1. Our first guest Celeste Austin is accompanied by her partner Linda Jackson. Celeste reads a tribute she wrote for Vince Harper, the beloved Sonoma County community leader who just passed away, and who worked almost 30 years for Community Action Partnership of Sonoma County. Celeste also reads a piece called We Are Here, which she wrote as a statement of her feelings about racism and the fact that black members of our community in vital leadership positions are leaving our community.

2. Our second guest Susan Jensen, as a small business owner, gives her perspective on how the small businesses are doing coping with the pandemic restrictions. Susan and her mom Elaine talk a bit about some of the changes the family is making this year to celebrate Christmas and the joy of giving without being overwhelmed in consumerist excesses.

-  report by Ken Norton, Co-Producer, Women's Spaces

1. Commentary by our host Elaine B. Holtz: I have two special guests joining me on the phone, Mary Moore and Lois Perlman. I met Mary many years ago when she organized the Bohemian Grove protest here in Sonoma County. We will be talking about her life as an activist and the writing of her memoirs with Lois Perlman, an activist, as well.  

2. Our guests Mary Moore and Lois Perlman talk about writing the memoirs of Mary Moore,  and share highlights of Mary's life as an activist. Mary shares the difficult time of having her children taken from her because of her early anti-racism activism and having Black men come over to the house, which was objected to by her now former husband. Mary emphasizes that one must neglect one "ism" for another, that racism, sexism and classism are related. Classicism is why Mary focused her attention on the Bohemian Grove and its annual gathering of the rich and powerful men, and she organized annual protests at their gates near Monte Rio. Lois is going over 800 binders that Mary has assembled over the years in her archive, which has been promised to the Bancroft Library at UC Berkeley, to help weave the memoirs.

-  report by Ken Norton, Co-Producer, Women's Spaces

Commentary by our host Elaine B. Holtz. For today's show I do not have a guest, which gives me the opportunity to talk about Our Herstory is our Strength, play a few songs, discuss the above topics, and read a poem of mine calledWhen Johnny Comes Marching Home.

-  report by Ken Norton, Co-Producer, Women's Spaces

1. Commentary by our host Elaine B. Holtz: I have a special guest this morning. Joining me joining me in the studio will be CopperWoman who is a musician, song writer and Copperwoman has been singing and making up melodic rhymes as long as she can remember. She brings people together to sing in gatherings called "Circle Song” Presently she is facing eviction from her tiny home and part of the campaign to stop government evictions in Sonoma County, and we are going to talk about that.

I want to do a shout out to Jackie Elward. I interviewed her last week on my show as Vice Mayor of Rohnert Park which is a historic accomplishment. It gets better. Jackie is making history in our county.  Last week she was voted in as Mayor of the City of Rohnert Park. Congratulations Jackie, I am personally thrilled by this happening. We need strong women leading our county and our country. Not only strong but with a vision that brings people together to work together.

2. Our guest Copperwoman opens her interview with singing a song she just wrote, Let the Spirit Come Through as the True You. She then describes her passage through treatment of cancer to the adoption of her name Copperwoman. She felt her calling to bring people together and sing with her Circle Songs, which she has done beginning in Santa Cruz, for a time in Garberville and Arcata, and more recently in Sonoma County. Copperwoman purchased a tiny home and found a couple with single family house and 4 acres that were willing to rent her the space.  The Permit Sonoma of the County, however, discovered the tiny home and red-tagged it as not being allowed. The tiny home comes equipped with a composting toilet and toilets in the County are required to be on a septic system or sewer.  With the help of independent journalist and social advocate Jonathan Greenberg, Copperwoman became the poster woman for folks suffering government evictions with a music video by her and a petition to the Board of Supervisors was set up on Change.org. She sings her song live for us in the studio, Everybody Needs a Home, that is on the video promoting the petition.  On Sunday December 12, 2021 at 1 pm, Copperwoman appears in concert with Bob Culberton for the Stop All Government Evictions (SAGE) campaign.

-  report by Ken Norton, Co-Producer, Women's Spaces

1. Commentary by our host Elaine B. Holtz:  I have two special guest this morning. Joining me in the studio is, Jackie Elward, Vice Mayor of the city of Rohnert Park in California. We will be talking about her position as Vice Mayor and some of the challenges she is facing along with some of her goals.

For the second segment of the show, joining me on the phone will be Nancy Rogers, Chair of the Northern California Black Chamber of Commerce. We will be talking about the chamber along with a special Black Business Showcase they are presenting via Zoom on, Sunday December 5 starting at 2:30pm.

November 18 was World Vasectomy Day. I applaud male engagement in family planning. Check out the World Vasectomy Day website for more information: https://wvd.org/wvd-2021/#celebration

2. Our first guest Jackie Elward shares her coming to a new land, the United States, from her native Congo. and raising a family in Rohnert Park. The George Floyd murder in 2020, and the lack of an outcry from the leadership of the city, was the spark that caused her first to organize a peaceful protest, and then noticing a need for leadership to run for the city council of Rohnert Park in the new District elections set in place by the city. Jackie gives credit to the mentoring of her father and uncle in the law and political activism, and thinking of the future of her children, especially her son, in a city without representation of Black Lives. With the help of Julie Royes and Leslie and other local activists her campaign was a success. As Jackie told her son, "Become the change you want." Since entering politics, Jackie has received hateful and threatening communications from community members, and understands why two prominent black leaders left the county agencies they led recently because of "racial micro-agressions" they experienced with lack of support in following up those abuses. Jackie emphasizes that if Black leaders suffer, then Blacks feel unsafe in the county. She feels we need to elect more black leaders and encourages folks not only to march in protest but also to run for political office to make real changes in social policies.

3. Our second Guest Nancy Rogers announces the 2nd annual Business Showcase, sponsored by the North Bay Black Chamber of Commerce, which she leads as President, happening as an online event on Sunday, December 5.  Nancy talks about the difficulties most small businesses suffered under the pandemic restrictions and encourages folks to attend the event to be reminded of the services these local businesses offer especially for the holiday season.

-  report by Ken Norton, Co-Producer, Women's Spaces

1. Commentary by our host Elaine B. Holtz: The winners of the 2021 Sonoma County Peace and Justice Centers Awards are announced.

2. Our guest Cynthia Abbott has lived close to the ocean and through her study with environmental advocacy groups she was exposed to an exhibit of plastic bottles that crossed the ocean.  She asked, "What else?" She describes the dire situation of our oceans: acidification, plastic waste, overfishing, oil and chemical pollutants. To her surprise she found out that 50% of the oxygen we breathe is from the oceans, or every other breath we take is from the oceans. In collaboration with Andrea Leland and a fine team, Cynthia produced a documentary film Three Ocean Advocates: Inspiring Change. It inspired an Emmy Award.  Cynthia is co-founder of Every Second Breath Project to continue the production of documentary films about ocean and environmental advocacy.

-  report by Ken Norton, Co-Producer, Women's Spaces

Commentary by our host Elaine B. Holtz:  I have two special guests this morning. Joining me by phone will be is Janeen Murray, Executive Director of Sonoma County GO LOCAL  and that is what we will be talking about – the benefits of supporting local businesses during these holiday seasons. I can hardly believe thanksgiving is just around the corner.

I am extremely excited, also joining me on the phone this morning will be Charlie Toledo, Executive Director Suscol Intertribal Council and we will be talking about her organizations and November is Native American Heritage Month. We will be talking about that and some of the issues facing our Native American culture.

Ken and I are great grandparents for the second time with the arrival of Kaya Sierra Jensen to Amber and Ryan. Kaya is why we produce Women's Spaces, that she may have a sustainable future.

-  report by Ken Norton, Co-Producer, Women's Spaces

1. Commentary by our host Elaine B. Holtz  on the recognition of activists by Peace and Justice Center's Annual Awards Ceremony, including the Sunrise Movement of Sonoma County whose youth protest the lack of political will in dealing with Climate Change. Ema Govea of Sunrise and a Santa Rosa high school student is on a hunger strike in DC since October 20. Also, some Sonoma County officials are leaving because of racist behaviors they encountered, which is troubling after the rancor caused by the Trump campaign.

2. Our guests Shekeyna Black and Audrianna Jones talk about the Annual Peace & Justice Awards Presentation. This year the event is online on November 13, 2021 at 7 PM. This event is a major fundraiser for the Center. RSVP for the event and donations can be made through links at the Center's website www.pjcsoco.org, where you can read descriptions of the awards and the online auction. The winners of this year's awards are listed below:

• Peace & Justice Activist of the Year Award:  Peace & Justice Activist of the Year Award:  D'mitra Smith

• Russ and Mary Jorgensen Courage of Commitment Award:  Audrianna Jones

• Unsung Hero Award: Mary Munat

• Community Organization Award: Graton Day Labor Center/ALMAS

• Youth Peace & Justice Activists Award: Sunrise Movement Sonoma County 

Audrianna shares her path to volunteering for the Peace & Justice Center and leading up the Donation Drive for the Homeless there. Audrianna completed a special program provided by Boards and Commissions Leadership Institute (BCLI), six-month program of training and preparation for serving on local and regional boards and commissions. It provides the tools, skills, and support to help emerging leaders from low-income and underrepresented communities obtain seats on strategic boards and commissions and then pass policies that advance racial and economic equity. The program aims to give community members and advocates with not just a voice, but also a vote on important decisions. The County must have noticed and has recently hired Audrianna for a position at the Sonoma County Housing Authority.

Shekeyna describes the awards, including the Russ and Mary Jorgensen Courage of Commitment Award to be awarded to Audrianna Jones, for her steadfastness in the Donation Drive for the Houseless.  The auction items can be viewed and bid on at https://www.32auctions.com/PJCauction2021

Shekeyna also announces the annual SOFA Winterblast this coming Saturday evening, November 6 from 5 to 9:30 PM.  The festivities occur in the South of A street artist district, and the SOFA round-the-block parade of decorated couches begin at the Peace and Justice Center's office at 476 Sebastopol St. in Santa Rosa, Come and enjoy the open studios, galleries, cafes, food and drink, live music and theater, and street entertainment.

-  report by Ken Norton, Co-Producer, Women's Spaces

1. Commentary by our host Elaine B. Holtz: Domestic Violence Awareness Month was launched nationwide in October 1987 as a way to connect and unite individuals and organizations working on domestic violence issues while raising awareness for those issues. Our guest Tatiana Lopez is the Director of Victims Services with the Family Justice Center for Sonoma County and will explain these services.

This is the last show of the month and time to recite the Women's Spaces Pledge. Since 1,000 people at the Women's Rally on October 2 joined me in the Pledge, I am replaying that recording for you to accompany with your voice.

October is also LGBTQ+ History Month. To honor this month the National Organization for Women (NOW) - Sonoma County Chapter is hosting a free special zoom presentation on Friday, October 29th, from 6–8 p.m., Special presenters will be two members of the Lesbian Archives of Sonoma County and one of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. See www.nowsonoma.org for more information.

2. Our guest Tatiana Lopez describes her path from a little girl in Honduras to leading Victim Services for the Family Justice Center of Sonoma County. She especially is grateful for the opportunities for education in this country that are not limited to the wealthier classes. Tatiana now helps victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse with support to get into a safer environment. Sonoma County offers a one shop for many services that could come into play in a victim's circumstances. Tatiana and her staff are well versed in the ways domestic violence can be expressed verbally, in a financial abusive way, a heightened sense of danger, a sense of walking on eggshells, and even physical abuse. She encourages victims to call the 24/7 Hot Line 707-546-1234 to the YWCA, whose receptionists can guide the caller to different services. During business hours the Family Justice Center's phone 707-565-8255 is available to help victims navigate the resources available, from safe house to financial help.

-  report by Ken Norton, Co-Producer, Women's Spaces

Conversation with Veteran Feminist Singer/Songwriter/Author Sandy Rapp

1. Commentary by our host Elaine B. Holtz:  Today is the birthday of my Grandson Ryan Irwin Jensen, who is about to become a father for the second time. Happy Birthday Ryan! I love you dearly and wish you always the best life has to offer. It was Ryan who inspired The Women’s Spaces Pledge and it is amazing to think he is going to be a father for the second time.

2. Our guest Sandy Rapp shares her path to activism for feminist and lesbian rights.  Listening to Sandy and her songs, one learns of the history, as she memorializes feminist, lesbian and gay activists and their names in her songs.  Veteran Feminist Bella Abzug (D-NY) accompanies her on her best known song Remember Rose: Song for Choice.  The recent laws restricting women's right to choose to refuse or have an abortion, passed by some states like Texas, demonstrate the need for women, especially young women, to take to the streets and to lobby their elected officials for protections of women's rights.  Sandy describes the times of the Stonewall Revolution in June 1969, when she had not yet come out as lesbian for fear of losing straight music gigs. Sandy then became active in lobbying the passage of lesbian and gay rights on Long Island, NY, and even gave police sensitivity training, as reflected in her song, Everyone Was At Stonewall. Sandy is not only a singer/songwriter but also the author of God's Country: A Case Against Theocracy (The Haworth Press; 1991). Be sure and listen to this enlightening conversation between our host Elaine and Sandy Rapp.

1. Commentary by our host Elaine B. Holtz:   I have two special guests today, joining me on the phone will be Millie Munson. Millie along with her brother Milo are creating a Skateboard Park Project in Monti Rio CA. I feel as an elder it is important; we support these young people when they engage in something like this. As future activists I hope it is a real learning experience doing something like this which Millie will be talking to you about.
Also joining me on the phone will be and I am so excited to present her, Diana Billy-Elliot who is the Deputy Director for the Intertribal Council of California.an Association Designed for the Unity of all American Indians. We will be talking about Joe Biden and his announcement that today October 11, 2021, shall be called “Indigenous People’s Day.” This is a step in the right direction honoring America is first inhabitants. This recognition in my mind is long overdue. We are a diverse nation.

2. Our first guest Millie Munson shares the vision that she and her younger brother Milo have of renovating the Monte Rio Creekside Skatepark. Millie announces a fundraising event on Saturday October 16, 2021, from 10 am to 6 pm at the Monte Rio Creekside Park for skateboard competitions and music. Donations can be made at the event or to the Monte Rio Recreation and Park District office.

3. Our second guest Diana Billy-Elliott, Deputy Director of Inter-Tribal Council of California (ITCC) talks about the vision of ITCC to promote equity and justice in education, health, social services, economic development, cultural preservation and environmental stewardship. ITCC also advocates for tribal children and family safety. The ITCC Family Violence Prevention program does just that. The program provides much needed resources and education surrounding domestic violence within the family unit. ITCC has a Central office which is located in Roseville Ca and many satellite offices throughout our state, including at the Family Justice Center in Santa Rosa. Diana talks about the missing indigenous women and men of tribal reservations and how it affects not only the immediate family members but also the greater native community. She hopes more media attention will be given to these incidents.

1. Commentary by our host Elaine B. Holtz: On Saturday October 2nd, there were nationwide events answering the call of the Women's March to Defend and Mobilize for Reproduction Rights. Much was happening all across the country in protest of the Texas Abortion Ban and in support of the John Lewis voting rights bill, “For The Peoples Act, “ Shout out to the Santa Rosa Democratic Club President Janet Reynold and Sonoma County Democratic Party Chair, Pat Sabo and all of those who helped put the local Women's Rally in Santa Rosa together. Special recognition for the National Organization for Women (NOW) Sonoma County Chapter for being out there helping and getting folks involved. It was an amazing event. I had the honor of speaking at the event, got to do the Women's Spaces Pledge, and was well received. My co-producer Ken Norton filmed the speech and has uploaded it to our Youtube channel for Women's Spaces.

2. Our first guest Jill Ravitch, our District Attorney for Sonoma County, opens up on how the Recall campaign funded by one rich resident affected her and why her capturing 80% of the vote is good news that Sonoma County residents could recognize the costly revenge.  Jill remembers that on her first run for DA against the incumbent she won by only 1,700 votes, so yes, every vote does matter. She is now serving her third term as District Attorney. Jill put her full support behind the Family Justice Center, newly founded in August 2011, as a wraparound interagency effort to simplify for the victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or human trafficking to receive help from the various programs. Ten years later the same partners are still offering services to these survivors. There is no cost to the victims for meeting with the advocates for needed clothes, food, transportation, safe houses, vouchers for housing and fuel.  Jill recently was in Zambia, invited to help them set up Child Advocacy Centers. Jill announced that she will not run for a fourth term but will spend her remaining time serving the needs of justice in our county.

