system, and health care providers.
Thursday, March 7
Coffeehouse Series East
Film: Elizabeth
3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.
A. Montgomery Ward Gallery, CCC
Performance: WomenSpeakOut
Illinois Room, CCC
5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
This is a production of UIC women’s
art groups and individual performers who will express their experiences through
dance, song, spoken word, and other art mediums. This program will provide
participants and performers alike an opportunity to explore diverse identities
and experiences as women.
Friday, March 8
International Women’s
Day Celebration
Presentation and Discussion: The Best of Intentions: The Politics
of Foreign Aid for Afghan Women Refugees
Ingrid Mattson
2:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Room 605, CCC
Ingrid Mattson, currently a Professor
of Islamic Studies at the Macdonald Center for Islamic Studies and Christian-Muslim
Relations at the Hartford Seminary in Hartford, CT, was recently elected Vice
President of the Islamic Society of North America. Working in an Afghan
refugee camp in Pakistan in the late 1980's, Ingrid Mattson became convinced
that the physician's principle, "first, do no harm" should be taught
to every aid worker. Mattson witnessed that any assistance often had either
a small positive effect or a large negative impact. Mattson will discuss what
kinds of projects and strategies seemed to help women, and the need for Americans
to scrutinize the negative effects of an imbalanced foreign aid policy.
Refreshments will be provided. Seating is limited so please RSVP at (312)
413-1025.
Monday, March 11
Asian American Film Series 2002
Telling Our Stories: Portraits of Asian American Women
3:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
A. Montgomery Ward Gallery, CCC
This film series will feature a 3:00
p.m. screening of Slaying the Dragon, which exposes how films
establish and reinforce the stereotypes about Asian women. At 4:30 p.m. Another
Day in America will be shown, which is a film that follows three Asian
American women jazz musicians and artists.
Tuesday, March 12
Campus Forum Presentation: Both Sides Now: An Academic Woman Once a
Man
Deirdre McCloskey
12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Cardinal Room, CCC
Deirdre McCloskey was once Donald,
a golden boy of free-market economics. She’s still a free-market economist,
but since 1995 she has been joyfully a woman. Author of twelve books
on subjects from economics to English, among them her prize-winning memoir,
Crossing, she gives a fascinating account of what it feels like
to change gender and what her experiences might say about gender in the modern
university. There is an $8.00 fee for lunch and advanced registrations
are required by March 5th. Contact Diane Rudall at (312) 996-9280 or visit
their website at www.uic.edu/depts/paff/Campusforum/ to register.
Reading and Presentation:
You Can’t be a Lesbian–You’re Jewish!
Leslea Newman
12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Levine Hillel Center
Leslea Newman will read from and
discuss her work at Hillel's monthly Women's Rosh Chodesh luncheon. A
Letter to Harvey Milk, the title story of her prize-winning short
story collection, will be the focus of Newman’s presentation. Her presentation
provides a sensitive yet provocative portrayal of issues of religion, sexuality,
family, and trust, which draws in and challenges the audience to think.
The program is funded in part by the Chicago Jewish Women's Foundation. All
are welcome to attend. For further information contact Marla Baker at
Hillel at (312) 829-1595.
Presentation and Book
Signing
Heather’s Mommy Speaks Out
Leslea Newman
2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Room 605, CCC
The year 2000 marked the 10-year
anniversary of the publication of Heather Has Two Mommies, literally
one of the most controversial books of the 20th century. In her lecture,
she uses a slide show and video to discuss some of the many controversies
surrounding the book and the issues of homophobia, censorship, and family
values.
Coffeehouse Series West
Film: Elizabeth
4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.
Recovery Room, CIU
Wednesday, March 13
Coffeehouse Series East
Film Screening: Salt of the Earth
4:30 p.m.
A. Montgomery Ward Gallery, CCC
View the full version of this documentary
about the striking Mexican American miners in New Mexico that will launch
a discussion about gender role reversals on Thursday, March 14th.
Thursday, March 14
Brown Bag Panel Discussion
Women and Change at UIC: Personal Perspectives
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Chicago Room A, CIU
CCSW's Women in Administration
subcommittee presents a panel discussion led by Diane Hodges, Associate Vice
Chancellor for Administration, and Susan Scrimshaw, Dean, School of Public
Health Administration.
Coffeehouse Series East
Film: Ghost World
3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.
A. Montgomery Ward Gallery, CCC
Film Screening and Discussion
Salt of the Earth
4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Conference Room C, SSB
Salt of the Earth is a 1950's documentary about a strike by Mexican American miners
in New Mexico. This documentary chronicles the shift in perspective
about women's issues and subsequent striker demands that resulted from gender
role reversals when the miners were forced to stay at home while their wives
"manned" the picket lines. Women and men who participated in the strike also starred
in the movie. Film screening and discussion
will be facilitated by Deborah Silverton Rosenfelt, University of Maryland,
Elena Gutierrez, Jennifer Langdon-Teclaw and Margaret Strobel, University
of Illinois at Chicago. Refreshments will be served. Seating is
limited so please RSVP at (312) 413-1025.
Coffeehouse Series West
Performance: Sarah Lentz
6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Recovery Room, CIU
When you hear Sarah’s music for the
first time, her voice absolutely commands your attention. Sarah’s deep,
rich and broad-ranged voice sinks like a cello and drives her melodies.
