Archived Radio Show

May 12, 2025

Original Radio Show  ID:
WSA250512

Listen to the Show on the Mp3 Player below

Duration 57 minutes

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Featuring

Click the Name to access the Segment below

1. Commentary by our Host, Elaine B. Holtz,

2. Co-Host Andrea Hall, PhD, RN, Author, Wellness Coach 

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1. Commentary by our Host, Elaine B. Holtz: Happy Belated Mother’s Day. Yesterday, May 11th , we celebrated Mother’s Day. As I do every year on the Monday after Mother’s Day, a Mother’s Day show, dedicated to all mothers at home and across the globe.

The goal for this show is to acknowledge the original intent of Mother’s Day and honor mother’s past and present. The goal is also to give women a history lesson about the original intent of Mother’s Day which was to speak out against ending all war. Julia Ward Howell worked to establish a Mother’s Peace Day. Howe dedicated the celebration to the eradication of war, and organized festivities in Boston for years. She also wrote the Mother’s Day Proclamation.

In her proclamation Ward states, “Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn all that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy, and patience. We women of one country will be too tender of those of another country to allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs.”  

Joining me in the studio this morning is one of my favorite people looking right at me, Andrea Hall, PhD. Welcome Andrea, welcome to Women’s Spaces. Andrea has agreed to be Co Host with this Mother’s Day show with me. We will be playing Julia Ward 's Mother's Day Proclamation, followed by our comments, and then I will read the new Mother's Day Proclamation penned by Rivera Sun for Code Pink and discuss it. Then Andrea and I will read my poem I Am Woman, I Am All Women.

A bit of History about Mother’s Day: While many countries celebrate Mother’s Day at various times, nations like the U.S., Italy, Australia, and others observe it on the second Sunday in May—this year, May 11. In the U.S., its origins date back to 1870 when abolitionist Julia Ward Howe, author of The Battle Hymn of the Republic, proposed a “Mother’s Peace Day” to protest war.
After witnessing the aftermath of the Civil War, she and other mothers were moved to action, leading to her proclamation urging women to prevent future wars.

Later, in 1907, Anna Jarvis began a campaign to officially recognize Mother’s Day. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson declared it a national holiday as a tribute to mothers’ love and devotion. Today’s celebration of flowers and gifts is far removed from Howe’s peace-driven vision.
While there’s nothing wrong with honoring moms this way, we must not forget the original call to action. If we believe children are the future, we must work for justice, peace, and a woman’s right to choose—because silence is not an option.

2. Interview of our Host Elaine B Holtz by our Guest Co-Host Dr. Andrea Hall:  

In this heartfelt Mother’s Day interview, Dr. Andrea Hall speaks with Elaine B. Holtz, the longtime host of Women’s Spaces, about her rich and transformative life. Born in East Los Angeles in 1940 into an unorthodox Jewish family, Elaine reflects on her upbringing in a diverse community and her early exposure to the Hispanic culture. After a conservative early adulthood, her life shifted dramatically when she returned to school at age 30 during the Vietnam War. Despite initial academic struggles, Elaine became a journalism major and later earned a Master’s degree, eventually becoming a vocal activist and public speaker.

Elaine recounts how living in an integrated neighborhood and befriending her neighbor Nancy Rogers deepened her involvement with the Black community. Their friendship led her to participate in events like Juneteenth and build strong cross-cultural bonds. Elaine emphasizes the importance of empathy, shared humanity, and breaking down racial and cultural barriers. She shares powerful personal stories, including a moment of vulnerability in a hospital that reinforced the universal need for kindness and healing, regardless of race or background.

Elaine also reflects on her personal growth, acknowledging past prejudices and celebrating the awareness she gained through education, especially in ethnic and women’s studies. Her move to Sonoma County was motivated by concern for her daughter’s health, and it led to more activism and leadership, including being the main speaker at her Sonoma State graduation in 1975. Her journey from conservative beginnings to becoming a respected community advocate highlights the power of lifelong learning, cross-cultural friendship, and personal evolution. She encourages others to discover who they are, remain open to change, and embrace all people with compassion and respect.

