Friday, March 16, 2007

In Celebration of Women's History

The League of Women Voters Honors. . .

The 22nd Annual Women’s History Celebration sponsored by the League of Women Voters on March 20, 2007 at the George Washington Manor, Roslyn, NY, 5-8pm, will honor three extraordinary Long Island organizations and individuals.

Kathleen Rice, Nassau County District Attorney, will be the dynamic keynote speaker. There will be a guest appearance of Actress and TV Host of Artscene in Long Island, Shirley Romaine, whose poetry will welcome in the Spring Season.

Honorees will bring interesting information about their advocacy.

Patricia Wood dedicates her life to educating the public about the relationship between environmental exposures and human health risks as the founder and Executive Director of Grassroots Environmental Education Organization.

Since it will be the first day of Spring, Patricia Wood will have her organization’s recommended aids to successful gardening. Take home Spring Alert Flyers (also in Spanish) for landscapers, Protecting Your Child’s Health: Avoiding Toxic Exposures, and Green Card- Organic Lawn Care Programs. Come early and talk to Patti Wood, who has trained over 700 landscapers for organic methods in Nassau and Westchester .

Sarah J. Meyland, Esq. has worked with a broad and diverse collection of organizations, including the League of Women Voters, to protect the groundwater supply of Long Island, especially the Lloyd Aquifer, and the water resources of New York State, voicing her concern that time is running out to implement much-needed groundwater management policies to ensure adequate drinking water needs now and in the future. She is the Director of the Center for Water resources Management at NYIT. She can give advice on what we can do to make sure our drinking water is safe.

Lisa Tyson, Director of the Long Island Progressive Coalition works tirelessly on countless issues, specializing in transportation, affordable housing sustainability and tax issues and was instrumental in passing the Nassau County Living Wage Bill.

LIPC’s current campaigns include verified voting, transportation, campaign finance reform and clean elections. Ask her questions about reliable, accessible, affordable and community-friendly public transportation to reduce dependence on the automobile and the Department of Transportation’s 20-year plan for Long Island.

The dynamic keynote speaker of the LWVNC Women’s History Celebration is Kathleen Rice, Nassau County District Attorney There will be a guest appearance of Actress and TV Host of Artscene in Long Island, Shirley Romaine.

The three organizations being honored are not-for profit, volunteer-based, giving community support for the health and welfare of all the residents of Long Island.

The Interfaith Nutrition Network (INN) addresses the issues of hunger and homelessness on Long Island by providing food, shelter, long-term housing and supportive services in a dignified and respectful manner for those who seek their help.

The INN has grown to become the largest private social service agency of its kind on Long Island. It opened its first emergency shelter in l984. The INN began to plan and institute a series of wide-ranging programs to help people from all over Long Island who were plagued by hunger and homelessness. Helping hungry and homeless Long Islanders in an atmosphere of dignity and respect is a hallmark of the INN’s programs. Volunteer opportunities are in emergency shelter, soup kitchen, office support, and fundraising For further information call (516) 486-8506.

The second organization, ERASE Racism, uses education, research, advocacy and support to eliminate institutional racism on Long Island. V. Elaine Gross, President, states, "Racism is like an iceberg. On the surface of the iceberg is personal racism; where stereotypes and overt prejudice give it away. Deep below the surface is institutional and structural racism, hidden but extremely destructive. I invite you to join us in shining a spotlight on the policies and practices that must change to address racial inequities."

ERASE Racism seeks to educate and promote a dialogue among community leaders about the history, continuing existence, and operational realities of institutional racism on Long Island. It identifies specific manifestations of institutional racism, initially in housing, public education, economic development, and health.

"Summer, 2006 County Executive Thomas Suozzi signed into law an amendment to the Nassau County Administrative Code that the l9 member Nassau County legislature had unanimously
passed to expand the powers of the Nassau County Human Rights Commission. The law combats discrimination in housing on the basis of race, color, creed, gender, age, disability, religion, source of income, sexual orientation, national origin, marital status, familial status or ethnicity."

"The Amendment is significant because it creates a local fair housing enforcement system, by empowering the NCHRC to impose substantial penalties if discrimination is found." ERASE Racism is located at 6800 Jericho Turnpike, Suite 109W, Syosset, NY 11791-4401

The third organization is Circulo de la Hispanidad, Inc, which "improves the lives of individuals and their families on Long Island proactively addressing issues such as economic and leadership development, health education and counseling services.

The mission of its Career and Educational Services is to encourage full participation in civic community life and to expand work opportunities for its participants.

Circulo’s Career and Educational program empowers clients providing education in a safe, non-threatening, nurturing environmental where adults gain confidence communicating via enhanced skills ,: language proficiency computer technology, and social interaction. The Circulo de la Hispanidad computer technology training program printed the beautiful invitations and Journals for the LWVNC Women’s History Celebration, years 2006 and 2007.

Circulo also conducts after-school tutoring for elementary school children from bilingual and dual language programs.

Circulo’s Salva Domestic Violence Program provides English/Spanish bilingual support service to victims of domestic violence. The program operates a bilingual hotline to provide support, crisis intervention and education to individuals living with violence or who have questions about violence and support services. It operates two weekly support groups in Long Beach and Hempstead for violence survivors. The 24 hour Domestic Violence Support Hotline is. (516) 889-2849.

For further information about the LWVNC Women’s History celebration, March 20, 2007 reservations and/or commemorative journal call (516) 431-1628.
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Okay, ladies. Enjoy the accolades. We hereby declare April "Men's History Month." Pass the remote, and get me another beer from the fridge, will ya?

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