This election, let's move our daughters from the poles to the polls

by: CatsMeow

Wed Oct 22, 2008 at 17:44:13 PM EDT

EMILY's List: MI will be a major player in '08

by: LiberalLucy

Tue Aug 26, 2008 at 15:12:37 PM EDT

Live from the Big Tent in Denver, EMILY's List Executive Director Ellen Malcolm and Deputy Political Director Susan Markham were kind enough to take a few minutes and talk with me about how they view Michigan's role in the '08 Elections, and what their fantastic organization is doing to help pro-choice women achieve elected office.

Many thanks to the great folks of EMILY's List for reaching out and helping Michigan!

What Michigan and America Need: A Strong Woman

by: PoliSciGuy11

Thu Mar 06, 2008 at 23:16:06 PM EST

After Hillary Clinton's landmark wins in Rhode Island, Ohio, and Texas on Tuesday it is time for Americans of all kind, Democrats or Republicans, Young or Old, Blue Collar or White Collar, to support Hillary Clinton in this historic presidential election.  

Hillary Clinton brings to the table something that is unique and growing in America, the "strong woman." Since birth, I have grew up around these "strong women." My Great-Grandmother, Ella was a single mother in the 1950's, working hard hours to support herself, and the family she loves, and I considered her a Hero in my book. My grandmother Brenda, getting married at the age of 16, and having my mother at the age of 17, and owning/running a small business for over 30 years. My other grandmother Alice, who had ten children, and making the sacrifice of staying home everyday to take care of her Children. Then to my mother Denise, the first in her family to get a college degree, and a steady career. I have grew up around strong women all myself, I see the hard they have put into their families, careers and there communities.

I believe Hillary Clinton can serve as a strong woman in the oval office, making the right decisions for our nation, and working hard for the everyday American, giving everyone healthcare, lowering college tuition, ending the war in Iraq, making the American economy stable and making equal rights for all Americans.

I have been around the presence of strong women, and I have seen the great works they have done. With Hillary Clinton in the White House, we can still strive for a new America, and actually make it a reality, not just dream. Its time for woman in the Oval Office, and that woman is Hillary Clinton.

Jan. 22, 2008: 35th Anniversary of Roe v Wade

by: Dessacosma

Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 15:10:46 PM EST

The anniversary of Roe v Wade is a powerful reminder that the struggle to protect women's health and safety continues to this day. January is the month that feminists and pro-choice advocates simultaneously celebrate and breathe in deep, preparing to dig our heels in for another year of fighting for the right to make decisions about our own bodies.

January is the month that feminists and pro-choice advocates simultaneously celebrate and breathe in deep, preparing to dig our heels in for another year of fighting for the right to make decisions about our own bodies.

Thirty five years after Roe v Wade was argued in the Supreme Court, the decisions of that day making abortion legal in the US, we can be proud of our progress, but we can't be too excited because it's clear that unless we demand this freedom be honored, it will be snatched away in an instant.

Discrimination against Women in Ann Arbor

by: socialjustice

Thu May 24, 2007 at 00:03:12 AM EDT

The Ann Arbor School Board is considering a proposal on May 30th that would break the back of the women employees in the food services department.

While it may not be the intent of the Superintendent Todd Roberts to discriminate against women workers, his proposal has a clear disproportionate negative impact on the low-wage female food service workers, many who are seniors.

If the Ann Arbor School Board passes the privatization proposal, $400,000 to $500,000 would be taken out of the workers' wages and benefits.  The District is asking for approximately a 30% reduction in wages and benefits from the lunch ladies to avoid outsourcing.  The department is almost all women.  Other departments get raises, the low wage women get fired and their benefits removed.

The Superintendent (Todd Roberts) himself, young and not very experienced, makes over $170,000.00.

The lunch ladies understand there are budget problems.  They have stepped to the plate and are willing to save the school district $180,000.00.  They are willing to take 10% reduction in wages and benefits.

Instead, of sharing the pain equally across departments, the district proposal looks to squash these women and knock them out of the ball park.  The women are perceived as not having much political clout.  10% cuts are already too severe.  But they are team players.

Karen Cross, President of the School Board has the power to stop this unfair proposal.  Please urge her to instruct Superintendent Roberts to explore other ways to balance the budget in a more even handed way.  Explain to her the proposal cuts are too deep.  The proposal also is bad for student health and safety. 

There is a 7.5 million budget shortfall  in the AA school budget.  While the lunch ladies only account for 1% of the total school budget, the proposal asks these women to absorb almost 7% of the shortfall.

Please stand with lunch ladies next Wednesday as parents, women's rights activists,clergy, teachers and community leaders ask the board to explore other ways to balance the budget. Outsourcing, and putting these women into poverty, goes to far.  Washtenaw taxpayers believe in a living wage and as a matter of principle oppose this proposal.

PLEASE ATTEND:

DEMANDING EQUALITY IN ANN ARBOR SCHOOLS!
Wednesday May, 30th, 2007

Ann Arbor Board of Education Meeting

Arrive between 6:15 pm and 6:30 pm

Board meeting begins at 7:30 pm

District Library, 4th Floor Board

343 South Fifth Avenue

Ann Arbor, MI 48104

Please contact these board members:
Susan Baskett, Board member, is not listed because she understands how this proposal is bad for the kids and workers and unfair to women.
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President
Karen D. Cross
1803 High Pointe Lane
Ann Arbor, MI  48108
734-741-4480
crossk@aaps.k12.mi.us

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Treasurer
Randy Friedman
1010 Berkshire Road
Ann Arbor, MI  48104
734-332-6031
friedman@aaps.k12.mi.us

----------------------------------------------------------

Trustee
Helen Gates-Bryant
1424 Astor Avenue
Ann Arbor, MI  48104
734-665-4303
gatesh@aaps.k12.mi.us

----------------------------------------------------------

Vice President
Deb Mexicotte
2660 Yost Blvd
Ann Arbor, MI  48104
734-677-1587
mexicott@aaps.k12.mi.us

----------------------------------------------------------

Trustee
Glenn Nelson
1323 S. Forest Ave.
Ann Arbor, MI  48104
734-663-4849
nelsong@aaps.k12.mi.us

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Secretary, Parliamentarian
Irene  Patalan
5175 W. Liberty
Ann Arbor,  MI  48103
734-668-6246
patalan@aaps.k12.mi.us