just out ▼ octobor 20, 1095 ▼ 15
Righting inequality
The Portland Cay Men's Chorus
proudly opens its 16th Season
with a Holiday Concert
SPIRIT empowers women and girls around issues
o f gender and race
▼
December 15th at 7:30 pm
and
December 16th at 7:00 pm
at the
Westminster Presbyterian Church
by Inga Sorensen
ur goal is to make sure that women
and girls have a place at the table
every step of the way,” says Sandra
Davis, lead organizer for the fledg
ling group Sisters in Portland Im
pacting Real Issues Together, also
O
SPIRIT.
SPIRIT is a new membership organization that
aims to empower and develop the leadership skills
of low-income women, women of color and girls.
The group does so by providing public forums
where women and girls can air their issues, by
fostering intergenerational links, and by develop
ing the capacity of girls and
women to act around issues of
gender and race inequity.
SPIRIT, which is a project of
the Oakland, Calif.-based Cen
ter for Third World Organizing,
also plans to challenge “city,
county and state institutions to
meet the needs of girls and
women and their families.” Simi
lar projects exist in Denver,
Colo., Oakland and Sacramento,
Calif.
According to Davis, SPIRIT
launched an extensive door-to-
door survey in North and North
east Portland throughout the sum
mer to learn more about the con
cerns of women and girls. The
group also sponsored a series of
tea parties in residents’ homes and conducted an
assessment of existing service providers.
“The three primary areas of concern for women
and girls deal with employment and livable wages,
affordable housing and safety, both at home and on
the streets,” says Davis.
Based on the information it gathered, SPIRIT
came to the sobering conclusion that the psycho
logical and economic hardships faced by women
and their families— who are forced to make diffi
cult economic choices on a daily basis— is given
far too little attention. That economic deprivation,
more specifically the lack of adequate housing,
livable wages, education, jobs and child care, often
renders women and their children far more vulner
able to physical violence.
In a 1994 study, the U.S. Department of Justice
reported that women in the lowest family income
category, less than $10,000 per year, experienced
the highest rates of violent crime. According to
SPIRIT, in Oregon close to 300,000—or 45 per
cent—of employed women work in low-paying
service and administrative support jobs which are
often part-time and rarely provide benefits. Mini
mum wage leaves a family of three nearly $4,000
under the poverty line. In Oregon, women of color
have the lowest incomes and the highest rate of
known
poverty. as
Davis says SPIRIT hopes to change that by
shining a light on that tough reality and by giving
women and girls the tools they need to build
brighter futures.
In mid-September, SPIRIT sponsored its first
public event—a community speak-out entitled
“Building Safe and Powerful Communities
Through Honoring Women,
Children and Culture”—which
attracted close to 100 women
and men from various cultural
backgrounds. Oregon state Rep.
Avel Gordly; Lucius Hicks,
chair of the Portland School
Board; and a representative
from Multnomah County Com
mission Chair Beverly Stein’s
office were among those on
hand.
The speak-out, says Davis,
was designed to give women
and girls of all ages and back
grounds a chance to come to
gether and testify about their
experiences and the issues that
most affect their daily lives.
SPIRIT has set up several
committees, including one specifically for young
women. Nearly 20 girls between the ages of 13 and
19 are involved in the Young Women’s Commit
tee, which has held discussions on issues such as
sexual harassment. During a recent committee
meeting a self-defense instructor was brought in to
teach the young women some basics about protect
ing oneself from violence.
“I think what sets SPIRIT apart from other
organizations is that we firmly believe that women
and girls need to be at the table when it comes to the
decision-making process. It is a priority for us to
ensure that women and girls are present,” she says.
SPIRIT welcomes anyone who “believes in
positive change for our communities and supports
the leadership of women of color and low-income
women and girls.” Membership dues are $12 per
year, and volunteers are always appreciated.
For more information about SPIRIT, call
335-6919, or write to SPIRIT, 126 NE Alberta St.,
Portland, 97211.
SPIRIT launched
an extensive door-
to-door survey in
North and North
east Portland
throughout the
summer to learn
more about the
concerns o f
women and girls.
Spokesman for
the prophecies
In the early 1940s, four men were chosen by
the traditional Hopi leaders to carry the message
of the Hopi people Thomas Banyacya is the
remaining messenger of the four. He has traveled
the world since 1948 warning all who would
listen that civilization is pressing too far into
technological development without remember
ing to remain in balance with the Earth.
All native peoples and organizations, church
groups, social change organizations and indi
viduals working toward peace and a world in
balance are invited to hear the message of the
Hopi people. Thomas Banyacya will be speaking
at the Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1624
NE Hancock St., at 7 pm Friday, Nov. 3. Tickets
are $5-$20 sliding scale. The event is sponsored
by Tateyah Topa (206) 368-9241.
Party canceled
The Halloween Dance “Fears, Phobias and
Fantasies V—Queer Science” was canceled late
in September. Organizers cited a lack of sponsor
ships by major corporations which are crucial to
production of the event.
During the past four years, the dance has
raised $45,000 for the Cascade AIDS Project,
Esther’s Pantry and the Friends of People with
AIDS Foundation.
Organizers will endeavor to produce the event
next year and encourage individuals who are
interested in helping to call Blackout Productions
at 236-1091.
Renée LaChance
To Purchase
Advance Tickets
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Information
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