3. Our second guest Marsha Lucien is the new Executive Director of the Family Justice Center. Marsha shares her path to this leadership position. Her years as a probation officer impressed upon her the need to help families. She believes in treating the victims coming to the center as wholistic person, not just one facet.  All residents of Sonoma County, documented or not, are eligible for services, that are confidential and free of cost. Marsha already has led a group of children of survivors of domestic abuse on a camping trip to help with their relationship building.  Marsha announces that this Wednesday, October 6, 2021, from 3 to 6 pm, the Family Justice Center will be having an Open House at their physical location at 2755 Mendocino Avenue, Santa Rosa, to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Providing an Umbrella of Hope. This is free and open to the public and all are invited.

1. Commentary by our host Elaine B. Holtz: Joining me on the phone this morning will be Christian Nunes who is the President for the National Organization for Women. Christian will be joining me from Washington DC. As the grassroots arm of the women’s movement, the National Organization for Women is dedicated to its multi-issue and multi-strategy approach to women’s rights and is the largest organization of feminist grassroots activists in the United States.

A reminder: on Saturday October 2nd, there will be a Women's March/ Rally happening at Courthouse Square in downtown Santa Rosa from 10 to noon. I am honored to be one of the speakers and if you come up and say hi to me, I will be happy to give you a copy of the Women's Spaces Pledge. This is a very important event as much is happening all across the country in protest of the Texas Abortion Ban. People will be urged to sign two petitions:

1. For the passage of H. R. 3755 Women's Health Protection Act of 2021.

2.  For the passage of the John Lewis voting rights bill, H.R. 1 For the People Act of 2021

2. Our first guest Christian Nunes shares her path to national leadership of the National Organization of Women (NOW).  Christian describes the changes NOW has gone through since its founding 55 years ago. NOW is taking a holistic approach to Women's Rights, realizing the intersectionality of other issues affecting women, like racial inequality, sexual orientation, and disability. Christian said that NOW is offering workshops Run NOW to train the new generation of feminists on how to run political campaigns as a candidate and campaign staff. Another series of workshops for NOW Chapters to achieve new heights is Level-Up, with practical trainings on fundraising and enhancing engagement. The NOW website now.org is becoming an even greater resource.  Christian encourages us to gather on Saturday October 2 for the Women's March/Rally locally for this national event. Many organizations have signed on to sponsor this March.  Some pressing issues were discussed, like the pandemic affecting women in the service industries, and NOW is encouraging you to contact your Federal representives to pass the Pay Check Fairness Act. The national issues for feminists to be active on can be found on the NOW website at https://now.org/nap/ .

1. Commentary by our host Elaine B. Holtz:  The voters decided last week: No Recall of California Governor Newsom and No Recall of Sonoma County District Attorney Jill Ravitch. I am glad Sonoma County voters rejected the revenge recall campaign of a disgruntled land developer.

2. Our first guest, Janet Reynolds, announces that the Santa Rosa Democratic Club (SRDC) has stepped up to the plate to organize a rally for the national call for a Women's March/Rally to Mobilize and Defend Our Reproductive Rights on Saturday October 2, 2021, from 10 AM to Noon. The city has granted a permit. Volunteers are needed to collect signatures for the two petitions and to be Peace Ambassadors (crowd monitors). Congress will be petitioned to pass the Women's Health Protection Act,and the Senate will be petitioned to pass the Freedom to Vote Act. Put it on your calendar and consider volunteering at the Sonoma County Democratic Club website. Masks will be required for prevention of Covid. Download the Press Release Here.

3. Our second guest, Vesta Copestakes, shares the work of the Lower Russian River Advisory Council of the 5th District of the County of Sonoma, on which she represents Forestville. The county is reviewing changes to be made to the Vacation Rental Ordinance. Some neighborhoods are complaining that the character of the neighborhoods suffer from the non-residential ownerships and the guests from out of the area. The way emergencies are handled and how vacation renters are apprised of the emergency response in Sonoma County, especially with the increased danger of wildfires due to Climate Change, will be expressly stated in the revised ordinance. There is a possibility that vacation rentals will be taken out of land use under Permit Sonoma and changed to business licenses. By February the Advisory Council plans to submit this to the Board of Supervisors. Your input is welcome, especially if you live in the 5th District. Visit the County website at https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/River-Municipal-Advisory-Council/ .

1. Commentary by our host Elaine B. Holtz:  Our great granddaughter Satori Trinity Jensen celebrates her 3rd birthday today, to whom we dedicate a birthday song.  Satori is a blessing in my life. Her parents, our Grandchildren Ryan and Amber, have second daughter on the way, so Satori will be a big sister soon. I feel blessed.

Today is also Labor Day: Labor Day pays tribute to the contributions and achievements of American workers and is traditionally observed on the first Monday in September. It was created by the labor movement in the late 19th century and became a federal holiday in 1894. Peter J. McGuire, a carpenter and labor union leader, was the person who came up with the idea for Labor Day. He thought American workers should be honored with their own day. He proposed his idea to New York's Central Labor Union early in 1882, and they thought the holiday was a good idea, too. 

2. Our guest, Dr. Harriet Fraad, delves into the history of women influencing policies affecting Labor. She reminds us that the early colonizing ships from England included indentured servants, as well as indentured wives. People had to pay off their societal debt of a petty crime or the cost of the ship passage by agreeing to sseveral years of service with their labor. After her dress shop is destroyed in the Great Chicago Fire, Mary Harris "Mother" Jones begins working in 1871 as a labor organizer. In 1911 the Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire in New York kills 144 garment workers, 123 women and girls, and 23 men. During the Great Depression, one fourth of American families were socialist or communist. There was a huge labor organizing movement with the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO), founded by John Lewis. Under the pressure of demonstrations of organized labor, communists and socialists, the New Deal was executed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR).

In 1933 FDR brought the first woman into a presidential cabinet, Frances Perkins, as Secretary of Labor, who spearheaded such Acts as Social Security, the 40-hour work week, and abolishment of child labor. Frances Perkins witnessed as a young woman seeing the women and girls jumping to their deaths trying to escape the flames of the 1911 Triangle Shirt Fire, which fired her passion for to set up protections for labor. She remained as Secretary of Labor until the death of FDR in 1945. With the end of WWII the USA viewed the Soviet Union as a threat and all socialists and communists were soon under the fire of Senator Joseph McCarthy as the Republicans sought to wrest control of the Presidency in the early 1950s and began to undo New Deal policies. Dr. Fraad notes that 80% of the shares of stocks are owned by top 10% wealthy Americans, that Wall Street is not a measure of the nation's health. She encourages us to celebrate work, and the workers should be rewarded for the work.

Commentary by our host Elaine B. Holtz:
I have a special guest for this show. Joining me in the on the phone from Independence, VA Joyce Rouse aka Earth Mama. “Earth Mama” uses earth wisdom, music, and laughter to spread the message that the earth is a “Mama” for all of us. One of my favorite songs by Earth Mama which I play often, Standing on the Shoulders, which reminds us of those who have laid the foundations for all of us.
Talk about Standing on The Shoulders! On Thursday, August 26, was Women’s Equality Day and the 101st anniversary of the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution giving women the right to vote. To honor this the Board of Supervisors of The County of Sonoma, State of California, issued a Gold Resolution to the National Organization for Women (NOW) for its 2020 Woman's Suffrage Calendar celebrating the centennial of the 19th amendment and declared the Calendar to be an historic document. The Sonoma County Chapter hosted a great Zoom meeting on this day to celebrate and had some of the women movers and shakers in the community present to honor this event. Many of the presenters were in the calendar and, as a special treat, Supervisor Lynda Hopkins, representing the 5th District of Sonoma County, not only spearheaded the resolution but honored the group by reading it.

2. Our guest,  Joyce Rouse, recorded her song Standing on the Shoulders in 1966 in Nashville. This song would was later included in anthologies celebrating the Centennial of Women's Suffrage. Joyce would sing before kids and they remembered her for her song Earth Mama, and so the moniker stuck. Earth Mama's mission is for her songs to foster healing of our relationship to Mama Earth, the rising of the Divine Feminine and dismanteling of patriarchy, finding balance in all we use and in the yin and yang, the feminine and masculine. Earth Mama's latest album released this year in called Loving Kindness, something the political fomentations and the pandeminc certainly call for. We play one song from that album called The Great Vision. The interview completes with the song Herstory from the album Herstory, to keep the celebration of the Centennial of Women's Suffrage alive.

Commentary by our host Elaine B. Holtz:   Our History is our Strength. In 1848 the movement for women’s rights launched on a national level with the Seneca Falls Convention organized by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott. Following the convention, the demand for the vote became a centerpiece of the women’s rights movement. Stanton and Mott, along with Susan B. Anthony and other activists, raised public awareness and lobbied the government to grant voting rights to women. After a lengthy battle, 72 years from 1848 to 1920, these groups finally emerged victorious with the passage of the 19th Amendment.
In 1980, the National Women’s History Project (NWHP) was founded in Santa Rosa, California by today's guest Molly Murphy MacGregor, along with Mary Ruthsdotter, Maria Cuevas, Paula Hammett and Bette Morgan to broadcast women’s historical achievements.
The NWHP started by leading a coalition that successfully lobbied Congress to designate March as National Women’s History Month, now celebrated across the land.
Today, the NWHP, whose name was changed to the National Women’s History Alliance, is known nationally as the only clearinghouse providing information and training in multicultural women’s history for educators, community organizations, and parents-for anyone wanting to expand their understanding of women contributions to U. S. history.

Molly Murphy MacGregor will also be one of the special guests at the NOW Special Online Event on Women's Equality Day, Thursday August 26th.

NOW Sonoma Special Online Meeting, Women's Equality Day, Gold Resolution, Thursday, August 26, 2021, 6:00 - 8:00 PM, RSVP https://www.eventbrite.com/e/honoring-women-of-sonoma-county-tickets-166886334519

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1. Our guest,  Molly Murphy MacGregor, shares her path to leading up the National Women's History Project. A biography of Emma Goldman was the first inspiration in 1972, as she sought to be more knowledgeable in the subject for her high school students she was teaching. Molly went on do graduate work at Sonoma State University in Women's Studies, where she met Elaine. Eventually the realization of the lack of publicity of the history of women moved Molly to help found the National Women's History Project. Their lobbying efforts led to President Carter's Whitehouse Office in 1982 to call Molly and announce that he would name the week beginning with March 7 the National Women's History Week. Then Congress in 1987 declared the whole month of March to be the National Women's History Month. A few women took it as their task to spread the need for this attention to Women's History, and more women and men joined in the effort to realize the goal.  In 2018 the Project was changed to Alliance to keep alive the history of women all year long and to act as clearinghouse to list women's history organizations' activity.

-report by Ken Norton, Co-Producer

1. Our guest,  Amy Nykamp, who has just been seated as the President of our Sonoma County Chapter of the National Organization for Women. Amy shares how she came to the decision to serve as the leader of the NOW chapter. She reminds the listeners that NOW Sonoma has a regular monthly membership meeting on the third Thursdays of each month, with one this Thursday August 19th.  Amy also announces a special meeting for August 26th, Women's Equality Day and the 101st anniversary of the 19th Amendment for Women's Suffrage. The Board of Supervisors will issue a Gold Resolution on August 24th, a couple of days before the NOW special meeting, declaring the NOW Sonoma Woman's Suffrage Calendar of 2020 to be an historical document that played a key role in our county's remembrance of women's suffrage. Many community events were cancelled in 2020 because of the pandemic restrictions, but the 2020 Woman's Suffrage Calendar helped keep the remembrance alive. Special Guests will speak on their vision of what NOW can do, and they include Molly Murphy MacGregor - Founder of the National Women's History Alliance, Elaine B. Holtz - former President of NOW Sonoma, Jill Ravitch - Sonoma County District Attorney, Gaye LeBaron - Historian and journalist with the Press Democrat, and Lynn Woolsey - Former U.S. Representative (1993-2013). RSVP for the event at the link under Announcements.

2. Our special guest, Congresswoman (Ret.) Lynn Woolsey, shares her path to being elected to Congress, beginnng with her running for an 8th grade leadership position with her sister as her campaign manager. Our host, Elaine, remembers how excited she and other women were that Lynn was running in 1992. Lynn was the first person running for Congress that admitted she had been a single mom with 3 kids on welfare, which helped her with her education.  She and Elaine proved the welfare they received as single moms was not spent in vain, as both went on to serve the community in different ways. Lynn looks forward and lists her top five wishes for meaningful change in the nation, with Elaine chiming in with a 6th change:

1. Get money out of politics - overturn Citizens United;

2. Educate the population - critical thinking is important;

3. Learn from History - Our History is our strength;

4. Listen to the younger generation;

5. Vote;

6. Bring back the Fairness Doctrine for the media - the media needs to tell the truth.

Listen to the show and hear what Lynn is most proud of during her terms as Congresswoman. She encourages folks to get involved in what they are interested in, pick one or two issues, stay in tune, and be a good team player, also as a leader.

International Indigenous Peoples Day

Peace & Justice Center Awards' Nominations Due August 31st

Commentary by our host Elaine B. Holtz:   Elaine makes some announcements on the Braver Angels upcoming Debate and the upcoming NOW meeting. We celebrate on August 9th each year the International Indigenous Peoples Day to raise awareness and protect their rights. There are an estimated 476 million indigenous peoples in the world living across 90 countries. They make up less than 5% of the world's population, but account for 15% of the poorest. They speak an overwhelming majority of the world's estimated 7,000 languages and represent 5,000 different cultures. To honor this day Elaine reads the Native American Ten Commandments and a poem by Chief Seattle.

1. Our guest,  Shekeyna Black, returns to give us an update on the Peace and Justice Center of Sonoma County. The Center sees as top issue the houseless persons of our county and has a long running Donation Drive for the Houseless, with collections of items at their office on Tuesdays from 3 to 5 PM. Shekeyna announces that nominations are due by August 31, 2021 for their annual Peace and Justice Awards in November. There are 5 categories, listed on the show's web archive page.

1. Our guest,  Dr. Barnsley Brown (aka Dr.. Barnsley) takes us on a journey of how Mary, the mother of Jesus, and Mary Magdalene, the close disciple of Jesus, would be presented if the authors of the gospels were women.   The male authors presented Mary as fragile demurring and timid; but Dr. Barnsley presents Mary as a feminine force to be reckoned with and reads us a her poem I Am Mary (See this show's episode's web archive page for the transcript). She states that Divine Feminism is the embodiment of the Divine Feminine, the protector of off-spring. She notes that George Floyd's last words as he was being suffocated to death by Police Officer Chauvin was a cry to his mother, so close is the mother to us all.  

Commentary by our host Elaine B. Holtz: My co-producer and love Ken Norton is celebrating his birthday today, and I am wishing him, Happy Birthday, Ken!.

Ken and I attended a memorial for Michael O'Brien on Saturday July 24th. Ken and I know Michael through our practice of Tai Chi Chuan together. Michael and his wife Lynette McGee owned the famed Crickelwood Restaurant that was destroyed by the Tubbs Fire in October 2017 after 42 years of graciously serving Sonoma County fine meals.  At the memorial we heard of his mentoring of younger people, including the TV chef Guy Fieri, his promotion of Sonoma County wines, and his being a highly decorated naval reconnaissance pilot in combat in Vietnam, who cared deeply for those pilots under his command, many of  whom did not return from missions. It was stirring to see two naval officers' careful ritual of unfolding the nation's flag, showing it unfurled with its symbolic white stars on blue and the red and white stripes, the precise folding of it into a triangular shape and presenting it the Michael's widow Lynette McGee. One could not help think of the ideals of the founding of the country and the lives lost or wounded in serving its mission.

