From: Radical Women, 5018 Rainier Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98118 Contact: Anne Slater: office 206-722-6057; cell 206-708-5161; home 206-722-3812
For release: Immediately Do not use after: October 6, 2008 RE: WOMEN’S CONFERENCE
Activists and scholars to gather at milestone international women’s conference
“The Persistent Power of Socialist Feminism” is the theme of Radical Women’s 41st anniversary conference to be held at San Francisco’s historic Women’s Building, October 3-6, 2008. The major goal of the three-day public event is to produce a concrete education and action plan to focus and strengthen the U.S. feminist movement—one that can win survival issues, such as 24 hour childcare, nationalized healthcare and full reproductive rights.
Keynotes and panelists from Central America, China, Australia and the U.S. will demonstrate the capacity to unite across national, race, age, and sexuality lines; discuss the impact of women of color and immigrants on the revival of the labor movement and the need for on- going grassroots mobilizations that are independent of the Republican and Democratic parties; specify ways to expand multi-racial organizing; and help build the leadership of youth and queers.
Skills training workshops will teach media relations, banner and leaflet design, public speaking, campus organizing, and starting an RW branch, among other topics. Issues workshops will range from reinstating affirmative action and recognizing females’ stake in antiwar actions, to connecting radical youth with rebel elders, fighting fascism, and studying Marxist feminist theory. A book signing party for recently published Viva La Raza: A History of Chicano Identity and Resistance, by Radical Women leaders Yolanda Alaniz and Megan Cornish, will be part of conference activities.
Bay Area RW Organizer, Nancy Reiko Kato, whose branch is hosting the conference, notes that Radical Women is one of a handful of women’s groups founded in the 1960s that is alive and well today. “RW is unique,” she says, “in its financial and ideological independence from government officials and corporations. We have expanded into an international organization because of our anti-capitalist, multi- issue, pro-worker program and dedicated active membership. We invite everyone to the conference who wants to end misogyny and advance the rights and living conditions of all people.”
Registration is $15 per day; students and low income $7.50 per day. Register at www.RadicalWomen.org. For more information, phone 206-722-6057.
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