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WPA Event and Announcement ArchivesGreatLakes: Issues and Politics in Protecting our Waters
Collaboration FrameworkAddressing Community Capacity Collaborative community efforts are constructive responses to creating caring communities and expanding the safety net for children, youth and families. (National Commission on Children, 1991; Dryfoos, 1990; Meszaros, 1993). The goal of community collaboration is to bring individuals and members of communities, agencies and organizations together in an atmosphere of support to systematically solve existing and emerging problems that could not be solved by one group alone. While this is easily “said,” experience shows that it is not easily “done.” It has been likened to “teaching dinosaurs to do ballet” (Schlechty in DeBevoise, 1986, p. 12). Read the full article (pdf). More Info (pdf). Local activist Alice Ralph (WPA Vice-President 2007-8) responds to "What to Do With 415 W. Washington?"
Download Transcript (pdf) My Experience
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The City of Ann Arbor issued a "Request for Proposals" for the sale of the publicly-owned site at 415 W. Washington, with responses due April 24, 2008. In consideration of this looming threat against establishing a significant Allen Creek Greenway as a western edge of downtown Ann Arbor, Alice concluded a panel of speakers at the March regular meeting of the Ann Arbor City Democrats. The panel was named "What to do with 415 W. Washington?" The preceding speakers were advocates of arts and cultural programs. Introduced as an architect and a visionary, Alice respected their views and outlined some political aspects from her own point of view, emphasizing public purpose(s) for public land. To read her stirring, sought-after remarks, click the link below for an enhanced transcript which includes references for more information.
Do you remember 8 years ago when discussing politics was off limits? The Rush Limbaugh's of the world had driven progressives underground. WPA meetings were like a speakeasy during prohibition. Instead of a secret password getting you through the door, a $10 membership fee got you in where you would find people who not only shared your progressive values and who were hungry to talk about what was going on...
will give a 30 minute talk on "Women in Leadership and Establishing a Vision" just in time for us to develop our own vision for WPA at our annual Winter Warming to be held Wed. Dec. 5, 2007. He is bringing copies of his book Everyday Leadership: Getting Results in Business, Politics, and Life to sell for $20.00 a copy and is prepared to autograph them.
Dr. Sylvia Hacker is a retired U of M professor in the biological sciences, and later in public health and educational psychology. She will discuss that despite resistance to teaching comprehensive sexual education in the public schools, sexual feelings are normal and that sexual behavior must be taught and modified to be appropriate.
John Keserich, Public Advocacy Manager for Planned Parenthood of Michigan, will present a historical perspective on access to abortion services. He will offer facts about abortion services in the U.S., and finish with the state of reproductive rights in Michigan and the U.S. today.
Tara Reid, President of MARAL Pro Choice Michigan, will discuss the prevention first pro-active pro-choice legislative agenda including Abstinence Plus: Comprehensive Sexuality Education, Contraceptive Equity, and other measures.
The Mayor's Green Fair took place on Friday, June 15, 2007 from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm, in downtown Ann Arbor; and Women Progressive Activists (WPA) were there. The streets were closed to automobile traffic and foot power ruled for an evening. The event included green products and displays of environmental information, bicycle events, music, and native Ann Arborites strolling the city streets under beautiful sunny blue skies. Fifty Waste Knot Partners, an elite group of environmentally conscious people, presented their wares and services in booths that lined the streets. Pictured below is WPA's booth. WPA's green practices include using little or no paper in the way they reach their 100 plus members, relying instead on their web site www.wpactivists.org and their list serve mailings that goes out to the membership. Val Constance, vice-president and soon to be president of WPA worked the booth along with past-president and member extraordinaire, Janine Easter. They accepted donations for sun flower seeds as they solicited new women members, by telling them about WPA's mission of getting more women elected to public office and about our member-driven education forums on social justice issues.
The Women Progressive Activists are pleased to announce a talk by Mary King, Coordinator of the Washtenaw County Michigan Prisoner ReEntry Initiative. This event is free and open to the public, at 7:00 PM, Wednesday, March 14, at the Church of the Good Shepard, 2145 Independence in Ann Arbor. 