Our guest,  Dr. Eleanor Pam, was a leader of the feminist second wave of 1962 - 1985, when thousands of women and men took part in actions to make life more equitable for women. Dr. Pam is the President of Veteran Feminists of America. Eleanor describes her early upbringing in a patriarchal family that encouraged her to confine herself to prescribed vocations for women, but that she persisted, in spite of quotas, to eventually earn three advanced degrees. Eleanor was an early co-founder of the National Organization for Women (NOW) and describes those early days how a few women would set up committees to address issues as they arose. She personally knows Betty Friedan, who helped popularize the movement with her book The Feminine Mystique (1963) and who served as NOW's first President. She knew Kate Millett, the first Chair of NOW's Education Committee. She and Elaine reminisce on the early Women's Studies programs that included their first time using the speculum to view each other's vaginas, to counter the shame heaped on women's sexual life. They also discuss the rift between black and white feminists. Dr. Pam notes that 19% of the biographical videos in the Feminist Pioneer History Project are of Black Women. She recognizes that it was a mistake of Betty Friedan in ostracizing the lesbians, assuming lesbians to be too freaky for the mainstream women - something that Betty Friedan later admitted. Our History is our strength, so don't miss this fascinating interview with Dr. Eleanor Pam and the mission of Veteran Feminists of America, which she leads, to remember the achievements of this second wave of feminism.

Commentary by our host Elaine B. Holtz: On July 15th our local PBS station KRCB aired the film 3 Seconds in October about the killing of 13-year old Andy Lopez by County Sheriff Deputy Eric Gelhaus. The film reveals some of the SRPD investigation into the incident. Andy was carrying a plastic rifle, noticeably lighter to carry than a real rifle, and yet Deputy Gelhaus was quick to fire off 8 bullets. Missing in the film was the important role that the high school peers of Andy that protested and known as Andy's Youth, as well as the adults in the community that met as the Community and Local Law Enforcement Task Force in meeting after meeting to finally recommend that the Board of Supervisors of Sonoma County to implement the Independent Office of Law Enforcement Review and Outreach as oversight of the Sheriff's Office, which the Board did.

1. Our guest, Dr. Harriet Fraad, discusses the Case of Brittany Spears, the pop star, who is appealing the Conservatorship control over every aspect of her life, from its demand she wear an IUD to prevent her the choice of having babies, to having to live on an allowance that was a small percentage of her income. The case according to Dr. Fraad concerns women's rights, and when Brittany reached out to her fanbase on TikTok to finally reveal the oppression she lived under, the fans rallied, since so many could relate to her suffering. Two white judges in previous attempts to appeal the conservatorship ruled she had no right of appeal, but finally a female judge ruled she had a right to choose her own lawyer in her appeal attempt, a  lawyer not beholden to the Conservatorship.

Commentary by our host Elaine B. Holtz: Today, Monday, The Sunrise Youth complete their 266-mile march from Paradise to Pacific Heights in San Francisco with rallies before the houses of the Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senator Diane Feinstein for meaningful legislation to enact the New Green Deal. Also June 14th is Flag Day and Elaine gives a little history lesson on its origin.

1. Our first guest, Nancy Rogers, talks about the 51 years of celebrating the Juneteenth Festival in Sonoma County and announces the 51st MLK/Juneteenth Community Festival Celebration on Saturday from 1 to 3:30 pm, June 19th via Zoom online meeting.

2. Our second guest, Zakiya Hooker, will make a special appearance at the Sonoma County Juneteenth and MLK Celebration on Saturday, June 19th, and joins us today to share a bit about her life as an accomplished Blues Singer.  Zakiya attributes her rhythm to that of her father, the legendary Blues singer John Lee Hooker, who gave her first guitar at age 13. He told her "To keep it real, be true to yourself." She made her debut at age 40 with her father onstage. She describes how tense she felt walking up to that stage, but she was determined. Zakiya describes the mission and work of the John Lee Hooker Foundation, established in 2001 by Hooker Family Estate for underprivileged and at-risk youth.

Commentary by Elaine B. Holtz:  "Many of the schools had outdoor graduation ceremonies along with Zoom presentations, which was great after missing them in 2020 due to the pandemic restrictions. I watched the graduation ceremonies on Zoom for Piner High School in Santa Rosa. A special shout out to Hayden Celeste Rogers who is the granddaughter of one of my regular guests Nancy Rogers. Watching all those young people getting their diplomas brought tears to my eyes as I watched and thought to myself, 'What does the future hold for them?'.  Our guests from the Sunrise Youth Movement are concerned about their future and one of them is actually marching with Sunrise Youth 266 miles from Paradise to San Francisco to demonstrate her commitment and a call to action to fight Climate Change in support of President Biden's proposed Civilian Climate Corps (CCC)."

1. Our first guest, Christine Byrue, remembers the 2017 wildfire devastation in Sonoma County, which was caused by human induced Climate Change. Christine as an elementary school teacher saw how the students were affected disproportionately by economic class, with less well-off students with homes destroyed having to sleep on relatives’ couches. The Sunrise Youth Movement helps students turn their frustration with unaddressed Climate Change issues into action. This week 7 youth started the 266-mile trek from Paradise, CA, to San Francisco to draw attention to President Biden’s proposed Civilian Climate Corps (CCC) as part of the New Green Deal. The Sunrise Youth see many future CCC jobs created in our county and in counties throughout the USA. On Thursday June 10th, the Sunrise marchers arrive at Santa Rosa’s Juillard Park for a rally from 10-11 am, where more will join the march continuing to Cotati. On Monday June 14th, the marchers will reach the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, where a large rally has been called to join them crossing the Golden Gate Bridge and continuing on to rally for the CCC before the homes of House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senator Diane Feinstein. Updates are available on Instagram at IG @sunrisegenonfire and Twitter at @smvmtgenonfire . Such marches are scheduled around the country. Links are posted on this show episode's web archive page under Guest Links for becoming involved.

2. Our second guest, Maddy Ruddell phones in from Winters, CA, as she marches with other Sunrise Youth from Paradise to San Francisco. So far she has marched 130 miles as the Sunrise marchers head toward Santa Rosa for the Thursday 10-11 am rally at Juillard Park. She wants CCC livable wage jobs created to address the Climate Change issues. Maddy started out with Sunrise Youth at Paradise, CA, of which 7 youth are committed to march the whole 266-mile trek to San Francisco, cross the Golden Gate Bridge with supporters, and proceed to rally for the CCC before the homes of House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senator Diane Feinstein. Maddy gives her report with much passion. She has been talking to people on the way, even those with Trump hats and insignias, which energizes Maddy to take one step after the other. She encourages people to rally with them.

1. Our first guest, Susan Lamont, reminds us that this Wednesday, June 2nd, Andy Lopez, whose life was taken by bullets fired by Sonoma County Sheriff Deputy Eric Gelhaus at the age of 13 while walking with a plastic toy gun, would have turned 21. A Memorial Gathering will assemble at Andy's Unity Park in southwest Santa Rosa with Potluck beginning at 4pm. Susan explains how Andy's death prompted the community to get serious about oversight of police after years of ignoring the California Advisory Committee of the U.S. Civil Rights Commission report in 2000 on Sonoma County's need for oversight. The Independent Office of Law Enforcement Review and Outreach (IOLERO) was formed by the County Supervisors in response to Andy's killing. IOLERO was given more subpoena powers with Measure P that passed with a sizeable majority after the George Floyd killing by police in Minneapolis in 2020. It matters when citizen activists take to the streets and show up at County Supervisor and City Council meetings to voice their concerns.

2. Our second guest, Monique Alcala, shares her path to the National Organization for Women (NOW), beginning with awareness of the need for Women's Rights and then progressing to engagement as a volunteer. She talks of the Core Issues of NOW, as stated on its website: "NOW is a multi-issue, multi-strategy organization that takes a holistic approach to women’s rights. Our priorities are winning economic equality and securing it with an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that will guarantee equal rights for women; championing abortion rights, reproductive freedom and other women’s health issues; opposing racism; fighting bigotry against the LGBTQIA community; and ending violence against women."  Monique addresses the problem of women trashing other women, citing an article by Jo Freeman, Trashing, The Dark Side of Sisterhood.  Monique, and Elaine as President of the Sonoma County Chapter of NOW, encourages young women to get involved with NOW that carries national clout with the activist's voice.

1. Our guest Shekeyna Black shares the goings on with the Peace and Justice Center of Sonoma County to fulfill its mission "to inform, support and energize the Sonoma County community to create peace and social justice through active nonviolence." The Donation Drive for the Houseless begun last year is continuing to collect clothes every Tuesday from 3 to 5 pm, and Shekeyna does a shout out to the faithful volunteers accomplishing this action. The Center is still closed due to the pandemic restrictions, but folks can keep up with activities through subscribing for free to their weekly newsletter and by reading the monthly Peace Press available for free online at its website. The Center is looking for new boardmembers, so give Shekeyna a call at the Center. On the PJC’s Nominations webpage you can nominate a person or group for one of 5 different categories for its annual Awards Dinner in November. The Peace and Justice Center is a good way to get involved to help the community.

2. For the second segment our host Elaine B. Holtz presents a Memorial to Alix Dobkin (1940-2021), who passed away on May 19th. Alix Dobkin composed and performed the song The Woman in Your Life is You, that opens and closes Women's Spaces Radio Show, which Alix so generously gave the permission to do.  Our host Elaine B. Holtz interviewed Alix Dobkin on December 1, 2014, and we play that interview today on the show, as well as some of her songs. She discusses what was happening in 1972 when she composed that song, which she considered a gift, and discovered Feminism as an antidote to Patriarchy.

1. Commentary by host Elaine B. Holtz:  The armed conflict in Israel with its apartheid treatment of native Palestinians in favor of Jews has erupted again. If War was the answer we would have had peace long ago.  Our 2-1/2 year old granddaughter Satori recently was in the middle of a temper tantrum when her mother Amber asked her to use words. Satori muttered "angry". Her mother then asked, "Why are you angry" Satori replied, "Daddy won't let me play with my toy." Satori's Dad was then approached by Amber with Satori, and Satori talked with her Dad Ryan and they worked things out. Of course there are other forces at play in the Mideast and hopefully international and USA pressure will rise to the occassion for peace.

2. Our first guest Eris Weaver talks about what led her to accept the leadership of the Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition (SCBC) and its mission to make the roads safer for bicycling and increase bicycle ridership in the county. Individual choices intersect with policy, and the Bicycle Coalition advocates at the county and city government level as a voice to temper the faster roads goals with safety for bicycle riders. This Wednesday evening is the annual Memorial Ride of Silence for those bicyclists who have been killed riding bicycles, which is observed nationally and globally. White Ghost Bikes are featured at each event to honor individual fallen cyclists. Santa Rosa, Petaluma and Sonoma Valley are organizing such Rides of Silence and information and registration to join the ride is available at the Coalition's website at www.bikesonoma.org/ride_of_silence/ .

3. Our second guest Tyra Benoit experienced the first Earth Day as a teenager and has been a dedicated environmentalist ever since. Climate Change touched her dramatically in the Tubs Fire in which she lost her home, though she is one of the fortunate climate migrants who had insurance and able to move into another home in the county. Tyra talks about how the those of color or of lower economic class suffer more proportionately to Climate Change. Twice as many Black children suffer from asthma due to industrial air pollution than White children. And new diseases are arising from the global warming, especially those transmitted from other animals, as the animals lose their habitats to deforestation, drought, and wildfires. Tyra encourages us to be carbon farmers, even if we live in the cities, and to seek out the knowledge on Climate Change by joining a local group, such as the 350 groups, o r Arm-in-Arm For Climate and/or support the Sunrise Movement of the youth.

1. Commentary by host Elaine B. Holtz:  In celebration of Mother's Day we are playing a recitation of the Mother's Day Proclamation of Julia Ward Howe of 1870, which was an appeal to women to unite for peace in the world. The collection in baskets of amputated arms and legs of soldiers in the Civil War prompted the Proclamation. We follow this with an updated version published by Code Pink for our times. Tina Rogers joins, as a regular every 2nd Monday of the month on Women's Spaces, to present two Black Women in Herstory upon whose shoulders we stand for the rights of women. This month Tina features Sojourner Truth and Charlotte Vandyne Fonten.

2. Our guest Tina Rogers talks about two women prominent in Black Herstory: Sojourner Truth and Charlotte Vandyne Fonten. 

Sojourner Truth (1797 - 1883) was born as Isabella "Belle" Baumfree in Esopus, New York. She was sold three times in slavery, once with sheep, as slaves were legally just another form of property.  Listen to Tina recount the fascinating life of Sojourner Truth, the name Belle changed to at a Methodist Pentecost service for she heard the Spirit call her to preach the truth. In 1851, at the Ohio Women's Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio she made her famous speech Ain't I a Woman, calling for the abolitionism with women's rights. She published her memoirs in 1850, The Narrative of Sojourner Truth: a Northern Slave. Sojourner Truth recruited black soldiers for the Civil War and met with Abraham Lincoln in 1864.

Tina Rogers then shares the story, noting the difference of economic class, of the second woman Charlotte Vandyne Fonten,  (1785-1884). She was the wife of a prosperous Black merchant and abolitionist James Fonten. Charlotte, James and their 3 daughters were active in founding and funding six abolitionist organizations, including the first bi-racial women abolitionist organization, the Female Anti-Slavery Society in Philadelphia, and were conductors of the Underground Railroad ferreting slaves to freedom and educated slaves after the Civil War.

Tina Rogers announces the 51st annual Juneteenth Celebration in Sonoma County will be by zoom on Sunday, June 20, 2021, which commemorates the Blacks in Galveston being notified by a federal Major landing with Union soldiers on June 19, 1865, some 2-1/2 years after the Emancipation Proclamation, that they were indeed free. And the event is free, family oriented and open to the public. Registration will occur at www.sonomacountyjuneteenth.com

Our guest Dr. Harriet Fraad gives us a short history of International Worker's Day on May 1st to celebrate labor, which is more observed in Europe than in the USA.  The 8-hour day has been championed by labor movements since 1887. Dr. Fraad gives as examples of socialism today in the Scandinavian countries, that holds as paramount the basic human needs of non-toxic food, shelter, warmth, restorative sleep, clean air and clean water, and public health care. Jobs are not outsourced without finding an equivalent job and pay for the workers. Socialism recognizes that unregulated Capitalism loots lives. FDR's New Deal could only happen with movements of the communists, socialists and labor organizing farm and industrial workers as leverage for him to tax the rich at 96.8% or they would lose their factories.  By 1950, 35% of workers were unionized in the USA. That was turned back over the fear of Russian style communism in the 1950s and the relaxing of rules of campaign money influencing political elections. Now, most jobs do not offer a wage to support a family. Indeed, 2 people working for minimum wage cannot afford the rent of an apartment.  When Capitalism fails with its Great Depressions and Recessions, as it systemically often does, Fascism is the dictatorship that arises, which Italy, Germany, Japan and Spain experienced leading to WWII. Dr. Fraad encourages our listeners to become active and join progressive organizations as a collective voice to counter the costly propaganda pushing the deregulation of corporations.

1. Commentary by host Elaine B. Holtz:  On the last show of the month Elaine leads us in reciting and contemplating on the Women's Spaces Pledge.

2.  Nancy Wang talks about her concerns over people acting out with abuse to people of Asian descent over anti-Asian rhetoric, especially used during the last Whitehouse Administration under President Trump and right-wing media. Nancy reminds us that there are many second and third generation Asian Americans living among us enriching our neighborhoods, besides those who have recently immigrated. The Redwood Empire Chinese Association helps to preserve the Chinese culture and share it with the community in the form of events and classes.  Recently the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors held a joint press conference to address the recent hate crimes against Asian Americans, and Nancy would like to see concrete actions taken. She encourages the school districts to address Asian American contributions to our society, as well as the Sonoma County Museum to feature Asian American exhibits, as ways to inform the public.

3. Sandy Tate shares with us on Lesbian Visibility Day why she is a feminist and lesbian. Sandy relates how she wears feminism like a suit of armor, able to fend off attacks on her way of life. She objects to lesbianism grouped und LGBQ and explains why.  Sandy encourages us to read the book The Disappearing L: Erasure of Lesbian Spaces and Culture by Bonnie J. Morris and ends the interview with the poem A History of Lesbianism by Judy Grahn.

