2011 National NOW Conference - Tampa, FL.

June 24-26, 2011

SUMMARY

By Cindy Guerra

Karen K and I registered for the Conference on Thursday evening, June 23.  Surprisingly, there were long lines of people registering and getting credentialed.  The atmosphere was friendly and people seemed enthusiastic.   Also attending the conference were Karen Van Hooft, Olga Tsoudis and Stephanos Antoniades, Sheila Ogea and Carol Corsica.
Upon scoping out the Program Book from our packet of Conference information, the amount of workshops, “after” workshops, issue hearings, caucuses, plenaries, presenters and other things included in the program book could have been overwhelming if we were not Conference pros.
Karen and I decided to attend different workshops (as we always do) to be able to report on as many different workshops as we can.
On Friday, I attended “Engaging and Mentoring a New Generation of Feminists” and the Anti-Immigrant Sentiment, Domestic Violence and Families:  A narrative of Liberation.”  On Saturday I attended “More Than a Pretty Face. . .The Face of Diversity” and the Ending Racism Issue Hearing.
Erin Matson facilitated the Engaging and Mentoring a New Generation of Feminists with N. Jerin Arifa, Elisabeth Crum, and Micah Bochart.   Erin began the workshop by defining the differences of Mentoring, Coaching and Sponsorship.   She offered that mentor and mentoree should set mutual goals, build trust between them with confidentiality.  Mentor should have regular contact with the mentoree; i.e. weekly, monthly.
Micah Bochart was a pleasant surprise to me.  He is a member of the Young Feminist Task Force.  He spoke about how to involve feminist men in now.  His insight was greatly helpful in calling upon men to recognize that name calling, interrupting a woman are forms of violence, as these acts are dehumanizing to women.  He calls upon men to take action and stop being a bystander when a male sees these things happen and to remain attentive to the safety of women.  He offered that we can empower feminist men with the knowledge that their actions and words matter; that men have a stake in what happens to women.  How to keep feminist men involved: expand their contribution capabilities and help them discover new ways to contribute to NOW.
N. Jerin Arifa and Elisabeth Crum, both also on the YFTF, gave the workshop participants an insight of what the YFTF has been doing the past year with regards to domestic violence and how physical abuse is sustained through the Immigrant Power and Control Wheel which was handed out at the workshop.
The Anti-Immigrant Sentiment, Domestic violence, and Families: A Narrative of Liberation workshop was exceptional.   Immigration is a women’s issue because it affects so many women.  More than half of all immigrants are women and many of them are primary breadwinners for their families.  Further, six out of 10 Central American women are raped in Mexico during their passage to the United States.  Colleen Hodgetts was quoted, “As feminists we fight against invisibility, exploitation, violence and ignorance.  Our struggle for justice should include all those who fight marginalization within a power structure created to give power to few and alienate most.”
They further pointed out that the impact of language is harmful.  The word “:illegal” is used to dehumanize people.  It also discriminates against immigrants and people of color regardless of migratory status.   The correct term would be “undocumented.”
Undocumented Latinas are especially vulnerable to domestic violence with threats of reporting them and deportation as a tool used against them.  There are also many internal barriers such as their desire to preserve the family intact at all cost; and external barriers such as lack of knowledge of their legal rights.  Muslim victims of domestic violence also face honor killings and other strict cultural differences. 
More Than a Pretty Face …The Face of Diversity provided discussion on raising the awareness of racial discrimination because it still exists.  Norma Rixter called upon the workshop participants to share their experiences in racially diverse environments such as on their jobs and with extended families.  The goals of the workshop were to raise awareness that racial discrimination still exists and to have participants share their experiences living in a racially diverse environment and the differences it has made for them.
On Saturday I attended the Ending Racism Issue Hearing.  Tony Van Pelt facilitated the small group in attendance.   We reviewed a number of previous NOW Resolutions concerning ending racism.  One past resolution called for a Women of Color themed Conference which has never taken place. 
After much discussion, a resolution was formed to call for the Combating Racism ad hoc Committee and the board committee on Ending Racism create a tool kit which would include three articles regarding white privilege and racism and a model racial inclusion plan that contains cultural communication dynamics education and calling for a reaffirmation of the 1990 resolution titled Diversity Theme of Future National Conference to be held in the year 2014.  After some changes, the resolution was passed on the floor.
At the Saturday afternoon Southwest Regional Caucus only one member from Nevada was present and several Arizona members.  No one from California, Utah or Hawaii was present.
At the Saturday afternoon Plenary, Olga Vives was presented with the Woman of Action Award. Sonia Pressman Fuentes, a founder of NOW, was presented with a Founder Recognition award.
At the Saturday night dance, the dance floor was filled with young feminists and several young-at-heart feminists.  We had a good time.
The two Sunday Plenaries were dedicated to the introduction, discussion and approval of Resolutions.  Terry O’Neill was very skilled in handling the many amendments, and amendment to the amendments, the green cards, the yellow and red cards, during the resolutions process. 
This conference was an extremely well planned and executed Conference.  There were 474 registered attendees out of 600 pre-registered members; 166 were credentialed.
Seeing old friends and meeting and talking to Feminists from across the country, listening to knowledgeable and exciting speakers that motivate you, attending workshops that inspire you, participating in issues hearings and the resolutions process, are all reasons why every NOW member should attend a National Conference.