Community organizing takes many forms and over the next two Thursday evenings, two very unique and vital events organized to uniquely focus on the women and their needs will be held in the city.
On Thursday, May 17,
WISE (Women In Successful Enterprises), a quarterly networking/social giving group of women devoted to fostering an environment for women to share personal stories of growth and support, will host at the recently opened Interphase Interiors/Haworth downtown MoDiv space a lecture by John Berry of Design West Michigan on building design in business planning for all industries.
The, which includes an audience of new and second stage women-owned businesses, will showcase examples of how design has changed the way West Michigan conducts business. With the $25 admission, guests will nosh on appetizers and wine. In addition, a portion of the event’s admission will be donated to Gilda’s Club, WISE’s targeted charity for 2012. (In 2011, WISE raised funds for American Heart Association for their Go Red for Women campaign.)
The following Thursday, May 24, women of all shapes, sizes and even political backgrounds will be gathering at Rosa Parks Circle to attend the
Stop WOW (War On Women) rally.
Billed as a chance for women to raise their voices, the Stop WOW rally was created, according to co-organizer Kathleen Ley Bruinsma, because “the speed with which legislators in Michigan and across the country are enacting bills that threaten women and families is daunting.”
With more than 1,000 bills introduced at the state and U.S. Congress levels since 2010, organizers have been encouraged by the outpouring of support at the local level from women who are stepping forward to make this event happen.
“When we started this event, we met across different age demographics with a series of responses that emboldened us to host this event,” says Bruinsma. “Women and men in their 70s and 80s are asking, ‘are we really fighting this battle again?’, middle-aged women are rallying with ‘thank you for doing this because economic equality means a lot to me’, and a younger generation born in the privacy era are concerned about losing the right to keep matters of health in women’s hands and confidential.’”
The rally will include information tables from the event’s many sponsors, a concert with Ellie Francis, comic relief from Fubble Entertainment’s Teresa Thome, readings from one of the many bills by area leaders and three guest speakers, Fred Stella, Kate Dru and Mary Alice Williams.
Both events are fine examples of the powerful network of women (and men who love and support them) in our community.
Admission: WISE Event - $25. / Stop WOW Rally - Free