Eszter Freeman talks about being raised by her mother Blanca, who survived the Auschwitz concentration camp under the Nazis but who had severe PTSD and, unable to shake the trauma of losing her parents and six of her seven sisters to the gas chambers and the horrors she experienced as a teenage slave worker in the Krupp armament factory by the concentration camp, would subject Eszter and her brother to emotional outbursts.  It was not until Eszter learned about the PTSD suffered from Vietnam Vets that she recognized the symptoms in her mom, but by then it was too late to help Blanca. Eventually Eszter found more help through other children of survivor of the Holocaust. The first time Eszter was arrested and placed in a cell for a protest, she had a vision of her murdered relatives cheering her on.  Eszter currently makes presentations to high school students about her experience with her mother. War's hurt does not stop with the defeat or surrender, as attested to Eszter on her mother as a victim rescued from the camps, or by the soldiers still fighting the war in PTSD driven nightmares and emotional outbursts.

1. Commentary by host Elaine B. Holtz:  Elaine reviews the EcoSocialist Movements Webinar of April 10, 2021. Joining community organizations is important to keep you connected to social changes that are needed.

Elaine then reads The Code: Ten Intentions for a Better World published by the Intenders for the Highest Good  to "put you on the fasttrack to manifesting."

2. Tina Rogers is continuing Our History is Our Strength series on influential Black American Women, that she will present each second Monday of the month on Women's Spaces.  Anna Julia Hayward Cooper (1858-1964) was a very prominent scholar and Suffragist who was the fourth African American woman to earn her doctorate, which she did at the Sorbonne in Paris. Her book A Voice from the South: By a Black Woman of the South, was widely acclaimed and because of it Anna Cooper is often called "the Mother of Black Feminism".  Vivian C. Harsh (1890-1960) is considered the "Mother of Black History," because of her devotion in collecting literature on every phase of life of Black Americans. The Vivian Harsh Collection was assembled as she was head librarian at George Cleveland Hall Branch of the Chicago Public Library on Chicago’s South Side. 

3. Rev. Dr. Patricial Keel addreses the metaphysics of the Easter story as our own inner story of Self.  Each character in the Crucifixion and Resurrection portrayed in the the Gospel of John represent aspects within us. Even a Peter praised for his high faith betrays Jesus three times, as we so often betray our True Self.  But the Divine is ever within us ready to mirror into the outer expressions of our life.  Patricia has been making annual visits for classes in India and notes that Jesus must have learned from the mystics of the East.  Patricia emphasizes that the Resurrection is about consciousness, not our body. As Jesus asked forgiveness for his persecutors, so we can give up resentment for love's sake.  Breath techniques help us to be present to reflect on issues we are experiencing and transforming them into Easter experiences of higher consciousness of compassion.

1. Commentary by host Elaine B. Holtz. 

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) to help stop sexual asault, harassment and abuse before they happen with education. Every year on the first Tuesday in April since 2004, the National Sexual Violence Resource Center has been promoting the SAAM Day of Action.  For more information visit www.nsvrc.org

2. Alicia Sanchez talks her proud moment in February 2021 of accepting for Radio KBBF the prestigious Silver Heart Award by the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) -  Northern California Chapter. The award was given for the station has a whole, programmers and staff, for the help it gave to the communty over the decades but espeially during the wildfires and pandemic. Women's Spaces is produced live in the studios of Radio KBBF, where it also broadcasts on Mondays at 11 am and at 11 pm.

3. Terri Moon returns to continues talking about emotional fluency where we leff off in last week's show.  Terri shares 3 tools to fend off anxiety and despair. The first is to be aware of current thought with its wake of feelings and emotions. This reflection with empathy helps us unpack the thought, which gives us a choice to continue it or not.  The second tool is to realize when not happy what need is not being met and to  match it with our addictive behavior to soothe it. The third tool is Terri Moon's list of 100 words to help identify the needs met or unmet.  Together with our curiousity we can become masters of what thoughts we entertain. Listen to Terri describe the path of realizing our emotional fluency. Email Terri for a list of the 100 words.

1. Commentary by Elaine B. Holtz on Faith Ross, founder of the Petaluma Blacks, who was named by Sen. Bill Dodd as Sonoma County's Woman of the Year.

2. Kristin Flyntz joins us from Connecticut to read her Imagined Letter from Covid-19 to Humans. She shares how she came to write the letter last year and how her facebook post of it went viral.

3. Terri Moon talks about the importance of being aware of more feelings of our body then our intellect with its judgments and assumptions.  We need the emotional fluency to identify feelings when they arise and to express them.  Feelings are our inner GPS guidance system. Terri gives us some examples and advice on getting out of our heads into our body.

1. Commentary by host Elaine B. Holtz.  Elaine opens the show with a prayer from the Mi'Kmaq people,

2. Tina Rogers talks about two inspiring black women in American history, Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray and Bessie Coleman. Pauli Murray (1910-1985) is notable on many fronts as civil rights activist, lawyer, women's rights activist, priest and author. Pauli's book States' Laws on Race and Color was considered by Thurgood Marshall the bible of the Civil Rights Movement. She is co-founder of the National Organization for Women (NOW). Ruth Bader Ginsburg named Pauli Murray as co-author in a brief to the seminal gender case Reed v. Reed. She later became the first ordained woman priest in the Episcopalian Church. Letters after her death revealed her struggle with gender identity before that was recognized by the general public.  Bessie Coleman (1892 - 1926) is dear to Tina, as Tina is in training to be a pilot. Bessie was the first African American woman and first Native American to earn a pilot's license, something she had to travel to France to achieve. She was even an aerial acrobat and called Queen Bess and Brave Bessie. She died in a tragic airplane crash at the age of 34.

3. Allegra Wilson announces an educational online workshop sponsored by North Bay Organizing Project, the Sonoma County ACLU and other organizations on Thursday March 25, 2021, 5 - 6:30 pm called Criminal Justice Reform and the Role of the District Attorney.  Since Jill Ravitch, the first woman DA of the county has decided not to pursue a 4th term, the election to this office will surely face tough competition. How do we know what qualties to look for in a candidate for District Attorney? What is the job description of a DA?  A panelist team of seasoned attornies will look at the the DA's role in pursuing police accountability and the criminalization of homeless activities, and more. 

1. Commentary by host Elaine B. Holtz.  History is so interesting particularly with the history of women getting the vote. At the time it was happening African American woman many former or decent from slavery were involved in the Suffrage Movement even though they knew they would not get the vote. One of these amazing women was Ida B. Wells – one of my heroes who I would like to honor,
For our musical break we played a 4-1/2-minute TED ED clip by Chistina Green talking about Ida B. Wells and her Legacy.

This Thursday March 18, 2021 our NOW monthly Zoom meeting features a presentation by Lilith Rogers of her one-woman show Rachel Carson, the author of Silent Spring published in 1962, one of the first wake-up calls to the environmental disaster looming with pesticide use. See the meeting information under Announcements.

2.  Abrea Tillman talks about the welcoming role the Black Student Union (BSU) plays in a black student's orientation at Santa Rosa Junior College to help find resources on the campus and meet new friends in a new environment, as well as provide a support networks of like-looking folks. It is easy to feel alienated when starting on the path to a college degree, and this helps build confidence and awareness of programs helpful to one's career.  Abrea shares her return to college as a mother of a young daughter, inspired to make a difference especially after the Black Lives Matter protests against the merciless killing of black people by police officers of 2020. She announces some exciting BSU and SRJC Spring Events open to the public via zoom.

1. Commentary by host Elaine B. Holtz on celebrating International Women's Day; the passing of Joanna Shapanus, KBBF volunteer; on black women influencing the suffrage movement; and highlighting the life of Frances Harper, abolitionist and suffragist.

2.  Deborah McKay talks of the impact of Carrie Chapman Catt had in directing the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) and founding the League of Women Voters (LWV) in 1920 after the passage of the 19th Amendment to bring women into the political mainstream. Deborah talks about the mission of LWV to inform citizens with candidate debates and ballot measure forums before casting their ballots. LWV wants to make democracy work. The local chapter started in the 1950s in Sonoma County and has a website offering educational videos and reports on the electoral process, money in politices, alternatives to the electoral college, rank choice voting, and campaigning for office. Check out LWV for learning how to participate in democracy, volunteering and offering support.

1. Commentary by host Elaine B. Holtz.  I am going to play a five minute clip of the Trial of Susan B. Anthony. Susan B. Anthony devoted more than fifty years of her life to the cause of woman suffrage. After casting her ballot in the 1872 Presidential election in her hometown of Rochester, New York, she was arrested, indicted, tried, and convicted for voting illegally and fined $100 In 2020 President Trump attempted to pardon Susan B. Anthony for this crime and it was rejected. . According to Deborah L. Hughes of the National Susan B. Anthony Museum and House in Rochester, N.Y.. "Objection! Mr. President, Susan B. Anthony must decline your offer of a pardon," she said. She continued, "Anthony wrote in her diary in 1873 that her trial for voting was 'The greatest outrage History ever witnessed.' She was not allowed to speak as a witness in her own defense, because she was a woman. At the conclusion of arguments, Judge Hunt dismissed the jury and pronounced her guilty. She was outraged to be denied a trial by jury. She proclaimed, 'I shall never pay a dollar of your unjust penalty.' To pay would have been to validate the proceedings. To pardon Susan B. Anthony does the same."

So let’s enjoy a piece of history and listen to a portion of what went on in the trial of Susan B. Anthony.

2.  Molly Murphy MacGregor talks of the seeds of her transformation into an advocate for Women's History and of the seeds planted by women in the nation's history producing fruits like the first woman elected vice-President of the United States, Kamala Harris. Molly through the National Women's History Alliance keeps the ties open to women's groups around the country, despite the pandemic, to publicize and encourage women's events to grow the movement for gender equality of opportunity. Join her newsletter list to keep yourself informed and take part in some of the online events that are planned.

Celeste Austin discusses why Black Lives Matter is important in celebrating Black History Month. She shares how her own family of African heritage was affected by grief and economic challenges upon the killing of her grandfather at the kitchen table as her father was still in the womb of her shocked mother. Her grandfather's life mattered so much and reverberated down time through the family. 14-year-old Emmett Till, lynched in 1955 for allegedly offending a woman in her store in Mississippi, his life mattered to his mother and family who chose to open the casket for the world to see. George Floyd, whose 8 minute and 46 second slow and deliberate asphyxiation by a police officer, which was broadcast over social media last year, his life mattered so much that it led to massive Black Lives Matter protests, non-violent except for the brutal enforcement by the police of various cities, in stark contrast to the police presence at the white supremacist insurrection in our Capitol January 6, 2021. Celeste encourages the conversation as it affects all of us. She reminds us that 13-year old Andy Lopez of Mexican heritage was shot and killed by a Sonoma County Sheriff's deputy in 2013. Andy's life mattered to his grieving family and to our county as activists pushed for oversight of the Sheriff's Office. Last week Celeste gave a talk at the Center for Spiritual Living Lunchtime series by zoom on Black Lives Matter.

1. Elaine B. Holtz, host, talks about Black History Month and some women that are inspirational in their struggle for freedom: Harriet Tubman, as portrayed in the film Harriet, is credited with freeing over 90 Blacks from slavery, and Fannie Lou Hamer, a sharecropper, who after discovering at the age of 44 of the right to vote joined the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and the struggle to register to vote. We play a recording of Fannie Lou Hamer and commentary done by Peoples TV.

V-Day (Februry 14th) and annual reading of the Vagina Monologues will be online this year.

Remember, this Thursday February 18th from 6:30 - 8:00 pm via Zoom is the County Chapter's NOW meeting with a special presentation on Black History Month and talks by the newest City Councilwomen elected in November in Sonoma County. See the Announcements below for further description.

2. Special reading for Valentine's Day by Elaine and Ken of Elaine's Poem Friends and Lovers.

3. Closing Reading by Elaine of her Poem For Max

1.  Stephanie King, Marketing Director, discusses the changes the Charles M. Schulz Museum has undergone since the beginning of the pandemic restrictions. Most of the staff work remotely at home and more exhibits have come online. There are even free downloads for entertaining the children at home. See the links to these webpages undeer Guest LInks on the show's archive page.

2. Faith Ross talks about how Petaluma Blacks for Community Development has adjusted their annual Museum exhibit for Black History Month and taken it to the Streets for the pandemic as Celebrating Family Portraits. With the help of the City Mayor and City Manager of Petaluma, and Paige Green Photography, Petaluma Family portraits, featuring the multicultural families of Petaluma, are exhibited in over 40 storefronts in downtown Petaluma from January 29 – March 15, 2021.

Theresa Rodriquez, the lead bilingual Verity case worker for victims, discusses human trafficking in the North Bay. Verity works together with the Human Trafficking Taskforce, which includes the county district attorneys, law enforcement and social services agencies. If the victim is under the age of eighteen years old, multiple agencies respond. Besides offering Safety, Compassion and Support for victims, Verity has a 24-hour Crisis Hotline and a mission to educate the community on the reality of the Human Trafficking problem, encouraging parents to talk to their children on the dangers. Immigrants and undocumented residents are the most vulnerable in being exploited by human traffickers. Volunteers are given background checks and 40 hours of training before they are certified in volunteering for taking calls on the 24-hour hotline. All interactions with Verity are confidential. -  by Ken Norton, Co-Producer, Women's Spaces

First a Commentary by Elaine B. Holtz, host, on her discovering that Epiphany,celebrating the birth of the Prince of Peace, fell on January 6th, contrasting to the Insurrection happening that day in 2021, Followed by our Guest:

Dr. Harriet Fraad  discusses how the Inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris affected her and what she believes were the causes of the insurrection on January 6, 2021. As men lost their jobs to corporate location of factories overseas, and many their wives through divorce for not being able to provide for the family, they became enraged and blamed the changing gender and racial landscape in which they no longer felt privileged. The felt dethroned beginning with the passage of the 19th Amendment that the Women's Suffrage Movement lobbied for so long under adverse and violent opposition. The women who joined these angry men on January 6th preferred male domination allowing them to shirk the responsibility of a partnered life. The anger was justified but not the expression of it, which threatened the lives of duly elected representatives by the People of the United States. Consequences for these actions need to be felt, especially by those Senators and Representatives who were accomplices in the attempted violent overthrow of the government, including the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, who sponsored 80 busloads of protestors of the election turned rioters, and the social media sites like Qanon spreading rumors and lies to rile the mob. Dr. Fraad believes the 14th Amendment Article III on sedition needs to be invoked, as Lt. General Charles Flynn, the brother of Ret. Lt. General Michael Flynn, the pardoned former Security Advisor who pleaded guilty to perjury, delayed calling up the National Guard to protect the Capitol and the Congress meeting to approve the Electoral College vote for Biden and Harris. Dr. Fraad says that we have now the worst Economic Depression since 1929 left behind by Trump. The USA fought fascism in WWII, not socialism. The FBI must change its focus investigating Black activists and look at white supremacist terrorists. Even Obama turned federal power to crush the Occupy movement and let abusive banks off the hook. Winter evictions should be halted at least in the winter months like it is done in France. Social programs, which is what socialism is, need to be enacted like the WPA under President F. D. Roosevelt, to rebuild our decaying infrastructure and create Climate friendly American jobs in the clean energy generation sector of the economy. Dr. Fraad give good ideas on public support of elections which are limited to 2 months and not pay-to-play on the media with long drawn-out campaign cycles. Dr. Fraad concludes: "Get active and don't be afraid if they label it socialism." This show is one you do not want to miss listening to. - by Ken Norton, Co-Producer, Women's Spaces

Pat Sabo, Chair of the County Central Committee discusses the organization of the Democratic Party locally in Sonoma County and how you as a resident can encourage the Party to adopt policies that are dear to you. Pat describes the Democratic Party Central Commitee of Sonoma County and the biennial election of  Assembly District Delegates now in progress across the state of California.

