Page 31 - Sonoma County Gazette 3-19

The Results are in for District 2 and District 10 Elections
for the Democratic Party Central Committee (DSCC)
Women: Come Voice Your Concerns on March 14
All local women are invited to attend a free “listening session” for the Voices of Sonoma County Women project, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 14, at Petaluma Women’s Club, 518 B Street, Petaluma.
The year-long Voices project, sponsored by the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), is intended to gain
a comprehensive understanding of local women’s concerns about issues impacting women and girls. The session is immediately following the CSW’s March meeting from 6-7 p.m., which is also open to the public.
Free listening sessions will be held throughout the county, allowing women from diverse backgrounds and locales to gather and express their personal concerns and ideas. Attendees will take a confidential survey, which is being distributed to as many Sonoma County women as possible. A raffle prize will be given at each listening session, and refreshments will be served. No RSVPs are necessary.
For questions about this listening session and the Voices of
You could win a prize for attending!
Last month I reported that I did not have the results to the elections held on on January 12th, for Assembly District 2 represented by Assemblyman Jim Woods and on January 26 District 10 represented by Marc Levine had their Assembly Delegates Elections. Those elected will serve for two years on the Central Committee for the California Democratic Party. Both districts include part of Santa Rosa. District 2 goes all the way up the coast to Eureka and District 10 goes all the way to Mill Valley.
The winners of the recent elections (please note due to privacy considerations cities cannot be listed by their names).
“As the dedicated women’s advocate
in local government, CSW wishes to
gain the best possible understanding
of local women’s concerns,” said Jan
Blalock, Voices project chair. “We are
encouraging women to speak up during this project, so we can speak out on their behalf. Project results will be presented to the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, providing data to help make positive changes in public policy.”
District 2: Self-Identified Female Deborah Burger, Lesley Ester, Sofia Pereira. Helen Sizemore, Valerie Muchowski. Ariel Kelley and Robi Camacho. Male/ Other than Self-Identified Female Ever Flores, Deras G. Mario Fernandez. Joe Louis Wildman. Herman G. Hernandez. Stuart Altschuler. Jerry Eaton Allen. Donald McCloskey, and EBoard Mary Watts.
District 10: Self-Identified Female Lisa Bennett, Caroline Banuelos, Carey Caccavo Wheaton, Alice Chan, Ruth Carte, Debra Taube. Susan Bolle, Male/ Other than Self-Identified Female Jim Wheaton Norman Solomon. Ralph I. Miller, Logan, Harvey, Eli Beckam, Perry Lloyd, Max Perrey, and EBoard Ralph I. Miller.
A DSCC delegate is the representative for their committee and specific district. Delegates attend the annual Democrats Convention, network with other Democrats, elect Party officers, promote the California Democratic Party agenda, endorse candidates for statewide, legislative and congressional office, and vote to endorse resolutions and ballot measures all doing so while representing their constituency. For additional information go to cadem.org/ our-party/adem
Sonoma County Women project, contact Commissioner Jan Blalock
at jblalock@sbcglobal.net . Local women are also encouraged to take the survey now: English version. Spanish version. (Hard copies are available upon request.)
March is Women’s History Month
In 1980, the National Women’s History Project (NWHP) was founded
in Santa Rosa, by Molly Murphy MacGregor, Mary Ruthsdotter, Maria Cuevas, Paula Hammett, and Bette Morgan to broadcast women’s historical achievements. On March 12, 1987, the celebration became official when Congress passed legislation designating March as Woman’s History Month in the United States. This year is the 40th Anniversary that NWHP has brought women’s history into the mainstream. The theme for 2019 is “Visionary Women: Champions of Peace & Nonviolence.” This year we honor women who have led efforts to end war, violence, and injustice and pioneered the use of nonviolence to change society. Go to. www.nwhp.org for listing of all nominees.
CSW is dedicated to promoting equal rights and opportunities that enhance quality of life for all women and girls, addressing issues of discrimination and prejudice that negatively affect Sonoma County women. The 15 commissioners on this public advisory body are appointed by the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors and represent all districts. Learn more about CSW here.
In Honor of Women’s History Month I want to honor, Trailblazer Helen Rudee who passed away, on Wednesday September 19, 2018, after suffering a stroke. Helen was 100 and an inspiration to me and many others. She was the first woman elected to the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors in 1976 and served three four-year terms in the seat representing District 3 in Santa Rosa. One of the proudest moments that I personally experience with her was when she allowed me to do a television interview with her on Women’s Spaces. For all those who are looking for inspiration I invite you to watch the video at womensspaces.com/ArchiveWSshow/WS070002.html
This year’s WHM events aim to address the trauma caused by recent events such as the Kavanaugh hearings and President Trump’s verbal attacks against Dr. Blasey Ford. The questions are, as women, or as survivors of sexual assault, how do we heal and how do we bring about a society free of sexual violence,” said Vasquez. Presentations, times and locations is available on events. santarosa.edu/womens-history-month-2019.
Santa Rosa Junion College (SRJC) Dream Center expands to offer free legal advice to undocumented students. The Dream
Center is a “one-stop shop” in a safe, caring place for undocumented students new and continuing at Santa Rosa Junior College. Students will receive personalized support as they begin their college journeys. VIDAS will house Maureen McSorley, an immigration attorney with over 20 years of experience and Barbara Ibarra, paralegal, at the Santa Rosa Junior College Dream Center. McSorley and Ibarra will be available to assist the undocumented students with their legal service needs. For updated information and location go to dream. santarosa.edu. Please see the article on page 21
Elaine B. Holtz is co-producer /Host with Kenneth E. Norton of “Women’s Spaces” on KBBF 89.1FM Monday 11-12 noon & 11-12 midnight. womensspaces.com and kbbf.org
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SRJC Women’s History Month (WHM) in support of the #metoo movement, in response to recent national setbacks, and in solidarity with all sexual assault survivors
According to Dr. Solen Sanli Vasquez, Ph.D., Sociology instructor and coordinator of the event, this year the focus for will be on empowerment, healing and how to move forward. To promote that idea a series of lectures will be presented during WHM beginning on March 2 through March 28
at the Santa Rosa and Petaluma campuses. Included in the series will be a presentation on “Restorative Practices for Healing from Sexual Assault,“ with Dr. Alissa Ackerman, an expert on sexual crimes. Also included will be “#metoo, Sexual Violence, and the Road to Recovery: A Panel Discussion” that will feature discussions of “toxic masculinity” as a cause of sexual violence, a presentation of available resources from Verity, Sonoma County’s Rape Crisis, Trauma, and Healing Center and a look at “human trafficking” a much misunderstood epidemic.
Something to think about: “Whenever one person stands up and says, ‘Wait a minute, this is wrong,’ it helps other people do the same.” Gloria Marie Steinem is an American feminist, journalist, and social political activist and also co-founder of Ms. Magazine.