A Celebration of International Women’s Day

Everywoman’s Center, the Women of Color Leadership Network and the Graduate Women’s Network Present:
A Celebration of International Women’s Day
Monday, March 8, 2010 from 3:00-6:00
Cape Cod Lounge, Student Union Building/University of Massachusetts Amherst
Everyone Welcome!

International Women’s Day, March 8^th, is an internationally recognized day that acknowledges the contributions of women worldwide.  Celebrations in many countries around the world include: parties, political actions, educational forums, and commemorations. In some countries, it is a day of rest and relaxation, honoring women for the work that they do to maintain their families and communities all year.
In recognition of this day, Everywoman’s Center, the Women of Color Leadership Network and the GSS Graduate Women’s Network have come together to organize an afternoon of art, poetry, music, food, information and self-care. From 3:00-4:00 there will be information tables featuring literature from campus-based women’s organizations, refreshments, massage and henna tattoos, as well as an opportunity to be inspired by the Women of Hope poster art show. From 4:00-5:00 there will be a reception and an exceptional poetry reading honoring the lives of women including: Leslea Newman, Lenelle Moise and Karen Johnston.

Leslea Newman
Leslea Newman is the author of 57 books including A Letter to Harvey Milk and Heather Has Two Mommies, which was the first published children’s book to portray lesbian families in a positive light. She is also the author of many books for adults that deal with lesbian identity, Jewish identity and intersections between the two. Other topics Ms. Newman explores include feminism, eating disorders, butch/femme relationships and sexual abuse. Her award winning A Letter to Harvey Milk has been made into a film and was adapted for the stage. She is also currently the Poet Laureate of Northampton.

Lenelle Moise
Hailed “a masterful performer” by GetUnderground.com, Lenelle Moïse is a “culturally hyphenated pomosexual poet” who creates jazz-infused, hip-hop bred, politicized texts about Haitian-American identity and the intersection of race, class, gender, sexuality, spirituality and resistance. She recites from hand-made scrolls, from memory and with movement. She has been a featured performer in venues as diverse as the Louisiana Superdome, the United Nations General Assembly Hall as well as theatres, bookstores, cafes and activist conferences around the country. Her play “EXPATRIATE ” premiered  Off-Broadway in  2008.

Karen Johnston
Karen Johnston is a social worker by profession, a poet by avocation and a socialist by inclination, a UU-Buddhist by faith and a Mother by choice. Her writing has been published in Silkworm, Equinox, Concise Delight Word Catalyst and Women. Period. An Anthology of Writings on Menstruation.

This event is free, open to the public and wheelchair accessible. For more information contact Everywoman’s Center at 545-0883 or www.umass.edu/ewc