1.  Regina Brennan talks about the mission of Sonoma County Black Forum: to Lead, Serve, and Thrive! The Black Forum Is guiding the intellectual discourse and dialog to consider the African-American experience. Its goal is to support our region's youth and our community by creating opportunities to train, learn, develop twenty-first century skills, and foster agency within Sonoma County and the surrounding Bay Area. .

2. Tina Rogers invites us to the annual Sonoma County Martin Luther King, jr. Birthday Celebration, held this year on Sunday January 17th via Zoom. The theme this year is: “Where do we go from here: Chaos or community?” Donzaleigh Abernathy, daughter of of civil rights leader Ralph Abernathy, is the guest speaker. Tina explains how the Civil Rights Act is so important as it made possible the Voting Rights Act. She reminds us of his words: Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.

Rev. Dr. Patricia Keel, at a low time in her personal life and upon asking for help, was introduced to the teachings of Charles and Myrtle Fillmore, the founders of Unity Church, which transformed her. This began her study of metaphysics, the spiritual mystical energy, that she believes comprises 96% of Life. Patricia came to understand that thousands of years ago metaphysics was also taught, and she began combining her Unity principles with those of Eastern and Western Mysticism. Patricia presents us ways to empower the truth of the inner creating the outer world, that outer experiences are also inner ones. But understanding is not enough, as we can get caught up in the story, rather than apply it now to what we are experiencing. She gives a simple way to remember how to handle sometimes stressful situations with her ABC, and her 911 guided meditation to change the thoughts so that we show up strengthened in our reality with inner peace. Give yourself a treat by listening to this show.

Give yourself a treat by listening to this show. As co-producer of Women’s Spaces I was so impressed that I put them to work while dealing with an anxiety disorder (myoclonus) attack in the night. I suffered this disorder for 19 years, yet with Dr. Keel's technigues was able to make great improvements, so that major symptoms have not returned in the following last two nights, in spite of news of an insurrection at the nation's capitol on 1/6/2021 – Ken Norton 

PS. of 7/3/2023:  Myoclonus has not reappeared after 2.5 years. The ABC and 911 techniques must have stimulated repatterning of my brain. - Ken Norton

1. Maya Khosla, a wildlife biologist, one of 3 selected as Sonoma County Conservation Council (SCCC) Environmentalist of the Year 2020, and Poet Laureate of Sonoma County 2018-2020, announces the Sonoma County Climate Activists' Community Summit: It's Up To Us!, to be held via Zoom on January 10, 2021. Maya invites you to take part in this coalition of organizations' Sonoma County Climate Activists Network (SCCAN) event, whom she mentions during the interview and who are listed at the event website. Maya talks about the wildfires and floods that have plagued our county, nation and planet and their relation to a common cause, human induced climate change. Learn to get to know the various coalition organizations' missions with the special lineup of speakers in this 3-hour event and how you can be involved. The event is free, and donations are welcome. From recognizing the value of traditional indigenous practices, to becoming aware of the dangers of relying on biomass, that includes felling Old Growth Trees, for energy generation, and to learn about regenerative agriculture, the danger of placing Gas Stations in sensitive zones, the Green New Deal, climate justice, racial and social justice all playing a part. In 2021 Sonoma County will review and change the General Plan, and informed activists are needed to lobby for vital changes.

1.  Lauren Ornelas enlarges our view of food, as nutrition, as a commodity requiring much human labor, and as a vital community bond that requires respect for one another.  The mission of the Food Empowerment Project is to "create a more just and sustainable world by recognizing the power of one’s food choices. We encourage healthy food choices that reflect a more compassionate society by spotlighting the abuse of animals on farms, the depletion of natural resources, unfair working conditions for produce workers, and the unavailability of healthy foods in low-income areas."  This can mean purchasing chocolate that is harvested not with child slavery but with fair wages. The FEP website has information and guides to more ethical shopping for food, as well as more humanely grown food. Lauren is a vegan and explains her reasons for not eating the flesh of animals and some animal products.

Peace & Justice Center
of Sonoma County
Donation Drive for the Homeless
 

Commentary by Elaine B. Holtz followed by Discussion with our guest:

1. Shekeyna Black shares some of the ways her family is dealing with the pandemic restrictions and election shenanigans by limiting the amount of time devoted to news shows to keep the spirits up.  Since the Peace and Justice Center (PJC) was such a hub of community activities, the closure of the meeting space has brought up a sense of grieving and loneliness, but hope for new vaccine developments will bring the community together physically again.  In the meanwhile, the Peace Press has stopped its print edition but is available online.  Audriana Jones recently joined the Board of Directors and brings experience as Dining Room Manager of St. Vincent de Paul in downtown Santa Rosa in serving the homeless and hungry. PJC is at present sponsoring a Donation Drive for the Homeless to collect sleeping bags, blankets, jackets, socks and gloves. Donation revenue has been greatly reduced, as for most non-profits, but the Center is confident that many more years will be added to its 36 year history of being present in Sonoma County. Consider becoming a member on the Donation page of the PJC website.

Vesta Copestakes recalls how she started from publishing an elementary school newsletter to transforming the Forestville Chamber of Commerce newsletter into the Sonoma County Gazette in 2001. She learned from her marketing background the value of building relationships, and for the first years of the Gazette she herself promoted and delivered the monthly Gazette. The Gazette was founded just before the terror attack on 9/11/2001 and Vesta immediately set the format as a reader contributed news format, since so many opinions were being expressed about the event and its relation to the County of Sonoma. Vesta saw the value of constructive criticism and informed opinion which were solution-minded. Vesta believed in citizen journalism and selected volunteers of different communities in Sonoma County as regular contributors to keep the readers informed on each part of our county for a sense of unity in living and working together. Vesta helped with the choice of the new publisher, Amie Windsor, when Sonoma Media Investment took over the Gazette in January 2020, whom we interviewed on Women's Spaces on November 16, 2020. Since Covid-19 pandemic struck our county in March 2020, the ad revenue plummeted, so it was fortunate that Sonoma Media Investment bought the Gazette, as it is large enough financially to carry the Gazette through these trying months for small businesses. Vesta followed her passion and with the Gazette her feet felt like they were finally on her Path. And this is Vesta's advice to aspiring writers and publishers, "Follow your passion!" Vesta is now on to further her dreams with Vesta Publishing.

Dr. Harriet Fraad discusses why 70 million voted for the President-lost, when two capitalist parties are vying for the Office. Redistribution of wealth, most of which is in the hands of less that 0.1% of the USA population, the oligarchy, is ignored by the mainstream media, whether liberal or conservative. The New Deal of President Franklin D. Roosevelt only was possible with socialists and communists in the streets and hanging of judges foreclosing on Iowa farmers. FDR warned his rich family and friends they would lose it all if they did not support his 96% tax on their wealth. This tax supported the Work Program Administration (WPA) in hiring 11 million workers to rebuild America's infrastructure, erect museums, establish the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) as a public utility supplying electricity, and create the Social Security System with worker contributions, which many of us depend on for survival after reaching an age when it is difficult to work. Harriet explains how the McCarthy attacks on communists was part of the Republican strategy to gut the New Deal, including Social Security. Though promised fair wages, the Republican President, now thankfully due to our robust election system the Preseident-lost, never delivered. Don't miss listening to this thought provoking interview with Dr. Harriet Fraad.

The producers of Women's Spaces, Elaine Holtz and her partner Ken Norton, share some of what they are grateful for as we approach Thanksgiving in the midst of the pandemic and after a contested election this month. Amidst the traditional day of family gatherings, now restrained due to the pandemic precautions, the holiday Thanksgiving awakens the history of colonization and ensuing genocide the over 500 native nations experienced.
Interspersed with the music selections Elaine presents 3 of her poems:

• Friends of the Garden,

• Reflections After Watching the News Late at Night ,

• and A Meditation.

Ken follows with a reading of The Seven Laws Governing the Evolution of Man's Spiritual Nucleus by William Hermanns (1895-1990), and Elaine reads Dr. Hermanns' Ten Words to the Creative Spirit.

1. Gail Simons shares how she began her many years in nursing and her insights on preventing the spread of the Covid-19 virus by diligently wearing masks, practicing the social distancing protocols, and limiting one's physical contacts with other folks from other households. This is an important reminder as the holidays come with the temptations to let our guard down among family and friends. Gail is active in advocating for more affordable housing, shelters and porta potties for basic sanitation for the homeless, of which there are about 3,000 in Sonoma County, with 2,000 sleeping outdoors.

2. Amie Windsor tells of her beginnings in journalism and how her love of stories and storytelling is a good fit for her dream come true, becoming publisher of the Sonoma County Gazette community newspaper. Amie says "Farewell, Elaine" as Elaine hands the authorship of the column Santa Rosa Snippets in the Gazetter to Leslie Graves beginning with the November 2020 issue.

1.  Pat Sabo shares the insights she has gathered from this election held last week. The high turnout of 66% for the country and of 75% for Sonoma County was a good sign for democracy.  By Saturday morning AP and other major news media called the presidential race for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. Kamala Harris broke the glass ceiling into the Vice-Presidency of the Whitehouse, and she wore white in her acceptance speech and gave credit to the shoulders she stood on.  Pat noted the winners of the races in the county and the number of new faces. District Elections were a first in Rohnert Park for electing its city council, as was the vote in the recently annexed Roseland area for the District 1 election of local businessman Eddy Alvarez. The Sonoma County Democratic Party supported Measure P, which passed with 66% of the vote.

2. Susan Lamont reads us a list of activist groups comprising many individuals in the community that she honors for contributed volunteer time and resources to clamor with a multiplicity of tactics for effective oversight of the Sheriff's Office in Sonoma County.  Susan also mentions the names of those we lost in this fight for justice on the democratic path to pass Measure P.

 Astrid Harper recounts her growing up under Hitler's regime and post war Germany. Astrid was born during Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Glass. This pogrom against Jews on November 9 and 10 of 1938 by SA paramilitary and civilians destroyed Jewish storefronts and synagogues while deporting 30,000 Jewish men to Concentration Camps. Astrid chose the title From Hitler to Trump because of the national leaders who ruled at the beginning and end of her memoir, and the similarities between these two are not lost on Astrid who lists 9 in her book and mentions some of them for our listeners. Astrid conveys a picture during this moving interview of the hard struggle to survive the terror of the bombings during the war, and after the defeat of the Nazis as the Russian troops occupied her home's region she as a 7 year old experienced the terror of hunger and homelessness for a couple of months. After 9 months of living with her grandmother in East Germany (DDR) her father arranged for her to be smuggled to West Germany over the border watched by armed soldiers. In 1960, having just been schooled in bilingual (German and English) secretarial work, her father arranged with the German tire manufacturer Continental to hire her for their New York City office, and a couple of years later she was able to be transferred to the San Francisco office, where a few years later she became a naturalized citizen. The memoir includes her 60 years in the USA which was not the focus of this interview. Astrid writes this memoir to serve as a warning on the lure of authoritarians, and as a recognition of talent, experience and economic contribution that immigrants bring to this nation.

1. Susan Jones shares her perspective on Sonoma County Measure P as the former Police Chief of Healdsburg and having had 34 years served as a police officer.  Measure P is The Evelyn Cheatham Effective Independent Office of Law Enforcement Review and Outreach (IOLERO) Ordinance on November's ballot.  Measure P promises greater transparency of the data collection and reporting of the Sheriff's Office and accountability through IOLERO investigation of the Sheriff's Office, without adding more taxes and without defunding the Sheriff's budget. Susan has experienced how transparency has helped the Healdsburg Police Department.

2. Mara Ventura shares some of the achievements this year of North Bay Jobs With Justice (NBJWJ). All workers in Sonoma County now receive 80 hours of paid sick leave with a bill signed by Governor Newsom in September to help deal with the COVID-19 Pandemic. NBJWJ has links on their website helping workers claim this benefit in case of need. When Sonoma County Sheriff Essick stated his refusal to support the Health Order of the County's Health Officer, NBJWJ with the North Bay Organizing Project formed Sonoma County in Crisis, with a platform for addressing the health needs of workers.  NBJWJ has also advocated for farm workers need for PPE and their protection during the hazardous smoke conditions created by wildfires and you can read its proposals on their website.

1. Caroline Bañuelos talks about the Latino Democratic Club of Sonoma County and its influence. Caroline talks of how the Club negotiated with the Sheriff to transform the Cinco de Mayo into a family friendly event and reduce the tensions between law enforcement and the Latino community around that event.  She also recalls the the Club's push for District Elections in the city of Santa Rosa, given the lack of representation on the City Council and the City Commissions, which resulted in a law suit forcing the City to comply with the California Voting Rights Act.  Membership in the Latino Democratic Club is open to all and they meet on the 4th Thursday of the month.

2. Colleen O'Neal gives us a summary of Measure P, The Evelyn Cheatham Effective Independent Office of Law Enforcement Review and Outreach (IOLERO) Ordinance. Measure P promises greater transparency (data collection and reporting) and accountability (investigating) of the Sheriff's Office, without adding more taxes and without defunding the Sheriff's budget.

Joyce Johnson Rouse, known as Earth Mama, a name given her by children for her children's songs on being good stewards of the Earth.  Women's Spaces has played many of Earth Mama's songs over the years and is proud to present this interview. Joyce Rouse was inspired by her high school biology teacher and the first Earth Day in 1970 to dedicate her life to spreading Earth care and Ecology with the power of music.  Joyce reminds us that the Suffragists used songs to empower their movement to achieve the women's right to vote.  Her song, Standing on the Shoulders, was included in a new album called Songs of the Suffragists, featured just after Helen Reddy's I Am Woman and Aretha Franklin's Respect. Joyce just releases a new Earth Mama album called HerStory, from which we play 3 songs  during this show, including a new release of Standing on the Shoulders.  Listen in on this uplifting interview with Earth Mama.

Jessica Litwak, RDT, PhD was commissioned by the Petaluma Museum to create a stage production of the life of a pioneering Petaluman Suffragist Selena Solomons for the Centennial of the 19th Amendment.  Solomons was active in moving California on October 10, 1911 to become the 6th state to give women the right to vote. The play will be available as an online presentation beginning October 8, 2020, since the pandemic has restricted in person theater. Jessica shares her path to theater and the challenges she had to overcome. She discovered her love for acting and theater and returned to school after failing high school to eventually achieved her doctorate and a Fullbright Scholarship. She tells the story of a teacher who recommended she smoke and drink a lot to age more quickly as she was not pretty enough for younger roles, but had the self-esteem to then proceed to write plays for herself to act. She became a leading advocate of socially Engaged Theater for Healing of soul and society with Activism, and formed The H.E.A.T. Collective.   Jessica treats us with a reading from her play: 50,000 Mice , the Selena Solomons Story. She lets us know why she chose this title, so be sure and listen.

1. Elaine B. Holtz presents her speech that she made before her graduating class at Sonoma State. Elaine was one of the pioneering students in the new Women's Studies program, and even taught a course Survival as a Mother, since so many returning students, like her, were single mothers. Elaine describes some of the obstacles she had to overcome, including the ones of her own making, in reaching her academic goal. The recording of the speech was discovered in the Sonoma State University archives.

2. Janeen Murray shares her path to leading GoLocal, whose mission it is to strengthen the local economy.  Janeen mentions some of the benefits, not only locally owned businesses but to the community with their support of local non-profits.  She explains why your banking choice makes a huge impact on the local economy, and why locally owned banks or credit unions are your best choice.  Elaine describes how much of the NOW checking account with was emptied by fraudulent transactions in the summer, but because the Credit Union belonged to GoLocal, Elaine, as President of NOW, was able to talk directly to the President who assured her that NOW would not be liable and the money was restored.

1. Leslie Graves responded quickly on hearing September 18th of the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a champion for women's rights, and organized a candelight vigil at Old Courthouse Square in Santa Rosa that attracted hundreds of mourners.  Leslie shares with us some of the spirit of the event, talking of the multiple traumas, from a needed abortion to inequality in the workplace, that were reawakened in people with Justice Ginsburg passing. Leslie announces that the Black Student Union of Santa Rosa JC is sponsoring a social justice rally in honor of Justice Ginsburg on this coming Saturday, 9/26/2020 at 2 pm at Old Courthouse Square. A 4-minute recording of Justice Ginsburg from a 60-Minutes interview was played:  How Ruth Bader Ginsburg interpreted the Constitution.

