June 2021

WILPF US Congress in August Is Bigger and Better!

By Mary Hanson Harrison
WILPF US 34^th Triennial Congress Coordinator

Save the dates and get excited! We’re going BIGGER and BETTER!!

“WOMEN, POWER, and SOCIAL JUSTICE: Building from Strength” is the theme for the 34^th WILPF US Triennial Congress this summer. Here are the dates to remember: August 13-15 and 20-22 with some weekday afternoons/evenings. This schedule offers time to “see” everyone from around the world who shares our values and passions. A radical departure from past Congresses that were limited to those able to travel to them, this Congress is more open and more accessible than ever!

Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis (left), photo from her Amazon author page, and Vandana Shiva (right), Indian activist, environmentalist, and one of the main leaders of the International Forum on Globalization (IFG), photo credit: Giacomo Marini / Shutterstock.com.

We have a remarkable number of excellent speakers booked, along with challenging panels, roundtables, and interviews. Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis opens on the first Friday night, along with greetings from Madeleine ReesWILPF Secretary General. Joy OnyesohPresident of WILPF International, will greet us on the next Friday. Vandana Shiva will speak during the morning of the first Saturday session; Maude BarlowCanadian Chair of Food & Water Watch and Paul Kiveleducator and activist, are scheduled to speak on the second Sunday.

Branches will offer panels and roundtables on various and fascinating issues. Other presentations include: The Americas & Colonialism, Indigenous Women Speaking Up, Social Justice Rising Up, Interviews, and the intersections of gender and racial disparities. There will be “HOW TOs” on membership and branch building, social media, feminist leadership, legislative success, and there will also be entertainment segments.

You and your friends can plan a picnic or a house party to participate together, or plan to spend some time in the cool of your living room and still be part of it all. The important thing is we can all be togetherwatching, listening, discussing (and yes, arguing!) even though we will be many miles, even oceans, apart. We are getting ready for our WILPF family reunion – and this time it will be zooming out into the entire world.

More adventures, schedules, and registration information are coming to you soon!

Join the New WILPF Committee on Anti-Racism Awareness and Action

By Darien De Lu
President, WILPF US

WILPF US wants to offer branches and members ways to increase our individual anti-racism awareness as well as our knowledge of structural and institutional racism and classism. At our Congress, a presentation will both elicit and provide ideas on how to localize that increased understanding through action. Will you join the new national committee to help with that work?

This committee will also identify ways to assist branches in welcoming a variety of people – of different cultures – into WILPF branches and work: Black, indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC); working class and other low-income individuals; young(er) people, and people of different gender identities, including non-binary.

This committee work builds on WILPF US racism education and anti-racism initiatives over the decades. Most recently, at the turn of the century, was the UFORJE (United for Racial Justice) campaign, followed a few years later by Building the Beloved Community. Now we urge all WILPF members – through individual reading and study, with branch discussions and programs, and by thoughtful interactions – to expand and refresh our understandings. The committee will encourage and support (with “how-to” info and stories) branch and member involvement with local groups active on anti-racism and economic justice issues, especially activities led by BIPOC women.

For self-education, WILPF published the beginning of a resource list in a July 2020 eNews article. An expanded list will soon be available.

For more information about the committee, contact me at President@wilpfus.org.

Save the Date: Public Banking Deeper Dive Webinar Series Will Start August 27

By Marybeth Gardam
Chair, Women, Money & Democracy Committee

Get informed and prepared to be an effective advocate right in your own community. Sign up for a PUBLIC BANKING DEEPER DIVE series of webinar workshops starting on Friday, August 27 at 8 pm ET / 5 pm PT.

When we talk about moving the money from war and profiteering to people-centered services, public banking makes great sense. And legislation to kick-start public banking is picking up speed in states and even cities across the US. The time is right to understand the benefits and learn where your state is in the processso you can become an effective advocate for public banking near you.   

The WILPF US Women, Money & Democracy Committee is collaborating to sponsor these hands-on organizing workshops with our partner An Economy of Our Own. Sign up by emailing the W$D Committee: publicbanking.wilpfus@gmail.com.

Look for a full article about this timely webinar series in the July eNews.