E-Quality Matters

Fire and Brimstone Scenario

I got to thinking about Lael's post and tried a couple of times to post comments but I've got too much to say, AND the beauty of owning this blog is that I can create my own posts! So this is really in response to Lael and best to read her post first.

Lael asks a fun question -- what happens if we don't address this issue? I think this scenario is worth investigating because, in general, scenarios are an interesting way to explore the importance and the ripple effect of any one issue.

My scenario plays out a little like a scene from Witches of Eastwick -- a film I love... the sexy slimy devil is foiled by the strength and passion of three big haired women. It's definitely a role I can see myself playing (the big haired part). Sigh... I digress...

In the scene, the women realize that they are all candidates for Jack's affections and they begin turning on each other through some "back handed" aggression (Ha! I crack myself up... they are actually playing tennis in the scene). Suddenly, the sky cracks open. Hail the size of golf balls crashes down. Thunder clashes and lightening strikes.

It's a great metaphor for the underlying, almost spiritual, value created when women are working together. Women helping other women is not simply about making progress -- helping other women get ahead, changing behaviors by modeling confidence in women's work and women's leadership,  mentoring young women and helping them step into their full potential. 

These are all very important actions that will change the role of women in society. But we must also look at the cancerous energy created when women work against each other. This not only curtails positive energy, it erodes a progressive zeitgeist. We begin buying into negative propaganda, distrust flourishes, we stop thanking each other, holding doors, cheering each other on. We stop thinking the world can be a better place; we stop trying to make the world a better place. We begin looking out for our self-interests; we let greed be our motivation.

Women helping women is the cornerstone of our social fabric. It's more than just actions; it's the energy force that fuels progress and our faith in humanity. We have to be vigilant in keeping this energy force positive. Because women not helping other women also creates energy -- but the kind that destroys rather than creates.

Hillary wins in NH, and Gloria weighs in...

Shannon found this oped by Gloria Steinhem in the New York Times. In it, she questions why women are not the front runners in political races. Being on maternity leave, I'm spending every nursing hour watching CNN, and there is a lot here that I agree with her about.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/08/opinion/08steinem.html?ex=1200459600&en=b89398531bea1916&ei=5070&emc=eta1

What do others think? Are younger women trying to escape the sexual caste system? Are female voters disloyal if they don't vote for her and biased if they do?

ME Women Showing Their Stuff

While we talk about changing Maine for its women and girls, its important to also recognize the important achievements women across Maine are already making. The Portland Press Herald is a good place to start. Reading the morning regularly gives me a snapshot of who is making waves as (to steal a term from my favorite online platform) Fab Females. I hope through E-Quality Matters, we can begin to capture a bigger picture from across Maine.

But in today's news...

Carmen Cherry of Camden was hired as a structural engineer at Gartley & Dorsky Engineering and Surveying in Camden. Cherry has more than seven years of experience in engineering, construction and research. Go go women in non-traditional occupations!

Molly Susla, a fifteen year-old from Freeport , has won a spot at the Summer Biathlon World Championships in Estonia. Summer biathlon is similar to the winter variety in that athletes must complete a race course that includes stops every so often to shoot a .22-caliber rifle at five targets. Instead of skiing, however, summer biathletes run the course. Molly won a local race while at camp, enabling her to place for the Championship!

In news late last week...

Gabrielle Machionda, Mad Gabs, is focusing on expanding her business, building on a platform of strong social values.

Ten year old Samantha Hebbs saved her grandmother from drowing in Lebanon Lake.

Say a little Woo Hoo for Girl Power!

Results from the movement...

Back at home, reflecting on the Women's Funding Network conference, I am struck by one big trend -- concrete results.