2. Deva Marie Proto, our county Registrar of Voters, shares with us the procedures of her office to secure the vote here in the county.  Expect the County Voter Guide as it will be mailed on Thursday Sepgtember 24th.  The mail-in ballots will be mailed on October 5th.  You can mail in the ballots after you receive them, and they are postpaid in California.  This year we can track our ballot by registering your email or text number at the Secretary of States website https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/ballot-status/wheres-my-ballot  Deva assures us that the extra ballot drop boxes added to various locations, listed on the website of the county registrar.of voters, are securely bolted to the ground and even have fire suppression built-in.  30 walk-in polling places will be open for voting from Saturday October 31 through Tuesday November 3.  Deva reminds citizens that they can still registrer to vote until October 20, and after that one can still register and vote conditionally.  California and Sonoma County makes it easy and secure for you to vote.

1. Debbie McKay continues the discussion on voting,  November 3, Tuesday, is Voting Day for California and for the first time there will be a District One election for a City Council seat, for which three candidates are running: Duane De Witt, Jorge Innocencio and Eddie Alvarez. On Wednesday, the League of Women Voters (LWV) is offering an online candidate forum on September 16, 2020, 6:30 - 8:00 pm through the League's facebook live video streaming page .

Next week the candidate forum for Rohnert Park's first time District Election races for City Council for Districts One, Three and Four occurs on Monday September 21, 2020, 6:30 - 8:00 pm, via the League's facebook live video streaming page. If you miss the live events, this page also has past events listed for you to view the past LWV videos.

2. Elaine B. Holtz reads her poem: I Am Of the Old School

1. Debbie McKay talks of the 100-year history of the League of Women's Voters, coming into existence with the passage of the 19th Amendment. The Sonoma County Chapter is 60 years old.  It is that time when the League offers candidate forums and debates, since Tuesday, November 3, is Voting Day for California and we have County Supervisor seats and City Council seats up for election. The League is also  offering an event called Make Your Voice Count, where candidates hear from the public their desires.  Check out the Leagues page event schedule at https://my.lwv.org/california/sonoma-county/electionsvoting.  The League is co-producing some events with Community Action Partnership. Debbie informs us that the County Registrar of Voters has arranged for Tracking of the mail-in ballots at their website, with their program Where is my Ballot, where you can sign up for email or text notices for when the ballot was mailed, received and counted : https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/CRA/Registrar-of-Voters/Vote-by-Mail/  The Registrar of Voters has also arranged for 24-hour drop boxes at its office in Santa Rosa, as well as at the Santa Rosa Veterans Bulding and the Petaluma Veterans Building, which can be used after the mail-in ballots have been mailed by the Registrar's office up to November 3.

2. Delayshay Carmona Benson was raised in a mostly white neighborhood in Chicago and felt very much in the minority while attending schools, and realizes through her experience how important it is to have culturally relevant teachers. She homeschooled her 7 children and when her children grew up she decided that she had to be part of the change she wanted in society and enrolled back in school at the Santa Rosa Junior College with most students half her age, a generation she says is ready for change and Black Lives Matter. There are less than 2%of the JC's students that are Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC). Delayshay noted that homelessness among students is about 25% with many facing food insecurity, yet we live in a county rich with vineyards and wineries.  Delayshay shares some of the activities she is engaged in and even demonstrationg leadership in, such as lobbying for the Family First Act and culturally competent staff at the Child Protection Services. 

Dr. Harriet Fraad and Elaine talk about 100 years of Women having the right to vote and the recent Republican Convention featuring an anti-abortion activist Abby Johnson, who favored Head of Household voting and tweeted that “In a Godly household, the husband would get the final say”.  Dr. Fraad pointed out that 42% of women are head of household as a single parent.  Elaine then plays  4 minutes of the speech in the House of Representatives of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) on Thursday morning, July 22, 2020, in which she delivered a candid rebuke of sexism in Congress and beyond in response to comments from Rep. Ted Yoho, R-Fla., who had reportedly called her a vulgar insult. Dr. Fraad noted that sexual innuendos are used to humiliate women, but since the Me-Too movement has laid bare the abuse which women have experienced, this is no longer acceptable. Rep. Ted Yoho tried portray himself as a good husband and father of a daughter, but Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, noted that she was a daughter of loving parents and  countered, "Having a daughter does not make a man decent."  Dr. Fraad notes that one out of three women have been beaten up by their husband or boyfriend. Observing the good record of women leaders in dealing with the Corona Virus, it appears that more women are needed in political leadership.

 Laurie Gallian recounts her path to running for a local political office on the City Council of Sonoma, where she eventually was elected as Mayor.  She broke free from past ghosts of a previous marriage, discovered her passion to help organizations required people contact, and committed to listening to her constituents in creating policies for a better way.  After leaving political office she became active in the Soroptomists International and now leads its chapter in Sonoma County.  Laurie gives good advice for aspiring women to run for local offices and bring about life enhancing policies. She also encourages people to choose volunteering activities that are right for them.

1. Paula Freund reveals the history of curating and its presence in the digital world of museum exhibits. Her newest exhibit at the Petaluma Historical Museum is "Petaluma's Participation in the Women's Suffrage Movement".  Paula will also be a featured speaker at the 19th Amendment Centennial Kick-Off, Online Zoom event hosted by Sonoma County Women's Suffrage Project on Tuesday August 18, 5:30 to 6:30.

2. Leslie Graves talks about some of the highlights of the several celebrations of the Women's Suffrage Centennial, beginning August 18th, when 100 years earlier the last state needed to ratify the 19th Amendment, Tennessee, did so. On August 18 at 8:40 AM the  Board of Supervisors will announce a Gold Resolution  proclaiming August 26th to be both Women's Equality Day and the Centennial of the 19th Amendment. The sponsors of the Gold Resolution are the Sonoma County Women's Suffrage Project, National Organization for Women - Sonoma County Chapter, and the League of Women Voters in Sonoma County.  Download the pdf with the list of events. of the 19th Amendment Centennial Series orgainized by the Suffrage Project.

1. Susan Lamont reports on the action taken by the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors on Thursday August 6th to place the proposed Evelyn Cheatham Effective IOLERO Ordinance with amendments made by the Director of IOLERO its Community Advisory Council on the November ballot after an intense 9-hour online meeting that fielded over 300 email and live comments by the public.  Susan encourages folks to get the word out to pass this ordinance. Sheriff Mark Essick has voiced his opposition and is asking the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday to increase the budget for the Sheriff's Office by $50,000 to pay for an outside attorney firm to represent the Sheriff's Office as it fights the placement of this ordinance on the ballot in the courts.

2.  Molly Murphy MacGregor has the benefit of overseeing the Women's Suffrage Centennial "clearing house" as women's organizations around the country contact the National Women's History Alliance about the events they are putting on this year in celebration.  Molly mentions some of the events happening this month, including the placement of a bronze stature of Harriet Tubman in Central Park and an upcoming 19th Amendment Centennial Kickoff hosted by the Sonoma County Women's Suffrage Centennial Project on August 18, 2020.

Dmitra Smith, Chair of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) of Sonoma County, whom we originally scheduled for the show 2 weeks ago but were unable to connect by telephone, made time for us today to speak with our host Elaine B. Holtz on the Commission's recently released report on the county's website, Human Right Violations in Santa Rosa California—Policing the Black Lives Matter Protests. Dmitra recounts how complaints to the CHR poured in after the May 30, 2020 peaceful protests for Black Lives Matter in Santa Rosa of protestors being shot by heavily armed uniformed officers with rubber bullets and tear gas cannisters. Since the Sheriff's Office and neighboring cities police forces are called for backup, the identity of the officers agencies are unknown, as badges were absent or covered over. The report details the recent complaints through testimonies of those injured by the police or mistreated by jail guards and deprived of COVID-19 precations of social distancing, as well as gives a 20 year context of neglect of the counties legislative bodies to address the need for a change in enforcement policies. Dmitra Smith notes that the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights report Community Concerns About Law Enforcement in Sonoma County in 2000 was the year that Andy Lopez was born, only to be shot and killed when13-years old by Sheriff Deputy Eric Gelhaus in southwest Santa Rosa. Dmitra noted that presently there is a push to make the Independent Office of Law Enforcement Review and Outreach (IOLERO), that was formed by the County after many protests of Andy Lopez's death, more effective based on the outgoing Director's recommendations stated in the proposed Evelyn Cheatham Effective IOLERO Ordinance, and it awaits action by the Board of Supervisors when they meet tommorrow, Tuesday, August 4, 2020.

Ariel Kelley owes her acitve interest in the community to the mentoring of  her parents. Ariel is the Acting CEO of Corazón Healdsburg, a bilingual resource center to mentor young Latinos in useful life skills.Corazón means "heart" in Spanish, and Corazón Healdsburg provides a center for belonging and to learning to express oneselves, especially in commissions of the city of Healdsburg, so the Latino Voice is represented at the conference table. Corazón Healdsburg also established the Healdsburg Free Store to provide needed supplies to families affected by the Tubbs Fire in 2017, and again for the Kincaid Fire of 2018.  The Family Center, Casa Corazón, provides assistance to families in financial literacy, legal help including immigration issues, and in housing.

Elaine B. Holtz originally planned for Dmitra Smith, Chair of the Human Rights Commission (HRC) of Sonoma County, to speak on the Commission's recently released report on the county's website, Human Right Violations in Santa Rosa California—Policing the Black Lives Matter Protests. Unfortunately we had trouble with connecting by telephone.   Elaine resorted to Plan B and played more songs interspersed with poetry, including some of her own. She comments on how similar the reaction to Black Lives Matter protests was what the women suffragists suffered in parades and demonstrations for the women's right to vote one hundred years ago, which was recently documented on a PBS special The Vote. The recent HRC report comes 20 years after the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights report Community Concerns About Law Enforcement in Sonoma County, on which Elaine interviewed Mary Moore on last week's show. It is frustrating to see how little was done in the county to address this issue, as Santa Rosa Police fired tear gas cannisters and rubber bullets at protesters exercising their First Amendment right to free speech and assembly. It is through expression of greivances that our country grows in equal rights under the law. The poetry is transcribed on the show's linked archive page.

1. Debbie McKay, President of the League of Women Voters announces a livestream workshop How to Run for City or Town Council on Wednesday July 15, 2020 6:00 to 7:30 PM to interest more residents of diverse backgrounds to campaign for public offices in the county.  If you have been thinking of running for such an elected position or would like to know what is involved in such a run and offer support, this is the workshop for you. The League has assembled some elected officials with firsthand experience to guide you on the path in this webinar. The panel includes Esther Lemus, Town of Windsor Vice Mayor, Victoria Fleming, Santa Rosa City Vice Mayor, Marta Cruz-Concepcion Cloverdale City Council member, and former Santa Rosa City Council member, Lee Pierce, who will share how they successfully ran for office.

2.  Mary Moore revisits the actions of her, Karen Sarri, author of Stolen Lives, and others in the late 1990s after a spate of killings by law enforcement officers in Sonoma County to spur the U.S. Civil Rights Commission to hold hearings and make a report in 2000, in which a Citizens' Review Board of County Law Enforcement was highly recommended. The report was ignored by the County Supervisors. It took the killing of 13-year old Andy Lopez in 2013 to create a public uproar that resulted in the Supervisors creating the Independent Office of Law Enforcement Review and Outreach (IOLERO), whose first director Jerry Threet found to be ineffective without subpoena power to force compliance by the Sheriff's Office to hand over records or attend hearings.  Mr. Threet is now leading the charge to encourage the Supervisors to place the Evelyn Cheatham Effective IOLERO Ordinance on the November ballot, which strengthens oversight and accountability of the Sheriff's Office. Mary calls the present day IOLERO, crumbs thrown to the public instead of a proper citizen's review board with subpoena power. Mary hopes the kiling of George Floyd and the national protests has created an atmosphere to effect real change locally in Sonoma County. The Board of Supervisors will take up the topic of a more effective IOLERO at Tuesday July 14th Board meeting, Item 27.

1. Sydni Davenport talks of her family's beginnings in Santa Rosa and the composing of the song Black Lives Matter, which she sung with her granddaughters accompanying her in order to mentor them in history and the possibility of a better world. Sydni's first experience of racism began in grammar school.

2.  Dr. Kim D. Hester Williams returns for a 3rd interview on Feminism and Black Lives Matter. She mentions how much the poet Lucille Clifton influenced her with her poem homage to my hips as tribute to blackness and celebrations of women in her poetry book Two-Headed Woman. Lucille Clifton was the first author to be twice a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in the same year 1988, one for her book of poems Good Woman: Poems and a Memoir: 1969–1980, and the second for Next: New Poems. Dr. Bettina Aptheker was another feminist who made a mark on Dr. Williams while studying at University of Santa Cruz. Feminists are primarily interested in human life and the early feminists like Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815-1902) and the author of Uncle Tom's Cabin Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811-1906) were abolitionists. Dr. Williams goes more into depth on intersectionalism that was first written about by Dr. Kimberly Crenshaw in the 1980s in recognizing the multifacets of inequality such as in economics relegating peoples to poor and polluted neighborhoods, social life, judicial, educational opportunities and media portrayals of stereotypes, Black Live Matter is a movement of insisting "no more messing around!", to put it politely by Dr. Williams. The Me-Too movement was a similar cry of "enough is enough." Now with the pandemic, Me-Too and Black LIve Matter have the time to reflect and to protest for a better nation and world. Dr.William’s favorite science fiction author Octavia Butler stresses community in her writings, which is enabled by compassion, empathy, and care for one another to survive. Part 1 is on  5/11/2020 and Part 2 is on 6/8/2020.

Dr. Jean Shinoda Bolen shares how she was mentored by Jungian supervisors as she earned her degrees in medicine and psychiatry. She comments on this "in between time" the world has been cast into through the COVID-19 pandemic and the Black Lives Matter protests, a threshold of something new, and the importance of remembering gratitude in our path to help others. Grassroots movements enter into the archetypal consciousness of us all. Dr. Bolen talks how Dr. Carl Jung's ideas on archetypal patterns of human behaviour and sense of being and his thoughts on synchronicity came together for her in her writing her first book The Tao of Psychology—Synchronicity and the Self and then onto her book Goddesses in Every Women, so that women could understand their strengths and weaknesses without the dependence on male archetypes.  Dr. Bolen feels for herself a strong connection to sisterhood and she encourages the gathering of women to tap their highest Self, that divinity throughout the ages, in healing circles, as describe in her book The Millionth Circle: How to Change Ourselves and The World--The Essential Guide to Women's Circles, and her sequel Moving Toward the Millionth Circle, that good can come out of crisis, whether personal  or global. Dr. Bolen shares some tips on forming a circle, enabled today with online video meetings in the midst of the precautions for the pandemic, and she invites listeners to join her newsletter list through her website www.jeanbolen.com.

Nancy Rogers talks about how she first heard of Juneteenth when she moved out to Oakland, CA from her small town in Arkansas where she was raised in a black community, pretty sheltered as a child from Jim Crow laws by her parents. Juneteenth was introduced to her as the day freedom began for Blacks and is a festival that originated when Union troops under Major General Gordon Granger landed at Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1895 and announced the end of the Civil War, the surrender of General Robert E. Lee, and that the slaves were emancipated, 2 1/2 years after President Lincoln made his famous Proclamation that was made law.  Juneteenth began to be celebrated in Santa Rosa 50 years ago under the leadership of Marteal Perry, aka Mother Perry, an evangelist, cosmetologist and beautician in Santa Rosa. Last year's show on June 6, 2019 about Juneteenth we featured Mother Perry's granddaughter Syndi Davenport reminiscing about her.  Nancy and her husband Harold Rogers eventually rose to become chief organizers for the Santa Rosa festival at Martin Luther King, jr, Park in Southwest Santa Rosa by the fairgrounds, and it has become a family picnic with live entertainment open to all. This year the celebration was done by Zoom internet video meeting because of  the COVID-19 precautions, and Nancy was the MC.  The Sonoma County Juneteenth Committee has a website with the program that was presented. One of the presenters was Dr. Kim D. Hester Williams, a professor of literature at Sonoma State University, whom was interviewed a couple of weeks ago on Women's Spaces.