Featuring...|
Charles Griffith
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Marc Ross
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Marc Ross received his Ph.D. in physics from the University of Wisconsin (1952) and has been a professor in the Physics Department, University of Michigan, since 1963. He nominally retired, moving onto TIAA's payroll, in 2001. Since the mid-1970s, Prof. Ross' research has involved analysis of energy use, its impacts on people and the environment, and the reduction of negative impacts through efficiency and conservation. Up to the mid-1980s his focus was industrial energy use. Since then he has focused on energy and automobiles. Much of his research concerns technologies to improve fuel economy. An important part of this has been creation and improvement of models of fuel use and emissions as they depend on driving. In recent years he has been studying relationships between traffic safety and vehicle design. Since lightweight vehicles would reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save oil, the research issues are: What would their safety depend on? What design changes would enhance their safety?Related Resources:
- Charles Griffith's www.greenmachinestour.org
- Senator Obama and proposed legislation on energy and the auto industry
- GLRC - Printable Transcript
- WPA Press Release
More info on this program and the speakers will be available soon.
March 8, 2006: Women and Affirmative Action
The WPA's welcome Mary Bejian of the ACLU-Michigan to address the membership at our March 8, 2006 meeting. The public is welcome to attend this open membership meeting. Please join us at 7:00 PM at the Church of the Good Shepard, at 2145 Independence ( Click here for a map.) There is plenty of free, well-lit parking.
Ms. Bejian will discuss the so-called "Civil Rights Initiative," a November 2006 ballot question which, if passed, would ban affirmative action. The WPA's are proud members of One United Michigan the coalition opposing the misguided initiative. We look forward to learning more from Ms. Bejian about how we can join others in Washtenaw County and around the state in active opposition.
More about our speaker: Mary Bejian joined the ACLU staff in June 2004 as the ACLU of Michigan's first Field Organizer. Her primary duties are to work with the Legislative Director, Legal Director and Communications Director to develop and implement organizing and education strategies. Ms. Bejian also works with the nine volunteer ACLU branches in Michigan to assist with coalition-building, community education and membership recruitment.
Before joining the ACLU staff, Ms. Bejian worked for nine years as the Coordinator of Investigations at the Fair Housing Center of Southeastern Michigan. And in a volunteer capacity, she served as Chairperson for the ACLU-Washtenaw County Branch. In addition, Ms. Bejian has worked on issues related to the politics of HIV/AIDS, sexual assault prevention, and racial profiling. She graduated with a B.A. in Women's Studies and Psychology from the University of Michigan in 1992.
Renewable Energies and Energy Conservation
The Women Progressive Activists (WPA's) proudly present "Renewable Energies and Energy Conservation" at 7:00 PM on Wednesday, February 8, 2006. This event is free and open to the public.
Ann Arbor Mayor John Hieftje will speak about his enthusiasm for increasing Ann Arbor's use of renewable energy. Click here to learn more about the Mayor's "Green Energy Challenge," and a special Feb. 13 Ann Arbor Energy Commission meeting, open to the public. Jennifer Alvarado, Executive Director of the Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association (GLREA,) and Aileen Gow, Director of Urban Options, will also present. A question and answer session will follow. WPA Member Rebekah Warren will moderate.
Please join us at 7:00 PM on February 8, 2006 at the Church of the Good Shepard, 2145 Independence, Ann Arbor. Independence is off of Packard near the Georgetown Kroger. 2145 is at the intersection of Powell and Independence. Click here for a map. This event is free and open to the public.
 Aileen Gow |
 John Hieftje |
 Rebekah Warren |
WPA Urges Ann Arbor City Council to Support Nursing Mothers and Infants
The WPA's support the right of nursing babies and their mothers to breastfeed in public. We are concerned about the local YMCA's policy of segregating nursing mothers and their babies. We urge the City of Ann Arbor to enact an ordinance, or amend an existing ordinance, to ensure the right of breastfeeding babies to nurse on demand.
Election Letter
Not So Benign: The Neglect of Detroit Elections by the Secretary of State
Women Progressive Activists' founding member, June Rusten, co-signs this important letter regarding the sorry state of elections in the Detroit area and elsewhere in Michigan. WPA members are encouraged to copy and distribute it widely because of the urgency of the subject and the abysmal lack of media attention to the problems described and documented.
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