Etcetera
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Focus on Welfare Reform
This month local activists are sponsoring a range of events taking a critical look at, and sometimes protesting, the changes that Congress has proposed making in the welfare system. These include a teach-in, a forum, and the ongoing activities of a statewide coalition.
Does Newt Gingrich & co. have you up in arms? Now is the time to get informed-and involved.
Social Work Students Sponsor Teach-In
On Friday, April 7, students at the U-M School of Social Work will host at day-long teach -in students for students, service providers, and all concerned persons, on the topic of welfare reform. Entitled "The Implications of Welfare Reform: Initiatives for Change or War on the Poor?", it commences at 9:30 am in the Rackham Amphitheater (fourth floor).
There will be talks, workshops and discussions. Panelists and moderators will include professors, welfare recipients, anti-poverty activists, and human service providers. For more information contact Stephanie Barbee at 213-0048.
Guild House Sponsors Forum
This month, the Second Wednesday Supper Forum (April 12) at Guild House features a talk by EMU Education Professor Valerie Polakow, on "Welfare Reform: An Assault on Women and Children." Dr. Polakow is the author of "Lives on the Edge: Single Mother and Their Children in the Other America."
The 6 pm talk will be preceded by a rice and beans supper at 5:15 pm (there is a suggested donation of 5$). Guild House is located at 802 Monroe, across from the Law School library. For more information call 662-5189.
Mich. Anti-Poverty Coalition Fights Back
This group of human service workers and administrators, welfare recipients, educators, and other concerned members of the community, has been meeting over the last few months in Washtenaw County. They're strategizing and holding protests in opposition to welfare "reform"-Gingrich style, Engler-style, Republican-style, and Democrat-style.
Beginning in February they have held weekly soup kitchens in front of Detroit Edison to protest "corporate welfare"-the huge subsidies and tax incentives that the government hands out to big business. Edison is also culpable in the operation of its faulty nuclear power plant, Fermi 2, and its policy of dumping nuclear waste in the Mescalero Apache reservation.
The Anti-Poverty Coalition continues to meet the second Monday of each month at 7 pm and the fourth Saturday of each month at 10:30 am, at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 1917 Washtenaw. They have standing committees in the following area: action, outreach, education, and fundraising. For more information contact Jodi Sandford at 668-2866.
Focus on Women's Rights
There are a number of upcoming events-locally and nationally-focusing on women's rights, women's health, and women's safety. These are being held in response to the continuing problem of violence against women, the erosion of women's rights under the "Contract with America," and the growing body of knowledge about health across a woman's life span (and the growing women's health activist movement).
Get ready to travel, to rally and to learn!
Now Sponsors Rally Against Violence
"We Won't Go Back" is the theme of the national rally that the National Organization for Women is holding on Sunday, April 9 in Washington, D.C. Be part of this massive action against violence against women and the "Contract with America" and in support of the new Violence Against Women Act.
"We'll rally in Washington on April 9th to say loudly and clearly: 'We won't go back!" said NOW President Patricia Ireland. "We will show the nation, the 104th Congress and President Clinton that supporters of women's rights are the overwhelming majority."
For information about carpooling to the event from Ann Arbor, call Bev Fish at 484-1897.
Symposium Focuses on Women's Health
On April 5th, the Michigan Initiative for Women's Health will host a symposium entitled: "Family Status and Health across a Woman's Life Span." It begins at noon in the Rackham Auditorium, followed by sessions from 1-3:45 pm in the Hussey Room of the Michigan League and concludes with a talk, reception, and performance back at the Rackham Building.
The includes a town meeting hosted by the Commission for Women and the Women of Color Task Force, to discuss the Michigan Women's Agenda; roundtable discussions on conflict between work and families, childbearing choices, economic status and family health, and more; an address by Judy Norsigian of the Boston Women's Health Movement:Where Have We Come From & Where Are We Headed"; and a theatrical performance by Barbara Tarbuck entitles: "They Call Me Dr. Greer," about Germaine Greer, Australian feminist thinker on women, health and life.
In cooperation with the Ann Arbor Y, childcare will be provided for children 12 months and older, free of charge, by reservation. For more information contact the MIWH Program Office at 747-0472.
Take Back the Night!
The 16th annual "Take Back the Night" march and rally, to protest violence against women, will be held Saturday, April 22d. The rally is open to all members of the community and begins at 7 pm at Community High. A march for women only will follow. For more information contact the Ann Arbor Coalition Against Rape at 995-0795.
Focus on AIDS Awareness
For two decades now AIDS has taken a terrible toll worldwide. While activist groups continue to push for more funding to curb the disease, it is important to remember and commemorate the lives of those who have died from AIDS.
Names AIDS Quilt Comes to Detroit
The Names Project AIDS Memorial Quilt is coming to Detroit's Cobo Center April 6-9. The opening ceremony will be Wednesday, April 5.
The display will consist of 5,000 panels-the largest display ever to come to Michigan. The entire Names Quilt does not travel and contains more than 27,000 individual panels.
The Quilt represents not only the significance of the lives of those who have died from AIDS, but also brings awareness to millions of people worldwide of the impact of the disease. What is so powerful is not just the sheer number of panels on display, but the heart-breaking displays of love and loss and the celebration of those who are no longer with us.
The mission of the Names Project is to help bring an end to the AIDS epidemic. The Quilt is being brought to Detroit with the sponsorship of the Detroit Metro Chapter of the Names Project and the Detroit Health Department. For more information call PFLAG, Ann Arbor, at 769-1684.
Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) meets the third Sunday of every month from 2-5 pm at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 1917 Washtenaw.
"Remember My Name"
On june 25, the seventh annual "Remember My Name" AIDS Memorial Service will be held on the steps of the State Capitol in Lansing, Each year the number of names continues to grow as more and more family and friends are lost to AIDS.
Names for this year's service, as well as donations to help defray costs, may be sent to: Remember My Name Committee, P.O. Box 27071, Lansing, MI 48909. For more information, or to submit names by phone, call Maxine Thome (517) 484-0946 or Kathy Leacock (517) 371-2190.
Benefit Concert for Interfaith
The Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice is pleased to announce a benefit concert on April 8 featuring Charlie king and Elise Bryant.
Charlie King, a musical storyteller and political satirist from the East Coast, is one of our very best singer/songwriters. Elise Bryant, local performer and playwright, is one of Ann Arbor's true cultural treasures.
Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice was founded in 1965 by congregations and individuals, to work for peace and social justice.
The concert is at 8 pm at St. Mary Student Parish (Thompson & William). For ticket information call 663-1870.