Eshawn Zuniga was tasked this year to be the Zoom Master for the Sonoma County MLK/Juneteenth Festival. Her expertise in developing websites and videos for businesses came to the fore as she mastered this new online venue. She shares the challenges she met in preparation for Juneteenth, plus gives tips for aspiring Zoom masters. Eshawn also talks about the mentoring from her godmother who remembered hard times under Jim Crow in Louisiana and Mississippi, and reminded her of the sacrifices of people marching for her civil and voting rights. Eshawn's natural parents immigrated from the Caribbean, where there was also slavery, and Eshwawn is a first generation American.

Gloria Allred shares her passion for justice for women with as she calls it "45 years of fighting for #MeToo justice."  Ms. Allred has taken on very powerful and rich men who have abused women. She talks of her friend and client Norma McCorvey, the "Jane Roe" whose unwanted pregnancy led to the 1973 case that legalized abortion nationwide, Roe v. Wade, who is portrayed with her "deathbed confession" in the FX film aka Jane Roe, of switching from the volunteer and unpaid poster child of the Pro-Choice movement to become the paid-with-over-$450,000 poster child of the Pro-Life of Fetus movement Operation Rescue. Ms. Allred asserts, as does Norma in her confession that she was always Pro-Choice.  Gloria Allred also comments on the Netflix documentary on her life, Seeing Allred, that has won film acclaim.

Citizen Oversight of the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office

Feminism and Black Lives Matter, Part 2: Historical and Feminist Perspective

Susan Lamont  shares reasons why the Evelyn Cheatham Ordinance to Support An Effective IOLERO (The Independent Office of Law Enforcement Review and Outreach), is necessary in our county for more accountability of the Sheriff's Office. An online petition on Change.org has been started last Tuesday to encourage the County Board of Supervisors to pass the amendment to the ordinance for IOLERO or place it on the ballot in November, By the time of this show already 5,000 have signed the petition. Passage of this new ordinance for the County will give subpoena power to IOLERO to force the Sheriff to comply with requests for information and records. This is the time to act as protests against police brutality and racism continue for the 10th day in our county and around the nation and world. Listeners are urged to sign the online petition and also call their county supervisor to voice their support at (707) 565-2241. The history of IOLERO, the changes to make it more effective, and the link to the online petition can be found on the Committee's website at https://socoeffectiveoversight.org/

2. Dr. Kim D. Hester Williams returns to share how the the  9-minute strangulation of George Floyd by a police officer as 3 police officers assisting him affected her as a Black woman, mother and educator.  She draws our attention to the fact that the officer who kept applying his knee to George Floyd's neck kept his hands in his pockets, as if this just another casual killing of a Black person, encouraged by historical racism in the USA and even the Supreme Court. She reminds us of the Dred Scott decison in 1857, which in the majority opinion of the Supreme Court, Chief Justice Taney stated:

"They [people of African ancestry] had for more than a century before been regarded as beings of an inferior order, and altogether unfit to associate with the white race, either in social or political relations; and so far inferior, that they had no rights which the white man was bound to respect; and that the negro might justly and lawfully be reduced to slavery." 

Given the 400 year history of this White Supremacy attitude, and the laws to support it,  Dr. Williams wonders if ten years from now we are not still addressing this divide among the people of this nation.  She calls for a united front of black, white and all colors of skin together,  against racism, and is hopeful at the response of white people in showing up and supporting the protests these last 10 days. She recommends some books about women of color feminism which we list on the show's archive page to further our education in this regard.

Part 1 is on  5/11/2020 and Part 3 is on 7/6/2020.

1.  Sabryyah Abdulah shares with us the history of the Juneteenth Celebration, marking when Black slaves were first notified they were free in Galveston, Texas  a couple months before General Robert E. Lee surrendered the Confederate Army and ended the Civil War.  She talks of the beginning of the celebration in Santa Rosa 50 years ago, and the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of celebrating Juneteenth in Santa Rosa this year under Shelter-in-Place orders due to the COVID-19 pandemic with a ZOOM meeting on Saturday, June 20, 2020, from 1:00 to 4:00 PM.

2. Susan Lamont is a long time activist for police accountabilty. She shares some events occuring on Tuesday, June 2, 2020 honoring what would have been the 20th birthday of Andy Lopez, the 13-year old boy shot by Sheriff Deputy Eric Gelhaus on Moorland Avenue southwest of Santa Rosa. Since that killing, the empty lot where he was shot has been purchased by the County and transformed into a beautiful neighborhood park and named Andy's Unity Park in his memory. Andy's mother has invited all who loved Andy to meet there in his memory on Tuesday at 4 PM and she asks folks to practice social distancing and wear masks, and of course, non-violence. Another gathering to grieve Andy and the lack of police accountability and oversight will take place on Tuesday at the Dollar Tree parking lot in the Roseland district of Santa Rosa from 5:00 to 7:00 PM. Susan also gives us an update on the Evelyn Cheatham Ordinance to Support An Effective IOLERO (The Independent Office of Law Enforcement Review and Outreach), whose petition to place it on the November ballot was aborted due to the Shelter-in-Place orders. Now the emphasis is to encourage the County Board of Supervisors to pass the amendment to the ordinance for IOLERO or place it on the ballot in November, which would require no physical gathering of signatures, by means of an online Change.org petition. Listeners are urged to sign the online petition and also call their county supervisor to voice their support.

Elaine B. Holtz, Host of Women's Spaces, presents a commentary on Memorial Day spiced with her poetry and songs by women singers.  She reflects on the origins of Memorial Day that began with Abraham Lincoln setting aside a day to remember the fallen soldiers on both sides of the Civil War and of Mother's Day that began with women cleaning the Civil War battlefields of amputated arms and legs which inspired Julia Ward Howe to make her Mother's Day Proclamation.  Elaine reads two of her poems, Stopping the Next War and Why, What Does All This Mean.

1. Susan Jensen shares the concerns and steps her company, considered essential to stay open during the Shelter-in-Place order, has taken on protecting her company's six employees and the customers they visit on plumbing calls.  Susan also talks of the process she went through to procure a Small Business Loan through her bank and the federal online sites as advised by her accountant and local bank loan officer. She reports that the company did not receive any service calls the first three weeks of social distancing orders, and then, as the need became too great for those with stopped up sewers or broken pipes, the calls began to come in, but still business is slow.  Economy Plumbing is a member of GoLocal, which helps with marketing their essential presence in the community.

2.  Janeen Murray discucusses how locally owned businesses are vital for the local economy, allowing the money paid for goods and services to recirculate in the community.  GoLocal is a collective of locally owned businesses, and you can see the GoLocal logo on many of their storefronts.  The local business members are listed in the quarterly print catalog and in the directory of GoLocal's website, so whenever a county resident needs a particular service or goods a visit to the website and search will bring up the possibilities of dealing locally. Many small businesses are expanding their services to adapt to the virus precautions in place to include curbside pickups, food carryout, and even store-to-door delivery.

Dr. Kim D. Hester Williams shares her path to profess expertise on African American Literature and Multicultural Studies from Black sharecropping grandparents to being bused as a student in the 1970's to integrate schools in Los Angeles County through hour-long rides from L.A. to San Fernando Valley, which enabled her to make friends with students with different backgrounds. The sacrifice of Dr. Hester Williams' ancestors and the history of racism in this country drew her to study English Literature and the contributions of authors from different ethnic backgrounds. Kim talks about the impact on American Literature of Octavia Butler, considered to be the Grand Dame of American Science Fiction and a beacon in other literature realms, as well, who imagined worlds where African American women were heroes and helped build just communities. Dr. Hester Williams discusses Feminism and Intersectionality, which expands the mission of the Women's Movement, embracing everyone in the community. Feminism addresses power and the fact that self-interest, possessive individualism and extractive capitalism belie the fact that we are interconnected.

Part 2 is on  6/8/2020 and Part 3 is on 7/6/2020

1. Dorothy Battenfeld shares her journey to be a leader in education, beginning with the mentoring of her mother who was active in politics and elected to a public office, teaching Social Scence at Montgomery High School for 30 years and then succesfully elected to the Santa Rosa Junior College Board of Trustees. Dorothy talks of the recent changes made at the JC in responding the the CoronaVirus, having had to transform 95% of the classes to online platforms. Over 300 laptops were loaned to students to accomodate those students without such devices. Hot spots for WiFi access to the internet classes have been set up around the county for those with poor reception of internet. The recent federal CARES Act allows for $500 emergency grants for students with Social Security Numbers suffering econmic hardship because of the pandemic . The SRJC Foundation has set up a Student Crisis Fund, and donations can be given through the SRJC Foundation's website. Dorothy reminds us that we are today building our future with education of our community members.

2.  Hilary Moore shares her journey to co-founding the Off the Page Readers Theater in Sebastopol.  Also a bit of background, just before Hilary came on we heard  the song No Sin to Be Poor sung and composesd by Pi Jacobs, who is Hilary Moore’s daughter. Hilary talks of the putting out the call for essays and writings from local authors on a certain theme, making selections from these submissions for the final script, and then presenting this at venues around the county.  Hilary reads a piece she has written for the show Detour, originally scheduled for June but postponed indefinitely to be announced via the OTPRT's website or Facebook page.  Her essay recalls her "detour" delivering mail for the US Postal Service.

1.  Laura Wells has been encouraging Public Banking for over 10 years when she campaigned for the Governor of California. In October 2019 Governor Newsom, as only the second state to do so, signed into law the ability for counties and cities to form Public Banks. Laura recounts the history of Public Banking beginning in North Dakota by farmers being foreclosed by banks lobbying successfully to form a Public Bank in that state in 1919, one hundred years before California legalized it.  Public Banking, according to Laura, can be helpful to localities in accessing the benefits of the CARES Act, just signed into  law as the Federal response to the Coronavirus pandemic.

2.  Susan Gorin, Chair of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, gives us a report on the County's efforts to slow the infection rate of the Coronavirus and what measures are in place and what will will be relaxed later this week. Supervisor Gorin encourages county residents to visit the county's YouTube Channel with videos of public meetings and advice in English and Spanish, as well as to visit the  Emergency and Preparedness website  https://socoemergency.org/ for the current Health Orders and  links and telephone numbers that address the pandemic issues. A Dashboard on this website at the bottom of the home page gives one the number of new and total cases to date, recovered cases, deaths,  COVID-19 tests given, and graphs of new cases by date and Bay Area county cases.

1.  Ken Norton  remembers the smoggy Los Angeles air that he left to study at San Jose State College, and the Survival Faire that preceeded the first Earth Day in 1970 by a couple of months on February 20, 1970 as a kickstart to the era of ecological concern. Students from a Humanities course organized the student funded theSurvival Faire and the purchase of a new orange Maverick to bury in a grave dug on the campus after a solemn funeral procession through downtown San Jose. Students and scholars of colleges and universities around the nation were concerned over the environmental impact of automobile exhaust and pesticides.  Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin found much willingness around the country to found the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970. The Survival Faire was such a memorable event with street theatre that the New York Times reported on it.

2. Vesta Copestakes wrote the lead article in the April 2020 issue of the Sonoma County Gazette called Earth Day - 50 Years of Steady Progress - Perspective over a Lifetime and discusses this with Elaine.  Vesta recounts a policy made by Mao Tse Tung in China to eradicated the sparrows for he feared they were eating too much of the grain as his people were starving.  This policy just made life worse as Nature responded with the lack of birds eating not only grains but insects, as well, with a scourge of locusts. She remembers Rachel Carson's publication of her book Silent Spring and the role of DDT pesticides in killing mosquitoes, a food source for birds,  Vesta then lists some improvements made over the 50 years, like recycling, the ban of DDT and the forming of the federal Environmental Protection Agency, only to be set back many ways by the present White House.

Dr. Hariet Fraad discusses some of the mental health problems that are appearing during this pandemic due to the orders to isolate and keep social distancing when doing essential activities.  Women in abusive relationships are especially vulnerable. Single moms are now required to educate their kids at home and try to make the online connections work. On top are the antics of our President waking up memories of an irrational authoritarian parent screaming that kids have no rights but to listen to their parent. Dr. Fraad highlights some women leaders like Rep. Katie Porter of Southern California, who is speaking out to keep the President accountable to his ignoring the calls for mitigation action in the pandemic enveloping our nation with the most cases and deaths due to the virus in the world, and like New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in taking decisive action to stop the corona virus in her nation early when it counts.

1.  Kathleen Haynie wrote the play What They Did to Alice, about the role  of Alice Stokes Paul (1885-1977) in helping women achieve the Right to Vote through the passing of the 19th Amendment.  Elaine saw a production of this play at Santa Rosa's 6th Street Theater and approached Kathleen on presenting this over the radio with a telephone conversation with Alice Paul. Kathleen and Elaine present the telephone conversation with Alice Paul to mark Women's History Month and the the Women's Suffrage Centennial.

2. Elaine B. Holtz and Ken Norton read Elaine's poem Friends and Lovers to mark their 20th Anniversary of their Life Partnership on April 1st. Elaine wrote this poem during their courtship period.  As most of us are sheltered-in-place to help slow down the rate of infection with the Coronavirus, we thought it would be of interest to couples with time to deepen their relationship.

Discernment

 Sonoma County Sheriff Department Enforcement of Health Officer Directives

1. Ken Norton, talks on Discernment. Other than co-producing Women's Spaces and sitting silently beside Elaine at the soundboard during the broadcast, produces the 5-minute episodes on the Scent of Light twice a month as a radio segment and podcast. Today he presents his episode called Discernment, for helping us with our decisions when traditional assumptions have to be let aside like in this time of our community response to slow the pandemic rate of infection so as not to overwhelm the medical system.

2.  Misti Wood, Community Engagement Liaison, talks of the precautions the Sonoma County Sheriff Department is taking in responding in a support role to the directives being given by the Interim County Health Officer Dr. Sundari Mase in her Shelter-in-place order to delay the spread of the Coronavirus to not overload the medical system with more cases than beds or other equipment. The Sheriff Department enforces county laws and directives in the unincorporated areas of the county and the police enforce the laws in their respected cities, but Misti assures us of the agencies staying in communication with each other and assisting one another when needed. Misti also stressed that bilingual operators will be available when calling the Sheriff  or the general Help line 2-1-1 for where to seek services in the county.  She reminded us of the county's website socoemergency.org which has much information on the current situation in regard to this pandemic sweeping our county and the globe and behaving as safe as possible.

1. Vesta Copestakes shares her path, mentored as a young girl by Brenda Starr in the comic strip that first appeared in the newspapers in 1947, to be educated as a graphic artist.  Vesta took over the Freestone Chamber of Commerce newsletter in September 2001 as the 911 Terror was unfolding and she used the newsletter to give voice to concerned readers who authored the articles. It was an experiment in citizen journalism. Vesta bought the newsletter in 2003 to publish it as the the Sonoma County Gazette. She describes herself as a marketer, bringing local businesses to the attention of readers through ad supporting the publication of the free monthly newspaper. In December Vesta sold the newspaper to the locally owned Sonoma Media Investments, owner of the Press Democrat and other brands in radio and online, but will remain as Publisher until she can be replaced. 

2.  Karleen Arnink-Pate describes her path to leadership in the media industry, first mentored by her mother, who was a working mom. Karleen found work with her art degree in an advertising firm and she quickly realized there was opportunity for her in this field.  She became a firm believer in the power of outreach, which made her sales approach convincing.  After leadership positions in the San Francisco Chronicle and Gannet Company, Karleen joined Sonoma Media Investments.  Karleen was chosen to work on the purchasing deal of Sonoma County Gazette with Vesta Copestakes because of her experience with other small papers.