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About our Guest Host: Dr. Andrea Hall is the youngest of twelve children, Andrea Hall was born and raised in Santa Rosa, CA., where her parents had moved from San Francisco to pastor a Church. Her earliest memories include being in church for many hours and following her mother, also a nurse inspired her to become a nurse.

In school, Andrea’s greatest interests were in science, sociology, health, and physical education. Her continued studies in all of them resulted in degrees and licenses in nursing, multicultural studies, metaphysics, and physical fitness. She is a coach in Heart Math.

Andrea’s most recent interests lie in writing about her favorite life experiences. Therefore, in her works of fiction, you’ll find elements of all that she loves, including nursing, spirituality, love, and family. She recently retired from her nursing career and is looking forward to enjoying life and adventure in her next phase. She is a mother of three beautiful children and five grandchildren.

Andrea is the proud author of two books, which we talked about in our previous interview on March 25, 2024, and serves as the Community Engagement Coordinator for the North Bay Black Chamber of Commerce. 

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Our History Is Our Strength

Check out important dates to remember in Herstory at the National Women's History Alliance, where the date descriptions were sourced unless otherwise indicated.

Special thank you to the National Women’s History Alliance for making women’s history alive. Shout out to Co-Founder and Retiring Executive Director, Molly McGregor who will be on the show when we celebrate Women’s History Month in March for making the fabulous list of Women in History where I get most of the info I present in this Herstory segment.

Herstory Events:

May 12, 1968 – A 12-block Mother’s Day march of “welfare mothers” is held in Washington, D.C., led by Coretta Scott King accompanied by Ethel Kennedy.

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Announcements  

Monday, May 19, 2025 11 AM # repeats 11 PM PT, the show features our guest Starhawk on her 13 Principles of a Welcoming Movement.. Radio KBBF 89.1 FM, North SF Bay or live streaming at https://kbbf.org/live

 
Starhawk

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Wednesday,May 21, 2025, 10 AM PT, the show will be a repeat of the show on 5/19/2025 that features our guest Starhawk on her 13 Principles of a Welcoming Movement.  Radio KPCA 103.3 FM, Petaluma, CA. https://petalumacommunityaccess.org/kpca 

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Saturday, June 14, 2025, 11 AM to 3 PM, No Kings - Just Clowns - Mass Protest Nationwide, See for more info and how to get involved in Sonoma County at https://www.mobilize.us/indivisiblesonomacounty/event/785323/

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Ongoing:

Every Wednesday the Peace and Justice Center of Sonoma County (PJCSC) issues new weekly list of events and links to community non-profit organizations. It includes ongoing peace and human rights rallies and protests,  and those sponsored by the  Community United to Resist Fascism (CURF) of which PJCSC is a member : Website www.pjcsoco.org

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Every Sunday, Palestine Support Sunday, 2- 4 pm, Old Courthouse Square, Santa Rosa, CA

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Every Thursday, Rally for Veterans Health Benefits, Protesting Potential Cuts to VA Funding, VA Center, 2285 Challenger Way, Santa Rosa, CA

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Take action every day - Calendar: https://indivisiblesoco.org/calendar/

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The North Bay Organizing Project - Rapid Response Project

https://www.northbayop.org/nbrrn

Music Selections

The Opening and Closing Theme song The Woman in Your Life is You is done with permission of the Composer and Singer Alix Dobkin ((August 16, 1940 – May 19, 2021) Alix Dobkin death was just announced - Thank you for all you did for Lesbians to be recognized and Women to be honored. May you rest in peace. See our Interview with Alix Dobkin on 12/1/2014 and our Memorial to Alix Dobkin on 5/24/2021

The Woman in Your Life is You by Alix Dobkin from the album Living with Lavender Jane (2010 Woen's Wax Works) - www.alixdobkin.com

Mother’s Day Proclamation: by Julia Howe recited by Ghizela Rowe
 from the album The Female Poet - Vol #3  (Released January 5, 2014 @2014 @copyright group)

For the Mothers, sung by Betsy Rose and the Women’s Chorus from the album Welcome to the Circle (2006 Paper Crane Music)

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