• In DC, the Washington Area Women's Fund improve the financial knowledge and practices of 200 women to reduce debt and increase savings and placed more than 100 women in higher paying jobs, including jobs in high-growth sectors and nontraditional occupations. As a result of their efforts, the Fund increased low-income women's collective assets and income by $5 million!
• In a collective funding action the women's funds of Greater Brimingham, Greater Jackson, Greater Memphis, Chicago, and Atlanta are dramatically changing lives of women affected by Hurricaine Katrina. Together they have built 630 new affordable homes, provided job training to 150 women, transitioned 50 women to stable unsubsidized employment, and provided trauma care to 6000 children.

Goal orientation is a big part of the Maine Women's Fund new strategic plan and 5 year vision. I am excited to concretely move the needle for women here in Maine, contributing our bit to big change across the country and around the world.

Blogging from the Movement

I'm blogging from the Women's Funding Network -- the movement of women's funds across the world, which together are directing $480 million in assets to address the systemic barriers that prevent women from realizing their potential.

Being at the conference always reinforces and reminds me why I love the women's funding movement and WHY I am so thrilled to be at the Maine Women's Fund -- we are part of something bigger then ourselves. Millions of women, agencies, and institutions across the world that share a common a vision and are acting towards that vision.

This morning we heard from Noeleen Heyzer who is the Executive Director of UNIFEM. She spoke the conference's core agenda -- how do we dismantle poverty? She reinforced that this is a bold agenda, because as she works with the world's leaders of State, they are only committing to halving poverty. But, she observes, if we only halve poverty -- who will be the half that still lives on less then a dollar a day, the half that suffers from poor nutrition, the half that falls victim to violence and discrimination? Women.

To focus on this bold agenda, Noeleen called on us to address the power structures that sustain poverty and in doing that:

1. Restructure Markets -- the Economist recently reported that women are driving economic growth, but they are not benefitting from that economic growth. Women need to move up the value chain of the markets -- could our WST work be at the forefront this agenda in Maine? We need to increase access to the land and property market, -- until women can save and accumulate weath, we won't be equal economic participants in society. And we need to access access to the macro capital markets -- we deserve more than micro -- again, I'm excited about our WST work.

2. Reengage with the state government -- If we are to create a just, equitable, and sustainable world, we need increase participation in hte economic and political decision making

3. Add power to civil society increasing the power of money, ideas, and partnerships to leverage our agenda. We have leadership -- in business, in government, in communities, and in social agencies around the world, we have to galvanize that leadership for a force for change. We need to give a constituency to our women leaders so they are not alone in their roles, so they have the political will to act as strong leaders.

Finally, Noeleen echoed my own beliefs -- we need to claim our rights. We are powerful and we are equal citizens and participants, however, we must claim those roles for ourselves.

It never fails to amaze me that the world agenda mirrors our own agenda in Maine.

The MWF Community

I reguarly visualize the Maine Women's Fund as a community. Its far more than an organization of 16 board members, 5 staff, and 3 dogs. There are 250 grantee organizations, over a 1000 donors, 150 + "new girls," previous board members, beneficiaries, advisors, etc. We each contribute something different, which when aggregated make us into something bigger than ourselves.

Lacey, for example, believes that her time is more valuable than her dollars.

I tend to try and support my beliefs and contribute to philanthropic causes through "sweat equity" like volunteering and doing personal things for two reasons. 1. I can use my actual cash to pay for my mortgage and daily living needs. 2. I feel more invested by supporting something in person or sharing my knowledge and time than I do sharing my $$.

Sarah Halpin is deeply motivated as a donor:

I've always felt that my career in financial services chose me versus my choosing it. As a teenager, the loss of our family business and my mother's loss of financial security transformed me.  The choas and hardship brought purpose.  The drive to first empower myself.  Secondly, to equip myself and now today I'm fortunate to be able to rolemodel and influence others through my work.  I'm passionate about programs that benefit the economic health and quality of life for women and girls and am proud to be a part of Women Standing Together.

What is the change that you would like to see in the world, and how do you contribute to it?  With your time, money, expertise, other ways?