Jill Ravitch and Sharon Wright share their motivations to run for office and the challenges and opportunities they met as women. They both experienced defeat the first time election but persisted to win the next elections. Sharon and Jill discuss the belief in self that is needed and the learning from failed attempts. To mark International Women's Day, they talk of the mentors in their lives that were sources of encouragement.  Sharon shares how she and Dorothy Hutchinson became the first woman members of the Rotary Club in Sonoma County after the Supreme Court decision to open men's clubs to women. Jill talks about her role in forming the Family Justice Center as a collaborative effort of agencies in Sonoma County to address the needs of domestic violence victims. Both guests demonstrate the value of electing women to office.

1. Leslie Graves give us a hint of the festivities to happen this Sunday March 8th at the Santa Rosa Rosie Rally 2020 on the Courthouse Square from  11 AM to 2 PM. The free event also recognizes International Women's Day. Leslie encourages us to bring the whole family and your "We Can Do It" Spirit, dress up as Rosie the Riveter or as any groundbreaking female in history who inspires you.  Special Guests include two sisters who were original Rosie the Riveters during World War II, just 2 of the 19 million women who worked the factories during that national crisis.

2. Molly Murphy MacGregor shares the history of the effort, beginning in Sonoma County, to proclaim National Women's History Month.

3. Jenny Chamberlain shares her path as a Chicana from a 5th generation Texas family to become a leader in our Sonoma County community,  She mentions some of the women mentors who inspired her. Jenny reads some passages from her autobiographical story The Comfort Zone published in the book Destiny Talks - The Women Empowerment Edition.

Jenny Blaker shares her path to activism from cleaning the creeks by her home in Cotati that feed the Laguna to realizing the environmental danger of a new station on 116 at Stoneypoint to the Laguna, and then to joining with other concerned citizens in Sonoma County to oppose the building of any new gasoline stations. The Coalition Opposing New Gas Stations (CONGAS) held a protest the morning of this broadcast at a proposed new gas station on Middle Rincon Road at Highway 12.  CONGAS does not want any more fossil fuel infrastructure to be built because of the increasing impact of Climate Change resulting from fossil fuel use.

Our guest Pat Sabo shares her early attraction to political campaigns as a 6-year old enthused by seeing the Democratic Party Convention nominate Adlai Stevenson in 1956 and promptly making a sign to march up and down her neighborhood street. Now as a retired teacher and coach from Healdsburg High School, Pat is on the County Central Committee for the Democratic Party, which means also participation at the Party's State Central Committee. Pat reveals how citizens in the county who registered as affiliated with the Democratic Party can volunteer for various campaign acitivities like postcard writing and telephoning, as well as apply for a seat on the County Central Committee or for a seat on their Assembly District Central Committee per the Bylaws of the California Democratic Party.  Monthly dinner meetings and special events offer opportunities for networking and bringing up issues that may require legislation.

Our first guests Debbie McKay and DeeDee Bridges talk of their path to dedicating their lives now to the mission of the League of Women Voters (LWV) in their work for the League's Sonoma County Chapter. The mission reads: The League of Women Voters encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government. It influences public policy through education and advocacy. We never support or oppose any political party or candidate.  The Chapter began with that for the City of Santa Rosa founded in 1951 and became the official Chapter for the whole county in1978. This year on February 14th the League marks the Centennial of its Founding, the same year as women's right to vote was assured by the 19th Amendment.  LWV celebrates with a birthday party at the Rohnert Park Library with a lecture on Winning Political Power for Women: Carrie Chapman Catt and the League of Women Voters by author Robert P. J. Conney, Jr. at 10:30 AM to Noon.  Debbie and DeeDee talk of some of the local activities supported by the League, including the debates of candidates running for office and the informative LWV website on measures on the ballot.

Our second guests Anne Jacopetti and Maya Khosla share their paths to being active in raising awareness of human induced climate change. Both Anne and Maya are founding members of the  Sonoma County Climate Activist Network, a coaltition of groups and concerned individuals. Maya was named Poet Laureate of Sonoma County just after the ravages of the Tubbs Wildfire in October 2017 and as a wildlife biologist was able to observe the aftermath of the fire in the field as new growth appeared in the midst of the ashes.  Her poetry is moved by this experience. Maya will be one of the presenters at the the 2020 Sonoma County Climate Activist Community Summit on March 15th from 1 to 6 PM at the Odd Fellows Hall in Santa Rosa. 

All 3 of our guests enter into the discussion on Climate Action.

1.  Avani Borton shares her path to becoming active in finding solutions to climate change and joining as a high school student the Sunrise Movement through the Sonoma County Hub. She describes some of the Youth Global Climate Strike activities in which she will participate with other students including a Die-In For Life on campus, a March and Climate Vigil at Old Courthouse Square in Santa Rosa on Friday December  6, 2019.

2. Christine Byrne shares her path to climate justice and joining the Sunrise Movement to become an Organizer for the Sonoma County Hub of Sunrise. Christine talks about where she finds the courage for her dedication as a high school teacher and activist for Climate Justice.  She explains what is meant by Climate Justice.

3. Connie Madden describes her role as Adult Supporter of the Sunrise Movement and encourages people of all ages to heed the call of Sunrise.

1.  Paula Freund shares her path into art history appreciation and curating at museums.  She talks about the highlights of her recent tour of 3 historical museums in Washington DC housing exhibits for the 2020 Women's Suffrage Centennial:

• National Archives exhibit: "Rightfully Hers: American Women and the Vote"

• Library of Congress exhibit: "Shall Not Be Denied: Women Fight For the Vote"

• National Portrait Gallery exhibit: "Votes for Women: A Portrait of Persistence"

Paula with co-curator Katherine Rinehart is preparing an exhibition at the Petaluma Museum dedicated to telling the story of Petaluma’s participation in the women’s suffrage movement. Both of these woman attended several events honoring the Suffrage movement and are very involved in bring the history of that era to our county.

2. Leslie Graves recently attended the special event at the California Museum in Sacramento marking the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment’s ratification in California on November 9.  The day of festivities was hosted by First partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom. Leslie shares the highlights of the celebration and Women's Suffrrage Centennial events lining up for 2020.  Leslie announces that on December 8, the Sonoma County 2020 Women’s Suffrage Project is having their Women’s Suffrage Centennial Kick-off at Saturday Afternoon Club, 430 10th St, in Santa Rosa. This will be an opporunity to learn how women in Sonoma County got out the vote to lead to the ratification of the 19th Amendment and how we are honoring their achievements while creating more inclusive and inter-sectional engagement and voting access for all in our community.

Connie Madden shares her journey into activism and the eventual co-founding of the Sonoma County chapter of Pachamama Alliance. Connie will be one of the facilitators of the Drawdown Workshop to be given on Thursday May 9 at the Arlene Francis Center.  Paul Hawkins in his book Drawdown lists 100 solutions to help turn around the Climate Crisis in which people can get involved and this will be presented at the workshops. Connie emphasized that for  Pachamama whole systems thinking is important; you can't fix the planet and its culture without deep understanding of the links between all living beings. Connie encourages us to read Charles Eisenstein's book Climate: A New Story on regeneration with justice and resilient neighborhoods.

1. Francisca Carranza talks about her union organizing in the hospitality, food service and gaming industries in the East and North Bay for livable wages and affordable healthcare. Francisca talks about a local organizing effort for labor with UNITE HERE! LOCAL 2850 at the Hyatt Regency Sonoma Wine Country in Santa Rosa and the May Day March that will rally in front of the hotel on May 1, 2018.  The May Day Events start in Roseland at 2 pm.

2.  Lauren Mendelsohn, Attorney, talks about the coming of age of cannabis legalization through regulation of businesses after the passage of Proposition 64 in California. Lauren helps cannabis businesses with the permitting and licensing at the local and state levels, while negotiating with people, some in agencies or neighborhood groups, still under the sway of decades of Reefer Madness, and finding legal paths for businesses amidst the obstacles of the Federal government in its refusal to decriminalize the use and cultivation of the plant called cannabis or marijuana. Lauren cites reports that the recent opiod crisis has also demonstrated areas of retreat where cannabis has been legalized for medicinal or adult use.

1. Susan Lamont participated in the rally and march No! to U.S. Wars at Home and Abroad held Sunday April 15 in Oakland.  The nationwide action was planned in February as a voice of resistance to the increase in military action and budget of the United States in Syria and other places around the world.  Susan reports on the general mood of the crowd of 1000 that showed up in solidarity for a more peaceful and nurturing direction for the nation.

2. Rebecca Jones talks about the League of Women Voters (LWV), founded in 1921, a year after the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution giving women the right to vote. The Sonoma County Chapter was founded in 1951. Rebecca talks about the mission of LWV to influence public policy through education and advocacy, yet LWV never supports or opposes any political party or candidate. We have an election coming up in the county on Tuesday, June 5, and the League has some events planned in April and May for citizens to register to vote and to learn about the candidates and issues in the county races.

. Michelle Gervais describes her reaction to the mass shooting at the Florida high school on Valentine's Day as a mother, and the actions she took to call sponaneously a rally to happen at Courthouse Square in Santa Rosa on the following Monday, February 19, President's Day and a school holiday.  Michelle use every contact she had in the county to support her call for a rally for the children's safety, and is such short notice attracted a couple of hundred children and adults.

 Carole L. Ellis, Joan Gatley and Don Gibbels discuss the stage production of the award-winning play Talking With by Jane Martin.  Joan Gatley recites a passage from the play which highlights the lives of 10 women in monologues. The special theater event is a fund-raiser for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and will be presented in the Auditorium named after Carole L. Ellis on the Petaluma Campus of the Santa Rosa Junior College on Friday March 2 and Saturday March 3, 7:30pm.

For Black Histroy Month we honor Ruby Bridges (born September 8, 1954), who became the first African-American child to integrate a white Southern elementary school. On November 14, 1960 amidst angry crowds, Ruby was escorted to class by her mother and U.S. marshals. The courage of Ruby and her family helped move the Civil Rights movement forward.

1. Varnika Kailash reads her essay on Beloved Community which she read earlier as the junior division winner for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration that happened on January 15 and fitting for our show during Black History Month.  Varnika shares her passion for recognizing the beauty and benefits in awareness of diversity.

2. Vicchi Olenski talks of  the call to healing for her at age 11 and how it developed into her current company the Sonoma County Healing Academy (SoCoHA) in Sebastopol.  SoCoHa is an educational venue, dedicated to the healing arts, innovative wholistic practices and technlogies.

1. Christine Hoex talks about her becoming active as a volunteer at 350 Sonoma - Sonoma County Climate Action, inspired by 350.org. of Bill McKibben.  Christine explains why the number 350, and why the concentration of CO2 is important as an indicator of an environment that can support life as we know it for us and future generations.  She describes ways folks can get involved by joining various action groups aligned with 350 and by attending events listed on their 350 Sonoma website.

2. Alexandra DeLuca calls in from EMILY's List Washington DC headquarters to describe EMILY's List and its30-year  history. Thanks to the Women's Marches of in January 2017 and January 2018, there has been a surge of interest in women running in political elections as progressive Democratic Party candidates. To date over 30,000 women have applied for their campaigns in 2018, 2010 and 2022. Alexandra explains how women can start the process by expelling myths of running that often dampen the initial enthusiasm at the Run to Win Link with trainings and networking the candidates to resources and funding, as listed on Emily's LIst website.

1.   Nora Villanueva talks about her journey into radio and the broadcast of her weekly show Classical Tones beginning in her homeland Peru, where she as a young girl was so inspired by seeing a performance of Swan Lake that she studied classical training in ballet and became a professional dancer.

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2. Dr. Ellen Barnett shares her journey into integrative medicine and the development of the program Imagine You in 2000. It is a program that offers people the opportunity to step back, regroup, take a moment to acknowledge where they are, and envision what is next (tomorrow, next week, next month, next year) for themselves. Such reflection has been found to be beneficial in the healing process.

1.  City Councilmember Julie Combs talks about the Migrant Education Family Fund that she helped set up to address the needs of migrant families after the recent Wildfire Disaster that destroyed residences and places of employment. Elaine shares the news of a surpise donation to the Migrant Education Family Fund of $500 raised on hearing of the Wild Fire Disaster in a bake sale by the Laytonville Elementary School pupils of her granddaughter-in-law Amber Jensen on her first year teaching assignment,  

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2. & 3. Mary Moore and Karen Saari talk about growing into their advocacy for review and oversight with supoena power of community law enforcement in Sonoma County. In the late 1990s, there was a spate of police in Sonoma County. Their advocating culminated in 2000 in a report by the California Advisory Committee to the US Commission on Civil Rights on Community Concerns about Law Enforcement in Sonoma County that was submitted to the County Board of Supervisors and the city councils in the county. The report was basically shelved.  The report saw the light of day again, however, after the Sonoma County Sheriff deputy shooting and killing of a 13-year old Andy Lopez carrying a toy gun in Santa Rosa, and a citizens' Justice Coalition for Andy Lopez (JCAL) raised their voices in protest of local policies concenrning the police and community interaction.  The report is discussed and links to the report will be posted below when available. 

1.  Caroline Bañuelos, President of the Sonoma County Latino Democratic Club, has been an advocate for District Elections in Santa Rosa since 2004.  The City Council put the issue before the voters as Measure Q in 2012 but it failed.  Now the City is being threatened with a lawsuit. The Santa Rosa School Board just voted to move to trustee area elections for three board seats by November 2018. On Tuesday evening August 29, 2017 the City Council will consider to support one of two resolutions on this issue of District Elections.  

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2.  Laura Wells, former Green Party gubernatorial candidate, talks about her journey to support Public Banking.  She explains the concept and a working example in North Dakota.  Laura reports of success in Oakland for city funding of a feasibility study for a Public Bank of Oakland.

1.  Laura Gonzales on hearing the news of the acts of terrorism in Charlottesville, Virginia orgainized a local march with Carolyn Epple a member of Homeless Action, in 
Santa Rosa and gathering at the Old Courthouse Square yesterday, Sunday afternoon, to protest the rise of hate groups emboldened by the election of President Donald Trump and his inflammatory remarks on Twitter and in public speeches. The march is named for what it called for in our country and locality: No Nazis, No KKK, No Fascist USA!  Laura shares how she came to put out the call on social media and reap the harvest of ideas and encouragement in solidarity from some 300 folks who answered the call to express their feelings in this community action.  

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2.  Darcy Trotten talks about the need for good communications and organization when planning social justice events and marches.  Darcy shares how her communicatons firm Activism Articulate was of help to the organizers of the Oakland march in July called Ain't I A Woman.

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3. Molly Murphy MacGregor shares her life in founding the National Women's History Projject, beginning with the pioneering Women's Studies Program in Sonoma State 40 years ago. Molly talks about the Women's Equality Day coming up on August 26, that commemorates the ratification in 1920 of the 19th Amendment of the US Constitution granting women the right to vote, as well as this day in 1970 that Betty Friedan leads a nationwide protest called the “Women’s Strike for Equality” in New York City on the fiftieth anniversary of women’s suffrage,  A  year later on August 26, 1971 the first Women’s Equality Day, initiated by Representative Bella Abzug, is established by Presidential Proclamation and reaffirmed annually. 

Radio KBBF Fundraiser this Week!.  Call Radio KBBF to donate at 1-707-545-8833.  You can also contribute online by clicking the Donate Button at  www.kbbf-fm.org and mention or write in the purpose "for Women's Spaces and the thank-you gift item request,"

March is Women's History Month

Amazing Women Pilots of World War II 

 Guest 1. Jeanne Slone is filling the void of history's recgognition of women who served the US in the military in WWII by authoring 3 books:  She Flew Bombers; She Built Ships; She Was An American Spy.  Jeane will speak at a benefit luncheon for AAUW on March 12, 2016 at the Church of the Roses in Santa Rosa.

Guest 2.  Kathleen Riley discusses the American Association of Universtiy Women, empowering women since 1881. AAUW advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy and research.

Guest 3.   Lenita Marie Johnson discusses Black History Month and a recent performance at the Santa Rosa Community Baptist Church of The Spirit of Us - A Black History Musical Presentation
written and directed by a church member Jaqueline Lawrence. 

Misplaced priorities

EDITOR: What? Ninety-three billion dollars allocated for the military in the so-called balanced budget? Who are we as a nation? Are we a nation that values life or promotes death? ....