Her songs’ rich cords and broad progressions create a sound grounded in urban
rhythms. Come hear this phenomenal woman.
Tuesday, March 26
Reading and Book Signing
Harriette Gillem Robinet
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Illinois Room, CCC
Harriette Gillem Robinet has written
exciting, award-winning, and meticulously researched children’s historical
fiction such as: Children of the Fire recounting the Chicago
fire, The Twins, the Pirates and the Battle of New Orleans,
Forty Acres and Maybe a Mule, and most recently, Missing
from Haymarket Square. Robinet, descendent of a slave under
Robert E. Lee, graduated from the College of New Rochelle in New Rochelle,
New York and received a graduate degree at Catholic University in Washington,
D.C. An awards ceremony for the sixth annual Chicago Public Schools
Notable Woman Essay Contest will follow the reading.
Wednesday, March 27
University Hour Presentation
A Symposium on Disability Culture
Riva Lehrer
12:15 p.m. - 1:15 p.m.
Chicago Rooms, CIU
Ever wonder what it's like to live
with a physical disability? Chicago
artist Riva Lehrer will answer this very question. Born with Spina Bifida
herself, Ms. Lehrer will attempt to increase your understanding of this
culture by sharing her experiences and those of others. Ms. Lehrer will
visually allow you access to the lives of those who live and succeed with
significant physical disabilities.
Symposium and Reception:
10th Anniversary Celebration of the Center for Research on Women and Gender
2:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Illinois Room, CCC
A symposium and reception will be
held to commemorate the CRWG’s 10th anniversary and to honor retiring Center
director, Alice Dan. The keynote speaker for the symposium is Jane Evelyn
Atwood, an award-winning photojournalist. Author of five books, Atwood will
present her recent work, Too Much Time: Women in Prison. A
faculty panel will respond to spark discussion with audience participation. The
presentation and panel discussion will start at 2:30 p.m. followed by a free
catered reception at 4:30 p.m., and culminates with the first annual CRWG
Dissertation Research Award at 5:00 p.m. For more information call CRWG
at (312) 413-1924.
Coffeehouse Performance
Blaq Dawn
7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
A. Montgomery Ward Gallery, CCC
Blaq Dawn is a very talented group
of three African-American women whose neo-soul performance is geared towards
their experiences as women. They provide a soulful experience through
song, poetry and even dance. Free refreshments will be served.
Thursday, April 4
Panel Discussion
Second-Wave Feminism in the Second City: the Chicago Women's Liberation Union
9:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. (NOTICE THE TIME CHANGE!)
Cardinal Room, CCC
Panelists Estelle Carol,
CWLU organizer, and Margaret Strobel, University of Illinois at Chicago, will
serve as panelists to discuss Second-Wave Feminism in the Second City: The
Chicago Women's Liberation Union. From 1969-1977 the CWLU engaged the passions
of hundreds of women in Chicago. Members challenged sexism and racism, agitated
for safe and affordable abortion and other women's health issues, advocated
for lesbian and gay rights, opposed the war in Southeast Asia, organized the
multiracial Action Committee for Decent Childcare, and challenged City Hall's
discrimination against black janitresses. This remarkable history is now available
online at www.cwluherstory.com.
Events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted.
Office of Women’s Affairs Web site address:
www.uic.edu/depts/owa
Locations:
CCC Chicago Circle Center, 750 S.
Halsted
CIU Chicago Illini Union, 828
S. Wolcott
Levine
Hillel Center
924 South Morgan Street
If you have a disability and need an accommodation in order to participate in this event, please call (312) 413-5070 at least one week prior to the event.
Events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. Parking is available at cash lots call Parking at (312) 413-5800 for lot information.
Committee Members
Richard Allegra, Veronica Arreola, Maryem Alyhabib, Marla Baker, Mary Lynn Dietsche, Patrick Finnessy, Rebecca Gordon, Joann Gras, Joey Hampton, Sharlene Holly, Heather Imrie, Jennifer Landong-Teclaw, Judy Meza, Alana Stegich, Parveen Vora, Carl T. Wilson and Daryl Woods .
Co-Sponsors:
Office of Women’s Affairs, Campus Programs, Student Activity Funding Committee, Chancellor’s Committees on the Status of Women, Latinos, Asian Americans, Blacks, Persons with Disabilities, and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Issues, Institute for the Humanities, Gender and Women’s Studies, Center for Research on Women and Gender, Office of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Concerns, Rafael Cintrón-Ortiz Cultural Center, African American Cultural Center, Black History Month, University Hour, Coffeehouse Series, Jane Addams Hull House, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Office of Community Relations, Great Cities Institute, Alumni Association at Chicago, Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, Department of Latin American Studies, Department of English, Department of African American Studies, Chicago Alumnae Chapter Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Chicago Public Schools Office of Accountability, Student Development Services, Levine Hillel Center, Muslim Women’s Association, Asian American Coalition Committee, Panhellenic Council, and Student Outreach Services.
Opening Reception Co-host:
City of Chicago Commission on Human Relations Advisory Council on Women.
For more information, call the Office of Women’s Affairs at (312) 413-1025 or Campus Programs at (312) 413-5070.